Have you ever been ignored by a train at a request stop?

[Gathursty]

I'm thinking of going up to Scotland this summer and taking in some of the remote countryside but the worst case scenario would be that in the question (I mean the services that can stop at a request stop as opposed to general through trains.)

So yes, any anecdotes regarding seeing the train just whizz by when you've been waiting at a request stop.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I think with many request stops, speeds are generally quite slow through the station, and, around here with Entwistle, many of the late night trains tend to stop regardless. I doubt a driver would miss someone on a platform, especially if they look when driving through...

 

[scotsman]

I doubt that will happen, just make your intentions clear in plenty of time and you'll be fine. It has been known for Drivers to reverse if they spot passengers too late!

 

[Liam]

If it's dark, take a torch and flash it at the track (not at the train).

 

[scotsman]

If it's dark, take a torch and flash it at the track (not at the train).

Yeah, flash it and don't wave it (that's a stop signal for emergencies)

 

[Yew]

Yeah, flash it and don't wave it (that's a stop signal for emergencies)

I have a feeling a large amount of people would be tempted to wave it. Howeve rit would stop the train, and get you a free earful from an angry driver

 

[Greenback]

I'm thinking of going up to Scotland this summer and taking in some of the remote countryside but the worst case scenario would be that in the question (I mean the services that can stop at a request stop as opposed to general through trains.)

So yes, any anecdotes regarding seeing the train just whizz by when you've been waiting at a request stop.

We've never had a problem, and we used a request stop daily on the Cambrian Coast in 2009. The only difficulty I could foresee is if it was raining, the stop itself was very, very rarely used, and you were sheltering under a tree or soemthing nearby so that the driver didn't see you!

 

[bAzTNM]

Remember that rainy Saturday in Scotland a few weeks ago? I was at the Clydebank Juniors game at Yoker. I got back to Yoker station. Everybody is soaking wet, right? Train comes down, everybody thinks that it is theres.

It stops and then fails to open the doors. It then drove off. I don't know if that was an intended stop, but people were absolutely losing the plot.

"He's got a smirk on his face too, the cheeky **** (to the driver)" someone piped up when he drove off.

EDIT: Didn't quite grasp the thread. Sorry about that.

 

[me123]

Being Yoker station, it's very possible that the train stopped at the signal and then went off to the depot when the signal cleared (presuming of course that the train was travelling Eastbound). There aren't any information boards at that station. Of course, Yoker isn't a request stop...

 

[ralphchadkirk]

No need to have all the swearing either bAzTMN! Sounds like the train was probably signal checked.

 

[evil_hippo]

Drivers are making a point of slowing down and looking out at request stops, so I can't see this happening unless you're really doing a good job of hiding away from view.

 

[LE Greys]

Wasn't there once a request stop with a passenger-operated signal?

 

[Yew]

Wasn't there once a request stop with a passenger-operated signal?

Seems a sensible idea to me, Like somthing you would get at a padestrian crossing on the road?

Or maybe having a telephone like on some crossings? and the signaller could change the signal to tell the driver to stop?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The wording of the regulations that should be addressed by passengers wishing either to embark or to dis-embark at a request stop is perfectly clear and does not require any detailed expansion of meaning.

 

[EltonRoad]

Wasn't there once a request stop with a passenger-operated signal?

Yes - the privately-owned Glencarron platform on the Kyle of Lochalsh line. Closed 1964, passengers operated semaphore signals if they wanted to stop the train.

Article here.

You learn something new every day!

In answer to the OP, at the request stops I've used in Scotland you get a blast on the horn once the driver's seen your hand signal.

 

[sheff1]

Wasn't there once a request stop with a passenger-operated signal?

Certainly seen these in Sweden. They even have them for boats - when you press the button a board is displayed for the captain during the day and a light is displayed after dusk.

 

[The_Stig]

I have a feeling a large amount of people would be tempted to wave it. Howeve rit would stop the train, and get you a free earful from an angry driver

If it is a member of public on a requested stop I don't think the driver would since he would have to stop anyway.

 

[LE Greys]

Yes - the privately-owned Glencarron platform on the Kyle of Lochalsh line. Closed 1964, passengers operated semaphore signals if they wanted to stop the train.

Article here.

You learn something new every day!

In answer to the OP, at the request stops I've used in Scotland you get a blast on the horn once the driver's seen your hand signal.

Fascinating.

 

[ian959]

Only time I ever had a problem at a request stop was when it was bucketing down with rain, very dark night, muggins was wearing dark clothing and on the evidence of a freight train that came through the station you could barely see the train.

Thankfully on that occasion the driver was sensible enough to be trundling into the station at very slow speed.

T'was a timely reminder however to remember to wear something bright rather than dark and to carry a torch, especially in heavy rain.

 

[TheWalrus]

Nope, but once at dalston the train stopped (fnw 153) and the doors didnt oPen for a bit. May have been because it was so packed it took the guard a while to get to the door!

 

[The Crab]

An amusing variation on this theme. In 1988 I travelled from Liskeard to Looe. On this line it is necessary to reverse at Coombe Jct to continue to Looe. We trundled down to Coombe Jct (about 100 yards short of Coombe Jct Halt), stopped just clear of the points and the driver sounded his horn. This meant "If there is anyone on Coombe Jct Halt platform, show yourself now". The driver saw nobody and made his way to the other cab. I had spotted someone on the platform and informed the guard as he passed at ground level. The crew agreed among themselves to reverse to the platform. To maintain appearances the guard got into the leading cab and "drove" the train by grasping the large handbrake wheel with both hands and swaying slightly from side to side (a bit like the old films where the actor was "driving" a stationary car). All the time he was muttering "We blew up but there was nobody there. We blew up but there was nobody there".

 

[northwichcat]

At some request stops the train may stop anyway if the driver can't get a clear view of the platform on approaching the station.

 

[Madge Wildfire]

Nope, but once at dalston the train stopped (fnw 153) and the doors didnt oPen for a bit. May have been because it was so packed it took the guard a while to get to the door!

I have been on Bristol Parkway station when the train to Cardiff stopped and the doors opened but no one was allowed to get on.

According to the station announcer, the train was too full to allow any more passengers on, and it had only stopped to allow people to get off, but what they did not explain was why those who had alighted had not made space for an equal number to board?

 

[Chapeltom]

Never had a problem at request stops.

Once went to Conwy, got there around midday and it seemed standard for the train to stop there, about 10/15 got off and the same number got on there. Got on the train at 4:15 onwards to Bangor and it was similarly stopped.

 

[tom1649]

Never had a problem at request stops.

Once went to Conwy, got there around midday and it seemed standard for the train to stop there, about 10/15 got off and the same number got on there. Got on the train at 4:15 onwards to Bangor and it was similarly stopped.

I'm not really sure why Conwy is a request stop anyway. Other lines have far smaller stations which aren't request stops.

 

[Polarbear]

I've only ever had one problem with a train calling (or not) at a request stop.

Quite a few years ago, I bailed at the now closed Elsham station between Scunthorpe & Barnetby. It was mid winter, dark and precipitating persistantly

I had around 25 minutes between trains, (at the time, I was trying to visit all of the UK stations) & given the weather, I got across to the other platform as quickly as possible & into a dry(ish) corner of the waiting shelter.

25 minutes came & went with no sign of a train. After about 40 minutes, I could hear a train & I went out onto the platform & held my hand out. Unfortunately, it didn't stop & I watched the tail lights drift off into the darkness. Given that was the last train of the day, together with the weather, I then started to wonder how on earth I was going to escape from there (no mobile phones in those days).

After five minutes of pondering, I was just about to set out to find a phonebox when I saw those rear lights again - the train had seen me & was setting back to the station. Greatfully, I jumped on, only to be harranged by the conductor who tried telling me that it was a "set down only" request stop.

In my defence, I showed him the GB timetable, pointed to the relevant table & told him that there was no mention of that in the timetable & that being the case, how would I be expevted to know! He went away muttering under his breath.

I suspect that given the very low useage of the station, (the reason for it's closure), the train was used to sailing through - especially as it was running late on this occasion.