Southern

has briefed its staff to leave trainspotters alone

"Pyromancer" <pyromancer@beeching.stormshadow.com> wrote in message
news:yI3Cb7E3NuSCFwlE@pyromancer.firstnet.co.uk...
> Upon the miasma of midnight, a darkling spirit identified as 4-Sub
> <4@submail.co.uk> breathed:
>
> >has briefed its staff to leave trainspotters alone
>
> That's good news. One does get the impression Southern are trying very
> hard to be a better TOC than the one they replaced, presumably this is
> part of that effort. Now lets hope they aren't let down by any loutish
> spotters!

Also just noted this on the Merseyrail Website:-

Photography on our Network

Merseyrail welcomes the interest from railway enthusiasts in our
services and rolling stock. When travelling on our network, please observe
our bye-laws regarding safety and security, particularly when taking
photographs.

We would ask any rail enthusiast taking photographs for their own
personal use to follow the directions of Merseyrail and security staff if
asked to do so. Please avoid going close to the platform edge, areas which
are not for public access and the use of flash photography as this may cause
problems for our train drivers and guards and potentially lead to unsafe
situations.

Professional photographers and film crews will need to apply for
permission to use any Merseyrail location in advance, both for safety
reasons and for operational reasons.



TM

"Charlie Hulme" <charlie.hulme@man.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:d2gf61$1hme$2@godfrey.mcc.ac.uk...
> Tony Miles wrote:
>
> > Also just noted this on the Merseyrail Website:-
> >
> > Photography on our Network
> >
> > Merseyrail welcomes the interest from railway enthusiasts in our
> > services and rolling stock. When travelling on our network, please
observe
> > our bye-laws regarding safety and security, particularly when taking
> > photographs.
> >
> > We would ask any rail enthusiast taking photographs for their own
> > personal use to follow the directions of Merseyrail and security staff
if
> > asked to do so. Please avoid going close to the platform edge, areas
which
> > are not for public access and the use of flash photography as this may
cause
> > problems for our train drivers and guards and potentially lead to unsafe
> > situations.
> >
> > Professional photographers and film crews will need to apply for
> > permission to use any Merseyrail location in advance, both for safety
> > reasons and for operational reasons.
>
> What an excellent statement. Other TOCs please copy.
>
> Charlie

Indeed well done Merseyrail - and I phoned Southern today and located the
Director who was behind the issuing of the staff "brief" with their
instruction. The view at Southern is that enthusiasts on their stations have
established that they can be sensible when it comes to matters of safety and
do act responsibly - therefore they are happy to welcome them onto their
stations. I gather they are also encouraging regular visitors to report any
vandalism they spot as they are likely to notice anything unusual etc. A
fair deal I think.
I gave the person fullsome praise and am considering challenging some other
more difficult operators to match the Southern commitment.

TM

"Tony Miles" <tonymiles@beeb.net> wrote in message
news:d2hqo3$6cj$1$8302bc10@news.beeb.net...
>
> Indeed well done Merseyrail - and I phoned Southern today and located the
> Director who was behind the issuing of the staff "brief" with their
> instruction. The view at Southern is that enthusiasts on their stations
have
> established that they can be sensible when it comes to matters of safety
and
> do act responsibly - therefore they are happy to welcome them onto their
> stations. I gather they are also encouraging regular visitors to report
any
> vandalism they spot as they are likely to notice anything unusual etc. A
> fair deal I think.
> I gave the person fullsome praise and am considering challenging some
other
> more difficult operators to match the Southern commitment.

Absolutely. IME most enthusiasts are only too happy to help members of the
general public where possible and to advise staff of issues of concern. I
have lost count of the number of times in recent months that I have been
approached by members of the general public and been able to help them with
platform information, station access issues, connectional information etc
etc - and I am always more than happy to help them and it is satisfying to
know that their journey will be easier as a result of helping them. It's
encouraging to hear of TOCs that appreciate that the majority of enthusiasts
are there to support the railway and are happy to help where possible.

Tony Miles wrote:
>
> I gave the person fullsome praise and am considering
> challenging some other more difficult operators to match
> the Southern commitment.

Fortunately Chiltern does not count amongst that grouping - I have
wandered around the concourse and platforms previously, snapping away
with flash disabled and in a safe manner, and have never been
approached or challenged. I would not be surprised if Mr. Wilson was
responsible for this.

"TheOneKEA" <theonekea@> wrote in message
news:1112309148.871403.60160@g14g2000cwa. ...
>
> Fortunately Chiltern does not count amongst that grouping - I have
> wandered around the concourse and platforms previously, snapping away
> with flash disabled and in a safe manner, and have never been
> approached or challenged. I would not be surprised if Mr. Wilson was
> responsible for this.

Undoubtedly! Although it is a common approach across the entire Chiltern
network. TBH, there seem to be more enthusiasts in employment in managerial,
driving and engineering positions than in almost any other TOC of my
experience. Happily they all seem professional enough to be staff first and
enthusiast second.

"4-Sub" <4@submail.co.uk> wrote in message news:<d2ebln$is3$1@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk>...
> has briefed its staff to leave trainspotters alone

No it hasn't I have not received anything from them and none of my
colleagues have either. Hopefully it's 'in the post' as i would not
want to think that they could tell the public it has done something if
it hasn't!

One thing a driver mentioned the other day though was that all the
platform 11/12 spotters/photters keep blocking the view of the RA if
he has a 2 or 4 car DOO train!!!!

"CIG_BIG_CIG" <cig_big_cig.uk> wrote in message
news:2a71816e.0504020252.3cb0abc1@c om...
> "4-Sub" <4@submail.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:<d2ebln$is3$1@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk>...
>> has briefed its staff to leave trainspotters alone
>
> No it hasn't I have not received anything from them and none of my
> colleagues have either. Hopefully it's 'in the post' as i would not
> want to think that they could tell the public it has done something if
> it hasn't!
>
> One thing a driver mentioned the other day though was that all the
> platform 11/12 spotters/photters keep blocking the view of the RA if
> he has a 2 or 4 car DOO train!!!!


Horsham SM has it in his team brief. Read it Tuesday.

"CIG_BIG_CIG" <cig_big_cig.uk> wrote in message
news:2a71816e.0504020252.3cb0abc1@c om...
> "4-Sub" <4@submail.co.uk> wrote in message
news:<d2ebln$is3$1@newsg1.svr.pol.co.uk>...
> > has briefed its staff to leave trainspotters alone
>
> No it hasn't I have not received anything from them and none of my
> colleagues have either. Hopefully it's 'in the post' as i would not
> want to think that they could tell the public it has done something if
> it hasn't!

I'll mention to Southern that its not been universally seen yet.
>
> One thing a driver mentioned the other day though was that all the
> platform 11/12 spotters/photters keep blocking the view of the RA if
> he has a 2 or 4 car DOO train!!!!

I was approached with a friendly "can you step out of the way when a train
is in the station so the driver can see the signals?, thanks" -
certainly the way to handle things sensibly and professionally.

TM

"Alan J. Flavell" <flavell@ph.gla.ac.uk> wrote in message
news:Pine.LNX.4.61.0504032001300.13254@ppepc56.ph. gla.ac.uk...
> On Sun, 3 Apr 2005, Tony Miles wrote:
>
> > I was approached with a friendly "can you step out of the way when a
> > train is in the station so the driver can see the signals?, thanks"
> > - certainly the way to handle things sensibly and professionally.
>
> OK. But on the other hand, if passengers/customers/members of the
> human race/ standing on permitted areas of the platform can
> inadvertently block the driver's view of relevant signals, surely one
> needs to ask whether those responsible for signal[1] positioning were
> asleep on the job?
>
> [1] using the term in a widely scoped sense. No doubt I'll get told
> that an RA indicator isn't technically a signal.

I'd be tempted to ask but I don't want to get the positive instructions
revoked!

Meanwhile I have contacted another of the more "awkward" TOCs telling them
of the Southern instruction and copying the Merseyrail notice from their
website. Got a call this PM from the deputy MD of the TOC (I won't name it
until I get confirmation that the message has gone out) saying that a
similar instruction to the Southern one was going out to all stations today.

Once this is certain I'll move to the next TOC and keep the bandwagon
rolling!

TM