Tube driver filming himself whilst driving

[Blindtraveler]

This is indeed the case. Still think it's a shame that his original way of producing content was brought to an end, apart from that one, possibly ill-advised video where it showed him actually driving, there was no distraction that I could think of of him having a GoPro stuck in the window and he says himself more than once that when they're training or being reassessed the sort of things he was doing providing commentary on what he was doing and where he was is the sort of thing that they expect anyway so they can hardly turn around and criticise him for that. I find dale a very personable bloke and I still love his channel and hope it can return to something of what it was previously in the fullness of time

 

[announcements]

Yes, I was slightly disappointed by his recent Down Street sidings video, which was him mostly talking in selfie most with very little juicy content!

 

[Blindtraveler]

Making the best and what he's limited to do, I suspect

 

[davews]

Watched a few of the recent ones last night and found them rather disappointing with very little actually about the underground. I know he can't do cab shots now but to say after 2 minutes on the platform at Cockfosters 'see you at Uxbridge' and the same again there is hardly worth it. Would have been nice to know a bit more about the Down Street sidings and how they relate to the former station, but most of it seemed to be taken up with 'don't forget to subscribe'.

 

[Rhinojerry]

Have just been watching a few videos recorded recently ? on Piccadilly line on you tube.No commentary and camera is outside.Is/was Dale stopped becuse of talking.Both types enjoyable.

 

[Zb0905]

Someone snitched on him

 

[NSEWonderer]

Someone snitched on him

No he had permission for a manager as I understood. However I assume people were questioning if him talking as recording was an added distraction, noise probably got too much and management U-turned on the permission given. Definitely wouldn't start recording footage actively like that without a green light initially, like he did.

 

[Mgameing123]

I tend to agree that management must know about it, and it is surprising. But the flip side of the coin is that he remains well focussed on the work-related task. What’s perhaps more surprising is that from a security point of view it is quite clearly showing people how to drive a train, not sure how wise that is nowadays - though I don’t think he has shown stuff like where to put keys or how to open up the cab.

Well without the master key, what’s the point of knowing how to drive a train?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Jul 2025 ==

Also why are people complaining about an educated train driver who clearly knows what he is doing when driving a train recording himself do it? He can clearly manage it safely so what’s with all this fuss about him?

 

[bluegoblin7]

Because, ultimately, it’s not just about him. I really have no intention of re-opening the debate but not removing the voices of other staff was not a particularly smart move.

 

[Mawkie]

Well without the master key, what’s the point of knowing how to drive a train?

Because ebay exists.

Also why are people complaining about an educated train driver who clearly knows what he is doing when driving a train recording himself do it?

There's 218 pages posts of why he was told not to do it. Are we really going to start at the beginning of the discussion again?

In summary: his bosses, the people who pay wages and support his lifestyle, have told him not to. It's really as simple as that.

If he doesn't like it, he can find another job that pays him £71k a year....

 

[43066]

Because ebay exists.

There's 218 pages posts of why he was told not to do it. Are we really going to start at the beginning of the discussion again?

In summary: his bosses, the people who pay wages and support his lifestyle, have told him not to. It's really as simple as that.

If he doesn't like it, he can find another job that pays him £71k a year....

To be honest the videos where he was talking about his trips to Thailand, and the slightly unpleasant implications thereof, rather put me off.

 

[GordonT]

Deleted

 

[Mgameing123]

Because ebay exists.

There's 218 pages posts of why he was told not to do it. Are we really going to start at the beginning of the discussion again?

In summary: his bosses, the people who pay wages and support his lifestyle, have told him not to. It's really as simple as that.

If he doesn't like it, he can find another job that pays him £71k a year....

Well he did stop right? My question is why people are complaining about him doing it in the first place?

 

[yorkie]

Well he did stop right? My question is why people are complaining about him doing it in the first place?

Can you clarify who is "complaining", and have you read previous posts in this thread?

If you are referring to any post(s) on this forum, we ask that these posts are quoted, so that we know what it is you are referring to, please. Alternatively, for external content, we ask for a link and quote.

 

[Zb0905]

Because ebay exists.

There's 218 pages posts of why he was told not to do it. Are we really going to start at the beginning of the discussion again?

In summary: his bosses, the people who pay wages and support his lifestyle, have told him not to. It's really as simple as that.

If he doesn't like it, he can find another job that pays him £71k a year....

No-one's putting that much effort into stealing a train

 

[rebmcr]

No-one's putting that much effort into stealing a train

I think I recall there was already a man who drove trains (Northern's Pacers if I recall correctly) for years without being employed by them. Just worked his way into the shifts and nobody questioned it.

Plus plenty of headlines about subway trains in various countries being taken for 'joyrides'.

 

[Halfway Boy]

Well without the master key, what’s the point of knowing how to drive a train?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Jul 2025 ==

Also why are people complaining about an educated train driver who clearly knows what he is doing when driving a train recording himself do it? He can clearly manage it safely so what’s with all this fuss about him?

As a fellow train operator I’d be complaining.

I don’t go to work to be filmed.

Whether that’s in passing, on a train coming the opposite direction or waiting to pick up my train.

It’s bad enough having to deal with spotters, especially when the heritage trains are out, let alone a colleague doing it.

If I had known he was doing this I would’ve raised it.

Not with management initially but either with him directly or the reps to have a quiet word.

 

[Mgameing123]

As a fellow train operator I’d be complaining.

I don’t go to work to be filmed.

Whether that’s in passing, on a train coming the opposite direction or waiting to pick up my train.

It’s bad enough having to deal with spotters, especially when the heritage trains are out, let alone a colleague doing it.

If I had known he was doing this I would’ve raised it.

Not with management initially but either with him directly or the reps to have a quiet word.

To be honest, what are you expecting when your out in the general public in a big city like London?

 

[bramling]

As a fellow train operator I’d be complaining.

I don’t go to work to be filmed.

Whether that’s in passing, on a train coming the opposite direction or waiting to pick up my train.

It’s bad enough having to deal with spotters, especially when the heritage trains are out, let alone a colleague doing it.

If I had known he was doing this I would’ve raised it.

Not with management initially but either with him directly or the reps to have a quiet word.

Whilst I do understand the sentiment, part of working in a highly paid professional role is that photographs are going to be taken, in what is a de-facto public space, operating public assets, for the public.

You wouldn’t like to be a rower, as that’s something people photograph and film all the time - something one just has to accept goes with the territory, I’m not overly keen at times as it can be a bit distracting (especially to novices), but equally if it makes someone’s day taking a photo then that’s fine by me.

 

[Halfway Boy]

To be honest, what are you expecting when your out in the general public in a big city like London?

That my colleagues don’t film me?

If I was in an office and someone came in and starting filming me I’d be firing off an email to HR.

Not wanting your colleagues to film you is a normal reasonable take.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Jul 2025 ==

Whilst I do understand the sentiment, part of working in a highly paid professional role is that photographs are going to be taken, in what is a de-facto public space, operating public assets, for the public.

You wouldn’t like to be a rower, as that’s something people photograph and film all the time - something one just has to accept goes with the territory, I’m not overly keen at times as it can be a bit distracting, but equally if it makes someone’s day taking a photo then that’s fine by me.

I am forced to accept spotters, unless they cross the line into unsafe territory.

I am absolutely not forced to accept colleagues filming me though.

 

[AlterEgo]

To be honest, what are you expecting when your out in the general public in a big city like London?

It’s different when it’s a colleague. You don’t have any expectation of privacy from the public when you’re out in public driving at the front of a train, but being on the clock and filming your colleagues is quite different.

 

[bluegoblin7]

No-one's putting that much effort into stealing a train

You would be surprised

 

[Mgameing123]

That my colleagues don’t film me?

If I was in an office and someone came in and starting filming me I’d be firing off an email to HR.

Not wanting your colleagues to film you is a normal reasonable take.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Jul 2025 ==



I am forced to accept spotters, unless they cross the line into unsafe territory.

I am absolutely not forced to accept colleagues filming me though.

Well it’s a good thing that nobody’s filming you. The driver is just showing behind the scenes of how the Piccadilly Line operates.

 

[DM352]

Before he finished the front cab view, was hard to see the oncoming drivers anyways. A compromise would be he edit staff including platform staff with a blur filter.

As an opportunity when he goes abroad he could do the metro or buses at the destination as though the Picadilly line is interesting there is only so much to it.

 

[Zb0905]

As a fellow train operator I’d be complaining.

I don’t go to work to be filmed.

Whether that’s in passing, on a train coming the opposite direction or waiting to pick up my train.

It’s bad enough having to deal with spotters, especially when the heritage trains are out, let alone a colleague doing it.

If I had known he was doing this I would’ve raised it.

Not with management initially but either with him directly or the reps to have a quiet word.

You work for a public company out in the public view if you don’t want to be seen then train driving is not for you

 

[Cowley]

We seem to be going over old ground now so we’re drawing this to a close.

Thanks everyone