Selfish trainspotters

[scotsman]

Strathspey Railway, Christmas 2010. Me, on the track getting shots of the loco (publicity shots for the railway, also a trainee guard, and Steward on that train). I was in hi-vis. He strolls off the ramp, and starts firing off shots on his camera. I ask him what he's doing, he replied "Taking photographs...just.like.you." Arse.

 

[swj99]

Swearing was hardly likely to help the situation.

Here you go.

I did some film making a few years ago. One scene was in Portsmouth Harbour station, at the end of the platforms near the Wightlink Ferry terminal. Had written permission to be there, and the necessary public liability insurance. We had to do several extra takes due to the people walking past who seemed unable to resist the temptation to stare at the camera. I've still got the camcorder tapes and if it wasn't such a hassle to go through them and capture the footage in real time, I'd make a 'making of' video to put on youtube.

(clickable thumbnail)​

 

[Temple Meads]

I agree, it's certaily not a "youth" thing, bad manners seem to apply to a cross section of ages. Yes we all occasionally get in the way by accident - I did so yesterday, chap said I'd walked into his shot, I apologised and moved, end of story, which is how it should be.

Absolutely, some people just don't have any tact, or indeed know when to let sleeping dogs lie.

 

[34D]

Hmmm.

I wouldn't intentionally stand in front of someone. But equally, if someone told me to move, they can expect to be told to go do one.

 

[Geezertronic]

So by your opinions, it would be quite ok for the person who they'd stood in front of to run up just as the person who has stood in front of them and stand right on front of their camera the second the train comes and they are about to take their shot? Would I be correct in assuming that you are one of the people I referred to has no courtesy or manners towards others? "I'm going to stand where I want because I can, and stuff everyone else."

Yes, if they felt the desire to. The majority of spotters are fine but the idiotic few that feel they own the platform need to be taken down a peg or two. Like I said, as long as the rules of the railway are adhered to.

Well said blackwatch, think you hit the nail on the head.

Its all about manors and politeness (sadly lacking these days) it does get right up my nose when someone stands in front of my line of shot, especially if ive been waiting some time to photograph something and they've turned up at the last minute, mainly because i personnally always make an effort to keep out the way of other peoples photos/videos and then im not shown the same courtesy.

But what gives you the right to take up platform space that would otherwise be filled? Everyone is entitled to their shot but you cannot comand that people not stand in otherwise unoccupied platform space if it is there.

 

[GB]

I agree to an extent. It depends where the original spotters were on the platform. If they were 40ft from the platform ramp then it should be expected that others would fill the gap....particularly if its a "special" people are wating for. Why should other spotters have to sit behind them just because they chose to sit where they did?

For all anyone else knows the spotters who got there after did so because that was the only time available to them. Not everyone has the luxury of being able to get to a spot an hour or more before the train arrives.

Being there earlier doesn't command any extra respect, privileges or manners other than what should already be there in the first place.

If you don't want to risk the chance of people being in your shot then don't go to a platform....go lineside.

 

[ATW Alex 101]

Whilst waiting for a railtour to pass my local station yesterday, I came across a group of spotters who had obviously 'camped out' and stood on what they thought was their best spot to video the passing train. Just before the train arrived 2 guys came and stood in front of these other guys and produced their cameras. What followed then could only be described as a scene from a comedy film. The air was blue with language and at one stage I thought there was going to be a punch up. In the end I guess neither party got a video as they were too busy locked in battle.

Bearing in mind that National Rail own the land, who is right? The guys who stood for more than an hour or the guys that came up and tried to set up their cameras at the last minute? Is there a conduct rule that trainspotters follow? or is it every spotter for themselves?

It would be better if the people setting up had not gone in front of the people and if the people who had been there beforehand could have just politely requested they move rather than cause such a kerfuffle!

 

[AlexS]

Getting into a kerfuffle is stupid as all it will do is get you booted off the station and then no one gets to get any pictures at all.

 

[LE Greys]

I agree to an extent. It depends where the original spotters were on the platform. If they were 40ft from the platform ramp then it should be expected that others would fill the gap....particularly if its a "special" people are wating for. Why should other spotters have to sit behind them just because they chose to sit where they did?

For all anyone else knows the spotters who got there after did so because that was the only time available to them. Not everyone has the luxury of being able to get to a spot an hour or more before the train arrives.

Being there earlier doesn't command any extra respect, privileges or manners other than what should already be there in the first place.

I've developed the slightly odd solution of copying 18th century infantry. If there's a line of people blocking the platform end, go just in front of them and drop to one knee. You're then outside their shot and have an unusual angle. In really desperate situations, lie down.

If you don't want to risk the chance of people being in your shot then don't go to a platform....go lineside.

Agreed 100%! I also think it usually looks a lot better. My avatar is a lineside shot.

 

[Eagle]

I've developed the slightly odd solution of copying 18th century infantry. If there's a line of people blocking the platform end, go just in front of them and drop to one knee. You're then outside their shot and have an unusual angle. In really desperate situations, lie down.

I'd do that even if the platform was clear :P Wormseye shots are cool.

 

[ex-railwayman]

Well, I'm an old duffer, so, I have a fold-up canvas seat for sitting on when waiting any length of time to take photographs, or, fishing, ideal for this purpose, you can sit near the platform edge and don't get in the way of anyone else standing behind you, simples......

And really, a station platform is private property belonging to Network Rail, or a TOC, it is not public property like the street, and therefore in accordance with the rules of the railway you don't have carte blanche over what you think you can do when on it, regardless of a Steam Special, or, the Royal Train coming through, as laid down in the regulations, if I was in charge, I'd make you all board a train, which is what you're supposed to be doing by standing on the platform, in essence, or, seeing someone off.

Cheerz. ex-railwayman.

 

[LE Greys]

Well, I'm an old duffer, so, I have a fold-up canvas seat for sitting on when waiting any length of time to take photographs, or, fishing, ideal for this purpose, you can sit near the platform edge and don't get in the way of anyone else standing behind you, simples......

And really, a station platform is private property belonging to Network Rail, or a TOC, it is not public property like the street, and therefore in accordance with the rules of the railway you don't have carte blanche over what you think you can do when on it, regardless of a Steam Special, or, the Royal Train coming through, as laid down in the regulations, if I was in charge, I'd make you all board a train, which is what you're supposed to be doing by standing on the platform, in essence, or, seeing someone off.

Cheerz. ex-railwayman.

Then you'd get lots of shots passing specials at a closing speed of 200mph on some lines! Best stay on the platform, where there's less chance of getting your head knocked off.

 

[MattRobinson]

Surely going line side requires either a pts or trespassing? Unless you can get a photography pass?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[matt]

Surely going line side requires either a pts or trespassing? Unless you can get a photography pass?

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

By lineside he means standing in a field etc (i.e. not at a station) rather than being physically lineside.

 

[MattRobinson]

Ah, yes, there is that option, I suppose.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Bevan Price]

If you don't want to risk the chance of people being in your shot then don't go to a platform....go lineside.

Unfortunately many lineside locations have been ruined by rampant growth of trees, and planting of large, unsightly fences.

 

[Geezertronic]

Unfortunately many lineside locations have been ruined by rampant growth of trees, and planting of large, unsightly fences.

Depending on your point of view, I would say they are there to help reduce the noise rather than to be a hinderance to photographers, also to keep trespassers off the tracks

 

[mickpop]

I have a particular grouse about those video photographers who demand a person free arc of 90 degrees or more in front of them so they can pan round- usually impossible to achieve in most locations. 'Forming a line' used to be an unwritten rule for years but sadly standards have fallen. You might as well give up on gala days but one must excuse non-enthusiast members of the public who are just unaware of any etiquette.

 

[Buttsy]

I personally think that onlookers in the shot add something to it rather than just having a picture of the train, though I wouldn't want the picture to be mainly of someone's back

 

[RJM]

Was at Carlisle a few months ago and there was a guy on the platform who threatened to call the British Transport Police on me and my mate because my foot was over the yellow line by mistake. He was telling everyone (even people who weren't in his shot) to move back. He was acting like he thought he owned the station. Idiot.

RJM

 

[Beveridges]

I've had a complete and utter idiot trainspotter at Wigan North Western to tell me to stand back from the platform edge when I was just close to the yellow line not even beyond it!!! He is not staff so why does he bother? I work on the tracks all the time and know the risks so don't need a trainspotter to tell me off who doesn't even work at all

 

[RJM]

I've had a complete and utter idiot trainspotter at Wigan North Western to tell me to stand back from the platform edge when I was just close to the yellow line not even beyond it!!! He is not staff so why does he bother? I work on the tracks all the time and know the risks so don't need a trainspotter to tell me off who doesn't even work at all

They think they own the station. Its why I try to avoid stations and go to lineside spots for photos!

RJM

 

[Temple Meads]

I've had a complete and utter idiot trainspotter at Wigan North Western to tell me to stand back from the platform edge when I was just close to the yellow line not even beyond it!!! He is not staff so why does he bother? I work on the tracks all the time and know the risks so don't need a trainspotter to tell me off who doesn't even work at all

I don't see what the guy not working has to do with this? The unemployed are entitled to an opinion too you know...

Also, I note the way you use the word "Trainspotter" as a term of abuse, not all trainspotters are idiots, perhaps more than exist in other walks of life, but I've still met some great spotters over the years.

 

[Beveridges]

I dont mean the term trainspotter as a term of abuse, I just know that there are some idiots who are trainspotters however but definetely not all of them

 

[Eastcoast43208]

Ahhh the joys of Specials and the People that just turn up for them ...

Here is a video I took awhile ago, it shows some of the Behaviour and points that have been Discussed in this Thread of "Spotters" and the way they act.

[youtube]tGblKGSG-G4[/youtube]

yes some people think they own the place and stand in front of
everyone's shot and so on .... But one think I Dont like is People walking down the Platform ramp and onto the line.

One note about this day, is that there was so many people on the platform that came just after Tornado Arrived, people where trying to push us down the ramp so we weren't in there shot People go Crazy now over such things.

Surprised we weren't all kicked off the Station, watch the video and the people in it you will see what I mean

 

[Tugzrule]

I know the exact person you mean as I think I was there (albeit on a different platform) when he tried that crap.

He had a go at me once before. He'd stood about 15m underneath the canopy from the south end with his mate alongside and expected noone else to go in the remaining 40m of platform ahead. Then, instead of asking politely for me to move (i'd kneeled down as low as possible as there would be quite a difference in height between my
6,2 and his, rather less, size) he simply swore at me and threatened me. Rest assured, I completely blanked him until I was walking back past him.

I may appear to be ignorant too in this case, but it's not unheard for him to 'run' to the end of the platform himself if something was to go up P1 which makes you wonder, why stand in such a poor position to b**** when someone does there best to remain out of your way?

 

[sprinterguy]

I personally think that onlookers in the shot add something to it rather than just having a picture of the train, though I wouldn't want the picture to be mainly of someone's back

Depending on how it is done, then I can agree with that in some situations, although similar to whay you have said, having a photo that is framed by the shoulders and protruding jacket collars of those adjacent to you adds nothing to the shot.

I seem to recall having seen a few photos of the final days of the Deltics at York where the wealth of human detail, and the astounding number of enthusiasts present, in a wide angle shot has presented the most interesting aspect of the photo.

 

[317666]

When filming the final run of the 1967 Stock on the Victoria line go back into the depot for the last time leaving Seven Sisters, I decided to film from halfway along the platform rather than at the front as it was very crowded there. As it was pulling out, I noticed a member of staff walking along the edge of the platform behind me and realised he was about to walk in front of my camera so, being almost 6ft 4in, I held my camera up as high as I could to get a high-angle shot, and this meant he didn't really get in the way. Video was a bit shaky but not the end of the world. If it had happened to one of the stroppy enthusiasts mentioned in this thread, on the other hand...

 

[broadgage]

When something especialy noteworthy is happening, perhaps an area could be set aside for a modest number of photographers, who would be charged for the exclusive use of this area.
At all but the smallest of platforms this should be possible without impairing normal use of the platform by others.

If say 10 people each paid £20, that should cover an hour or two of staff time and some barriers.

 

[Phil6219]

I was going to share my opinions and experiences on this subject and will do so later.

Right now I am rather puzzled about the Wigan North Western incident(s), as someone who is very much considered a regular at that station I can't think of anyone amongst the regulars their who would act in such a manner. Was this an isolated case when a railtour was due through?

WGN does fill out when tours come through, most notably steam tours as everyone seems to come out of the woodwork, the vast majority are never normally seen on the station and do indeed cause problems amongst themselves by getting in each others way.

Phil