Graffiti on our trains

[craigmcp]

What does everyone think of graffiti art?
Do you like to see a full colour peice roll past the station? Does it offend you?

I am a photographer, with a massive interest in graffiti and railways and their trains. I love to see a nicely painted freight train. Do you?

 

[Ben]

Graffiti is not art its just scumbags causing criminal damage.

Art should be in the designated places such as Galleries.

 

[37412]

I love to see a nicely painted freight train. Do you?

Yes, Dutch yellow and grey has always been my favouite livery 8)

 

[Craig]

In the right context some artistic graffiti can look good (this for example). Generally trains don't make a particularly good canvas though and "tagging" is just ****.

Banksy-esque works are often quite interesting but people tend to read too much into the social/political commentary and they are becoming a bit clichéd now.

 

[Coxster]

Like Craig implied, it depends on what kind of graffiti we're talking about. I know it's not on a train, and therefore going off-topic, but would you class this as graffiti or something more?

 

[class 313]

Depends. Back when Networkers were all NSE (under NSE) there was cases when the whole carriage was completely sprayed. To be fair it must of took ages with a lot of work gone in.

But in most cases its just vandalism.
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Like Craig implied, it depends on what kind of graffiti we're talking about. I know it's not on a train, and therefore going off-topic, but would you class this as graffiti or something more?

To be honest I would back this one up to have it saved. Its a nice, thoughtful mural. Which shows how much that guy obviously meant to people.

 

[O L Leigh]

We've had one side of a 4 car unit completely sprayed from solebar to cant rail on more than one ocassion during the course of a single night. You can't fault these guys for their industry, but it is a criminal act no matter how pretty or colourful their work might be.

Personally it angers me that this sort of thing happens and I find it embarrassing to drive trains with graffitti on them. I just can't see any excuse for it. The perpetrators should be made to clean off their handiwork themselves, pay for the materials to do so and compensate the railway for any losses incurred from having the train out of use. Then they can be turned over to the criminal justice system.

O L Leigh

 

[class 313]

We've had one side of a 4 car unit completely sprayed from solebar to cant rail on more than one ocassion during the course of a single night. You can't fault these guys for their industry, but it is a criminal act no matter how pretty or colourful their work might be.

Personally it angers me that this sort of thing happens and I find it embarrassing to drive trains with graffitti on them. I just can't see any excuse for it. The perpetrators should be made to clean off their handiwork themselves, pay for the materials to do so and compensate the railway for any losses incurred from having the train out of use. Then they can be turned over to the criminal justice system.

O L Leigh

Nothing like this?
http://www.graffiti.org/dj/n-igma1/trains/large/dosordie.jpg

 

[RonS]

Graffitti:- A BLOT ON THE LANDSCAPE. A genuine artist has consideration for others. These people don't. They are not good enough artists to get recognition in the correct manner so they vandalise the landscape in frustration.

 

[craigmcp]

I agree with many of you but when some of you are saying it is not an artform, then i have to disagree,, yes TAGGING is terrible, tagging is what i see as pointless but a nice 3D peice is completely different. It is a name the writer chooses for himself, he takes that name and writes it everywhere, mainly to get fame. Bilboards, posters advertisments on the streets and buses, why cant they write their name on trains? It is an advert for them. It is vandalism, yes they shouldnt do it but can you understand why they do it? peodephiles, murderers and rapists are getting off lightly when street artists are being sent down for what?? writing their name. I dont paint, I photograph it.. I see both sides of the argument.. I wish more people could.
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graffiti paint is not cheap!

 

[JoshW1992]

Ok, this is going a tiny bit off topic, as it is a station building not a train, but I feel it is still relevant.
Although I think this (http://www.photosbyjosh.fotopic.net/p45942136.html) looked good from some angles, it is still criminal damage and has ruined the station.

 

[Z12XE]

That station linked to above is a right bloody mess.

I always find it annoying when the TOC allows legal vandalism aswell - getting kids to paint a mural, always looks awful and generally makes the station look like an uncaredfor dump

 

[JoshW1992]

That station linked to above is a right bloody mess.

I always find it annoying when the TOC allows legal vandalism aswell - getting kids to paint a mural, always looks awful and generally makes the station look like an uncared for dump

I agree... Its a lovely location, right out in the middle of no where, and the least likely place you could imagine vandalism. However, I do believe the same thing happened three times in a row.

 

[Z12XE]

Thats what we find here in Essex though, the stations in the middle of nowhere (Kirby Cross, Weeley, most Southminster line stations etc) are right sh.t holes and get the most vandalism/graffitti

 

[craigmcp]

Yes.. well that isnt the best graffiti.

Would you rather see a blank old bridge or a bridge that is being kept alive with colour and somthing productive, same goes to freight trains... long boring metal.. needs to be vibrant, wheather its a tag or a nice peice. those EWS freights seem so dull.. how nice is it to see some colour on them! Some of the best graffiti artists get their names on these! Serious!

 

[Z12XE]

Would you rather see a blank old bridge or a bridge that is being kept alive with colour and somthing productive

No. I'd rather see places which are clean and tidy - its better in the long run as it doesn't give the impression is a hell hole

 

[RonS]

If graffiti artists believe they are true artists why don't they sign their name and address at the bottom of their paintings? What are they afraid of!!

 

[JoshW1992]

If graffiti artists believe they are true artists why don't they sign their name and address at the bottom of their paintings? What are they afraid of!!

Damn good point. They obviously dont know its wrong.

On the other hand, I once walked through this subway on the outskirts of Birmingham, and wow, I have never seen graffiti that looked so good and proper, and almost as if it should be there.
I'm not saying I agree with graffiti, its wrong... but if it is done properly, by proper people, in proper places (not a subway) then it can be good art.

As for freight trains or bridges, lets keep them clean.

 

[class 313]

Damn good point. They obviously dont know its wrong.

No, they do know its wrong hence they run when the sirens can be heard.

And they do sign their name, its usually rather big

 

[JoshW1992]

And they do sign their name, its usually rather big

Yeah, but have you ever been able to read what it says?

 

[craigmcp]

It is a buzz, getting into places, un seen, knowing there is a huge risk if you get caught or could possibly get killed. are they stupid? maybe. are they talented? yes.. very. it takes years to create peices of art with aerosols.. i dont agree with tagging which is usually done to "damage" and deface the property.

 

[CraigS]

As for freight trains or bridges, lets keep them clean.

Have you seen EWS' HTA Coal hoppers? A lot go round with some sort of graffiti on them. There slab sides make a perfect canvas for graffiti "artists" to produce their "artwork".

 

[Phoenix]

I gotta say I love some graffiti It definatly livens up any photo whether it be of the railways or not but I think it can be considered wrong if.

1.It does not have a single ounce of thought put into it.
2.If it is apllied to a area which ruins the building itself so like doors windows or heritage buildings.
3.it should never be apllied to rolling stock or locos maybe with the exception of wagons.
4.If it vandalises a persons own property.

But if none of these rules are broken I think it is a great artform that sholud never be banned and all of you who disaggre take a look at BANKSY.

 

[Bayum]

I really like seeing graffiti on the tunnels and things and bridges. I think it looks amazing. I think some train companies should really look into getting people to do things like this on their rolling stock.

 

[AlexS]

I would love nothing more than to put a metal torch through the skull of the people who graffiti the stock on the GCR.

That should sum my feelings up.

 

[Phoenix]

I would love nothing more than to put a metal torch through the skull of the people who graffiti the stock on the GCR.

That should sum my feelings up.

Try leaving somthing rather blank up for them to do it on some of them are stpuid and will look for the first balnk canvas they see.

 

[FusionRail]

I dont think you should be promoting and parading the fact that you think graffiti-ing trains is a good idea on here, its a stupid thing to do, anywhere, and shows the lack of mentality and motivation of the offenders. people who make their way withmostly major difficulty just to graffiti a train, should get a lot more than they do punishment wise, or just get hit by one! Maybe even 3rd rail could come in handy here...

Take a look at this poor ex-SWT unit at Lydney:
http://www.fusionrail.ukgrrls.co.uk/p52482395.html - every window smashed, in each coach, the whole unit covered in your 'art', the interior from what i could see wrecked, and in a frankly **** state because of the people who you seem to fantasize about.

 

[class 313]

Try leaving somthing rather blank up for them to do it on some of them are stpuid and will look for the first balnk canvas they see.

These are the kind of people that do it to the stock because its more dangerous thus more 'rep'. I understand your point but that's only for the ones that think its an art, not vandalism.

 

[Aureol]

Being a volunteer train painter myself, I know just how much time, effort and money goes into painting, or even vinyling, a single vehicle, and it's not a matter of minutes and pennies, it can take on average at least 3 weeks and £300 just to paint one vehicle, and that's working flat out every day. Therefore I am VERY against graffiti on any item of stock/buildings/infrastructure, and if I EVER find graffiti on something I've painted I will personally hunt them down and kill the b******s.

 

[class 313]

Being a volunteer train painter myself, I know just how much time, effort and money goes into painting, or even vinyling, a single vehicle, and it's not a matter of minutes and pennies, it can take on average at least 3 weeks and £300 just to paint one vehicle, and that's working flat out every day. Therefore I am VERY against graffiti on any item of stock/buildings/infrastructure, and if I EVER find graffiti on something I've painted I will personally hunt them down and kill the b******s.

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