Vandalism

[Mutant Lemming]

Isn't the theory that it's actually quite a few people doing it?

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery ?
Would give him even more kudos among the 'tagging community'

 

[61653 HTAFC]

We seem to have a different attitude to graffiti in this country compared with Germany- I'm going back to around 1999/2000 but in the areas around Dortmund it was commonplace to see lineside structures, carriages and MU vehicles covered in 'street-art' back then. Then again, LHCS was more common there then, and trains often ran with coaches in 3 different liveries in the same consist. AFAIK DB and other operators have replaced a lot of this rolling stock now so maybe the situation has changed.

 

[asylumxl]

That'd probably be because SE clean it off long before FCC do.

Blaming SE is just a cop out, FCC should either manage any security contract properly or change it to something more effective. Just because its "SE Territory" doesn't mean they an wash their hands of it,other TOCs provide their own security when outstanding away in others "territory"...They might have to get some pennies out the wallet though, which is probably the difficult part.

Total cop out. An FCC train on a SouthEastern service, driven by SouthEastern drivers and stabled in a SouthEastern facility. Definitely FCC at fault here...

Obviously the best solution is to just stop running joint services and the people down in SE land can do without a few more services. We'd certainly appreciate the extra capacity up here .

 

[big_dirt]

Isn't the theory that it's actually quite a few people doing it?

I think there were copycats sprung up after he was convicted, apparently in other countries as far afield as New York.

The fact that numerous vandals could turn their hand to it shows that there is no skill or artistic integrity to his actions.

Up on Tulse Hil, there was a boarded up house and someone had slapped on a neon poster "Reserved for Tox '10", or whichever year it was.

 

[jon0844]

It was a well known tag that was easy to read and copy.

 

[BestWestern]

Part of the 'Pharoah Complex' and the proliference of your name equating to your importance. Although a pariah to most of us he remains a 'legend' among his peers.

Hardly something to be overly proud of, if we can assume his 'peers' are on a similar dysfunctional level.

Going back to FCC, it is certainly interesting if certain TOCs' trains are 'preferred' by the paint smattering scum, as it would suggest that there might be more 'value' in particular targets. Either way, the only cure is for TOCs to invest more effort in ensuring the security of their essential assets, although the value for money in doing so is obviously relative to the value they place on their reputation. That video of the London Midland 323 is appalling - if you're a vandal that's like Christmas ten times over, especially as a spotter has helpfully uploaded it to YouTube! It is noteworthy that you don't see a great many intercity trains covered in paint, despite the fact that they would offer the greatest 'range'; perhaps that tells us something about how different operators perceive the importance of their image.

 

[Mojo]

I appreciate that Bellingham sidings are an easy target but I would have thought Ashford was more secure especially with BTP on the doorstep.

The sidings at Ashford are 'protected' by a short (less than 2 metre tall) chain-link fence.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=As...d=Ba-Xg9K3qkbb1Iuunv7eog&cbp=12,54.93,,0,4.31

 

[Starmill]

Somebody wrote a very naughty word on the side of a Northern 323 a couple of weeks ago - rather than clean it all off properly they just obscured the word best they could and left a massive orange blotch!

Edit: Perhaps, crossover, you remember one of my early posts from the original thread about the 323 in the vid (I think!)?

Residents of Buxton, cover your eyes!

Forgive me if this is inappropriate, but this was, I think run out in service to Buxton one morning - it was certainly standing at Manchester Piccadilly getting uncomfortable looks from staff!

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I was reminded of this thread last evening when watching a limited edition dvd of "The Mikado" and the lyrics of one of the songs that was written by W.S.Gilbert in which it was stated....."To let the punishment fit the crime".

 

[Antman]

The sidings at Ashford are 'protected' by a short (less than 2 metre tall) chain-link fence.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=As...d=Ba-Xg9K3qkbb1Iuunv7eog&cbp=12,54.93,,0,4.31

There is a bit more activity around the Ashford sidings compared to Bellingham.

 

[12CSVT]

Hardly something to be overly proud of, if we can assume his 'peers' are on a similar dysfunctional level.

Going back to FCC, it is certainly interesting if certain TOCs' trains are 'preferred' by the paint smattering scum, as it would suggest that there might be more 'value' in particular targets. Either way, the only cure is for TOCs to invest more effort in ensuring the security of their essential assets, although the value for money in doing so is obviously relative to the value they place on their reputation. That video of the London Midland 323 is appalling - if you're a vandal that's like Christmas ten times over, especially as a spotter has helpfully uploaded it to YouTube! It is noteworthy that you don't see a great many intercity trains covered in paint, despite the fact that they would offer the greatest 'range'; perhaps that tells us something about how different operators perceive the importance of their image.

There could be a reason why FCC trains are targeted. A few years ago (about 2003 or 2004) there was a fatality involving a graffiti vandal and a 319 unit between Elephant & Castle and Loughborough Junction.

 

[warriorwarlord]

I think persistent cleaning and painting is the best deterrent - yes it costs a lot but I remember Tim O'Toole saying that if you keep painting and cleaning off their mess then the vandals will eventually get bored and move somewhere else.

Look at the Underground now, even in 2002/3 it was fairly common to see trains plastered in scrawling inside and out, nowadays its actually quite surprise on the rare occasion you may see it. Permanent way is similar, Network Rail is fairly lax with this, I've noticed in places its fairly common to see "historical" graffiti, you can tell this because the artiste often dates their handywork! I've seen "01" at the end of a tag, last year...

 

[big_dirt]

Scratching windows 'scratchiti'. That really annoys me. There is absolutely no aesthetic value to it at all, it ruins the effectiveness of the windows, can be seen inside and out.

Hanging is too good for the culprits.

 

[jon0844]

Etch the culprits instead?

 

[Antman]

Scratching windows 'scratchiti'. That really annoys me. There is absolutely no aesthetic value to it at all, it ruins the effectiveness of the windows, can be seen inside and out.

Hanging is too good for the culprits.

Etching windows was a big problem on London's buses but they had a crackdown on it a few years back and its not much of a problem now

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Hardly something to be overly proud of, if we can assume his 'peers' are on a similar dysfunctional level.

On the other side of the coin, I have always assumed that multiple-location "tagging" graffiti reveals in inherent lack of self-confidence by the perpetrator that, in their minds, is to be countered by this type of action.

Just my own opinion.
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Scratching windows 'scratchiti'. That really annoys me. There is absolutely no aesthetic value to it at all, it ruins the effectiveness of the windows, can be seen inside and out.

A few years ago whilst visiting Manchester, I overheard two boys aged about 14 talking about this and they were referring to it as "Dutch-etching". Was that just the local Manchester name of "urban slang" that was attached to this type of vandalism or has that term been used in other areas ?

 

[12CSVT]

377506 is the latest FCC unit to get covered in graffiti.