The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Coffee Lounge => Topic started by: Roxy on April 08, 2011, 11:42:25 pm
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I was just giving the pigs their tea, and my OH shouted there was two horses on the railway. Thankfully nor ours, but it was a horrifying sight as its a busy line. I recognised them from the livery yard over the field, a big grey and a coloured cob. We set off running down the fields, OH grabbed a rope off the wall. I knew we only had a few minutes, as another train would be along, passenger and goods trains use it. I headed for the livery yard, OH got on the railway banking, as there is an old sidings and a track on our side of the railway. I shouted to him to call the police and try and get the trains stopped......but I knew that would take a few minutes to put in place.
I ran across two fields, through the livery yard and up to the house, rang the bell, gasped out about the horses, and yard owner said the would ring the horses owner. I ran back to help OH, and could see the two horses still heading further down the track, but could hear my OH talking to them to try and kee[p them calm; Got back on the railway myself, and he was talking to the Police, who told him not to endanger his life. His reply was that he was taking the chance to cross the line to save the horses, and he did, he walked over both tracks and followed the horses, who were at this stage in the middle of the two tracks. Thankfully he got the rope round the neck of one horse, and the other came to him, and followed him. I was so worried, because we did not know if the trains had stopped yet, and if one came along and frightened the horses, with OH still holding the rope .......
They all made it back across the railway, and I put the headcollar and rope on the coloured. Then had to ring the police to say we were off the man track now, and suddenly a goods train came along .....phew, just in the nick of time. We then had the question of how to get the horses down from the side of the track - its gated and locked both ways. I then realised there is a little wall, that leads down to a narrow track, so we led the horses down the bank, and they jumped over the wall - it was only small. Then the owner came running up the lane, closely followed by another lady who has a horse on the same yard, then the horses owners husband. We let the horses graze while we all huffed and puffed - we had all been running!
The police arrived and asked questions. They had been efficient, and fortunately were in the town just five minutes away, and had put their blue light on anmd raced to the signal box as hubby told them to.
Owner could not stop thanking and hugging me and hubby. She was so relieved the horses were safe, and so were we.
Still not got over all that running yet!!
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Hi Roxy - I don't know what to say. What an amazing story. You and your OH are absolute heroes. If a passenger train had come along there would have been a horrible accident with many people injured as well as the horses. No wonder the owner couldn't stop hugging you both :) :) :) :bouquet:
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If only there were more people like you mrs !
:-*
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goodness! that must have been rather scary, well done you two!
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Well done Roxy - that was a really couragous & selfless thing you did in saving thoses horses lives (& possibly a human tragedy) quick thinking. :bouquet:
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How many people would have left it for someone else to sort out, well done you two. :bouquet:
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Wow what a day for you. That brought 'sparks' to my eyes as I read the post quicker and quicker to get to a hopeful end.
Well done both and all involved!!
Baz
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Very quick thinking, both of you! I would have panicked and not known who to phone first.
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Heroes! Well done both of you. :bouquet: Lucky, lucky horses.
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very well done. How did the horses get on the track. the horse stables must have a few questions to answear.
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Well done you two (http://www.cosgan.de/images/midi/froehlich/a115.gif) you are stars.
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Wow, I was out of breath reading that, brilliant that you were able to get them off the line before a disaster!!!! Stiff drink for all concerned, not me though :wave:
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Wow what a mad panic for you both. You just can't imagine what would have happened otherwise, it would have been fatal that's for sure. OMG, I hope they find out where the horses escaped from and repair or block it off. Gosh that was some rescue you both did, well done.
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hurrah to you both: quick thinking, and very brave.
Can we call Rick "the horse whisperer" now? He must have the knack, to have kept them calm.
well done :)
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well done to you both, so glad it all worked out :hshoe: :bouquet: :wave:
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Oh Heck! WELL DONE, both of you. Glad you are okay, and horses too :bouquet:
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We both knew of the danger of the railway, but like my hubby said, hopefully the drivers had been warned there were horses, and potentially people, on the track. We were quick enough to report it to the police, rather than just dive on the railway. You don't stop to think what if - you just want to help the horses, and it was such a relief it ended well.
I would like to think had it been my horses, someone would have done the same. Although some people today have said they could not have done it, for fear of the trains.
Railway people were there early this morning to look at the damaged fence......they do have a fence in the livery yards field, but probably it is old, and maybe weak. I would say its the railway peoples responsibility to repair. Livery yard owner is very particular, and had she known or seen the fence it would have been repaired I am sure. I assume the two horses kept pushing till it weakened - both around 16hh so big, and heavy built.
I am just wondering what would have happened if we had not seen the horses - and whether the police would have given chase down the railway .....hmm .... maybe not.
A friends Shire youngster was out of her field one night, and got on the railway. Sadly it got killed by a train, and that was on my mind last night.
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My experience of the railway companies is that they really do not want anything on the line that should not be there, whether that be human or animal and do their very best to keep fences etc. intact to prevent this. However, as you have found, scarily, things happen, sure the fence will be fixed quickly to prevent it happening again. Although i do realise that fences aren't always 100% stock-proof.
Police and transport do their best when they are notified. PLEASE anyone else who find themselves in this awful situation = this justifies a 999 call - animals on the line - don't hesitate. The police can call through to the railways to put a stop or a slow on the line very quickly, don't hesitate - better to be call in error than not at all.
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So glad it all worked out safely, the alternative doesn't bear thinking about. Well done. :wave:
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For information: I live next to a goods line and across the lane from me is a large field, zoned for housing, but because at the moment, and until they start building, it is still classified as agricultural by Network Rail, they don't see it as a priority to put in their metal security fencing. It has a post and wire fence that any human being or dog could get through or over, and have done on occasion in the 3 years I have been here. Network Rail take the view that by law there is a £1000 fine for trespass on the rail lines (yes, even in Scotland, where there is no trespass law!) and they would enforce that law. I spoke to the Head of NR a couple of weeks ago when he visited here (Ron McAuley) so this is fact. It is a Strategic Transport System and as such is protected by law. Having said that, the Police will certainly assist in an emergency, but not always for dogs or cats.
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i have been holding of on this one until there has been a varied contribution by others :horse:
there was an instance many years ago at polmont when cows strayed onto the railway resulting in the derailment of the train and deaths (the same stretch of line also resulted in the death of a railway worker) the rail company's take safety VERY SERIOUSLY and trespass what ever the reason is frowned upon this instance (handled by people used to horses) in all probability had the best result both for the horses and the railway had they been left to the police and railway police to oversee the recovery it would not have had as swift a solution (they are not multi skilled in animal handling) having worked on various railway projects(with live lines and working trains ) the railways take safety as paramount and i have witnessed an attempted suicide with a goods train (unsuccessful)
it would not surprise me that some jobsworth employee of the railway will take offence that his contribution or procedures were not implemented
Lillian's other half :wave: