When were train drivers banned from smoking in the cab?

[PaxmanValenta]

I recently saw one of those Micheal Palin railway programs on Youtube made back in about 1981. I remember it was in the ECML when Micheal entered the cab seeing an HST driver smoking a pipe. Those were the good old days I thought. But when did they actually ban drivers from smoking in the cab?

Was it as late as the 2007 public place smoking ban?

 

[Carlisle]

Was it as late as the 2007 public place smoking ban?

Correct.

 

[Mag_seven]

I was on a Bakerloo line train the other day sitting behind the drivers cab and I'm sure the driver was having a fly fag in between stations as I could "taste" the smoke on my mouth and smell it slightly. (There was no-one else in the coach that I could see smoking).

 

[Intermodal]

I was on a Bakerloo line train the other day sitting behind the drivers cab and I'm sure the driver was having a fly fag in between stations as I could "taste" the smoke on my mouth and smell it slightly. (There was no-one else in the coach that I could see smoking).

I have it on good authority that it still happens on freights, too.

 

[dilbertphil]

A driving cab is a workplace and therefore smoking is not allowed. Anyone who is caught smoking in there would be disciplined up to and including dismissal. It's classed as gross misconduct at my TOC.

 

[matt_world2004]

I was on a Bakerloo line train the other day sitting behind the drivers cab and I'm sure the driver was having a fly fag in between stations as I could "taste" the smoke on my mouth and smell it slightly. (There was no-one else in the coach that I could see smoking).

If it was the bakerloo line that could be the wires under the floor

 

[theageofthetra]

A driving cab is a workplace and therefore smoking is not allowed. Anyone who is caught smoking in there would be disciplined up to and including dismissal. It's classed as gross misconduct at my TOC.

And is selfish and shows no consideration to their colleagues who then have to sit in it. Same applies to those who eat stinking hot food and leave the mess in the cab.

 

[PaxmanValenta]

A driving cab is a workplace and therefore smoking is not allowed. Anyone who is caught smoking in there would be disciplined up to and including dismissal. It's classed as gross misconduct at my TOC.

Would that also include smoking in the cab of shunters and freight trains on non passenger lines?

 

[Intermodal]

Would that also include smoking in the cab of shunters and freight trains on non passenger lines?

Yes, it is still a workplace. In the same way nobody is allowed to smoke in their company van. Health Act 2006.

 

[AlterEgo]

Would that also include smoking in the cab of shunters and freight trains on non passenger lines?

Yes. These are places of work. It doesn’t matter if the public use that workplace or not.

 

[theageofthetra]

Yes, it is still a workplace. In the same way nobody is allowed to smoke in their company van. Health Act 2006.

Seem to recall some wag putting a no smoking sign up in the cab of a steam locomotive when this came into force.?

 

[dk1]

Windows down on a cold day is a dead give away too. It is also another way of showing zero respect for the following colleague who has to occupy that cab

 

[theageofthetra]

Windows down on a cold day is a dead give away too. It is also another way of showing zero respect for the following colleague who has to occupy that cab

Absolutely. No excuse.

 

[Juniper Driver]

Never really notice it only the discarded coffee cups of which nobody can be bothered to stick in a bin.

 

[theageofthetra]

Never really notice it only the discarded coffee cups of which nobody can be bothered to stick in a bin.

Do any cabs have bins?

 

[tsr]

Do any cabs have bins?

Yes. Though by no means all.

 

[43096]

Do any cabs have bins?

Railfreight used to renumber locos every time they emptied the bin....

 

[Juniper Driver]

Do any cabs have bins?

707's do but generally.No.

Still I don't find it too much effort throwing (someone elses) rubbish out.It's a pity they do.

 

[dk1]

Yes. Though by no means all.

Whether they have a bin that's full or no bin at all then I always take my litter with me & dispose at my first opportunity. I also take that of the scum that left it before me as I worry the next person may think it's me.

 

[Juniper Driver]

Whether they have a bin that's full or no bin at all then I always take my litter with me & dispose at my first opportunity. I also take that of the scum that left it before me as I worry the next person may think it's me.

That is a good point.

 

[Antman]

Windows down on a cold day is a dead give away too. It is also another way of showing zero respect for the following colleague who has to occupy that cab

I'm not excusing it but as long as no mess is left behind surely said colleague is never going to know?

 

[Panupreset]

'Windows down on a dead cold day is a give away too'

Take you don't sign 317's! Cab has a heater with two settings:
OFF
35,000,000 deg celcius

This requires drop window to be lowered from time to time, even on the coldest of days. Above about 60mph the venturi effect can suck the internal cab door into moving and slamming with a terrific crash.

 

[Juniper Driver]

I'm not excusing it but as long as no mess is left behind surely said colleague is never going to know?

Possibly....and another trick is heat on,on the hottest days in the summer and cab is like a sauna or all windows open on the coldest day with heating off.Sometimes I think this is done deliberately and out of spite.

 

[dk1]

I'm not excusing it but as long as no mess is left behind surely said colleague is never going to know?

He/she does as the cab is cold. They leave the windows down to clear the smell. That's a double whammy.

 

[robbeech]

I have an ‘open’ complaint with an operator here up in the Northern half of the country about a guard smoking in the rear cab of a 142. I have had a call about it and have been told they will update me (I’m not expecting any more correspondence and don’t necessarily need it) when they have got to the bottom of it as it is a very serious matter.

We used to have issues with drivers in our trucks smoking. Particularly over the winter months when they didn’t want to step outside overnight when parked. The problem has gone away now miraculously and the new drivers are very good.

 

[D365]

Take you don't sign 317's! Cab has a heater with two settings:
OFF
35,000,000 deg celcius

As far as I can tell, the same goes for my experience of the Class 700s.

 

[Kneedown]

Windows down on a cold day is a dead give away too.

Not necessarily. I often have a window open on even the coldest days as a way of staying alert when flagging a little.
(It also lets a bit of warmth in on some of our 156's! )

 

[47271]

I sometimes get a strong whiff of fag smoke in the front coach on morning Scotrail 170s between Perth and Edinburgh. I always look up and down to see if it's a passenger, and of course it isn't. So it's either the driver, or a farmer in a field with the world's most enormous cigarette.

 

[PaxmanValenta]

'Windows down on a dead cold day is a give away too'

Take you don't sign 317's! Cab has a heater with two settings:
OFF
35,000,000 deg celcius

This requires drop window to be lowered from time to time, even on the coldest of days. Above about 60mph the venturi effect can suck the internal cab door into moving and slamming with a terrific crash.

Have often seen HSTs running with cab door open on hot days and same with 47s when they were in service.

 

[Dentonian]

Never really notice it only the discarded coffee cups of which nobody can be bothered to stick in a bin.

Lazy and selfish, but I don't think you can get lung cancer and various other diseases from passive coffee cup disposing of.