The LNER Encyclopedia

How many cows would be a correct sized full load for an LNER large cattle wagon please? Thanks.

Steve

There is no simple answer, cattle had to be loaded packed tightly together to prevent them from lieing down. There were moveable partitions to section off the wagon in the event of a part load. If cattle were found to be "down" during examinations they had to be reloaded to get them back onto their feet.

So not as tightly packed as a Southern region commuter train then!

. I'd imagine it would also depend on the breed (size).

Strikes me as a moot point this...............................

With hindsight, perhaps I was stretching the desire for authenticity a bit too far, but thanks for the advice anyway.

Steve

On the subject of "down" cattle in vans, I seem to remember reading an account somewhere of some poor soul having to get into a cattle van to help a cow back onto its feet. Unfortunately the beast had expressed its panic in the usual fashion and the worker emerged somewhat less than fragrant.

Chaz

Occupational hazard!