5 horses killed on railway line nr Darlington. by airport. How do these animals get on the lines, rail companies quite good at maintaining fences, and would need to be a very large hole in the fence, unless they get onto a level crossing.
More Horses on railway line
- Thread starter Penny Less
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Orangehorse
Well-Known Member
The most likely cause is looking for something to eat, maybe they were turned out on some poor grazing/waste land next to the line - difficult to say without knowing the details.
Usually it is up to the stock owner to fence against their own stock, but it seems that the railway was historically responsible for the fences. We had some cattle on the line once - one of the most stressful incidences of my lifetime - and we could see where one heifer jumped over the fence and then was followed by some others. After helicopter police and general ho-ha and thankfully no casualties, a man appeared in the field and said he was from the railway to look at the fence and to see what needed doing. By that time we had raised it by about 2 feet.
Usually it is up to the stock owner to fence against their own stock, but it seems that the railway was historically responsible for the fences. We had some cattle on the line once - one of the most stressful incidences of my lifetime - and we could see where one heifer jumped over the fence and then was followed by some others. After helicopter police and general ho-ha and thankfully no casualties, a man appeared in the field and said he was from the railway to look at the fence and to see what needed doing. By that time we had raised it by about 2 feet.
popsdosh
Well-Known Member
Yes under the railway act they are responsible for keeping livestock off the track 2 legs or 4.
Even level crossings are supposed to be stock proof to stop animals getting up the track at level crossings .In general they are very good we have just bought some land next to a railway ,we rung them and told them we were going to put horses next to the line within a few weeks 600 metres of 4foot Tornado netting has gone up ,they even asked what we wanted! They wont do post and rail as it is not policy to put up non wire fence.
Even level crossings are supposed to be stock proof to stop animals getting up the track at level crossings .In general they are very good we have just bought some land next to a railway ,we rung them and told them we were going to put horses next to the line within a few weeks 600 metres of 4foot Tornado netting has gone up ,they even asked what we wanted! They wont do post and rail as it is not policy to put up non wire fence.