. Our iron roads: their history, construction and administration . eto me what I think proper to put into it ? Among the minor appurtenances of a railway station is thewagon loading gauge. It is employed to prevent trucks beingloaded so high as to touch the arch of a bridge or of a tunnelunder which it may have to run. It consists simply of a frame,with a bell attached to it: if the loaded wagon passes freely BIRDS AND BEASTS AT STATIONS. 267 underneath without touching the bell, it will run safely underany arch or through any tunnel on the line. Other visitors besides travellers sometimes vis
. Our iron roads: their history, construction and administration . eto me what I think proper to put into it ? Among the minor appurtenances of a railway station is thewagon loading gauge. It is employed to prevent trucks beingloaded so high as to touch the arch of a bridge or of a tunnelunder which it may have to run. It consists simply of a frame,with a bell attached to it: if the loaded wagon passes freely BIRDS AND BEASTS AT STATIONS. 267 underneath without touching the bell, it will run safely underany arch or through any tunnel on the line. Other visitors besides travellers sometimes visit railwaystations. Not long ago a wagon of coals had been standing inthe station at Kirkby Moorside, and in the wagon a wagtailhad built her nest, in which again a cuckoo laid an egg. Thewagtail brought off her strange brood, and the cuckoo—a finebird—came into the possession of one of the companys fact that a wagon of coals would remain at the station longenough for a bird to build and hatch therein showed the dulnessof trade in the WATER CRANE. We may here mention that a writer in a German engineeringjournal contrasts the behaviour of different animals towards rail-ways and steam machinery. The ox stands composedly on therails without having any idea of the danger that threatens him ;dogs run among the wheels of a departing train without sufferingany injury ; and birds seem to have a peculiar delight in thesteam engine. Larks will build their nests and rear their youngunder the switches of a railway over which heavy trains are con-stantly rolling, and swallows make their homes in engine fox-terrier named Pincher, at Hawkesbury station, on theCoventry and Nuneaton Railway, for a long time distinguishedhimself by ringing the bell on the approach of stopping trains,much to the passengers amusement. One day, after performingthis feat, he ran from the signal-box on to the line, and was cutto pieces. OUR [RON ROADS.
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, booksubjectrailroa, bookyear1883
