Swans on the line at Penhurst.

[Desirolly]

Although this has no been cleared, how can an issue like this be quoted to add ‘20 minutes to the journey’? How come it is not a case of the train slowing at caution through the area, and then just continuing? What could cause the delay to be so long for a relatively small issue if the trains are through at caution?

 

[LowLevel]

Although this has no been cleared, how can an issue like this be quoted to add ‘20 minutes to the journey’? How come it is not a case of the train slowing at caution through the area, and then just continuing? What could cause the delay to be so long for a relatively small issue if the trains are through at caution?

If they're blocking the line and won't move you can't just drive over a swan. If they've got goslings they can be very aggressive.

 

[D6130]

If they've got goslings they can be very aggressive.

Err....cygnets!

 

[LAX54]

Although this has no been cleared, how can an issue like this be quoted to add ‘20 minutes to the journey’? How come it is not a case of the train slowing at caution through the area, and then just continuing? What could cause the delay to be so long for a relatively small issue if the trains are through at caution?

Swan(s) in the 4 foot, then job stopped until someone removes it, of they decide to fly away.

 

[LowLevel]

Err....cygnets!

I thought something didn't look right about that post but couldn't put my finger on it

 

[ainsworth74]

Although this has no been cleared, how can an issue like this be quoted to add ‘20 minutes to the journey’? How come it is not a case of the train slowing at caution through the area, and then just continuing? What could cause the delay to be so long for a relatively small issue if the trains are through at caution?

Like this:

Or this:

 

[dk1]

Swans can easily cause delays of 20mins. Unfortunate but one of those things.

 

[Desirolly]

Didn’t realise they were so stubborn. Thought a couple blasts of the horn would’ve been enough!

 

[Edsmith]

I've seen swans blocking the Medway Valley line and refusing to budge despite blasts on the horn etc.

 

[DarloRich]

they can break your arm so imagine what a massive bird like a swan will do to a train if hit at any kind of speed - it isn't going to be nice and it will take a lot longer to move a broken train then persuade the swans off the line!

( edit - I am not sure a swan can break your arm but, you know..........)

 

[D6130]

Also, is there not the factor that swans are Crown property and it is a 'treasonable' offence to touch or injure them in any way?

 

[fgwrich]

they can break your arm so imagine what a massive bird like a swan will do to a train if hit at any kind of speed - it isn't going to be nice and it will take a lot longer to move a broken train then persuade the swans off the line!

( edit - I am not sure a swan can break your arm but, you know..........)

But they can make your Police Car crash if you put just the one Swan in the back of it!

Also, is there not the factor that swans are Crown property and it is a 'treasonable' offence to touch or injure them in any way?

Only the unmarked Swans apparently, though the Kings rights are only exercised along the River Thames and it's associated tributaries.

 

[43066]

If they're blocking the line and won't move you can't just drive over a swan. If they've got goslings they can be very aggressive.

Well… At least one of our colleagues disagrees with that.

The last one I reported was sitting in the ten foot. I looked out for it on my return trip and it was in several pieces in the cess .

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Stubborn or deaf (or both)?

 

[zuriblue]

This isn’t just in the UK, I had a similar experience in the Netherlands, there was a swan in the four foot, the train was running at a walking pace with the driver blowing the horn until the swan finally made itself scarce. As I was going to Schiphol it was a bit concerning until a Dutch lady explained what the announcements were.

 

[Deepgreen]

PenShurst. The problem with swans is that they can walk onto the railway but it's very hard for them to take off again without a 'runway', ideally on water. They are more or less at the limit of weight that a flying bird can achieve and cannot just spring into the air like smaller birds.

 

[43066]

Stubborn or deaf (or both)?

Once it had lost a fight with a train, safe to say it was neither!

 

[Snow1964]

Seen a similar problem at Kingston upon Thames when swans decided to land on the river bridge. At least at the trains got announcement to actually say swans on line as reason for delay.

 

[snowball]

A pen is a female swan so perhaps the place is named after swans.

 

[1D54]

We had a 20 minute delay approaching Ely from King's Lynn last summer for the same thing.

 

[zwk500]

A pen is a female swan

Every day's a school day!

 

[Islineclear3_1]

A pen is a female swan so perhaps the place is named after swans.

What about Swanwick, Swanscombe, Swanley or Swansea?

 

[Welly]

Didn’t realise they were so stubborn. Thought a couple blasts of the horn would’ve been enough!

The horn blasts were not aimed at the swan but at the man running off the end of the end of the platform.

 

[D6975]

they can break your arm so imagine what a massive bird like a swan will do to a train if hit at any kind of speed - it isn't going to be nice and it will take a lot longer to move a broken train then persuade the swans off the line!

( edit - I am not sure a swan can break your arm but, you know..........)

You're right - it's a myth that they can break your arm. If their bones were strong enough to do this, they would not be able to fly.

 

[dk1]

Didn’t realise they were so stubborn. Thought a couple blasts of the horn would’ve been enough!

Most definitely not. They’ll pay little attention much of the time.

 

[zwk500]

You're right - it's a myth that they can break your arm. If their bones were strong enough to do this, they would not be able to fly.

Although if you get your arm in the wrong place, I wouldn't be surprised if more than a few people had been scared by a goose and ended up breaking their arm as they tripped. Either way, the driver will know if they've hit one and like all struck animals if parts of it get into the wrong areas they'd cause serious issues.

 

[ainsworth74]

The horn blasts were not aimed at the swan but at the man running off the end of the end of the platform.

Though I doubt the swan was aware of that so if it was going to be put off by a horn blast it would have been...

 

[341o2]

Every day's a school day!

And the male is a cob

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 May 2023 ==

What about Swanwick, Swanscombe, Swanley or Swansea?

And Swanage

 

[Desirolly]

And they’re back!! Returned around 1900 in the same area.

 

[Deepgreen]

And the male is a cob

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 May 2023 ==


And Swanage

Cobham (and Stoke D'Abernon).