alexdodds
Member
For most friendly i would say NXEC i havent thought of a least friendly one just yet.
What does everyone else think ??
What does everyone else think ??
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Which is the most friendly and least friendly TOC to rail enthusiasts
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berwickspotter
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XC for friendly or northern
Least friendly and a big pain in the a**e goes to NXEC
Least friendly and a big pain in the a**e goes to NXEC
GNERman
Established Member
nxec and vt aren't that good for being friendly
northern, xc and emt are rather good...
northern, xc and emt are rather good...
EMT arn't very good. On a couple of occasions I've had staff say stuff to me.
A particular one was last time when some very unfriendly person came over and started saying stuff to me about me taking photos. Those words involved swearing.
When they havn't been saying stuff to me they've been throwing me looks.
Or maybe it's just the station? All of these happend at Derby.
Back in the day GNER wasn't bad, I did quite a bit once at York and they didn't bat an eyelid. Neither did the MML staff at St Pancras
A particular one was last time when some very unfriendly person came over and started saying stuff to me about me taking photos. Those words involved swearing.
When they havn't been saying stuff to me they've been throwing me looks.
Or maybe it's just the station? All of these happend at Derby.
Back in the day GNER wasn't bad, I did quite a bit once at York and they didn't bat an eyelid. Neither did the MML staff at St Pancras
In addition to my previous comment. It would probably be better (or would be a little more accurate) commenting on individual stations rather than a TOC as a whole.
On a personal note, Ive never had a problem at Colchester, Manningtree, Marks Tey, Stratford, Ipswich, Didcot, Swindon, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth or Bristol TM. Have been kicked of Witham though as I could have been a terrorist:roll::roll:
On a personal note, Ive never had a problem at Colchester, Manningtree, Marks Tey, Stratford, Ipswich, Didcot, Swindon, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth or Bristol TM. Have been kicked of Witham though as I could have been a terrorist:roll::roll:
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alexdodds
Member
That is a good idea
Aictos
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Same here but I will take a interest in their photos and ask if I could have a look then might ask if they could send them to my station.
That is of course if I'm not doing any safety critical duties...
Daimler
Member
It's difficult to apply these things to a single TOC< really - I think staff (in general - again, there are exceptions to all of these rules, as I will show!) are less enthusiast friendly around London (more sensitive to 'terrorist threat' signs, I guess!), and more so out in the country - the only place I've ever had any problem with staff was at St. Pancras International, though having said that, next door at Kings Cross, I've talked to very friendly BTP officers.
alexdodds
Member
I am a bit nervous with their stations now because they say you have to sign in at unstaffed stations, crazy and also i was not happy with the staff at Dundee station for not letting me take moving images. I later complained to the company.
JustinStacey.x
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They are indeed, but the drivers are hella stingy when it comes to giving tones!
Lampshade
Established Member
Most friendly: Southeastern, although I base that on only one experience, I was at St Pancras and the (very kind) guy manning the gates let me through to see the Javelin without me even asking 
Least friendly: NXEC, just look at the Darlington fiasco; that said they did let me take pictures at Kings Cross without any problems.
Least friendly: NXEC, just look at the Darlington fiasco; that said they did let me take pictures at Kings Cross without any problems.
NSEFAN
Established Member
I have always found Chiltern to be tolerant. I have never been bothered once at a Chiltern-run station and have been visiting them for several years.
NXEA on the other hand are not so friendly. I have on two trips to various NXEA stations and have been told to stop taking pictures on each trip. One of them told me it was illegal to take pictures on the platform! :roll:
NXEA on the other hand are not so friendly. I have on two trips to various NXEA stations and have been told to stop taking pictures on each trip. One of them told me it was illegal to take pictures on the platform! :roll:
JustinStacey.x
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Lol and how exactly are they going to know youre taking moving images? Thats the point at which i say screw 'em to be honest.
anthony263
Established Member
I have found Chiltern & Arriva Trains wales to be good with the enthusiasts, i was talking to a member of the platform staff at Marylebone a few weeks ago who said he couldnt see what the problem was with people taking photos.
First Great western are also ok and they were good yesterday as usual at Bristol TM when they had a lot of railway enthusiasts on the platforms waiting for the 37's.
The only trouble i have ever had was at richmond with a member of staff working for south west trains, even though i had signed in.
First Great western are also ok and they were good yesterday as usual at Bristol TM when they had a lot of railway enthusiasts on the platforms waiting for the 37's.
The only trouble i have ever had was at richmond with a member of staff working for south west trains, even though i had signed in.
alexdodds
Member
Best to take a copy of the railway bye-laws and ask staff where is photography mentioned in the bye-laws.
XC don't manage any stations but they have station staff at Birmingham New Street and Edinburgh Waverley, although at both locations you'll probably find more staff working for Network Rail or other TOCs.
Lampshade
Established Member
Mine would have to be FGW & Chiltern...Never had a problem with any of those 2 tocs at all, The worst, National Express's East Anglia, East Coast and C2C, South West Trains{With the exception of basingstoke} Northern and EMT...
As for the TOC's i mixed about...First Scotrail - Dont go to Stirling! and Virgin Trains...
Reason why ive put all the Nat Ex companies is that every time ive been to a Staffed Nat Ex station, ive always been told off for taking pictures - Last week at Upminster there was several LUL battery locos in the LUL part of the station...Mr C2C didnt like the fact several people inc me took pictures of them and kept complaning and shouting across the platform to get us to stop taking pictures...We just ignored him... Then this summer i was in Norfolk for a week - everything was going fine and then oh no, not allowed to take pictures in Norwich Station... and at Stratford where i was passing through the week before...and then theres East Coast - where i was once almost orderd off Kings Cross just for taking pictures of the then new livery on the HST's...though it did have quite a large dirty oil mark on the white part of the power car just under the roof vents...
so theres mine, if you want a freindly station, try one of Chilterns or FGW's
As for the TOC's i mixed about...First Scotrail - Dont go to Stirling! and Virgin Trains...
Reason why ive put all the Nat Ex companies is that every time ive been to a Staffed Nat Ex station, ive always been told off for taking pictures - Last week at Upminster there was several LUL battery locos in the LUL part of the station...Mr C2C didnt like the fact several people inc me took pictures of them and kept complaning and shouting across the platform to get us to stop taking pictures...We just ignored him... Then this summer i was in Norfolk for a week - everything was going fine and then oh no, not allowed to take pictures in Norwich Station... and at Stratford where i was passing through the week before...and then theres East Coast - where i was once almost orderd off Kings Cross just for taking pictures of the then new livery on the HST's...though it did have quite a large dirty oil mark on the white part of the power car just under the roof vents...
so theres mine, if you want a freindly station, try one of Chilterns or FGW's
Hmm. I've been there once or twice, and no one bothered.
90019
Established Member
Lampshade
Established Member
Odd, Kings Cross seems to be pretty enthusiast friendly, I've walked the full length of the platforms (to take pictures of both ends of a NXEC HST and a 91) with RPIs and allsorts there and no one batted an eyelid. Same at Paddington, a HST was coming in which would have completed 5 in a row so I went to get a picture, expecting to be stopped and still, no one said anything.
I don't think it's the TOCs that are friendly/unfriendly but rather the staff and individual stations. Every company has its jobsworths who will go out of their way to ruin your day but the same can't be said for everyone in that company - apart from SWT of course
I don't think it's the TOCs that are friendly/unfriendly but rather the staff and individual stations. Every company has its jobsworths who will go out of their way to ruin your day but the same can't be said for everyone in that company - apart from SWT of course
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