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Back in the days before pilots a.k.a. "cowcatchers," cattle could cause the train to derail when struck--potentially killing the passengers on board. Putting salt on a railroad track would attract cattle and other large hooved animals. In Alabama, it is still considered a crime because the it's cruel, and the animal could still potentially hit the cab even though modern trains are built with pilots and anti-climbers*.

*Anti-climber-a device to help prevent objects struck by the train from rising up and hitting the cab of a locomotive.

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14y ago

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