[bailey65]

I just saw this clip on you tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae_P4OO1TtM it seems some spotters are oblivious to how dangerous the rail environment is.
Not only did the stupid man that almost got hit put himself in danger but a lot of those on the platform did too.
Do you think spotters arrogantly believe themselves to be indestructible and above all railway rules and laws,should they be clamped down on more?.

[andyfrommk]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6OxBp2fEig

The same event but shot closer to the dozy bloke

[transportphoto]

Not the Thurston incident, been discussed numerous times... http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=32741 was the original thread.

It is well known that the minority let the majority down when it comes to stuff like this.

[Grantham]

I love a good safety debate! I wasn't too close to the track here...can't have been!

[O L Leigh]

Originally Posted by Grantham

I love a good safety debate! I wasn't too close to the track here...can't have been!

Slightly different.

Lower speeds (I presume), plus as you were facing the oncoming train the driver will have had confidence that you were aware of the train's approach. The incident at Thurston was totally different.

Having your back to the traffic is, for me as a driver at least, a key difference. If someone is watching me approaching they usually move back away from the edge (some don't, admittedly). But if they have their back to me I cannot be sure that they know I'm approaching so will whistle up to warn them. Most times they leap back away from the edge like they've been poked with a cattle prod.

O L Leigh

[Grantham]

Originally Posted by O L Leigh

Slightly different.

Lower speeds (I presume), plus as you were facing the oncoming train the driver will have had confidence that you were aware of the train's approach. The incident at Thurston was totally different.

Having your back to the traffic is, for me as a driver at least, a key difference. If someone is watching me approaching they usually move back away from the edge (some don't, admittedly). But if they have their back to me I cannot be sure that they know I'm approaching so will whistle up to warn them. Most times they leap back away from the edge like they've been poked with a cattle prod.

O L Leigh

I'm pulling your leg, I parked the engines there before hopping out and taking a photo or two.

Yes, the bloke on the crossing was standing in the goose position, trying to help reinforce the laws of natural selection. I bet he developed a nasty stain in those undies!

It's a pity that so few people can give train buffs a bad reputation. They get the same bad rep here in Australia for the same reasons, yet the actual number of complete idiots is very low.

[O L Leigh]

Originally Posted by Grantham

I'm pulling your leg, I parked the engines there before hopping out and taking a photo or two.

There you are, then. Perfectly safe.

...as long as you remembered to apply the brake before hopping out.

O L Leigh

[sprinterguy]

The sort of thing that astounds me more than the Thurston incident is occurences like this at Northallerton, where spotters deliberately position themseves as close to the platform edge as possible in order to provoke a response from drivers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZt_Y...feature=relmfu

[Phil6219]

I agree with Sprinterguy, it's not necessarily the ones that unknowingly place themselves in danger but the increasing number of ones who deliberately place themselves in such a position so that they will get a reaction from the driver, all in the need of one more "tone".

Aside from the obvious what would happen if one of them slipped it's prats like that which will end up ruining it for the rest of us who move away and generally perform some wave of acknowledgement so the driver knows we can see him/her approaching.

I heard something a few days ago which is of some relevance here and maybe someone could clear it up for me but, a few Saturdays ago there was a fatality at Leyland. I had heard at the time that someone had jumped infront of a Blackpool bound train however a few days ago a few people had said that it was infact a spotter trying to shoot the Duchess (running light engine) who had slipped and fallen infront of a southbound Pendolino.

Even if it turns out that it wasn't true it certainly has put the thing into perspective, I would occasionally lean slightly (never lean over the edge) but those days are over now as in the end it's not worth it.

Phil

[Schnellzug]

chicken curry with chips, please.

(I was going to say something in response to something someone said, but I could see that wearisome beast Controversy lumbering pver the horizon again like a bear ins earch of hunny, so I decided it wasn't worth it.)

[Cherry_Picker]

Originally Posted by Schnellzug

Presumably you are a driver, then, I am presuming. I do find it sad that people who actually work in the business seem not only to have no interest in it at all, but an attitude of utter contempt for those who do.

What makes you say that? As a driver he has enough interest beyond doing his job to make an account on this forum but he isnt a spotter. I'm very much in the same boat. I like to talk about a working railway but have absolutely no interest in spotting traction and the list of things I would rather to than stand on a platform taking photographs of passing trains is a very long one. Does that mean I have contempt for spotters? I dont think so.

[ANorthernGuard]

I hate trains (apart from steam or something that has plenty of nostalgia) but I love the railway, I am born n bred railway, but why do a small proportion of spotters risk getting themselves cut and mashed into 1000's of pieces for a number or photo? I will never get it.

[martin2345uk]

Originally Posted by sprinterguy

The sort of thing that astounds me more than the Thurston incident is occurences like this at Northallerton, where spotters deliberately position themseves as close to the platform edge as possible in order to provoke a response from drivers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZt_Y...feature=relmfu

Bloody hell!! Are those guys for real??

[Scotrail84]

Originally Posted by martin2345uk

Bloody hell!! Are those guys for real??

They get a little too excited don't they.

[All Line Rover]

Originally Posted by sprinterguy

The sort of thing that astounds me more than the Thurston incident is occurences like this at Northallerton, where spotters deliberately position themseves as close to the platform edge as possible in order to provoke a response from drivers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZt_Y...feature=relmfu

Some people astonish me. The yellow line is there for a reason.