Which is the most friendly and least friendly TOC to rail enthusiasts

[Class 33]

Well if its just 20 seconds you should get away with that without asking but if you go for long sessions then you should ask first.

Just ignore conductors like that the one you came across. Wolverhampton is managed by Virgin Trains and they welcome enthusiasts to their stations besides staff have no power what so ever to take cameras off people or tell someone to delete images.

That's good to know then that Wolverhampton station welcomes train enthusiasts, if I return there and film again. No plans to return there really, even if this little incident didn't happen. But who knows, I might return there again for some reason. I was a bit put off when he said that if they "catch me" they'll confiscate my video camera, which I paid £250 for! But good to know that they don't have any powers to actually do this.

When filming that stationary train though, I should have waited really till the conductor was out of the way before aiming the camera. After all I would have about 10 minutes or so to film the short footage I needed. Lesson for next time.

Also the other little incident at Birmingham New St. Was filming from the window of a train. The train was stationary at that time. When a platform staff member walked past, seen me filming at the window, and then told in a disgruntled manner to turn the camera off! I then turned it off and put it to my side. When the train departed, I started filming again. Then that staff member again saw me as I went past and shouted out "SADDO"!! He obviously didn't like it that I was filming again when he told me to stop filming. But I wasn't going to let him ruin/stop my planned filming.

I do have video evidence of these incidents. I might upload it to demonstrate. Though only for a limited time before I delete them.

As for filming at stations. I don't ever spend long periods filming at stations now. Only really done that just a few times and that was over 10 years ago. If I film at stations now I only usually spend anything from about 20 seconds(filming a single train) to a few minutes or so.

 

[GearJammer]

Is there anybody such as myself who these days just does'nt bother going trainspotting (or whatever you wish to call it) at railway stations due to the hassle that it seems to create? I personally don't even like going to my local station (Fareham) anymore since they put ticket gates in, i have asked to go on the platform to see, film, photograph steam tours or specials and they've let me in and been as good as gold but the fact that i have to ask to do something so innocent as seeing a train makes me feel as though im doing something wrong! I used to like trainspotting but these days i feel constantly on edge at stations, always wondering who's watching me and waiting to pounce and tell me im doing wrong!

 

[455driver]

I have relatives in Fareham and find all the staff absolutely brilliant, they will let you through with no problem so why do you object to asking.

TBH you sound a litle paranoid about it all.

 

[222007]

Last time i went to a station for some photo's it was at York (i think it was NXEC at the time) i was asked how long i was going to be there flashed my staff ID and wished well for my visit.

Staff at Crewe (Virgin) have always been friendly towards myself as well saying hello and having a chat for a few mins which was appreciated.

Speaking for myself when i see enthusiasts its always nice to have a chat with them most are usually very friendly

 

[GearJammer]

I have relatives in Fareham and find all the staff absolutely brilliant, they will let you through with no problem so why do you object to asking.

TBH you sound a litle paranoid about it all.

First of 455Driver im in no way having a go or putting down the staff at Fareham, like i said they were good as gold and let me through!
If im honest your probably right about me being a bit paranoid about it all, but is it any wonder when you read some of the stuff that has happened in the past towards enthusiasts, whats wrong with the days when you could just wonder onto a station and write down numbers and take pictures at will with no one batting an eye lid?
I just think you ought to be able to wonder on a station and snap away with out someone watching you or asking what your doing, when most of the time its plainly obvious what your doing................... or is it just me?

 

[CarterUSM]

First of 455Driver im in no way having a go or putting down the staff at Fareham, like i said they were good as gold and let me through!
If im honest your probably right about me being a bit paranoid about it all, but is it any wonder when you read some of the stuff that has happened in the past towards enthusiasts, whats wrong with the days when you could just wonder onto a station and write down numbers and take pictures at will with no one batting an eye lid?
I just think you ought to be able to wonder on a station and snap away with out someone watching you or asking what your doing, when most of the time its plainly obvious what your doing................... or is it just me?

I think you may be just a touch over-sensitive about it, but i also agree with your point, i think it is to do with our nations subjects having been for so long exposed to local, national and international 'rolling' news coverage of 'cataclysmic' events, paedophile rings, terrorism murder, rape, pillage and plunder! I'm surprised we don't all hide away in dark rooms nowadays! I think we are a more suspicious country now, and many folk seem to think that others are up to no good when they are not. It's got its good and bad points, but it sometimes feels we have been robbed of our innocence.

 

[Aictos]

Like I've always said before I welcome anyone interested in the railway who wishes to take a video or photo of whatever train comes though as long as they behave themselves even if it does means accidentally getting the staff member in the footage!

Stll, with all the diversions around the Hertford Loop on weekends, I'm wondering if that would attract the usual crowd who normally only venture onto the mainline via Welwyn seeing as it won't just be 313s but everything going though from Hull Trains to FCC to East Coast to Grand Central to Freights

 

[sprinterguy]

I've never had a problem taking photos at stations, although I don't tend to linger for more than half an hour anyway, partly because standing around on stations isn't my cup of tea, and partly because of all the examples of people being hassled by staff at stations. Though I will say that Virgin generally seem to be quite welcoming towards enthusiasts at their stations.

My experience of the friendliness of TOC staff is based from my experiences on the trains. GNER were always very good and very tolerant of my "bashing" activities, and NXEC are much the same. Grand Central also seem to be very friendly and open minded towards enthusiasts.

Crosscountry can be unpleasant concerning enthusiasts, although I have had both good and bad experiences with them.

It seems to me that the TOCs that operate a larger percentage of "proper" trains, which is principally HSTs, with opening windows, are more experienced with and more tolerant of enthusiasts and bashers. And is it just me, or does there seem to be a growing feeling amongst many rail staff that bashers should be confined to preserved railways and charter trains (Although, even some charter tour operators appear to be anti-basher), and off the main network? It seems that as an increasing number of services are operated by completely air-sealed DMU and EMU "Coffins", that when bashers appear on the few remaining loco-hauled/HST services, a lot of staff go into a bit of a panic over such individuals potentially endangering themselves. It seems a bit peculiar, as I can only imagine that 25 years ago, when all trains were either loco hauled or formed of first generation DMUs, there was a far greater amount of "bashers" out and about on the BR network, given that all stock had opening windows and train formations were more interesting, and yet I imagine there were fewer unkind words said to these enthusiasts from staff. I think perhaps that it is easier for staff to control "basher" activity when there are only a handful of trains operated by any particular TOC that qualify for this sort of enthusiast activity than when loco hauled operation was widespread, plus bashing is now a much more unusual past time given the decrease in "proper" trains which staff see as a dangerous activity.

The point I want to make from that long winded digression is just that a lot of rail staff seem increasingly intolerant of "bashers" as the number of trains that can be "bashed" decreases, and see us as a danger to ourselves and others. That said, I have had many good experiences with friendly staff who just give a well-mannered warning to be careful and treat me as a sensible, rational human being, which I hopefully am, and not some window hanging leering lunatic who needs sectioning which can be the impression I've got from some staff!

 

[Class 33]

A couple of video clips from me as previously mentioned showing train staff at Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNySwRMz0Dc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXbeKIkrSlI


Only available for a limited time before I delete them.

 

[Geezertronic]

A couple of video clips from me as previously mentioned showing train staff at Birmingham New Street and Wolverhampton.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNySwRMz0Dc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXbeKIkrSlI


Only available for a limited time before I delete them.

Why would you want to delete them? Seems pointless posting them in the first place if you're just going to remove them after a short time.

The first video is inaudible to me, in the second the guy is wrong to say that your kit will be confiscated. I thought the videos would contain something more controversial than what they did to be honest...

 

[Class 33]

You will have to turn your sound up to hear what that guy says on the first clip. No I don't consider them controversial, just to demonstrate that these stations have staff who object to rail enthusiasts using video cameras, and who are not particularly friendly towards them either.

I was going to delete the videos after a limited time, in case the staff at Birmingam NS and Wolverhampton find them, take offence, and start making a fuss. I will leave them online just a little longer than I intended.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

So you're prepared to post these videos on a site where millions of people daily visit, and then tell everyone on a rail forum, and then say you don't want some people to see it, so you will be taking it offline?!

 

[Bittern]

Just so you folks know, these videos can't be found on a YouTube search as their unlisted. You can only watch the videos if you follow a link to them.

Of course, that doesn't mean that they're "safe" from the eyes of the railway staff of Birmingam and Wolverhampton who could just as easily find them through this thread. >_>

 

[Templecombe]

FGW & SWT most friendly

 

[222666]

Groups of spotters are easily recognised, but when you see a solo figure venturing right to the end your attention is caught because you know they will run out of platform if they keep walking, & beyond that is the forbidden zone! The fact they may be carrying a tripod doesn't register until they stop walking & set up for the shot. It's only natural, you still don't know what they're up to while they're walking.

That youtube of bloke + 170 is a great reminder to staff & spotters alike (if they saw it).

 

[duffman82]

That's good to know then that Wolverhampton station welcomes train enthusiasts, if I return there and film again. No plans to return there really, even if this little incident didn't happen. But who knows, I might return there again for some reason. I was a bit put off when he said that if they "catch me" they'll confiscate my video camera, which I paid £250 for! But good to know that they don't have any powers to actually do this.

When filming that stationary train though, I should have waited really till the conductor was out of the way before aiming the camera. After all I would have about 10 minutes or so to film the short footage I needed. Lesson for next time.

Also the other little incident at Birmingham New St. Was filming from the window of a train. The train was stationary at that time. When a platform staff member walked past, seen me filming at the window, and then told in a disgruntled manner to turn the camera off! I then turned it off and put it to my side. When the train departed, I started filming again. Then that staff member again saw me as I went past and shouted out "SADDO"!! He obviously didn't like it that I was filming again when he told me to stop filming. But I wasn't going to let him ruin/stop my planned filming.

I do have video evidence of these incidents. I might upload it to demonstrate. Though only for a limited time before I delete them.

As for filming at stations. I don't ever spend long periods filming at stations now. Only really done that just a few times and that was over 10 years ago. If I film at stations now I only usually spend anything from about 20 seconds(filming a single train) to a few minutes or so.

I Film/photo alot on Wolverhampton station whilst I'm at uni and there always polite and let me do it because I always let security know I'm doing it. But as for New Street they don't half have a go if your taking pictures there, I was taking pictures of the XC hst departure one morning when a network rail staff member told me i wasn't allowed to take pictures of trains due to the terrorist act :/.

 

[alexdodds]

But as for New Street they don't half have a go if your taking pictures there, I was taking pictures of the XC hst departure one morning when a network rail staff member told me i wasn't allowed to take pictures of trains due to the terrorist act :/.

Did you go to Network Rail reception there and get a sticker and did you have the guidelines with you.

Look I know some of you dont bother going to station reception because you think you will be treat different but thats false. I go to station reception because I dont want to be hassled by platform staff and it helps when staff in the reception try to reconise me from previous visits. I promise you they will treat you well if you do the right thing even in London except Liverpool Street which probably depends on whos on duty.

But of course we all have our different ways.

Oh and i would like to know what is NR at Gatwick Airport like with enthusiasts as thats the only NR managed station I havent done yet.

 

[paulravuslante]

The two other issues were at LHR Terminal 5 and 3. At T5 I was taking a photo of the interior departures level and a BA staff member riding an escalator nearby stated that photography was not permitted. At the BA Galleries Lounge in T3, a food service person claimed that photography was not allowed. I paid both persons no mind, and continued to click away.

Heathrow Airport have a FAQ section of their website (link here) devoted to this and it simply states anyone filming / taking photos at the airport needs a permit (you can get one if you can prove you have £5million public liability insurance!). A leaflet downloadable here refers to (unspecified) byelaws which restrict these activities.

With so many security staff, police officers, CCTV covering the airport, I personally wouldn't bother risking it.

 

[duffman82]

Did you go to Network Rail reception there and get a sticker and did you have the guidelines with you.

Look I know some of you dont bother going to station reception because you think you will be treat different but thats false. I go to station reception because I dont want to be hassled by platform staff and it helps when staff in the reception try to reconise me from previous visits. I promise you they will treat you well if you do the right thing even in London except Liverpool Street which probably depends on whos on duty.

But of course we all have our different ways.

Oh and i would like to know what is NR at Gatwick Airport like with enthusiasts as thats the only NR managed station I havent done yet.

I was passing through to work so never had time to sign in for a quick photo at New Street.