How Not To Draw Attention To Yourself

[kevinlms]

Can you please point me to where I specifically asked you? 

 

Mind as you get off your high horse, it is a long way down! 

Sorry but I think your attitude is condescending. So be it. Next time I'm over in the UK I'll look you out, so you can have the pleasure of escorting me out of somewhere.

Edited August 1, 2018 by kevinlms

[royaloak]

Sorry but I think your attitude is condescending. So be it. Next time I'm over in the UK I'll look you out, so you can have the pleasure of escorting me out of somewhere.

Yeah woteva! 

[stewartingram]

Ok I've recently retired from about 15 years of being a contractor on LUL, with a lot of work on NR property included. I would say EVERY time I have stopped on either, without signing in, & wearing Hi-Viz (not counting a quick change of trains), I have been questioned. I even had one supervisor come dashing down from his office/control room, because I stepped off one LU train, took a photo of the station roundel (for private use), and was about to get on the next train 2-3 mins later!

 

Stewart

[tomparryharry]

With those running shoes, he's going to catch a Sprinter....

 

OK...I know....I'll go....

[Mike Storey]

Regrettably, wearing such vests has become de rigeur for many photographers trying to steal that one "shot" that might get them a decent gig, especially on steam specials. There are plentiful videos in evidence of same on YouTube. One could argue they are sane people, taking a calculated risk, in pursuit of their income or personal interest. That argument did not work when I was pulled over for speeding, on a largely empty motorway, because I was late for a meeting. Hence the wariness amongst rail professionals.

 

You may think, quite logically, that such suspicion is over the top. But the English and Welsh courts disagree. There is a presumption that, if an accident could be "reasonably foreseen", that if the company or employees thereof, did not take reasonable precautions to have prevented it, then they are partly (or in a few cases, wholly,) culpable. This is not new. I had to defend the BR position in a couple of cases in the 1980's, which were to do with trespass, and nothing to do with broken fences, but with "known" activity. This was not as a lawyer, but as the person responsible for the stations in question. In both cases, fortunately, the coroner's decision was misadventure, so no court case. But in one case, it involved a young man, with mental health problems as declared at the Inquest, who had decided the railway was his kingdom, and had taken to wearing an old orange bib (many were chucked out during the transition to reflective, longer waistcoats). The locals knew him and let him be, but one day he walked straight in front of a down fast.

 

I guess it is going to be an everlasting battle of opinions between "he ain't hurting anyone" and "what if this nutter makes me end up in jail"?

[Colin_McLeod]

There is a world of difference between a know nutter and an unknown man standing on a platform. When I suggested a customer friendly approach I was informed that generated the risk of legal action in the future. One cannot win when everyone is running scared and ignoring common sense.

[njee20]

Are ‘enthusiasts’ More likely to jump in front of a train than normal people? I’ll wager not. Even if they are, is there any correlation between wearing hi-vis and propensity to kill oneself (or commit acts which could lead to the prosecution of others)? Should ban everyone from platforms.

[Mike Storey]

There is a world of difference between a know nutter and an unknown man standing on a platform. When I suggested a customer friendly approach I was informed that generated the risk of legal action in the future. One cannot win when everyone is running scared and ignoring common sense.

 

I completely appreciate that Colin. But which world, and which difference? Common Sense has proven to be a very unreliable source, on countless occasions. Are the more than slightly eccentric (a description in which I am almost certainly included, but so are many of us on here perhaps, as seen by the great unwashed), a tolerated group these days? Where? And in what circumstances? Perhaps in a 30 second slot on the One Show, but rarely elsewhere.

 

It may well be the case that a friendly word with the illustrated individual would have been entirely adequate. But his use of an HVV rings alarm bells even in my tolerant head - why would anyone do that, unless having just come off a job around the corner, or in between jobs? When I used to have to wear the things as part of my job, the first action I would do when leaving the mandated area, was to take the damn thing off. It is not society how we want it to be, but how it has turned out. 

 

But I concede your view is the one I would like the world to be like.

[royaloak]

There is a world of difference between a know nutter and an unknown man standing on a platform. When I suggested a customer friendly approach I was informed that generated the risk of legal action in the future. One cannot win when everyone is running scared and ignoring common sense.

Common sense doesnt exist in the eyes of the law.

[royaloak]

Are ‘enthusiasts’ More likely to jump in front of a train than normal people? I’ll wager not. Even if they are, is there any correlation between wearing hi-vis and propensity to kill oneself (or commit acts which could lead to the prosecution of others)? Should ban everyone from platforms.

Thank you for such a sensible post!

 

 

So why does he feel the need to wear I hi-viz vest?

[rab]

There is a school of though which suggests that if you wear Hi Viz on the railway then the train driver has a much better chance of swerving aroundyou if you are a bit slow moving off the track after a head on shot.The same school claims that Orange Hi Viz makes one look slimmer. The camouflage hat helps offset the impact of the Hi Viz.Personally I keep bright yellow Hi Viz in the car in case I get a puncture etc. If I want to look a prat I have a red woolly hat with a bobble....

I didn't realise trains could swerve around things

[tomparryharry]

The Taff Vale Railway had an answer to the problem. Access to the platform was denied. You had to wait in the shelter. Once the train arrived, the guard unlocked the barrier, and allowed you to join the train. Probably not a bad idea with the kiddies of today.

 

Ian.

[Nearholmer]

"So why does he feel the need to wear I hi-viz vest?"

 

Maybe the guy's a bit lonely, and wearing part of the garb makes him feel a little-bit part of something.

 

Or, maybe he's just ridden his bike to the station.

 

who can tell?

 

​What I do know, is that if I was him, I'd feel pretty hacked-off to discover that a load of fellow railway enthusiasts, if indeed he is one, were ripping me behind my back ...... or in front of my blacked-out face, if he happens to be an RWWeb member, which is more than conceivable.

Edited August 1, 2018 by Nearholmer

[Peter Kazmierczak]

Two different people thought I was a member of the station staff one afternoon recently, asking me about trains to London.

 

I'd come straight from school to take a photo of something (can't remember what now) so still had my school photo ID badge on.

No Hi-Vis (our children aren't that bad....), just my shirt and tie.

 

I gave them the info they required though.....

[Pacific231G]

The combination of hi-vi and camouflage clothing is to be seen in the clothing aisles of French supermarkets every autumn, in an effort to reduce 'friendly-fire' incidents during the hunting season. Perhaps this was a French 'ferrovipath'

The only time I've been mistaken for railway staff was at Gare Montparnasse, waiting for Lynne to finish work. I hadn't realised that dark blue blazer and mid-grey trousers were de-facto uniform for middle-management, so was somewhat surprised when an elderly woman started asking me for train information.

No.

She clearly identified you as a British railway enthusiast and therefore far more likely to understand SNCF's trains than any of its management    

[PatB]

This thread is very informative, but not in the way that many of its contributors probably think..........

[PatB]

Frankly, I've no idea why the bloke is wearing hi-viz, but then I'll happily confess to being in complete ignorance of the reasons for the "fashion" choices of much of the population. What I don't do as a result is assume that they're engaged in some form of deception.

 

As for being beyond the sign? Well, technically yes, but he's still on a part of the platform that appears indistinguishable from the bit 2 metres away, and he's certainly still on this side of the obvious boundary represented by the fence and the top of the platform ramp. I'd concur that the sign is sited where it is because the post presented a convenient mount for it. That what the subject of the OP is doing truly constitutes intentional trespass is seriously stretching it IMHO.

[Colin_McLeod]

Storm in a tea cup.

[Rivercider]

Nowadays I never have a day out specifically to take railway photos, but always carry a camera when we are out for the day.

Eight years ago, (I remember the incident well), I was on my way home from a day out and was changing trains when a freight train came to a stand in the platform.

Without thinking or reading any signs I went straight to the place I had taken dozens of photos back in the 1980s near the platform end, but not on the ramp, and took a photo. I had inadvertently passed the 'no passenger' sign.

Immediately I had a shout from the platform staff which sent me scuttling back to where I should have been, which made me feel rather foolish! 

 

cheers

[The Evil Bus Driver]

How not to draw attention to yourself? Don't go to Blackpool North by train. Ever.

 

 

Edited July 21, 2020 by The Evil Bus Driver

[RJS1977]

On 02/08/2018 at 13:32, Rivercider said:

Nowadays I never have a day out specifically to take railway photos, but always carry a camera when we are out for the day.

Eight years ago, (I remember the incident well), I was on my way home from a day out and was changing trains when a freight train came to a stand in the platform.

Without thinking or reading any signs I went straight to the place I had taken dozens of photos back in the 1980s near the platform end, but not on the ramp, and took a photo. I had inadvertently passed the 'no passenger' sign.

Immediately I had a shout from the platform staff which sent me scuttling back to where I should have been, which made me feel rather foolish! 

 

cheers

 

I've often wondered - if you are on the platform, but are not a passenger (e.g. you've just gone to take a photo), are you allowed to pass the sign?

[big jim]

2 hours ago, The Evil Bus Driver said:

How not to draw attention to yourself? Don't go to Blackpool North by train. Ever.

 

 

 

care to enlighten us 

 

blackpool north is notorious for jobsworth staff, ive been denied access to the platform in uniform on duty going to prep a network rail test train!

[The Evil Bus Driver]

On 21/07/2020 at 19:47, big jim said:

 

care to enlighten us 

 

blackpool north is notorious for jobsworth staff, ive been denied access to the platform in uniform on duty going to prep a network rail test train!

I mean they're probably watching everyone who gets off a train so not getting their attention would be difficult. I do hope you lodged an official complaint with their superiors.

[big jim]

I phoned network rail control and explained that the train wouldn’t be running that day and we would be losing a days recording as we were being denied access to it by platform staff 

 

didn’t take longer for the phones to glow red hot and we were soon allowed on the platform 

[caradoc]

Hopefully Northern will have taken note of this incident, and done something about it. My experience of Blackpool North, not matched anywhere else, is that staff will not let passengers onto the platform until very shortly before train departure; Most irritating if you have bought a coffee and snack to eat on the train !

 

Edited July 26, 2020 by caradoc
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