Cat stuck down Liverpool railway embankment

[AlterEgo]

Well that's your view, I can only hope that you have the pleasure of an enlightenment at some point.

I note you avoided the question. There's no way anyone's going to stop the job to save an ant with a poorly leg.

 

[Llanigraham]

The reports I have read have suggested that owner can hear the cat calling out.

Now replace the highlighted word with "a" and you might be more correct.

 

[bramling]

'Owners grief' also has to be weighed against 'mass inconvenience to the travelling public, large bill to Network Rail (i.e. the taxpayer) and potential for emergency services resources to be delayed or unavailable for more serious requirements elsewhere'.
I really don't think "I love my cat" will ever be seen as the stronger argument by anybody with a sensible, 'bigger picture' viewpoint.

Must admit, I tend to have more sympathy for an animal which has inadvertently stopped the job compared to a human who has done something stupid. Agreed there has to be a sense of balance, however I'm certainly happy to stop the job for an animal.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Must admit, I tend to have more sympathy for an animal which has inadvertently stopped the job compared to a human who has done something stupid. Agreed there has to be a sense of balance, however I'm certainly happy to stop the job for an animal.

I don't believe there is any need to stop the job here as the place concerned is nowhere near the running lines.

 

[jon0844]

Equal rights for pussies!

Send for Donald Trump!

 

[BestWestern]

...however I'm certainly happy to stop the job for an animal.

Generally speaking, the railway isn't.

Unless the animal is sufficiently large to pose a physical danger to trains (cow, bull, etc), it's usually a case of not stopping the job at all. Exceptions are made for dogs only due to the potential for an owner to be following shortly behind it, and of course for swans, which have their own bizarre protection. However things are tightened as much as possible to avoid disruption - swans only require reporting if they are actually in the fourfoot, for example. A rule that 'not more than six sheep' doesn't require reporting appeared a few years back. And there is certainly no rule about disrupting rail services to find a cat. I rather suspect that most commuters are okay with that, particularly given that many of them aren't overly bothered when it's a human on the line!

 

[bramling]

Generally speaking, the railway isn't.

Unless the animal is sufficiently large to pose a physical danger to trains (cow, bull, etc), it's usually a case of not stopping the job at all. Exceptions are made for dogs only due to the potential for an owner to be following shortly behind it, and of course for swans, which have their own bizarre protection. However things are tightened as much as possible to avoid disruption - swans only require reporting if they are actually in the fourfoot, for example. A rule that 'not more than six sheep' doesn't require reporting appeared a few years back. And there is certainly no rule about disrupting rail services to find a cat. I rather suspect that most commuters are okay with that, particularly given that many of them aren't overly bothered when it's a human on the line!

Well, where I am, it will be down to the discretion of the individual. If a member of staff isn't willing to drive over an animal then it won't happen, and I can guarantee there won't be comeback. Depends on the circumstances of course.

 

[Camden]

I note you avoided the question. There's no way anyone's going to stop the job to save an ant with a poorly leg.

I didn't avoid the question. The fact you asked that question indicated you wouldn't be able to get your head around the answer, so I didn't bother. Instead, I declined to get into an argument with you and simply wished for you to be blessed with the opportunity to have your mind opened at some point in the future.

Now replace the highlighted word with "a" and you might be more correct.

They said they could hear their cat so, just as I would expect you're able to distinguish between voices, I take them at their word.

 

[BestWestern]

Well, where I am, it will be down to the discretion of the individual. If a member of staff isn't willing to drive over an animal then it won't happen, and I can guarantee there won't be comeback. Depends on the circumstances of course.

Of course. The point is more that a Driver won't be aware of the presence of the animal until they see it, not having been cautioned. The Rulebook is never going to be worded "You must drive over...", it merely won't contain an instruction to do anything else.

 

[Bletchleyite]

They said they could hear their cat so, just as I would expect you're able to distinguish between voices, I take them at their word.

There is plenty of record of people who have lost (either missing or passed away) a relative[1] claiming to have seen or heard them. I think the brain just does that as it doesn't accept the loss.

[1] To most pet owners pets are family.

 

[70014IronDuke]

I can't help but think of Yes, Prime Minister when I read this thread.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLD0YK6CdjE&t=19s

1.05 - 1.50

 

[DerekC]

Having ten minutes to spare I did a quick bit of Googling. Judging by the one photograph I can find. the errant moggie is stuck in the 100 yd section between the two tunnels under Breeze Hill, between Kirkdale and Walton Junction. This looks as though it used to be four tracks, with the eastern pair lifted a long time ago. So there is a two-track width of buddleia jungle 100 yd long, with tunnels either end, at the bottom of a 30 ft or so stone faced cutting, with live railway on the other side. You can see why the cat can't get out and NR aren't too keen to get involved. The thought does occur that moggie may easily have walked out through one of the disused tunnels.

Does anyone know whether I have got the location right (sorry I don't know the names of the tunnels I am away from my Quail maps and I haven't time to dig through the Sectional Appendix)

Oh, all right then - anything for a lost cat - between Kirdale No1 and Kirkdale No2 tunnels.

 

[6Gman]

Well that's your view, I can only hope that you have the pleasure of an enlightenment at some point.

Could you please enlighten the RSPCA?

I bumped into one of their Inspectors a few years ago. He'd been called out to a report of an injured swan which he couldn't find. Neither could I (I was doing some swan surveying work at the time).

I pointed out to him that a snail had fallen into the lake and was slowly drowning a foot or two in front of us. He wasn't interested, so I got a stick and rescued it.

RSPCSA ?

(Royal Society for the Protection of Some Animals)

 

[Mutant Lemming]

Moggies seem to manage avoiding injury about railways without any human intervention judging by the lack of dead and electrocuted ones about the track.

 

[Spartacus]

Having ten minutes to spare I did a quick bit of Googling. Judging by the one photograph I can find. the errant moggie is stuck in the 100 yd section between the two tunnels under Breeze Hill, between Kirkdale and Walton Junction. This looks as though it used to be four tracks, with the eastern pair lifted a long time ago. So there is a two-track width of buddleia jungle 100 yd long, with tunnels either end, at the bottom of a 30 ft or so stone faced cutting, with live railway on the other side. You can see why the cat can't get out and NR aren't too keen to get involved. The thought does occur that moggie may easily have walked out through one of the disused tunnels.

Does anyone know whether I have got the location right (sorry I don't know the names of the tunnels I am away from my Quail maps and I haven't time to dig through the Sectional Appendix)

Oh, all right then - anything for a lost cat - between Kirdale No1 and Kirkdale No2 tunnels.

Seems to be where I was looking too. Solution to me seems quite simple, MOM takes a (humane) cat trap (from RSPCA or owners) containing cat treats, places trap in said area at the start of their shift, at the end of their shift they return, remove trap containing (probably quite irate) cat and returns it to owners. No need for line blockages given the location (provided that's right), Google maps appears to show trains running while there are vans parked in the location the cat is thought to be in.

 

[Spartacus]

There is plenty of record of people who have lost (either missing or passed away) a relative[1] claiming to have seen or heard them. I think the brain just does that as it doesn't accept the loss.

[1] To most pet owners pets are family.

If they're calling and a cat's meowing back, chances are it's their cat.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

If they're calling and a cat's meowing back, chances are it's their cat.

it could be Charley though


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HB0HcINjWs

 

[Bletchleyite]

Seems to be where I was looking too. Solution to me seems quite simple, MOM takes a (humane) cat trap (from RSPCA or owners) containing cat treats, places trap in said area at the start of their shift, at the end of their shift they return, remove trap containing (probably quite irate) cat and returns it to owners. No need for line blockages given the location (provided that's right), Google maps appears to show trains running while there are vans parked in the location the cat is thought to be in.

I thought the article said they had done precisely that already, and no cat had been forthcoming.

I suppose there is the possibility that it's injured and can't move (hence the moaning), though - that is quite a long fall for any animal with a fatal terminal velocity. But then I think were that the case they'd have found it. If it was "shy and running away" that implies it could run away (and out through the tunnels or something).

 

[Bletchleyite]

Moggies seem to manage avoiding injury about railways without any human intervention judging by the lack of dead and electrocuted ones about the track.

Well, that and the long tradition of station cats (e.g. Huddersfield).

 

[BestWestern]

Perhaps it's quite happy where it is thank you very much and would most grateful if everyone would kindly sod off!

But on a more serious note, from information in other posts it sounds like there is a readily available escape route via any of several tunnels? So the chances are it'll turn up in a week or two, absolutely filthy and looking for attention and dinner! Cats go walkabouts, very often they turn up again. Often they do this through choice. Again, they have wild instincts. They aren't designed as indoor ornaments. If you let a tiger out of the zoo it'll manage on it's own quite happily too!

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Does NR have access to a thermal imaging camera that they could use at night to get an idea of where to search?

 

[BestWestern]

Does NR have access to a thermal imaging camera that they could use at night to get an idea of where to search?

The local copper chopper will do (more £££s!! :roll: )

 

[Elecman]

Does NR have access to a thermal imaging camera that they could use at night to get an idea of where to search?

Yes they do have thermal imaging cameras

 

[AlterEgo]

I didn't avoid the question. The fact you asked that question indicated you wouldn't be able to get your head around the answer, so I didn't bother.

Yes, on the face of it, it seems far too mighty a concept for my tiny little mind to take. Thank you for saving me from intellectual oblivion.

 

[mirodo]

Cats go walkabouts, very often they turn up again. Often they do this through choice. Again, they have wild instincts. They aren't designed as indoor ornaments. If you let a tiger out of the zoo it'll manage on it's own quite happily too!

A few weeks ago, my parents were adopted by a cat that turned up in their garden. It obviously belonged to someone, and had managed to get Big Lost as cats often do, so my dad started feeding it and put the word out around the neighbourhood, on the local Facebook community page, etc.

Eventually, the rightful owners (who lived about a mile and a half away) were found and came and picked the cat up. Upon being let out of its basket once home, the cat bolted, hid behind a large wardrobe and refused to come out. The following day, it emerged, and escaped into the outside world.

The cat is back at my parents house. My dad is still feeding it.

 

[Poolie]

Poor little cat and we all love our PET animals, but how many of us meat eaters even think about the slaughter of beasts on an industrial scale to keep us fed with our burgers, sirloin, rump etc

 

[Bletchleyite]

The cat is back at my parents house. My dad is still feeding it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bETCusT5kNM

 

[M28361M]

Yes they do have thermal imaging cameras

As if on cue, here's the latest development from the Liverpool Echo website, last night (LINK):

Network rail workers have used thermal imaging cameras to try and save Bailey the cat.

Searchers went out with the high-tech cameras, designed to pick up heat signals to see what the eye cannot, at the weekend to search the stretch of live track on the Northern line.

However, they have yet to find the little Siamese cat, who belongs to Hollie McCulloch from Bootle.

I'm very much a cat person, but I think criticism of Network Rail is unfair and they have gone beyond what can reasonably be expected to find the cat. Unfortunately if it has fallen down the side of the cutting I don't hold out much hope, it is a very steep drop.

Unfortunately one risk of owning a pet is that they can wander off and get involved in an accident. Heartbreaking (it happened to me a few years ago when my cat was hit by a car) but it happens.

 

[FrankOwen]

My late Dad was a Station Officer at a very busy station and point blank refused to send any men up trees to rescue cats.
Infact, on one occasion his solution (to the apparent horror of the rspa officer and owner) was to get the high pressure hose out (branch?) and knock it out of the tree as 4 men with tarpaulin caught it at the bottom.
His point being that firemen had died in the past rescuing cats and wouldn't risk any of his men for "a bleeding cat".

 

[High Dyke]

Cats are natural hunters. I expect there will be lots of mice and rats down there, so potentially plenty of food.

Tell that to my cat...the most she likes to hunt in our garden is grass and then throw it up at various places around the house...