Tram tractor after Saturday's incidentCopyright 2008 Lydia Hinshaw
YOSEMITE, CA -- Prince Charming and I drive state-of-the-art shuttle buses, but some of our co-workers drive open-air tram tours of Yosemite Valley.
Saturday, our friend Curt was driving a tour near the tunnel on the road to Wawona (for those familiar with this area.) His propane-powered tractor somehow ignited, shot flames 20-30 feet in the air and burned the vehicle to the state shown above.
Curt and Linda, the ranger-guide who was along on the tour, realized what was happening in time to get everyone out of the tram safely. Curt asked a passing motorist to call 911 and then emptied his fire extinguisher into the conflagration, which didn't slow it down at all.
Also, Curt said, the wind miraculously changed just in time to keep the flames from igniting the trees on the mountainside, which could have started a giant forest fire. Emergency response, including a helicopter, arrived quickly and the situation was soon under control.
Since no one was hurt, drivers have been relieving their stress by laughing about it. One quipster in the drivers' room ventured that some of the tourists on the tram thought the fire was just part of the program. Another suggested we should charge them extra for the fireworks show.
Below is a shot of what a tram-tractor is supposed to look like.
Saturday, our friend Curt was driving a tour near the tunnel on the road to Wawona (for those familiar with this area.) His propane-powered tractor somehow ignited, shot flames 20-30 feet in the air and burned the vehicle to the state shown above.
Curt and Linda, the ranger-guide who was along on the tour, realized what was happening in time to get everyone out of the tram safely. Curt asked a passing motorist to call 911 and then emptied his fire extinguisher into the conflagration, which didn't slow it down at all.
Also, Curt said, the wind miraculously changed just in time to keep the flames from igniting the trees on the mountainside, which could have started a giant forest fire. Emergency response, including a helicopter, arrived quickly and the situation was soon under control.
Since no one was hurt, drivers have been relieving their stress by laughing about it. One quipster in the drivers' room ventured that some of the tourists on the tram thought the fire was just part of the program. Another suggested we should charge them extra for the fireworks show.
Below is a shot of what a tram-tractor is supposed to look like.
A sister-vehicle to the one that burned
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