Spotters/enthusiasts and wearing hi vis

[GatwickDepress]

I can understand wearing hi-viz to a certain extent; especially at night when you'd want to be easily seen. However a lot of these enthusiasts seem to choose orange deliberately because it's the de facto colour on the railways. It's a bit sad really.

I don't wear orange (unless it all goes completely base over apex) but I've had to give up shopping in Asda after work having being asked for all manner of things from haemorrhoid cream to Sauvignon Blanc

Last time I went to Lidl after work, an irate manager asked me to open up a till. Pointing out that I was wearing a rival's uniform and pushing a trolley only seemed to infuriate her...

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

I can understand wearing hi-viz to a certain extent; especially at night when you'd want to be easily seen. However a lot of these enthusiasts seem to choose orange deliberately because it's the de facto colour on the railways. It's a bit sad really.


Last time I went to Lidl after work, an irate manager asked me to open up a till. Pointing out that I was wearing a rival's uniform and pushing a trolley only seemed to infuriate her...

PMSL...

That is incredibly funny

 

[Temple Meads]

Because they are sad and inadequate people who will never work on the railway. Also, tonezzzzz.

One thing I heard (which has been mentioned here already) is that they do it to get drivers to use their horns. I'd never do this because, quite frankly, it is sad. Saddos and squares are the words that spring to mind.

A lot of the people who act like this have learning difficulties so I think the above is probably a bit harsh, annoying though the tones and hi-viz things are.

 

[Harbornite]

A lot of the people who act like this have learning difficulties so I think the above is probably a bit harsh, annoying though the tones and hi-viz things are.

That doesn't surprise me, trainspotting seems to attract its fair share of people with difficulties. Doesn't make it right though.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

A lot of the people who act like this have learning difficulties so I think the above is probably a bit harsh, annoying though the tones and hi-viz things are.

A lot of people who have learning difficulties and who go out in groups often wear Hi-Vis because they stand out in crowds in case they wonder off

 

[Master29]

I've seen lots of people wearing orange - it happens every time Wolves play away from home...

Not if they`re wearing the away kit wink wink.

 

[DasLunatic]

Not if they`re wearing the away kit wink wink.

Most fans wear the home kit, even if the team's playing in the away kit...

 

[neilmc]

Back in real trainspotting days, you didn't WANT to be seen as you crept round depots without a permit pretty much every weekend. Of course, true railwaymen didn't wear hi-viz jackets either, they wore faded blue overalls covered in soot stains, even when their depot had gone dieselised.

 

[Andyh82]

this. very much this.

Not just trains. There is a guy who hangs around Huddersfield bus station who wears old bus company coat/rucksack and always 'takes control' whenever a bus comes in on the wrong stand or something like that, directing passengers, helping passengers with timetable info even if they didn't ask etc and marches around like he owns the place.

 

[robbeech]

A number of years ago when i had a Friday night off (rare in my line of work) i'd pop out to a nearby town to a particular live music venue with a few friends, have a couple of drinks (maybe a couple more) and get a taxi home.
There was a chap that used to dress as a security guard and come in and stand by the door for a while, and then go and stand by the bar, just generally acting as if he were meant to be there for that purpose. Infact, most people thought he was, and actually, there was never any trouble when he was around. Clearly, this was not the case, he was just a regular person. So it seems to happen with lots of things.

 

[Mojo]

Didn't someone out you as not a driver a while back?

No they didn't.

 

[noddingdonkey]

Not just trains. There is a guy who hangs around Huddersfield bus station who wears old bus company coat/rucksack and always 'takes control' whenever a bus comes in on the wrong stand or something like that, directing passengers, helping passengers with timetable info even if they didn't ask etc and marches around like he owns the place.

As a regular user of Huddersfield bus station, matters would be improved considerably if First bothered to employ somebody in such a role, with the ability to see and act upon issues, as seems to be the common practice elsewhere.

 

[RichmondCommu]

I've seen lots of people wearing orange - it happens every time Wolves play away from home...

I've also noticed this at major international football tournaments.

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Not just trains. There is a guy who hangs around Huddersfield bus station who wears old bus company coat/rucksack and always 'takes control' whenever a bus comes in on the wrong stand or something like that, directing passengers, helping passengers with timetable info even if they didn't ask etc and marches around like he owns the place.

I know exactly who you mean.

I've ran into him a few times, he's either been given or (more likely) nicked a FirstGroup hi vis and then proceeded to take over the running of Huddersfield bus station as if its his own play thing, quite sad really.

He once moaned about me walking to Brighouse bus station to get the, at the time, 0825 547 to Huddersfield (I'd also popped to the shop to purchase myself a refreshing drink as well) and on another occation he moaned about the stop on Brighouse Bridge (Huddersfield Road / Cliffe Road) saying that it should be removed - who the hell made him infrastructure manager.


Give them a hi vi, megaphone, clipboard and safety boots and then they think they can do what the hell they wish - the power of the hi vi has certainly gone to this morons head.

 

[Lockwood]

From a security and safety perspective, it's vital that non-rail staff do not wear orange hi-vi on railway property.

What about the postman delivering mail to the station?


I seem to be taken for staff most places I go. It does get silly going to any supermarket after work, or even IKEA, and being asked for stuff. Or asked about rail journeys - times/platforms/changes whilst waiting for my train home.

 

[londonboi]

Didn't someone out you as not a driver a while back?

How did you know he wasn't doing a survey of some sort? When I started In pway years back we always got told to back owledge a driver even if on a platform ?

Don't know what your talking about I am a driver and drive passenger trains have been for over 3 years now so you must be thinking about someone else


They were not a memento of staff as they had a very expensive camera around there neck carrying a carrier back and had there wife/partner/gf/female friend Eth them
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Excuse my spelling above. I was using my wonder highly accurate IPhone which seemed to correct my spelling and do the above I apologise for the spelling in advance.

 

[Master29]

Most fans wear the home kit, even if the team's playing in the away kit...

By that reckoning does Molineux look like a network rail convention every saturday afternoon?

 

[richieb1971]

I have a friend who wears a hi vis jacket, but only because he goes to the railways on a motorbike. He's harmless though, and certainly wouldn't provoke a drivers attention. This thread is a bit overkill in my humble opinion, people should be able to wear what they like. In the case of my friend if he knew wearing the jacket made the drivers mad he would take it off immediately, being the humble type of person he is.

 

[londonboi]

I have a friend who wears a hi vis jacket, but only because he goes to the railways on a motorbike. He's harmless though, and certainly wouldn't provoke a drivers attention. This thread is a bit overkill in my humble opinion, people should be able to wear what they like. In the case of my friend if he knew wearing the jacket made the drivers mad he would take it off immediately, being the humble type of person he is.

I don't think it makes anyone mad. Not me I just wanted to know why they found the need to wear them giving there not staff that's all. It can be a bit off putting for a driver in my case i mentioned the other day this man was standing towards the edge of the platform granted not close to edge but standing facing me as I was approaching. Now when your a driver and pulling into a platform and see someone standing with a bright orange hivi jacket on halfwsy down the platform and halfway away from the normal stopping mark you begin to wonder what's happening not was not until I got closer and close enough to see he wears wearing white trainers and not a uniform that I realised he was a spotter taking pictures of trains coming in. Then when I stopped opened my doors I observed him pick his carrier bag up and board with a female who was either his wife,gf,partner,female friend

Then got me thinking why a spotter would find the need to wear a bright orange jacket to take pictures then stick his arm in the air as if to acknowledge he saw me and was in a place of safety like track workers and patrol men do

Wouldn't say it got me mad though lol
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I don't think it makes anyone mad. Not me I just wanted to know why they found the need to wear them giving there not staff that's all. It can be a bit off putting for a driver in my case i mentioned the other day this man was standing towards the edge of the platform granted not close to edge but standing facing me as I was approaching. Now when your a driver and pulling into a platform and see someone standing with a bright orange hivi jacket on halfwsy down the platform and halfway away from the normal stopping mark you begin to wonder what's happening not was not until I got closer and close enough to see he wears wearing white trainers and not a uniform that I realised he was a spotter taking pictures of trains coming in. Then when I stopped opened my doors I observed him pick his carrier bag up and board with a female who was either his wife,gf,partner,female friend

Then got me thinking why a spotter would find the need to wear a bright orange jacket to take pictures then stick his arm in the air as if to acknowledge he saw me and was in a place of safety like track workers and patrol men do

Wouldn't say it got me mad though lol

Once again apologise for the spelling and grammar thanks to iPhone wonderful auto correct ggrrr

 

[DarloRich]

A lot of spotters work on the railway - your argument is, therefore, invalid

no it isn't. some spotters work on the railway. Lots of them don't and never will.

A lot of the people who act like this have learning difficulties so I think the above is probably a bit harsh, annoying though the tones and hi-viz things are.

Some do. Lots don't. Social difficulties perhaps but not disabilities.

A lot of people who have learning difficulties and who go out in groups often wear Hi-Vis because they stand out in crowds in case they wonder off

No they don't. At least none of the groups I have worked with would ever do that. How demeaning.

Most fans wear the home kit, even if the team's playing in the away kit...

Wolves have an away kit?

 

[jamesst]

this. very much this.

Thumbs up for this! It's when you see grown men trainspotting get upset with the driver for not blowing the horn for them that you start to wonder!

 

[frodshamfella]

Hi haven't seen them wearing hi-viz, but I do have a particular local gripe. I use Acton Bridge Station, its car park is very small, and at week days, it can be a real struggle getting a place to park. This is made worse, because of train spotters taking places that commuters need. Someone has put a notice up in the station building asking people to be considerate when parking due to car park small size, and certainly people are it seems much more careful about taking up a space and a half, that sort of thing. It is however frustrating for us fare paying passengers not being able to park when spotters cars are in the car park, which is free.

 

[TonyMitchell]

Any profession where there is a uniform that gives some form of authority, or perceived authority, will attract imposters.

This one is particularly amusing - a fake ambulance driver!

As I see it, the problem of non-staff purposely dressing to be mistaken as staff whilst on the railway, are the potential safety issues - both to themselves and others, particularly in an irregular or emergency situation.

I'm sure there are some that think the orange hi-vis gives them authority to venture beyond platform boundaries, cross the track and do other things that even members of staff without PTS aren't permitted to do! Thinking back to a recent thread about the guy that dropped his phone in the four foot - if one of these orange clad spotters had been on the platform, I imagine he would have jumped at the opportunity to retrieve it.

Network Rail do have a set of guidelines aimed at "enthusiasts", which includes, "Please do not wear anything which is similar in colour to safety clothing, such as high-visibility jackets, as this could cause confusion to drivers and other railway employees." Perhaps this is all too polite and there should be something in the byelaws, much more specific and defined (along the lines of what constitutes impersonating a police officer).

 

[AlterEgo]

Any profession where there is a uniform that gives some form of authority, or perceived authority, will attract imposters.

This one is particularly amusing - a fake ambulance driver!

What a sad waste of space he was.

 

[90019]

A lot of people who have learning difficulties and who go out in groups often wear Hi-Vis because they stand out in crowds in case they wonder off

No they don't. At least none of the groups I have worked with would ever do that. How demeaning.

I get groups on my bus fairly regularly, and I've never seen any if them wearing anything like that either.

 

[ComUtoR]

I get groups on my bus fairly regularly, and I've never seen any if them wearing anything like that either.

I get coach loads of kids on my trains on a very regular basis. Most wear HVV's Teachers too.

A Driver sees so many people wearing a HVV on the stations and track on an almost daily basis I'm shocked this thread even appeared. Red lights on bikes, Cyclists in HVV's, Builders etc. etc. I've waved to many of them.

 

[AnonymousUser1]

What about the postman delivering mail to the station?


I seem to be taken for staff most places I go. It does get silly going to any supermarket after work, or even IKEA, and being asked for stuff. Or asked about rail journeys - times/platforms/changes whilst waiting for my train home.

never sure why RMG have their obsession with orange HV ...

actually i can it's so the CWU 'RM drunk' types can distinguish 'Postmen' from 'agency scum' in the hubs ...

 

[Marklund]

I don't think it makes anyone mad. Not me I just wanted to know why they found the need to wear them giving there not staff that's all. It can be a bit off putting for a driver in my case i mentioned the other day this man was standing towards the edge of the platform granted not close to edge but standing facing me as I was approaching. Now when your a driver and pulling into a platform and see someone standing with a bright orange hivi jacket on halfwsy down the platform and halfway away from the normal stopping mark you begin to wonder what's happening not was not until I got closer and close enough to see he wears wearing white trainers and not a uniform that I realised he was a spotter taking pictures of trains coming in. Then when I stopped opened my doors I observed him pick his carrier bag up and board with a female who was either his wife,gf,partner,female friend

Then got me thinking why a spotter would find the need to wear a bright orange jacket to take pictures then stick his arm in the air as if to acknowledge he saw me and was in a place of safety like track workers and patrol men do

Wouldn't say it got me mad though lol

Spot on mate. The ones that do it can have no complaints.
It's here in the Network Rail guidance for train spotters at stations.

On the platform
Please do not:
Wear anything which is similar in colour to safety clothing, such as high-visibility jackets, as this could cause confusion to drivers and other railway employees

 

[kieron]

never sure why RMG have their obsession with orange HV ...

actually i can it's so the CWU 'RM drunk' types can distinguish 'Postmen' from 'agency scum' in the hubs ...

Isn't it so the staff can see a manager approach from a mile away? Royal Mail unitforms are pretty distinctive once you get close, anyway.

If the DfT were concerned about this, I suspect they'd look into introducing more distinctive P-way uniforms before trying to control members of the public.

 

[londonboi]

Spot on mate. The ones that do it can have no complaints.
It's here in the Network Rail guidance for train spotters at stations.

Thank you kind sir glad someone agrees lol