I remember being at the wheel of a service bus with forty or so passengers behind me. It was in the countryside, dark in driving torrential rain. Travelling down hill at around 40mph, a direct bolt of lightning struck a tree just ahead and to the side of me. For a moment, the world went blindingly white. Despite screaming passengers and without the aid of tracks to guide me, I maintained course and never felt at any time that the passengers had been endangered. In comparison, the light intensity from a camera flash would be a mere fraction of that from this particular lightning bolt and much less of a surprise too. So I would be most concerned about the nervous disposition of any professional train or bus driver who could not cope with sudden lighting, like a camera flash, as it may suggest epilepsy or some similar condition. I am reassured that steam train drivers do not appear to suffer similar symptoms. And luggage resting on a platform can be a safety issue, a "trip" hazard. There are no bounds if you want to be difficult for the sake of it. The vocal few that continually winge or simply get childishly irritated about the activities of enthusiasts and spotters should remember that like me, a not inconsiderable part of their wage packet is made up from revenue derived from their associated travels. An we're going to need every penny soon.
-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Why are trainspotters being treated like terriorists?
- Thread starter crewmeal
- Start date
- Status
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
The 'burn' that resides in your vision for a few seconds or minutes can make it almost impossible to see the colour of a signal. Might not be the end of the world for 2/3 aspect signals, but with the fancy new LED single aspects it would be dangerous.
And can you imagine if flash use became widespread? You would have movie premiere style flash-fests at platforms and on bridges, which wouldnt do much for a drivers concentration.
And can you imagine if flash use became widespread? You would have movie premiere style flash-fests at platforms and on bridges, which wouldnt do much for a drivers concentration.
anthony263
Established Member
I had a run in with security guards at Llandore on tuesday all because they thought i was strange for me to take a photo of a sadlle tank engine at Swansea museums storage sight.
I have made a complaint to swansea council, i wont be using that park & ride again
apart from that i have never had any problems even when i have been in london.
for those of u having a argument about using flash, it does blind the driver as i have had a person photograph the double decker i was driving, using a flash, although i didnt notice him until that happened, mind u he did apoligise, saying that i thought he turned the flash off.
from what i have read it seems that all of these problems are happening in england, maybe because we are nice people in wales
I have made a complaint to swansea council, i wont be using that park & ride again
apart from that i have never had any problems even when i have been in london.
for those of u having a argument about using flash, it does blind the driver as i have had a person photograph the double decker i was driving, using a flash, although i didnt notice him until that happened, mind u he did apoligise, saying that i thought he turned the flash off.
from what i have read it seems that all of these problems are happening in england, maybe because we are nice people in wales
Aussie_Rail
Member
Apart from the fact that a camera flash in a darkish environment such as an underground or enclosed station can harm the drivers eye sight for a short moment.
Its almost like being in the dark then suddenly someone flashes a torch at you, it isn't pleasn't but thats what its like.
And there isn't really a need for a flash if your taking pictures in an environment like that anyway.
In Melbourne you are not aloud to take photographs in the underground loop and if you want to take pictures at stations then you have to complete a permit form from the Connex website.
This form thing is in my opinion a load of rubbish, it takes like 2 weeks to wait for and is only valid for a short time. I have never submitted a form and i have never been caught, as they do sometimes challange people who have cameras.
AR
Its almost like being in the dark then suddenly someone flashes a torch at you, it isn't pleasn't but thats what its like.
And there isn't really a need for a flash if your taking pictures in an environment like that anyway.
In Melbourne you are not aloud to take photographs in the underground loop and if you want to take pictures at stations then you have to complete a permit form from the Connex website.
This form thing is in my opinion a load of rubbish, it takes like 2 weeks to wait for and is only valid for a short time. I have never submitted a form and i have never been caught, as they do sometimes challange people who have cameras.
AR
It is not permitted to use flash photography of any form on a station platform or anwhere if it is visible by a driver and anyone seen doing this should be approached and warned. If a second offence is then commited I feel that at the least the photographic eqipment should be impounded.
90019
Established Member
As far I'm aware they're not allowed to take your camera, and they're definately not allowed to damage any of your equipment or delete any of the photos you've taken.
However, as I said in a previous post, they're allowed to use "reasonable force" to make you leave.
ungreat
Member
- Joined
- 11 Nov 2006
- Messages
- 964
In other words,thick.
You have no concept of driving trains,therefore you cannot possibly comment on it or the effect of a flash on a drivers vision.Personally I have no problem with folk taking any sort of pictures but I do have a problem with arrogant little arseholes who freely admit they wont be told and dont listen to anyone,particularly when they are most definately in the wrong.
The best thing you could do is go home and grow up,then come back when you are at least able to appreciate someone elses point of view,or lack of it due to your flash!
O L Leigh..can i watch the knife chopping event..lol
richa2002
Established Member
- Joined
- 8 Jun 2005
- Messages
- 2,298
Blimey, people are getting so annoyed about this! LilLoaf isn't a rapist for God sake!
No one is suggesting he is
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I think that's the last thing that needs to be said tbh, sums it all up.
no i'm not sure either, i just take my student swipe card for my college with me now, its not the best proof of identity but it does help to prove that i'm doing A levels lol
No Liloaf, you dont have to think like everybody else but you do have to obey laws, and that includes railway bye-laws. so please, grow up and listen to people who are really just trying to give you advice before you make anybody else hate you.
can we PLEASE get back on topic now?
Aussie_Rail
Member
*Lifts thread back on to the track*
So umm yeah, err, ohh, here's one; Has the treatment or overall perspective of train spotters changed since the London bombings in 2005? I'd assume that after that time there would have been an up grade of security and people would be more alert and suspicious of people?
Or have train spotters generally always been looked at differently than others?
AR
So umm yeah, err, ohh, here's one; Has the treatment or overall perspective of train spotters changed since the London bombings in 2005? I'd assume that after that time there would have been an up grade of security and people would be more alert and suspicious of people?
Or have train spotters generally always been looked at differently than others?
AR
FusionRail
Member
They are terrorists some of them.. keep that damned flash off!
I dont know if this has been mentioned but it seems that, with their knowledge of railways and attention to detail, that trainspotters could be very useful in observing what is happening on the railways. They would probably be people who would notice if people were acting suspiciously or if things were wrong. Police and station staff would do well to cultivate good relations with them and ask them to report anything that seems suspicious.
My friend is a trainspotter and, with his knowledge and observation skills from a lifelong career on the railways,has often spotted things like doors not shut properly etc.He also notices what people are doing more than I do.
My friend is a trainspotter and, with his knowledge and observation skills from a lifelong career on the railways,has often spotted things like doors not shut properly etc.He also notices what people are doing more than I do.
John_158
Member
- Joined
- 10 Dec 2008
- Messages
- 354
True but can be unapreciated when you point things out to the NR Staff i reported a bad smell from Behind one of the Self Service Tkt Machines in Lime St and nothing has been done.
FusionRail
Member
And? Do you expect a train dispatcher (or otherwise) to shift the machine, find cleaning utensils and then clean it up? Its not his job, the station cleaners would have to sort it out, when the machine can be moved to access the source of the disturbance. And its not in his contract so he will get out of it anyway.
Probably not the best example of an enthusiast being an extra pair of ears and eyes.
That was after I had deciphered the garbled message that Intel sent through. Had to run it through my German Enigma to understand your post fully.
P156KWJ
Established Member
I told a member of staff at Nottingham that there was an unattended suitcase left at the bottom of the P1/3 centre stairs and he went straightaway to sort it out, and although by then the chinese people that it belonged to had moved it towards them, he still gave em a hint about it
Aussie_Rail
Member
I've seen passengers on trains here ask people around them if a bag they see sitting by its self is theirs, and other thing that seems to pop up a lot, particularly in summers is fire on the tracks at platforms, many of the wooden sleepers here a either rotting away or all burnt out.
AR
AR
Passengers who buy a London train or tube ticket would automatically be giving their consent to be searched, under proposals now under consideration.
Senior British Transport police officials told MPs today that they wanted to change the railways' "conditions of carriage" to close a loophole that means officers using mobile knife-detecting arches at stations have no legal power to search someone who sets them off unless they have a reasonable suspicion that they are breaking the law.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/jan/13/knife-crime-police-gang-violence
Senior British Transport police officials told MPs today that they wanted to change the railways' "conditions of carriage" to close a loophole that means officers using mobile knife-detecting arches at stations have no legal power to search someone who sets them off unless they have a reasonable suspicion that they are breaking the law.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/jan/13/knife-crime-police-gang-violence
nedchester
Established Member
- Joined
- 28 May 2008
- Messages
- 2,093
What the hell is happening in this country?
Royston Vasey
Established Member
Fear, paranoia, too many rights not enough responsibilities and the downside of some technology in the wrong hands. Unfortunately the terrorists won, when we started regulating everything and restricting freedoms, all because a small number of people (sadly) died because of the desire to get to heaven to with a number of randy virgins, by a group of religious freaks. The chances of getting killed in a terrorist act or stabbed might be small, but there seems to be a mindset that we must over manage and publicise these things.
Last edited:
anthony263
Established Member
Too right, Some people in this country need to get a grip.
Tts the same with this stupid recession, the media are hyping this up and making this stupid problems worse, people are blaming the banks but they have to take some of the blame for borrowing money they couldnt afford to pay back.
I cant wait for the next election, we need to get rid of labour, maybe we should all vote for the Green party or the BNP as they seeem to be the only parties with some common sense.
anyway we may find that it may alaready be too late for this country after Gordon brown as finished destroying it, if only we still have the army to remove the government in a cou.
Tts the same with this stupid recession, the media are hyping this up and making this stupid problems worse, people are blaming the banks but they have to take some of the blame for borrowing money they couldnt afford to pay back.
I cant wait for the next election, we need to get rid of labour, maybe we should all vote for the Green party or the BNP as they seeem to be the only parties with some common sense.
anyway we may find that it may alaready be too late for this country after Gordon brown as finished destroying it, if only we still have the army to remove the government in a cou.
P156KWJ
Established Member
I love it how the government and such are still flapping around like headless chickens saying that someone is likely to blow us up and such. And when was the last time that someone tried to blow up trains and buses? Wasn't it 2005?
Aussie_Rail
Member
Royston Vasey
Established Member
Is that an attempt at irony? The first sentence of your post suggests not, correct me if I'm wrong.
Obvious response, but don't you think with continued arrests and convictions on suspicion of planning terrorist attacks, and the exact lack of attacks you are talking about, are indicative of preventative measures having some effect?
It's inconvenient that we have to undergo additional security checks at airports, stations etc, but as long as ridiculous measures like arresting trainspotters are avoided by the appllciation of common sense, they are a necessary evil IMHO. Its not like the Northern Irish terrorist situation where the threat has essentially gone away; a lot of people out there are still preaching "death to the infidels" etc. We remain a target.
This could easily have been a rail station, only ~18 months ago...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6257194.stm
- Status