Western Railroad Discussion > UP versus Elk

31 dead...10 salvageable for meat.

https://www.idahostatejournal.com/news/local/elk-dead-in-rare-collision-with-freight-train-in-southeast/article_aa196f70-a6e9-5767-a78a-6b11078f177b.html

Posted from Android

Saw one dead on the tracks near Weatherby, Oregon while chasing 4141 last week.

Posted from Android

Cummings Valley, up behind Tehachapi, has a lot of elk and my niece was late for an appointment in Lancaster because she had to wait for several big elk to move off the two-lane road.

Bill Deaver
Tehachapi, CA

The comments following the article were very interesting.  I don't think hits of elk, deer, antelope and bears are actually rare.

Keith in Roseburg

Up in Alaska they hit a lot of Moose during the winter. 

 Small dent in the heard from a video that was sent to me by a friend where there were several hundred crossing a rural highway last week. Not much an engineer can do but hit them.

EsPee1229 Wrote:
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> The comments following the article were very
> interesting.  I don't think hits of elk, deer,
> antelope and bears are actually rare.
>
> Keith in Roseburg

They’re not rare, but hitting a “herd” doesn’t happen all of the time, either.
I hit a small pack of dogs the other day and we got a main res hose. As my old engr Abe would tell me years ago, “Well, they’re either going to dog Heaven or Dog Hell, that’s just the way it is!”
Definitely the downside of the job.

PHall Wrote:
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> Up in Alaska they hit a lot of Moose during the
> winter. 


Several Alaska highway sections have signs showing the collison count for the last year.  Amazing numbers in the 200-400 range.  Railroads have it harder as the moose like the easy walking along the plowed out track.  

Rob

OregonOldGuy Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> PHall Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Up in Alaska they hit a lot of Moose during the
> > winter. 
>
>
> Several Alaska highway sections have signs showing
> the collison count for the last year.  Amazing
> numbers in the 200-400 range.  Railroads have it
> harder as the moose like the easy walking along
> the plowed out track.  

Herds of caribou as well. Messy.

PHall Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Up in Alaska they hit a lot of Moose during the
> winter. 

That might be just to relieve the boredom...

trainjunkie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> OregonOldGuy Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > PHall Wrote:
> >
> --------------------------------------------------
>
> > -----
> > > Up in Alaska they hit a lot of Moose during
> the
> > > winter. 
> >
> >
> > Several Alaska highway sections have signs
> showing
> > the collison count for the last year.  Amazing
> > numbers in the 200-400 range.  Railroads have
> it
> > harder as the moose like the easy walking along
> > the plowed out track.  
>
> Herds of caribou as well. Messy.

At least they try to salvage the meat for the food banks.

Tenderized then donated. A pity more weren't salvageable for those who could use the help.