Garden Railway Forum

I wonder if anyone on here has any information or views on whether cattle wagons actually were strewn with straw when transporting cattle?

On another forum, an Ozzie friend has queried our use of straw in cattle wagons - he speculates that in Oz they didn't use straw but over here it seems to be accepted that we put straw into a model wagon transporting cattle.

I've found these pictures from the NRM on yet another forum - which seem to indicate there was some variability in the practice.
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index. ... m-the-nrm/

Maybe it varied according to the type of livestock, or the distance being travelled, or whether there was straw available at the station where the cattle were loaded?

Anyone any views, knowledge or experience?

Rik

I have been told that the muckings out from the cattle wagons at Harpenden East was held in higher regards than the horse muck from the railway horses. Pictures of the station suggest straw was used.

Much as I suspected. It would make sense for them to use straw.

Rik

Rik,

I'm pretty certain straw was universally used. It served two main purposes. 1. it tended to make mucking out easier and less messy. 2. it reduce the risk of livestock slipping and being injured (as the company would be liable for such injuries I am prepared to believe this was a primary consideration!).

I think the same practise was adopted for horse boxes too.

Andrew

Soar Valley Light:111179 wrote:Rik,

I'm pretty certain straw was universally used. It served two main purposes. 1. it tended to make mucking out easier and less messy. 2. it reduce the risk of livestock slipping and being injured (as the company would be liable for such injuries I am prepared to believe this was a primary consideration!).

I think the same practise was adopted for horse boxes too.

Andrew

Thanks Andrew. It makes a lot of sense. I can just imagine how slippery a wooden floor would become without something to absorb the ...... ummm .... outfall. Talking of which, maybe the 'straw' in my cattle wagons looks a bit too clean......

Rik