Friendly train drivers

[JustinStacey.x]

Have any tails of friendly train drivers?

Yesterday at Paisley Canal I nervously asked the driver if I could get a cab picture of the 156 and he was more than happy to let me. Then when we arrived at Glasgow Central he took me into the cab again and showed me what everything does. I was amazed at how many things there are to keep an eye on - way more complicated than BVE! He also told me an interesting fact that they have found to save a lot of deisel if one leaves on notch 3 and then gradually eases upwards instead of just leaving on 7 which I know some drivers have a habit of doing.

I didn't catch his name but he looked to be in his 50s, grey hair, and on the offchance you are reading this, thanks for the tour!

As a side note; was anyone in Glasgow Central yesterday around 4PM? There was a Voyager there which managed to clag so much it polluted the entire concourse of Glasgow Central for ages afterward. I have photos of it and will post here when I manage to upload them!

 

[37401]

NXEC drivers a nice when I was at Doncaster i took a pic of Mk4 DVT and the driver came out to see the shot and he let me cab it, at Kings cross I took a pic of a HST on the blocks and ther driver came out to see my photo and asked me if i wanted to take some cab shots and then we just sat and talked about GC,Valentas and GNER

 

[cawky22]

you will get a friendly driver if you catch him on a good day , i was on Central Station Newcastle and a Reading cross Country train pulled in 10 early, I asked the driver what was quickest on acceleration , this or a 91 , he said they were about the same, he then invted me into the cab for a look, very modern cab compared to a HST.

My granda took Edinburgh in the front of a HST when I was 16, it was amazing,he then also took me to York in a 47, it was the when they were doing the transpennine service , I actually went in the engine room when we were doing a ton between York and Northallerton.

 

[christhetube]

Is'nt it nice to know that there are still some drivers around who support our hobby

 

[JustinStacey.x]

A few of them have got to be hobbyists themselves, I mean, let's face it, if you're not one bit interested in trains why would you want to spend hours driving around and around in one? There's got to be a lot more bus drivers because big cities are literally crawling in them, in Glasgow's main streets I'd say at least half of all vehicles are buses and the other 1/4 are Taxis. A few of the drivers in my small town are clearly into buses and let me into the cab and stuff. One guy even took a photo of me IN the cab.

I figure the best you can do is ask nicely and hope. And if they say no, you don't argue... simplez.

 

[anthony263]

Well i have meat a few freindly train drivers who work for arriva on the cardiff valley lines and you can always expect to see at least 1 of them working and they all give a toot of the horn and a wave if they see u.

The bus company i work for is full of bus/railway enthusiasts including myself, u can always expect a wave from me if you see me.

 

[SouthEastern-465]

I done this before it is brilliant.

I Cabbed a Class 466 on the Bromley Popper Line but the driver was very freindly but did not give me a detailed tour like yours JustinStacey.X!

But some people on the site dont beleave this happens and say we are lying saying we cabbed trains now that someone else has done it they might beleave me!
Regards

 

[jonnorail]

I will not say too much but there are some drivers out there who are not enthusiasts and just simply in the job for the money, so they say and act also!!!

Best Regards

Jonathan McGurk

Railway and Freelance Phtographer

www.jonathanmcgurk.fotopic.net

 

[matt]

It was good to see today at Bentley Heath crossing near Dorridge that most of the drivers returned the waves of several small children waving at the trains.

 

[JustinStacey.x]

I done this before it is brilliant.

I Cabbed a Class 466 on the Bromley Popper Line but the driver was very freindly but did not give me a detailed tour like yours JustinStacey.X!

But some people on the site dont beleave this happens and say we are lying saying we cabbed trains now that someone else has donw it they might beleave me!
Regards

Unbelievable. Direct them to Youtube and then they'll believe it. There are loads of people on their showcasing their cab rides. I know one member who has been in a LOT of cabs. I myself have been in a 322 while it was moving (rear cab) a 318 and a 156. I hope to do some more cabs at the weekend.

If what you say is true, there seems to be a trend of folk on this site 'not beleiving' what other spotters have done. The other day I posted a picture of a clagging Voyager and some of the posters were determined to prove it was photoshopped. I haven't bloody touched photoshop in yonks!

 

[37401]

I know one member who has been in a LOT of cabs.

its not me (Victorialine67) is it ive had about 30 odd cabs since last october I just meet all the nice drivers

 

[JustinStacey.x]

No, sorry dear

 

[Lee_Again]

Last year I organised a Charity Ball to raise money for a national charity. The top auction prize was won by a NXEC driver. When he found out my 'hobby' he arranged for me to take a cab ride from Kings Cross to Leeds and back. HST there, DVT back. You can't imagine how thrilling it was. What a day.

 

[SouthEastern-465]

Unbelievable. Direct them to Youtube and then they'll believe it. There are loads of people on their showcasing their cab rides. I know one member who has been in a LOT of cabs. I myself have been in a 322 while it was moving (rear cab) a 318 and a 156. I hope to do some more cabs at the weekend.

If what you say is true, there seems to be a trend of folk on this site 'not beleiving' what other spotters have done. The other day I posted a picture of a clagging Voyager and some of the posters were determined to prove it was photoshopped. I haven't bloody touched photoshop in yonks!

Tell me about it!

But as others of said cabbing is yonks old and have been going since steam was around so really its a tradition and people need to belive what really goes on.

Now theres a couple of us 'Cabbers' maybe people might change there mind and belive us for once.
Regards

 

[wensley]

Just come back from Knaresborough and must say that the signalman and driver of 2C22 were very kind when I asked for the headcode and although the signaller did not know the driver called it down the platform just as he pulled away. The signaller was ready for me when the next train (2C25) arrived though!!!!

 

[37372]

I once met a friendly Freightliner driver who, when he saw me and a mate photting the loco, invited us into the sidings to come and have a look around the cab. Nothing went wrong, no one was hurt, and no one died.

There are also some friendly drivers around who give a little blast on the horn, and some very friendly conductors too who are good to have a chat with! Kudos to you all

 

[JustinStacey.x]

If you move your hand up and down in a 'pulling the chain' motion some drivers give you a toot, some just look at you blankly, and others laugh, as in one of my YT vids.

 

[43034 The Black Horse]

If you move your hand up and down in a 'pulling the chain' motion some drivers give you a toot, some just look at you blankly, and others laugh, as in one of my YT vids.

No wonder they laugh. It means conduct a brake test to them.... Never found the fascination with horns....

 

[37372]

Neither do I, but it must give the drivers something to laugh at seeing people jumping around and making themselves look like fools.

 

[ungreat]

,he then also took me to York in a 47, it was the when they were doing the transpennine service , I actually went in the engine room when we were doing a ton between York and Northallerton.

The 47's I was trained on were limited to 95mph,as were all of them if I remember right....
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

If you move your hand up and down in a 'pulling the chain' motion some drivers give you a toot, some just look at you blankly, and others laugh, as in one of my YT vids.

I always respond with a toot!

 

[37401]

I always respond with a toot!

nice one

 

[Pumbaa]

The DBS drivers working the MK - Crydon and Abbey flyer service are all friendly, makes a change, most LM drivers are miserable gits!

 

[heart-of-wessex]

I have met a few friendly ones, some though do let you in and wonder why the hell you want a look...

I doubt many believe I have cabbed the amount listed in my signature, but I have done those!

 

[JustinStacey.x]

No wonder they laugh. It means conduct a break test to them.... Never found the fascination with horns....

LOL! I never knew that.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Neither do I, but it must give the drivers something to laugh at seeing people jumping around and making themselves look like fools.

You seem rather miserable. Whats the harm in having a bit of fun? Loads of enthusiasts do it, and many drivers respond with a two tone horn.

 

[37372]

Miserable? Only if you catch me on a bad day
I aim to try and be a professional videographer, and the last thing I want to be is tarred with the same brush as those who jump up and down and start dancing around for train horns. Yes it may be their way of getting their railway fix, but that's not my idea of fun.

I'm not against friendly drivers giving a blast on the horn, but some people are a little too enthusiastic in getting them.

 

[JustinStacey.x]

I never mentioned jumping up and around and dancing... I do the pulling the chain motion calmly and if the driver does the horn I wave and say thank you, if not, no biggie...

Whether or not it means 'conduct a brake test' is irrelevant; it's universal railfan sign language for 'hey, give us a toot!'. Just because we like having a horn blasted doesn't make us fools, jumping up and down, or any 'less' than you 'professional' folk, thanks.

I also prefer the comedic feel rather than the 'professional' feel. If I wanted professional, I'd go into television. I'll shut up now before I annoy the moderators and get my thread locked.

 

[devon_metro]

No wonder they laugh. It means conduct a break test to them.... Never found the fascination with horns....

What's a break test then...

Drivers much be fairly skilled in taking a break. A nice cuppa' and bicci me thinks!

 

[JustinStacey.x]

What's a break test then...

Drivers much be fairly skilled in taking a break. A nice cuppa' and bicci me thinks!

Don't forget the newspaper.

 

[Ilove165's]

Did ask a HT driver to give me a two-tone upon departure and he obliged...shame it was a DVT horn and not the 86!

Whenever I'm at West Ruislip with my neice, she'll point at a train and the drivers respond by either waving or giving a little toot of the horn...she loves it!

 

[JustinStacey.x]

I'm just watching Dumb and Dumber and they did the same pulling the chain motion when a trucker passed lol. I wonder where it originated from though.