Staff Bags

[Kneedown]

EMT issue pilot style cases with a wheeled option. High Viz rucksacks are also available but tend to fall apart after a short while.
I personally use a Wenger Swissgear rucksack i bought myself. I've had it about 6 years now and it's still in great condition despite me using it for work every day and also as my cabin baggage when on holiday. Can get every item you could possibly want in it too. They are catching on with the other guys as well. Can't praise them highly enough.

 

[455driver]

All high viz vests & Hi viz bags "MUST" have the company logo on, it is a new rule so people on on near the line can be identified I think this came in to try and reduce the cable theft boom. So there is a valid reason why the company logo is on a Hi Viz rucksack and vest

None of my (3) company issued hi viz vests have the company logo on them.

 

[RPI]

Wessex Trains used to issue black branded rucksacks.

 

[the sniper]

I can say with absolute certainty that the bags with the orange panel are Driver's bags, and the others are non-drivers. That's certainly the way it is at my depot, anyway.

That's the case where I am too, officially. Though a few Guards, including myself, have the orange panel bags as that is all that was available at the time of the bag being issued.

Guards can also get wheeled cabin crew style cases.

 

[Fishnchipsrule]

My humblest apologies if this is something you have all covered a hundred times before, but after my rather odd spot here (thread: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=584932&page=1076) I just wondered what the deal with staff backpacks is?

Although I have never really thought about it before, I don't recall ever having seen a branded bag being carried by a driver or guard before. You'll just have to take my word for it, but it 100% said "First Capital Connect" on the back of it!As I mentioned over there, Metrolink don't have branded bags.

1. Yes that backpack says First Capital Connect on it.
2. Yes it is also me enroute home.
3. And RATP Dev Metrolink don't issue bags anymore.
4. Are these bags really that rare?

 

[Flamingo]

The company issue bags are crap. Poor quality cheap materials and workmanship. They do not stand the use they have to endure on a daily basis not the weight they are expected to hold. I am sure they cost pennies to make in some Chinese sweat shop, but if having to be replaced every 4 months as in my case must be costing the companies more in the long run. Would it really hurt the TOC's to pay double the price for something that will last 4 times as long? Domestically we have the sale of goods and services act to protect consumers, we wouldn't stand for this poor quality out of burtons or tesco and damn right demanding our money back. Maybe it's about time our contracts managers did the same!

To be fair to the TOC's, nobody makes a HiVis rucksack that is any good. I've looked at all of the available ones on the market with a view to buying my own, and they are universally rubbish (and overpriced to boot). But whilst TOC's continue to buy them, there is no pressure on the suppliers to improve them.

 

[pendolino]

My current Hi Viz rucksack has lasted around 2 years already and there's still nothing much wrong with it. Maybe you lot should be more careful.

 

[Flamingo]

You must travel light!

 

[A-driver]

You must travel light!

Most drivers at my place have huge bags stuffed full-I'd hate to know the damage I'm doing to my back carrying the huge weight around with me and I'm not even sure what I have in there that's so heavy!

But then there is a famous driver at a certain GN depot who has a dirty old sainsburys carrier bag and that's it. He wears his hi vis all the time so just needs his sandwiches in there I suppose.

 

[Mojo]

But then there is a famous driver at a certain GN depot who has a dirty old sainsburys carrier bag and that's it. He wears his hi vis all the time so just needs his sandwiches in there I suppose.

On the other hand I know of an Instructor who carries three bags about with him! He says one is the bag he carries his normal equipment like everyone else (keys, handlamp, fault finding guide, etc.) and the other is his Instructors stuff like notes and so on. No idea what goes in the third bag!

 

[pendolino]

But then there is a famous driver at a certain GN depot who has a dirty old sainsburys carrier bag and that's it. He wears his hi vis all the time so just needs his sandwiches in there I suppose.

There is a driver at Southern who doesn't even have the Sainsbury's bag. Everything is in his coat pockets (he has a big coat).

Talking of Sainsbury's carrier bags, I once thought I saw some P/Way in the distance hiding in some lineside trees, so blew the horn as a warning. When I got nearer I saw it was an orange Sainsbury's bag flapping in a tree. Embarrassing.

 

[Flamingo]

Most drivers at my place have huge bags stuffed full-I'd hate to know the damage I'm doing to my back carrying the huge weight around with me and I'm not even sure what I have in there that's so heavy!

But then there is a famous driver at a certain GN depot who has a dirty old sainsburys carrier bag and that's it. He wears his hi vis all the time so just needs his sandwiches in there I suppose.

Well, it is orange

 

[reb0118]

I've yet to see a Hi-Vis rucksack that was either large enough for anything more than a HiVis vest, Bardic and flask, or was a better quality than what would be bought for £5 from a discount shop.

The one's I have seen are without exception seriously overpriced poorly designed and cheaply made rubbish.

That's why I got myself a Wenger ~ it was seriously discounted at TK Max (other discount shops are available). To concur with the above I feel the railway order some bags then say put your kit in that. What they should be doing is taking the required kit to a bag designer and say design a bag round this kit.

However, that said I have had requests from some friends and a few random members of the public to see if I cansource them a hi-viz bag!

 

[TDK]

None of my (3) company issued hi viz vests have the company logo on them.

Well they should, I haven't seen a driver or pway worker without a logo on their back for a couple of years now.

 

[Starmill]

1. Yes that backpack says First Capital Connect on it.
2. Yes it is also me enroute home.
3. And RATP Dev Metrolink don't issue bags anymore.
4. Are these bags really that rare?

Well, as to 4, I guess its just opportunity bias. I haven't seen many.

As to the rest... well... this is a tad awkward isn't it. Are you sure that's you? How can you tell from a grainy photo? Did you see mee?

 

[Fishnchipsrule]

Definately me I remember waiting at 'that' signal between TFB and CNK

 

[Starmill]

Definately me I remember waiting at 'that' signal between TFB and CNK

Allow me to explain Then hopefully you won't think me a complete stalker...

Ahh! Awkward moment #3003 - when you bend down to look at the tram signal and the person stood next you is staff and does the same! I didn't realise he was, cos he wasn't wearing a yellow driver's shirt or PSR coat. The tie should have given me a clue. Turned out I was rightly confused, cos his backpack was branded 'First Capital Connect'!!!!!

We were on 3003 waiting at the crossing at Piccadilly Gardens, heading for Pic - another tram was coming the other way and the driver was hammering the button (I forget what its called is it TRTS?) so I bent over to have a look at the white lights (typically, we had to wait for the next cycle of the lights, even though there ought to have been enough time for us to cross). It was at that point that I realised you were still there. As I say, I didn't immediately recognise your uniform so I didn't realise you'd gotten off the T68 that I'd seen you on before, and where the pic is of, and onto 3003 for Droylsden. I thought you were looking at them too, and had seen me doing so.

 

[Fishnchipsrule]

You have all the above spot on

If i'm stopped a while I always take a peek to see what's happening But I do remember. Its awful for doing it at the junction there as a tram coming the other way managed to get across but it wouldn't allow us for some reason. But aye I remember well. Didn't realise you had also jumped on the Droylsden too

 

[Starmill]

Small world eh? Sorry I 'used you' for the bag. I'm still surprised you can tell its you!

I would not usually wait at Market Street to get back to Piccadilly, with its paltry 5tph, but I made a phone call and was in no hurry.

Anyway, thank you to everybody for your contributions about the bags. Every day on here I'm a little less ignorant.

 

[Fishnchipsrule]

Small world eh? Sorry I 'used you' for the bag. I'm still surprised you can tell its you!

I would not usually wait at Market Street to get back to Piccadilly, with its paltry 5tph, but I made a phone call and was in no hurrry

Haha - no worries!

I agree I would usually change at St Peters Square but I have a habit of changing plan