t.s.meese Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 (edited) It's all in the title - but I might add the following: 1. I have decided to put some animals in my growing fleets of big-4 cattle wagons. But most model cows are Friesians - I recall these did not appear in the uk until well after the war (please correct me if I'm wrong). So pigs - easily sourced - seemed like a good alternative, plus one or two loads of Jerseys... 2. I note that Hornby produce a pack of Hereford's but half of them are in a black and white livery of spots. I think this is like trying to pass off a King as an A4 by paining it garter blue... 3. I did a search for 'pig' on RMWeb. I found a lot of 'pig's ears', several 'pigs to fit', flying pigs', and the odd 'pig iron', but not much on the live pink thingies. Actually, somebody did mention seeing (and smelling) pigs loaded into 3 BR GUVs in the 70s, which was interesting, but not quite what I was after. Anyway, any help much appreciated... Tim. Edited December 24, 2019 by t.s.meese Typo - and sign with first name Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold D9020 Nimbus Posted December 24, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 24, 2019 A few years back there was an article on breeds of cattle—ISTR that Shorthorns were the predominant type of dairy cattle before WW2. These were generally red-brown in colour. Herefords were of course beef cattle. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamport Southport Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 Everything that couldn't escape. There is a photo in one of the books of a train of cattle wagons moving an entire farm* with a mixture of livestock waiting to be loaded. They wouldn't be mixed though, so no different species in the same wagon. Also horses. Only race horses and cavalry horses travelled in horse boxes. *Possibly The Country Railway by David St John Thomas Jason 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Rowsley17D Posted December 24, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 24, 2019 The LMS used cattle wagon diagrams for beer/ale traffic too. https://slatersplastikard.com/linePage.php?code=7023 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Compound2632 Posted December 24, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 24, 2019 (edited) Livestock of all sorts, including circus animals - though extra was charged if the vehicle had to be adapted or strengthened*, e.g. hatch in roof and ducking mechanism for giraffes: Also, in troop trains, troopers', but not officers', horses. The latter would be conveyed in passenger-rated horseboxes. *I'm away from my reprint of the Midland Railway 1903 timetable book but this has several column inches covering rates for various domestic and exotic animals in different types of container and vehicle. There's no specific mention of giraffes, though the scale of charges for elephants is given. For the latter, see also: http://www.midlandrailwaystudycentre.org.uk/documents/RFB05395.pdf Back in the very early days, there do seem to have been different types of wagon for cattle, sheep, and pigs, as the Ackermann print of a Liverpool & Manchester livestock train illustrates: Note the double-decker sheep wagons. I believe the Highland Railway was using a more modern version of these right into the 20th century - and, indded, they're the usual sort of livestock vehicle one sees on the roads nowadays - though usually triple or quadruple decker, with the unfortunate sheep or pigs looking out at you as you overtake them coming south on the M6. Edited December 24, 2019 by Compound2632 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium John Isherwood Posted December 24, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 24, 2019 27 minutes ago, Compound2632 said: I believe the Highland Railway was using a more modern version of these right into the 20th century ..... The LMS built at least one double-decker - to their diagram 1824. Regards, John Isherwood. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hmrspaul Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 As said all sorts of larger animals were carried in cattle wagons. Including bulls which had to be tethered by their nose ring - and not many in a wagon. Horses had to be covered during the winter months (the legislation actually gives different start and end dates for different types of the horse family. But the tarpulin had to be lifted in the center line so they could breath! The animals were quite closely packed so they wouldn't fall - and also if the partition could be put in place the price of transport came down. Photos of livestock trains in action are quite rare, but there is a full BTF film of the farm move mentioned earlier. There should be plenty on livestock trains in the archives of RMWeb, often discussed Paul 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold TheSignalEngineer Posted December 24, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 24, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, Compound2632 said: There's no specific mention of giraffes, though the scale of charges for elephants is given. For the latter, see Giraffes were probably subject to a special charge as an Out of Gauge load. Edited December 24, 2019 by TheSignalEngineer 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Alder Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 Sheep were a major part of livestock traffic in parts of the country and were shipped in cattle vans. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted December 24, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 24, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, hmrspaul said: As said all sorts of larger animals were carried in cattle wagons. Including bulls which had to be tethered by their nose ring - and not many in a wagon. Paul The GWR (and others?) had special wagons for Prize Bulls (and other valuable livestock) = "Beetles" so that an attendant could accompany the beasts on the journey. They could carry up to 6 animals in two compartments of three animals, one either side of the handlers accommodation. Edited December 24, 2019 by melmerby spelling mistakes 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 13 minutes ago, Ben Alder said: Sheep were a major part of livestock traffic in parts of the country and were shipped in cattle vans. Our village, on the old Elham Valley line, used to have an annual sheep sale, when sheep from the higher parts of the Downs would be brought to over-winter on lower ground (such as Romney Marsh) . There would sometimes be 100+ wagons awaiting loading. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 9 minutes ago, melmerby said: The GWR (and others?) had special wagons for Prize Bulls (and other valuable livestock) = "Beetles" so that an attendant could accompany the beasts on the journey. They could carry up to 6 animals in two compartments of three animals, one either side of the handlers accommodation. Examples remained in service into the very late 1960s. They would mainly transport breeding stock from the MMB centres around the UK, and would be supplanted by vacuum flasks..... 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium melmerby Posted December 24, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 24, 2019 34 minutes ago, Fat Controller said: Examples remained in service into the very late 1960s. They would mainly transport breeding stock from the MMB centres around the UK, and would be supplanted by vacuum flasks..... Took all the joy out of being a bull! 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium kevinlms Posted December 25, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 25, 2019 18 hours ago, Compound2632 said: Livestock of all sorts, including circus animals - though extra was charged if the vehicle had to be adapted or strengthened*, e.g. hatch in roof and ducking mechanism for giraffes: Also, in troop trains, troopers', but not officers', horses. The latter would be conveyed in passenger-rated horseboxes. *I'm away from my reprint of the Midland Railway 1903 timetable book but this has several column inches covering rates for various domestic and exotic animals in different types of container and vehicle. There's no specific mention of giraffes, though the scale of charges for elephants is given. For the latter, see also: http://www.midlandrailwaystudycentre.org.uk/documents/RFB05395.pdf Back in the very early days, there do seem to have been different types of wagon for cattle, sheep, and pigs, as the Ackermann print of a Liverpool & Manchester livestock train illustrates: Note the double-decker sheep wagons. I believe the Highland Railway was using a more modern version of these right into the 20th century - and, indded, they're the usual sort of livestock vehicle one sees on the roads nowadays - though usually triple or quadruple decker, with the unfortunate sheep or pigs looking out at you as you overtake them coming south on the M6. 18 hours ago, Compound2632 said: Livestock of all sorts, including circus animals - though extra was charged if the vehicle had to be adapted or strengthened*, e.g. hatch in roof and ducking mechanism for giraffes: Also, in troop trains, troopers', but not officers', horses. The latter would be conveyed in passenger-rated horseboxes. *I'm away from my reprint of the Midland Railway 1903 timetable book but this has several column inches covering rates for various domestic and exotic animals in different types of container and vehicle. There's no specific mention of giraffes, though the scale of charges for elephants is given. For the latter, see also: http://www.midlandrailwaystudycentre.org.uk/documents/RFB05395.pdf Back in the very early days, there do seem to have been different types of wagon for cattle, sheep, and pigs, as the Ackermann print of a Liverpool & Manchester livestock train illustrates: Note the double-decker sheep wagons. I believe the Highland Railway was using a more modern version of these right into the 20th century - and, indded, they're the usual sort of livestock vehicle one sees on the roads nowadays - though usually triple or quadruple decker, with the unfortunate sheep or pigs looking out at you as you overtake them coming south on the M6. In Railway Modeller for April 1990, there is a plan for a LSWR Dragon wagon! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
F-UnitMad Posted December 25, 2019 Share Posted December 25, 2019 16 hours ago, hmrspaul said: The animals were quite closely packed so they wouldn't fall - Years ago SWMBO came with me one day in my truck. It was the first time she saw into a loaded livestock trailer as we passed it, & she saw how closely packed the animals were. She thought I was just as callous as the livestock driver when I pointed out the screamingly obvious; that it was so the animals didn't fall over on corners or braking!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium pete_mcfarlane Posted December 25, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 25, 2019 13 hours ago, Fat Controller said: Our village, on the old Elham Valley line, used to have an annual sheep sale, when sheep from the higher parts of the Downs would be brought to over-winter on lower ground (such as Romney Marsh) . There would sometimes be 100+ wagons awaiting loading. There are photos of the other end of this operation, with the otherwise unused second platform at New Romney (SER) station being used load and unload these trains. As for circus animals, the Southern Region had some of their bogie scenery vans fitted with strengthened floors and tie down rings to allow them to transport elephants, as part of circus trains. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PenrithBeacon Posted December 25, 2019 Share Posted December 25, 2019 In the early days they were used for Humans too! Cheers Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted December 25, 2019 Share Posted December 25, 2019 17 hours ago, melmerby said: Took all the joy out of being a bull! 'I only signed up for the sex and the travel......' 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Johnster Posted December 25, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 25, 2019 (edited) On 24/12/2019 at 15:37, t.s.meese said: Actually, somebody did mention seeing (and smelling) pigs loaded into 3 BR GUVs in the 70s, which was interesting, but not quite what I was after. Anyway, any help much appreciated... That was probably me, Tim. I was on my way home to Cardiff from one of my volunteering holidays on the Ffestiniog, so it was '69 or '70, and the GUVs were in the island platform bay at Shrewsbury. The load identified itself by olfactory means and by squealing like little piggies, boy... It was a hot August day and best to be upwind of the spot. The GUVs were quite freshly painted in rail blue livery. It was unusual and I never saw this anywhere else on any other occasion. I have been avoiding buying a cattle wagon as I've convinced myself that one would never have appeared at Cwmdimbath, but now I'm not so sure... Maybe a slaughterhouse back down the valley somewhere, shunted on the way up by the pick up so the cattle wagon always appears and disappears empty, the grim point perhaps being reinforced with a meat van. This is worth doing almost just to wind SWMBO up... Edited December 25, 2019 by The Johnster 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
t.s.meese Posted December 25, 2019 Author Share Posted December 25, 2019 I live on Shrewsbury and commute to Birmingham from that bay. I shall try to picture your scene when back to work in the new year :-) 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Hodgson Posted December 25, 2019 Share Posted December 25, 2019 A friend of mine has an O LMS gauge cattle wagon carrying a toy camel about the right size along with some cows. One of these days I am going to take a file to its hump and give it a paint job. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Compound2632 Posted December 26, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 26, 2019 23 hours ago, kevinlms said: In Railway Modeller for April 1990, there is a plan for a LSWR Dragon wagon! There is a small Cambrian layout, Llawryglyn, that was at ExpoEM in May, that featured a Cambrian dragon wagon - a Cambrian cattle wagon suitably painted red, loaded with a small Welsh heraldic dragon, breathing smoke. As Dai Station says, "livestock must be conveyed in the proper container". 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim.snowdon Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 5 hours ago, Compound2632 said: There is a small Cambrian layout, Llawryglyn, that was at ExpoEM in May, that featured a Cambrian dragon wagon - a Cambrian cattle wagon suitably painted red, loaded with a small Welsh heraldic dragon, breathing smoke. As Dai Station says, "livestock must be conveyed in the proper container". There was an occasion, I think the very first ExpoEM, when the rear of a goods train on a certain layout was graced with a toad on a flat wagon, front legs dutifully grasping a vertical brake column. More seriously, cattle wagons got used for other traffic, Cornish broccoli being a well known example. Jim 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jim.snowdon Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 5 hours ago, Compound2632 said: As Dai Station says, "livestock must be conveyed in the proper container". Would that be the Great Western's one and only iron cattle wagon? Jim 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold adb968008 Posted December 27, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 27, 2019 Southern make extensive use of class 455s on their Surrey commuter services on weekday mornings if that counts. 1 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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