The Rail Enthusiast thread

[the_mikey]

Try taking a picture at a station. See what happens.

Nothing yet..

Halifax, Leominster, Shrewsbury and Huddersfield..

 

[Paulus]

In London, the easiest depots to get round were Stratford via the tunnel just outside the station, Old Oak Common and Willesden. Willesden was the only one you had to ask the shed foreman in the office, but I never got refused, they always asked to let them know when we were going out. The only depot I got chased out of was Doncaster. Toton was hard to get round, but on a sunday I used to wait for an organised party and tag on the end. Tinsley was quite easy as well as Wath and Heally Mills.

 

[Smurfy]

Nothing yet..

Halifax, Leominster, Shrewsbury and Huddersfield..

Probably a bit different in London and other large cities, where there always seem to be a few British Transport Police milling around. I'd expect that security services will take a lot more interest if they think you are recording the locations of CCTV cameras, rather than just taking pictures of things with yellow ends.

These two tourists were treated appallingly badly in the UK, and I have an idea that what the police did was unlawful, as once taken, only a court can order deletion of photos.
http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/apr/16/police-delete-tourist-photos
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/apr/17/police-tourist-photos-walthamstow

 

[classic33]

Nothing yet..

Halifax, Leominster, Shrewsbury and Huddersfield..

They were watching him anyway in Halifax. Between the pillars, on the canopy end, there's a camera pointing straight at him. Also one above his head, looking the other way.

Probably a bit different in London and other large cities, where there always seem to be a few British Transport Police milling around. I'd expect that security services will take a lot more interest if they think you are recording the locations of CCTV cameras, rather than just taking pictures of things with yellow ends.

These two tourists were treated appallingly badly in the UK, and I have an idea that what the police did was unlawful, as once taken, only a court can order deletion of photos.
http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/apr/16/police-delete-tourist-photos
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/apr/17/police-tourist-photos-walthamstow

They can't make you delete the photos, but they could argue that as they were taken on private property that you don't have permission to take them. Done once in Leeds, and I had a letter to prove I had permission to do so.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Probably a bit different in London and other large cities, where there always seem to be a few British Transport Police milling around. I'd expect that security services will take a lot more interest if they think you are recording the locations of CCTV cameras, rather than just taking pictures of things with yellow ends.

Yes the London Stations are/were the worst. Perversely, if you were taking pictures of the station generally, then seemingly they left you alone, but the moment you actually stepped onto a platform.... Good luck..... And if you had a tripod...... Oh My, you were suddenly the Devil Incarnate!!

These two tourists were treated appallingly badly in the UK, and I have an idea that what the police did was unlawful, as once taken, only a court can order deletion of photos.
http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2009/apr/16/police-delete-tourist-photos
http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2009/apr/17/police-tourist-photos-walthamstow

Going by the way I was treated by the plain clothed anti terrorist 'Police' at Victoria one time, this wouldn't surprise me (nothing was deleted, they just acted like a bunch up utter, utter pricks towards me).

All of the crap at these places was one of the reasons why I eventually gave up photographing seriously - It really WAS more trouble that it was worth!!

 

[Smurfy]

Yes the London Station are/were the worst. Perversely, if you were taking pictures of the station generally, then seemingly they left you alone, but the moment you actually stepped onto a platform.... Good luck..... And if you had a tripod...... Oh My, you were suddenly the Devil Incarnate!!



Going by the way I was treated by the plain clothed anti terrorist 'Police' at Victoria one time, this wouldn't surprise me (nothing was deleted, they just acted like a bunch up utter, utter pricks towards me).

All of the crap at these places was one of the reasons why I eventually gave up photographing seriously - It really WAS more trouble that it was worth!!

Wow! What did they do? Ask to see your pics, or just question you? Haven't they heard of trainspotting? Or maybe they thought you were too young, hip and trendy to fit the trainspotter mould, and must surely be lying!

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Wow! What did they do? Ask to see your pics, or just question you? Haven't they heard of trainspotting? Or maybe they thought you were too young, hip and trendy to fit the trainspotter mould, and must surely be lying!

Trainspotting is taking the numbers, I was photographing and as such, not trainspotting, but instead, perceived to be a security risk.

Ok, with hindsight, I should have got permission, but when I started off, I asked a female BTP officer if it was ok to photograph. She said it was as long as I didn't get in the way, etc etc, so I continued. She disappeared and a bit later this group of guys waving I.Ds appeared, basically shouting and swearing at me (well one, seemingly the leader was), calling me a liar every time I spoke, and saying that no female officers had been on the station, etc etc.

Not appreciating being called a liar, I rightfully told them so!! Also, the other thing you need to realise is that everytime I went, I was invariably told a different set of rules, and this was no exception..... But of course, to them, I was lying and making it all up, etc etc (I don't think he appreciated me saying that maybe all officers and members of Station Staff should find out and actually know what the rules were to avoid this sort of thing. Me knowing the rules wouldn't have meant anything to him as I was probably making it up).

Ok, so I didn't have permission, fair enough, I can live with that, so after being very publically escorted off the platform, I went to the office GOT permission, and went back to the same platform again.

Mr 'You are a liar and talking bollocks!!' plain clothed Police officer loudly made his entrance once more, this time making various threats at me.... At which point, I showed him my permission.

The look on his face when he realised he couldn't do anything was utterly priceless, and was the only reason I never complained!! (Seemingly he didn't think I'd get it, and one of the other officers who was with him was heard asking 'Is he allowed to do that??').

Instant Karma!! (Although I probably should have complained - What if the next person he did that too wasn't as robust?).

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Tip, if you can, get permission.

The fact that almost nobody actually knew the rules was a big problem though, so sometimes I'd be ok, and other times I'd be harassed.

Also, I was told several times that to get permission I'd need to write to the station (Mr 'Shouty Sweary' at Victoria probably told me that too in between his shower of obscenities).

Clearly nonsense!!

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

12.15 and 14.15, turn up the volume, MY LORRRRRRDDDDDDDZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!! :

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=tppbWWkDmQo

 

[the_mikey]

I just use a smartphone for my railway photos, I suppose some more artful images could be achieved with a bigger camera, tripod, and permission!

 

[Smurfy]

Trainspotting is taking the numbers, I was photographing and as such, perceived to be a security risk.

Ok, with hindsight, I should have got permission, but when I started off, I asked a female BTP officer if it was ok to photograph. She said it was as long as I didn't get in the way, etc etc, so I continued. She disappeared and a bit later this group of guys waving I.Ds appeared, basically shouting and swearing at me (well one, seemingly the leader was), calling me a liar every time I spoke, and saying that no female officers had been on the station, etc etc.

Not appreciating being called a liar, I rightfully told them so!! Also, the other thing you need to realise is that everytime I went, I was invariably told a different set of rules, and this was no exception..... But of course, to them, I was lying and making it all up, etc etc (I don't think he appreciated me saying that maybe all officers and members of Station Staff should find out and actually know what the rules were to avoid this sort of thing. Me knowing the rules wouldn't have meant anything to him as I was probably making it up).

Ok, so I didn't have permission, fair enough, I can live with that, so after being very publically escorted off the platform, I went to the office GOT permission, and went back to the same platform again.

Mr 'You are a liar and talking bollocks!!' plain clothed Police officer loudly made his entrance once more, this time making various threats at me.... At which point, I showed him my permission.

The look on his face when he realised he couldn't do anything was utterly priceless, and was the only reason I never complained!! (Seemingly he didn't think I'd get it, and one of the other officers who was with him was heard asking 'Is he allowed to do that??').

Instant Karma!! (Although I probably should have complained - What if the next person he did that too wasn't as robust?).

Good grief! How horrible, although you did get your Karma. What is this 'office' that you refer to? Is that the station manager?

 

[Smurfy]

12.15 and 14.15, turn up the volume, MY LORRRRRRDDDDDDDZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!! :

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=tppbWWkDmQo

Whistling away like the production locos! Kings Cross to York was my first experience of one of those (yes, pre-electrification).

 

[GaryA]

Great thread!-it will take me a while to read through. Me and the lad are keen on trains I often take him to platforms for to watch the train world go by.... cheap entertainment

The great gathering, Locomotion shildon a few months ago

Durham Station

Guess where?

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Good grief! How horrible, although you did get your Karma. What is this 'office' that you refer to? Is that the station manager?

The simple fact is that there was no need for him to speak to me like that, I mean, does/did he shout and holler like that to everyone??

Yes it was the Station Office/Station Manager, and yes, I should have known better, but as I said, everyone seemed to have their own version of the rules (which seemed to change as often as the trains anyway), so getting permission at a station might have been essential one day, pointless the next, one just didn't know!

Besides, if you are only going to be there for a short while, getting permission can be more trouble than its worth.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

Whistling away like the production locos! Kings Cross to York was my first experience of one of those (yes, pre-electrification).

It is an original production power unit in it apparently, so yes, it'll make that characteristic HST whine!!

It is an image of things to come on Preserved lines once the HSTs are withdrawn en masse (although a lot will have their newer MTU engines so will sound crap)!!