Shunting horse

[John Ashworth]

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 73&nseq=41

Former Great Eastern Railway 'Claud Hamilton' class 4-4-0 No 8787 passes through Welwyn North station with an up Cambridge Buffet Express heading for Kings Cross, London at line speed as a humble shunting horse waits on the down line for the road to clear so that it can continue its shunting move. Unfortunately the name of the horse or its driver are unknown. The locomtive was one of two in its class kept in LNER apple green livery specially for hauling the Royal Train between London and Wolferton (for Sandringham) in the period 1930 to 1951 except in the war years when they were black. Photo by the late Stan Garth.

[Steve Appleton]

Must have been very frightening for the horse, not to mention a railway-hardened driver, and downright dangerous if the horse was to bolt off as the loco came thundering through, whistle blowing, like a bolt out of nowhere. I am sure that, today, the SPCAs would probably object and class this as a form of animal cruelty.

[John Ashworth]

Maybe these horses were accustomed to steam locos, as they worked there every day? A bit like cavalry horses getting accustomed to war, police horses to crowds, dray horses to traffic, etc.

[Mike Haslam]

I have a personal story about a horse and the railways. Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin....

Many years ago, I lived in a country cottage which was quite close to the main west coast of England railway line. Some of you might know the area, Lambrigg, about midway between Oxenholm and Tebay as the railway climbs up towards Shap and on to Scotland. A wonderful quiet place, fields and pastures, tranquil, with the sounds of birds and the occasional train thundering past.

I had just acquired a rather nice horse, thoroughbred, for enjoyment in riding around the lanes and bridleways of which the area had many. Unfortunately, my house was on one side of the double track railway line, the stable and pasture for the horse on the other. To get from one side to the other meant a small diversion through a railway crossing, one of those country crossings which (at that time) was manned by a very friendly crossing keeper. On the first occasion I had to make use of this I went to get the horse, arriving at the level crossing I asked the keeper for permission to cross and explained to him that I was going to collect my horse and would return with it, needing to cross the line. He was fine with this, being quite remote there were very few people who used the crossing on a daily basis and this I am sure would add some excitement to his life.

So, after the obligatory 15min chat with the crossing keeper, he went off to call "uncle", to get permission to open the gates to let me cross. He opened the gates and off I went to collect the horse.

After grooming and saddling her, I mounted and off we went, heading back to the crossing at a steady trot. Now it should be noted that this horse was generally well behaved, but like many well behave ones, they have their moments of fickleness. So it was as we got to the crossing. The keeper saw me from his cabin across the lines and came out to tell me he would again phone for permission. A few minutes later the gates opened - but then the horse would not go forward to cross the lines. No sir! Sleepers parallel with the rails filled between them, so it was not as if there was anything to step over. This was a moment of horsey stubbornness!

This was the first time out, so I could not give in, we really had to cross. The keeper came over to help, but the horse was not to be persuaded. Time passed, the battle of wills went on.

The keeper went back to his cabin, shortly to return. "I am very sorry", he said, "I am going to have to close the gates, I have kept the London express waiting for the last ten minutes at a signal up the line!"

But that was not all. You spoke about how a horse might get startled by a train, at speed, passing by. You might think this might happen with mine. I did and was prepared for flight. But no. the crossing gates closed and all was still and quiet for a few minutes. Then around the corner came the express, already going at a good pace and building speed (he must have been late :-) ) and flew past the nose of my horse - which did not even bat an eyelid.

We did eventually get across and did so many times after that, but I always remembered the day we held back the 'London express'.

[John Ashworth]

And another one...

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.p ... 98&nseq=26