N.Y. Railroad Law Section 52
Fences, farm crossings and cattle-guards


Every railroad corporation, and any lessee or other person in possession of its road, shall, before the lines of its road are opened for use, and so soon as it has acquired the right of way for its roadway, erect and thereafter maintain fences on the sides of its road of height and strength sufficient to prevent cattle, horses, sheep and hogs from going upon its road from the adjacent lands, with farm crossings and openings with gates therein at such farm crossings whenever and wherever reasonably necessary for the use of the owners and occupants of the adjoining lands, and shall construct where not already done, and hereafter maintain, cattle-guards at all road crossings, suitable and sufficient to prevent cattle, horses, sheep and hogs from going upon its railroad. So long as such fences and cattle-guards are not made, or are not in good repair, the corporation, its lessee or other person in possession of its road, shall be liable for all damages done by their agents or engines or cars to any domestic animals thereon. When made and in good repair, they shall not be liable for any such damages, unless negligently or wilfully done. A sufficient post and wire fence of requisite height shall be deemed a lawful fence within the provisions of this section, but barbed wire shall not be used in its construction. No railroad need be fenced, when not necessary to prevent horses, cattle, sheep and hogs from going upon its track from the adjoining lands. Every adjoining land owner, who, or whose grantor, has received compensation for fencing the line of land taken for a railroad, and has agreed to build and maintain a lawful fence along such line, shall build and maintain such fence. If such owner, his heir or assign shall not build such fence, or if built, shall neglect to maintain the same during the period of thirty days after he has been notified so to do by the railroad corporation, such corporation shall thereafter build and maintain such fence, and may recover of the person neglecting to build and maintain it the expense thereof. And when such railroad shall cross timbered or forest lands, the company shall construct and maintain suitable and sufficient crossings, whenever and wherever reasonably necessary to enable the respective owners of said lands to transport logs, timber and lumber for manufacture or sale, or for banking on any stream, to be floated or driven down the same. In case of any neglect or dispute the supreme court may by mandamus or other appropriate proceedings, compel the same, and also fix the point or location of any such crossing. As used in this section, the term “farm crossings” shall mean at-grade rail crossings that are utilized primarily as access to and from adjoining property which is actively used for farming or agricultural purposes by the owner or by the tenant of such property.

Source: Section 52 — Fences, farm crossings and cattle-guards, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/RRD/52 (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed Oct. 26, 2024).

50
Liability of corporation to employees of contractor
51
Weight of rail
51‑A
Clearances
52
Fences, farm crossings and cattle-guards
52‑A
Fences along road operated by electric third rail
52‑B
Fences along right of way
52‑C
Fences in Queens county
52‑D
Debris to be cleared
52‑E
Penalties for littering
53
Sign boards, flagmen and gates at crossings
53‑A
Warning signs
53‑B
Ringing bells and blowing whistles at crossings
53‑C
Obstructing farm and highway crossings
53‑D
Unlawful propulsion of a missile at railroad trains
53‑E
Unlawful interference with a railroad train
53‑F
Joint inspection of traffic-control signals interconnected with highway-rail at-grade crossing warning systems
54
Notice of starting trains
54‑A
Communication
55
Accommodation of connecting roads
56
Locomotives must stop at grade crossings
57
Rates of fare
57‑A
A steam or electric railroad corporation having a franchise from this state, operating to and from stations within a city of over a milli...
58
Excess charge when fare paid on cars
59
Penalty for excessive fare
60
Issue and use of mileage books
61
Passenger refusing to pay fare may be ejected
61‑A
Sounding of certain signals on railroad cars by unauthorized persons
62
Sleeping and parlor cars
63
Persons employed as drivers, conductors, motormen or gripmen
63‑A
Minimum crew size
64
Injuries to employees
65
Conductors and employees must wear badges
66
Checks for baggage
67
Penalties for injuries to baggage
68
Unclaimed freight and baggage
69
Minimum standards for track inspection and maintenance
70
Rights and liabilities as common carriers
71
Duties imposed
71‑A
Reflective whistle signs
72
Inspection of locomotives
73
Inspectors of locomotives
74
Care of steam locomotives
75
commissioner of transportation may approve other safeguards
76
Use of stoves or furnaces prohibited
76‑A
Motor cars and equipment
76‑B
Equipment required on motor vehicles transporting railroad employees
77
Equipment of engines
77‑A
First-aid equipment on locomotives
77‑B
Speedometers on certain locomotives
77‑C
Sanitary conditions
78
Coal jimmies and caboose cars
78‑A
Electric or battery-powered markers
79
Air-brakes
80
Couplers
81
Violation of sections seventy-seven, seventy-seven-c, seventy-eight, seventy-nine, and eighty
82
Canada thistles to be cut
83
Riding on platform
83‑A
Operation of motor vehicles, snowmobiles, recreational vehicles, and riding of animals on railroad property
83‑B
Trespass upon railroad premises
84
Corporations may establish ferries
85
Certain railroads may cease operation in winter
86
Certain railroads need not be operated beyond June, July, August and September
87
Mails
88
When railroads may designate police officers
89
New railroads across streets
90
New streets across railroads
91
Alteration or rehabilitation of existing crossing
92
Acquisition of land, right or easement in crossing
93
Repair of bridges and subways at crossings
93‑A
Maintenance and removal of highway-railroad crossing at grade
93‑B
Maintenance and removal of highway-railroad separation structures
94
Performance of work
95
Proceedings by commissioner of transportation for alteration of existing crossings
96
Proceedings to enforce orders of commissioner of transportation
97
Intercity rail passenger service
97‑A
Commuter rail service
98
Intersection of railroads
99
Application of foregoing section
100
Temporary leave granted by court to a street surface railroad
101
Consent of commissioner of transportation in certain cases
102
Ventilation of tunnels
103
Lighting of tunnels
104
Compliance with orders of commissioner of transportation
105
Enforcement
106
Penalty for violation
107
Judgment-roll
108
Approval of appliances in cities having a population of one million inhabitants or over

Accessed:
Oct. 26, 2024

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 52’s source at nysenate​.gov

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