Locomotive Act 1861

7Damage caused by Locomotives to Bridges to be made good by Owners.

Where any Turnpike or other Roads, upon which Locomotives are or hereafter may be used, pass or are or shall be carried over or across any Stream or Watercourse, navigable River, Canal, or Railway, by means of any Bridge or Arch (whether stationary or moveable), and such Bridge or Arch, or any of the Walls, Buttresses, or Supports thereof, shall be damaged by reason of any Locomotive or any Waggon or Carriage drawn or propelled by or together with a Locomotive passing over the same or coming into Contact there with, none of the Proprietors, Undertakers, Directors, Conservators, Trustees, Commissioners, or other Person interested in or having the Charge of such navigable River, Canal, or Railway, or the Tolls thereof, or of such Bridge or Arch, shall be liable to repair or make good any Damage so to be occasioned, or to make Compensation to any Person for any Obstruction, Interruption, or Delay which may arise therefrom to the Use of such Bridge or Arch, navigable River, Canal, or Railway, but every such Damage shall be forthwith repaired to the Satisfaction of the Proprietors, Undertakers, Directors, Conservators, Trustees, Commissioners, or other Persons as aforesaid respectively interested in or haying the Charge of such River, Canal, or Railway, or the Tolls thereof, or of such Bridge or Arch, by and at the Expense of the Owner or Owners or the Person or Persons having the Charge of such Locomotive at the Time of the happening of such Damage; and all such Owner and Owners, Person and Persons, having the Charge of such Locomotive as aforesaid, shall also be liable, both jointly and severally, to reimburse and make good, as well to the Proprietors, Undertakers, Directors, Conservators, Trustees, Commissioners, and other Persons interested in or having the Charge of any such navigable River, Canal, or Railway, or the Tolls thereof, or of such Bridge or Arch, as to all Persons navigating on or using, or who but for such Obstruction, Interruption, or Delay would have navigated on or used the same, "all Losses and Expenses which they or any of them may sustain or incur by reason of any such Obstruction, Interruption, or Delay, such Losses and Expenses to be recoverable by Action at Law, which Action, in case of such Proprietors, Undertakers, Directors, Conservators, Trustees, Commissioners, or other Persons so interested as aforesaid, may be brought in the Name or Names of their Agent or Agents, Clerk or Clerks for the Time being, or by any Person or Persons legally authorized to act in their Behalf.