That Health and Safety thing... Hi vis.

[BLACKWATCH]

Bill, I don't know if this has something to do with what you posted above, but I did get 1 restriction, this was at
Paddington, they told me I was restricted to using only platforms 1 & 9, not any of the others.

I said 'Railtrack' office, but I can't remember whether the signs said Railtrack or Network Rail, I was just directed to
an office on the station concourse (in the case of Euston, just outside the station) by the barrier staff that I asked from
where I might seek permission.

 

[JCitron]

This is interesting to follow as we now have to see permission from our local transit operator to photograph or video their operations from their Boston operations. At one point, pictures were banned completely, right after 9/11, but within the last year or two, maybe a bit more, the policy was changed to allow photography but with permit. Out in the suburbs, however, it's a different story because anyone can go to a platform and take photographs and videos.

Approaching the freight yards and other junctions, however, can be a different story. Photographing from public ROW such as crossings and bridges is okay, but going near the tracks is usually met with a visit from the railroad police and perhaps the a local police officer or two. The latter aren't so nice and will harass photographers because they can. Sometimes, the locals will harass people who are photographing from the public land too because they don't know the laws. The best thing is to just leave and then report them later on rather than fight the situation even if you are in the right.

I have found though if you ask permission from the railroad, and perhaps the local yard office, you can go and photograph. I've even been offered a full tour of the operations and once a job offer with the railroad. I suppose it's all about your own attitude and demeanor. If you come across as a snotty brat, or one of those stereotypical rail enthusiasts, well then you might be turned down for various reasons. As my grandmother used to say: "You have a tongue in your head. Use it!".

John

 

[wholbr]

Hi John, blackwatch and everybody

Bill, I don't know if this has something to do with what you posted above, but I did get 1 restriction, this was at Paddington, they told me I was restricted to using only platforms one & 9, not any of the others.

I said 'Railtrack' office, but I can't remember whether the signs said Railtrack or Network Rail, I was just directed to an office on the station concourse (in the case of Euston, just outside the station) by the barrier staff that I asked from
where I might seek permission.

Blackwatch, I feel you are definitely correct regarding Paddington. There is an access from the road directly onto the platform one which anyone can use without any restriction. However, this seems to make nonsense of the ticket barrier at the concourse entrance to the platform. With regard to platform nine there is a direct walkway from the London Underground Metropolitan line onto one of the platforms which again can be used without the restriction of a ticket barrier. I am not sure if it is definitely platform nine as I rarely use the Metropolitan line when in London preferring the circle, district and central lines to get away from Paddington.

Don’t worry about using the word Railtrack as I guessed it was a slip of the keyboard which often occurs among us ageing forum users.

This is interesting to follow as we now have to see permission from our local transit operator to photograph or video their operations from their Boston operations. At one point, pictures were banned completely, right after 9/11, but within the last year or two, maybe a bit more, the policy was changed to allow photography but with permit. Out in the suburbs, however, it's a different story because anyone can go to a platform and take photographs and videos.

Approaching the freight yards and other junctions, however, can be a different story. Photographing from public ROW such as crossings and bridges is okay, but going near the tracks is usually met with a visit from the railroad police and perhaps the a local police officer or two. The latter aren't so nice and will harass photographers because they can. Sometimes, the locals will harass people who are photographing from the public land too because they don't know the laws. The best thing is to just leave and then report them later on rather than fight the situation even if you are in the right.

I have found though if you ask permission from the railroad, and perhaps the local yard office, you can go and photograph. I've even been offered a full tour of the operations and once a job offer with the railroad. I suppose it's all about your own attitude and demeanor. If you come across as a snotty brat, or one of those stereotypical rail enthusiasts, well then you might be turned down for various reasons. As my grandmother used to say: "You have a tongue in your head. Use it!".

John

John, it is the same here in Britain security at railway stations dramatically increased following the 7/7 bombings in London and has remained high ever since especially in London both on the underground and main rail network terminal stations. As you state that seems to be lost on some rail enthusiasts who seem to be bent on confrontation station staff and the British transport police without seemingly realising they will inevitably come off the worst as the station staff and police are only doing the job of protecting rail users.

What I do not understand and perhaps blackwatch as a rail photographer or some other forum member can advise on is the fact that there are many smaller rural and urban railway stations which are completely unmanned and therefore rail photography can be carried out without restriction although observed by CCTV cameras. However, you never seem to see any rail enthusiasts or photographers at the stations. As an example, here in North Somerset on the great Western main line you have Nailsea, Yatton, and Worle stations all having free unrestricted access and where you can see and photograph HST, Voyager, regional and district DMU services coming through every few minutes.

The HSTs and Voyagers come through these stations at over 100 mph and I would imagine you could get some great photographs from just standing behind the yellow line on the platform which would only be 6 feet away from the passing consists. From being in that position many times on those stations I can tell you it’s quite an experience with the noise, wind and then suction as the trains pass through. But as I stated you never see any rail photographers on those sort of stations and that I can never understand.

It seems that all rail enthusiasts congregate at the main terminus stations where all the trains are moving much more slowly, platform tickets or passes has to be obtained and where confrontation with the police or rail staff seems often to be inevitable with a small but intolerant minority of rail enthusiasts. As stated presenting your presence and case in the right manner very often brings and acceptance in response. However, doing the foregoing would seem to be impossible for many people these days.

Bill

 

[BLACKWATCH]

But I will 'reiterate' (if that's the word), if you wish to follow your hobby, respect the worries of the people
running the railways, seek permission and assure those in charge, that there are those of us that just
want to go about our business & might even alert them to something we feel is not right, more eyes makes
better security

As an example, here in North Somerset on the great Western main line you have Nailsea, Yatton, and Worle stations

Bill, if I was in the area (say, on holiday) I would certainly be noted on the platform, but I can only speak for myself, it doesn't
matter to me how small or out lying the railway, there is always something of interest to me & I will visit, I'm not the only one
yes the younger members of the 'Train spotters club' will as you say "congregate at the main terminus stations", I did when I started
at the age of 9, but we all grow up, I now look for anything to do with railways wherever I go.