NRM Smoking Policy

[Butts]

I had occasion to visit this establishment for the first time yesterday, but the experience was ruined by no designated smoking area being available outside.

Have these zealots never seen "Brief Encounter" - smoking and the railways are part and parcel of each others history except seemingly at the NRM where the emphasis is definitely on HISTORY.

Mind you I did notice on the Royal Train King Edwards V11's "smoking lounge car" ahem seems to be lacking :

1. Ashtrays

2. Cigars

Are they attempting to excise the memory of smoking on the Railway ?

 

[ralphchadkirk]

What a ridiculous complaint.

 

[Butts]

What a ridiculous complaint.

Why is it ridiculous to request an outdoor facility to indulge in a legal activity at a leading Leisure Facility.

Even Disneyland has designated smoking areas.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Why is it ridiculous to request an outdoor facility to indulge in a legal activity at a leading Leisure Facility.

Even Disneyland has designated smoking areas.

No, it's not a ridiculous request to ask for an outdoor smoking area. What is silly is trying to claim there should be one because once, when smoking was a social norm it was done on a station platform and therefore smoking should be allowed inside at a railway history museum.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

What a ridiculous complaint.

That was pretty much my reaction.

 

[Butts]

No, it's not a ridiculous request to ask for an outdoor smoking area. What is silly is trying to claim there should be one because once, when smoking was a social norm it was done on a station platform and therefore smoking should be allowed inside at a railway history museum.

I think you have misread my post - I was asking for an outdoor facility.

By the way smoking is still allowed on most Station Platforms in Scotland in uncovered areas.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

I think you have misread my post - I was asking for an outdoor facility.

Either way, you were trying to claim that because it was done once, and it was a railway history museum, that it should be done now. That's silly. For the record, whilst I think smoking is a selfish, damaging and dangerous habit, I'm in favour of facilities to be provided outside for smokers.

 

[chris89]

Not the biggest fan of smoking myself.

Although it is supprising the NRM doesn't have an outside smoking area though as i thought it might have done so.

Chris

 

[gswindale]

Many organisations have a blanket ban on smoking on the premises. In the case of one of my old employers this included the grounds. If you wanted to smoke you had to ensure you were fully off the premises. This was enforced after it became apparent employees were disrupting the business by smoking by the entrance to the building.

I also seem to recall that several hospitals operated this sort of policy many years ago.

Fair enough if you want to smoke, but there is no reason why private companies should provide a space.

 

[Butts]

Either way, you were trying to claim that because it was done once, and it was a railway history museum, that it should be done now. That's silly. For the record, whilst I think smoking is a selfish, damaging and dangerous habit, I'm in favour of facilities to be provided outside for smokers.

I think we are at crossed purposes here, I was merely being ironic with regard to the reference to brief encounter not suggesting smoking inside or the like. The total ban prompted this remark (no outside facility)

I wonder has anyone got gen on why the facility does not exist - a lot of old railwaymen must like a puff outside on a summers day with their cup of tea.

 

[185]

I wonder if BTP would try give the Flying Scotsman a £50 fpn for smoking

 

[Butts]

Many organisations have a blanket ban on smoking on the premises. In the case of one of my old employers this included the grounds. If you wanted to smoke you had to ensure you were fully off the premises. This was enforced after it became apparent employees were disrupting the business by smoking by the entrance to the building.

I also seem to recall that several hospitals operated this sort of policy many years ago.

Fair enough if you want to smoke, but there is no reason why private companies should provide a space.

If the employer provided an adequate outdoor facility the congregating around the entrance would not occur - this is what is happening at alot of Airports and Railway Stations - which would be greatly alleviated in England if they permitted smoking in a designated area on the open platforms like most of Scotland does.

 

[deltic1989]

I noticed this on my last visit but it diddnt overly bother me. I had a smoke before I entered and to be honest I was too busy looking at the exibits to even notice the craving for another until I left. Mrs Deltic even comented that maybe if i was allowed to stay for a week or so in the museum maybe I could give up more easily.

 

[Butts]

True and you can always pop in and out if necessary -as it's free (in theory at least).

It just seems a bit pedantic "with all that steam" around you.

The most amazing thing I found out was about LMS

Not only was it the largest Railway Company in the UK serving stations in England, Scotland,Wales and Ireland....

But at one time LMS was the largest joint stock company in the WORLD

Laughable now, and LMS seems sometimes to be eclipsed by Great Western and LNER when reference is made to that era.

 

[scotsman]

By the way smoking is still allowed on most Station Platforms in Scotland in uncovered areas.

Railway bye-laws. It ain't.

 

[90019]

Railway bye-laws. It ain't.

IIRC, it's only when there's a sign, and in most cases, there isn't one.

 

[Butts]

Railway bye-laws. It ain't.

Check out the signs at for example Stirling Station.

"If you wish to smoke please use the open areas of the platforms" or such like.

This is an official Scotrail poster.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

It just seems a bit pedantic "with all that steam" around you.

Cigarette smoke contains far more products that can affect your health than steam ever could...

 

[AlterEgo]

I wonder if BTP would try give the Flying Scotsman a £50 fpn for smoking

Don't give them ideas.

 

[deltic1989]

Railway bye-laws. It ain't.

IIRC the bylaw says that Its an offence to carry a lighted match, lighter, pipe, ciggarette, or cigar on the railway where a sign prohibits smoking. so from that we must assume, no signs puff away. (could be wrong on the wording of the law though I'll look it up.

 

[ChrisCooper]

Unless the bylaws have been updated since the smoking ban they would be no rule prohibiting smoking as prior to the ban smoking was allowed on most platforms (with the exception of those classed as underground), and some trains also had smoking carriages (many still do, but it's not the passengers). As much as I dislike smoking I really don't see why there is a blanket ban on all stations in England (and Wales presumably). Wonder how many smokers choose to drive on longer journies because they can't even have one when changing trains unless they go out of the station. Think the ban on smoking on trains is very good though, especially as on busy trains it sometimes would be a choice of standing or getting a seat in the smoking coach, and of course staff would have no choice but to go through, plus it made the coaches so dirty and smelly you could tell which were former smoking coaches until they were refurbished.

 

[Tiny Tim]

Bodies such as the NRM and Network Rail have taken it upon themselves to 'extend' the smoking ban to open areas under their control. It depends very much on your personal attitude to smoking as to whether you believe it's their responsibility to take on this role. Personally, I don't think it's their job, but it's probably up to them what happens on their own property.

 

[Butts]

Bodies such as the NRM and Network Rail have taken it upon themselves to 'extend' the smoking ban to open areas under their control. It depends very much on your personal attitude to smoking as to whether you believe it's their responsibility to take on this role. Personally, I don't think it's their job, but it's probably up to them what happens on their own property.

I don't know if the NRM is classified as Railway Property and hence falls under the said byelaws.

If it does not I wonder what legislation would cover the banning of smoking in external areas.

 

[ainsworth74]

If it does not I wonder what legislation would cover the banning of smoking in external areas.

If it's their property then it's their rules (within reason, obviously you couldn't murder someone on private property and claim their rules allowed it, but banning smoking however...).

 

[Butts]

Unless the bylaws have been updated since the smoking ban they would be no rule prohibiting smoking as prior to the ban smoking was allowed on most platforms (with the exception of those classed as underground), and some trains also had smoking carriages (many still do, but it's not the passengers). As much as I dislike smoking I really don't see why there is a blanket ban on all stations in England (and Wales presumably). Wonder how many smokers choose to drive on longer journies because they can't even have one when changing trains unless they go out of the station. Think the ban on smoking on trains is very good though, especially as on busy trains it sometimes would be a choice of standing or getting a seat in the smoking coach, and of course staff would have no choice but to go through, plus it made the coaches so dirty and smelly you could tell which were former smoking coaches until they were refurbished.

When you say "many still do but it's not the passengers" are you inferring train crew are indulging in a sly tab on board

With regard to "smoking carriages" you'd be lucky to get a seat, from my experience they were well patronised even if the rest of the train was half empty. The ban "onboard" came in well before the legislation - I think GNER were the last to go over. Remember the ban came in up here a year before it did in England. You could have had a tannoy announcement "As we have crossed the border you may now smoke"
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

If it's their property then it's their rules (within reason, obviously you couldn't murder someone on private property and claim their rules allowed it, but banning smoking however...).

How could you enforce - just by asking the individual to desist or leave the premises ?

 

[150222]

If the employer provided an adequate outdoor facility the congregating around the entrance would not occur - this is what is happening at alot of Airports and Railway Stations - which would be greatly alleviated in England if they permitted smoking in a designated area on the open platforms like most of Scotland does.

Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris has designated smoking areas. Inside the terminals!

 

[gswindale]

We used to have those in the UK but fortunately they are gone from our airports now.

 

[DarloRich]

I had occasion to visit this establishment for the first time yesterday, but the experience was ruined by no designated smoking area being available outside.

Have these zealots never seen "Brief Encounter" - smoking and the railways are part and parcel of each others history except seemingly at the NRM where the emphasis is definitely on HISTORY.

Mind you I did notice on the Royal Train King Edwards V11's "smoking lounge car" ahem seems to be lacking :

1. Ashtrays

2. Cigars

Are they attempting to excise the memory of smoking on the Railway ?

there is an out door smoking area - it is called the road that is all

 

[ainsworth74]

How could you enforce - just by asking the individual to desist or leave the premises ?

Well yes. How else do you enforce rules like this?

 

[Butts]

Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris has designated smoking areas. Inside the terminals!

Have used it many times......it's not unique or as good as Geneva and Zurich.
Quite a few have such facilities Schipol and most German Airports. Some UK Airports have limited airside facilities ...Newcastle, Manchester, East Midlands to name three.