Zoo halts steam train due to wildfire risk

One of the UK's largest zoos has withdrawn its steam locomotive from service, with the safety of animals and visitors "paramount" during the dry weather.

Whipsnade Zoo said it would be out-of-action until enough rainfall was recorded at the site, but its diesel locomotive would be in use.

Other heritage steam railway services in Leighton Buzzard and Fancott, near Toddington in Bedfordshire, have also been affected by the driest July since records began.

Chris Webb, head of visitor operations at the zoo, said: "With hundreds of acres of open grassland, we are aware of the increased wildfire risks posed by the recent extended hot, dry weather."

Recently, Network Rail introduced a week-long nationwide ban on steam trains after a West Coast Railway train, known as the Harry Potter train, was believed to have sparked a wildfire in Cheshire.

The Heritage Railway Association (HRA) said Britain's heritage network was not covered by the ban.

The Fancott Miniature Railway is believed to be Britain's only active miniature railway at a pub.

President Ron Stanbridge said the railway was currently running diesel engines because of the fire risk, with the hosepipe ban also a factor.

HRA said other attractions were finding ways to adapt to the dry weather.

Some have modified steam locomotives to run on oil fuel to reduce the risk of sparks.

Steve Oates, chief executive of HRA, said: "Running steam locomotives in summer has been a balancing act for more than 200 years.

"The conditions we've seen so far this year have not been as challenging as they were in 2025 because the majority of the hotter weather has come later in the season, allowing greenery to establish itself."

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