spotting in london

[roger50046]

evening all, first post so be nice lol.

are there any restrictions on spotting at london termini

and is willesden jct any good at weekend ?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

are there any restrictions on spotting at london termini

When you say restrictions, do you mean access to the platfroms for lenghts of time?

 

[roger50046]

yes, do you have to let the SM know your on? i was hoping to go around a few as well as clapham jct.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

yes, do you have to let the SM know your on? i was hoping to go around a few as well as clapham jct.

I'd say let the station staff know, but then again you'd best check with someone else...

 

[rail-britain]

I've never had any problems
Make your way to the Station Managers Office (if open)
Let them know whether you are going to be present on the platform or taking photos and using a tripod
If you are simply wanting access to the platforms for observation purposes, then they may simply issue you with a visitors pass
However, if you are using a tripod then you may be asked to read, agree, and sign a Risk Assessment and attendance agreement

Equally, some stations will simply allow you access with as little as a platform ticket or verbal request (such as St Pancras)
However, as soon as you pull out a tripod the "sensible officer" will come and ask what you are doing!

I have sat on the platforms at London Euston for several hours without any problems
The occasional member of "senior staff" does approach, but once they realise you are simply watching the trains they will continue with their duties, but again pull out a tripod and you may be asked to attend the Station Managers Office

 

[yorkie]

evening all, first post so be nice lol.

are there any restrictions on spotting at london termini

and is willesden jct any good at weekend ?

By spotting, I assume you mean standing at the end of a platform with a notebook (or Dictaphone these days!) taking down numbers? There is no restriction on this particular activity that I am aware of, however long gone are the days when this was considered by the general public to be a "normal" activity, therefore you will probably be viewed with suspicion by the numerous security services, some of whom employ some extremely rude and arrogant staff. Your best bet is to let the station manager (or similar) know you are there, so that if you are challenged by security, you can state that the station manager is aware of your presence.

This isn't a spotters site (although of course we have nothing against spotters using it), and not many here will have experience of standing on platform ends noting down numbers, you may be able to find others who have tried this at somewhere like LocoScene, which is a site specifically aimed at spotters.

 

[alexdodds]

The only station in London to be extremely careful at is Liverpool Street or as I call it jobsworth central. I think enthusiasts get chucked off there more than any other station in the UK not surprising why staff are very strict considering the fact it had been shown in 2 documentries showing terrorist activity. 2 out of 3 times NR staff there have refused me from photographing there.

All the other stations you shouldnt have any problems if you do what MattE2010 and rail-britain say.

 

[EWS 58038]

Once had a conflict with a rude Security ape at Potters Bar. I challenged him by saying I had permission from NetworkRail to stand at ANY platform on the Kings Cross controlled section of the ECML... of course he laughed at me "you, as a Dutchie got permission and contact within NR Signal box"... hahahaha.... He started talking some rude things about rail enthusiasts and some nasty words about Dutch people...

I insisted to get BTP down there as I felt I was offended... the cop rang the signal box, signal box confirmed my store, and the monkey was send away with a firm warning....

And boy did I laugh when he walked away.....


Another time I was with a few friends... same platform... other monkey and after we made our shot we just went away.

 

[rail-britain]

Once had a conflict with a rude Security ape at Potters Bar

I've been there a few times
I was taking photos and videos without any problem
However on of my videos a voice can be overheard on the tannoy, as I was concentrating more on the passing train, I missed it
Thankfully it was repeated
"This is the message for the young people in the shelter, not the train spotter, stop jumping up and down on the seats"

I then played back my original recording of the video
"This is a safety announcement
Jumping up and down the seats is not permitted
Please either sit on the seats or stand on the platform"

 

[Simon Poole]

The only station in London to be extremely careful at is Liverpool Street or as I call it jobsworth central. I think enthusiasts get chucked off there more than any other station in the UK not surprising why staff are very strict considering the fact it had been shown in 2 documentries showing terrorist activity. 2 out of 3 times NR staff there have refused me from photographing there.

All the other stations you shouldnt have any problems if you do what MattE2010 and rail-britain say.

did u say that while you was in blackpool? september 17th at North Pier

I been to London Liverpool Street a few times and have no problems, i remember that my brother went down there one time and they told him that he had to stay behind the buffers

 

[alexdodds]

did u say that while you was in blackpool? september 17th at North Pier

I been to London Liverpool Street a few times and have no problems, i remember that my brother went down there one time and they told him that he had to stay behind the buffers

Yes I did. I have seen your vid and you were lucky to have spoken to a friendly member of staff in that office next to P10. Despite you having no problems and NR sending me an e-mail saying they will ask the station manager to remind the staff about the rules on photography I still dont trust that station as much as the others but i wont give up.

I have noticed you didnt go to Marylebone station. And where you went wrong with Cannon Street and London Bridge was that you arrived at the stations the wrong way and got refused by barrier staff rather than NR

 

[96tommy]

As said before I have been to London St Pancras and asked the person at the ticket gate if I could go through to take photos of the 395's and they just let me through, same on the East Midlands Trains platform.

At Kings Cross I just walked onto the platform and it was fine

 

[Mr Spock]

Only had problems at Liverpool St and Fenchurch St (only once at each) but do not personally find it necessary to sign in.

You should have no problems at Clapham Jct, Stratford, Willesden, Finsbury Park/Kings Cross, London Bridge plus most others, just turn up on a train and stay within public boundaries.

If you go to St Pancras most staff on both EMT and South Eastern (for Javelins) allow you on platforms.

 

[d1015fan]

never had any problems anywhere I have been spotting in London. even Liverpool street no one has said anything to me. stratford I have found to be the best as plenty of variety and no one has ever bothered me.

but if in doubt always report to SM office or NR Reception and sign in.

 

[Simon Poole]

I have noticed you didnt go to Marylebone station. And where you went wrong with Cannon Street and London Bridge was that you arrived at the stations the wrong way and got refused by barrier staff rather than NR

I been to London Marylebone once, nice station, problem was it was an bank holiday monday and nothing was moving, if it did it was very little, your were right with Canoon Street, me and my brother did go to the Barrier staff, London Bridge, after hearing that we couldn't at Canon Street, me and my brother thought there would be no point and would be an wasted journey, Charing Cross, that sent us all over the place before we got to where we wanted to go, they said that there was an office near the exit but walked into an off limit area! but they helped us to find the right place

another station you might have problems is London Waterloo, went there one day unannounced and got turned away, need to get Sout West Trains know in advance becuase the drivers don't like their photos taken, so got an letter sent off and on the next trip, shown the letter at the barriers staff and they let us through, we kept the letter and show it each time when i'm at Waterloo, the letter dated from May or june

 

[alexdodds]

another station you might have problems is London Waterloo, went there one day unannounced and got turned away, need to get Sout West Trains know in advance becuase the drivers don't like their photos taken, so got an letter sent off and on the next trip, shown the letter at the barriers staff and they let us through, we kept the letter and show it each time when i'm at Waterloo, the letter dated from May or june

Was it Network Rail in the station reception or SWT on the barriers that turned you away????

I have been 4 times to Waterloo and signed in no problem infact the 4th time i did I was give a safety breifing its 2 pages long and it is valid for a year so if i go back again i just have to take the signed paper and show it. I also have signed safety breifings for Charing Cross, Paddington and London Bridge stations valid for a year.

 

[Simon Poole]

Was it Network Rail in the station reception or SWT on the barriers that turned you away????

I have been 4 times to Waterloo and signed in no problem infact the 4th time i did I was give a safety breifing its 2 pages long and it is valid for a year so if i go back again i just have to take the signed paper and show it. I also have signed safety breifings for Charing Cross, Paddington and London Bridge stations valid for a year.

The first time i visited i think it was Network Rail, the recepption was outsdie the station but the 2nd visit had no problems and the thrid becuase during the second and thrid visit had an letter from South West Trains

 

[rob-of-the-roc]

This link may help for NR-run stations. I haven't come across any similar document about TOC-run stations.

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/aspx/777.aspx#photography

Best of luck

 

[Mr Spock]

another station you might have problems is London Waterloo, went there one day unannounced and got turned away, need to get Sout West Trains know in advance becuase the drivers don't like their photos taken, so got an letter sent off and on the next trip, shown the letter at the barriers staff and they let us through, we kept the letter and show it each time when i'm at Waterloo, the letter dated from May or june

Had a good laugh at this one, if you don't tell them in advance you can't take pictures because drivers don't like it but if you write in advance you can take pictures of the same trains with the same drivers in charge of them - what a load of rubbish. Should have just told them that you were taking pictures of trains not drivers. Its things like this that help explain why many people don't bother with this signing-in malarkey.

Anyway back to spotting in London, if I wanted SWT trains I would go to Vauxhall or Clapham Jct (also the latter for Southern trains.

East Coast would be Finsbury Park where you would also get the 313's that go to Moorgate.

South Eastern would be London Bridge and you would also get some Southern units there.

FGW would be Acton Main Line where you would also get freights.

Virgin and London Midland you might try Willesden although you would be best going out of the station and onto the footbridge over the lines, you would also get freight here.

East Anglia, if you just want units then it is Bethnal Green but if you want freight as well then it might be better at Stratford.

Just my opinions but might also depend on weather and whether you just collect units or go for individual coach numbers.

 

[prod_pep]

I know this isn't directly answering the OP, but I must confess I have never "signed in" at all. From a personal perspective, I don't really like standing at one station for hours on end, so if I'm in London I will always have a 1-6 Travelcard. I'll stay at a station for maybe 30 minutes and then move on elsewhere. I have never bought a platform ticket or asked for permission in advance at a ticket gate or reception. I didn't even realise this kind of "signing in" approach was so common.

Admittedly, most of the pictures I get in London are from relatively minor stations, but I might snap a couple of shots at a terminal. For what it's worth, I've only been asked to stop once in London and that was at Finsbury Park fairly recently. A snotty driver in a 365 phoned the station and cue one of their dispatchers coming over and asking my brother and I to stop. He was nice and polite about it, at least, and we were already about to leave.

If you're going to be at various different stations through the course of a day, there's just no point in signing in or asking permission at every single one. I just go ahead and take a picture if I want to. I don't see how it's a problem at all!