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| European Railways - why so few lineside fences? 30/11/2013 at 19:31 #52188 | |
simmybear
58 posts |
I was watching a couple of cab rides on European (DB and OBB to be exact) trains and I was struck, although I must have seen it before, by the almost total lack of lineside fencing in those two countries. I could understand it in the wide open American West but Europe is a generally populous region with the same amount of eejiots as we have so how does it work for them are their eejiots just more disciplined that the average Brit not to "Trespass on the Railway, a fine not exceeding 40/-" ? Log in to reply |
| European Railways - why so few lineside fences? 30/11/2013 at 19:46 #52189 | |
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sloppyjag
480 posts 
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When the railways were being built in the 19th century landowners put fences up to keep those pesky railway folk off their land.
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| European Railways - why so few lineside fences? 30/11/2013 at 20:49 #52190 | |
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simmybear
58 posts |
thank you, yes I had thought about it from that perspective but I think what surprised me was that the EU supposedly the home of "nannyism" to some would be less than red hot over the aspects of Health and Safety and unfenced running lines, yet would fence off a goods warehouse area to keep the goods safe from the light fingered. Strange.
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| European Railways - why so few lineside fences? 30/11/2013 at 22:09 #52197 | |
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pbinnersley
431 posts |
" said:thank you, yes I had thought about it from that perspective but I think what surprised me was that the EU supposedly the home of "nannyism" to some would be less than red hot over the aspects of Health and Safety and unfenced running lines, yet would fence off a goods warehouse area to keep the goods safe from the light fingered. Strange.The original requirement for railway fences was to protect people from the "new fangled" steam engines. The Railway Regulation Act 1842 required all UK railways to fence their lines, this part of the act still seems to be in force. When railways came to Europe they were better understood and I am not aware of any such general requirement for fencing. People were expected to look after themselves in the same way as they did on the roads. Last edited: 30/11/2013 at 22:10 by pbinnersley Log in to reply The following user said thank you: Forest Pines |
| European Railways - why so few lineside fences? 30/11/2013 at 23:47 #52204 | |
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vontrapp
210 posts |
Fences, were there to stop live-stock, as far as I know; I was told that by my bosses, on BR. Nowadays, the fences are above the height of what they used to be in BR times, that's not because trespassers have grown taller, tho.
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