Mistaken for Staff?

[Starmill]

So, I was waiting to catch the 23:55 to Manchester Airport (always a fun one!) at Manchester Pic the other night, and an exchange took place thus:

Man: How do I get to Preston?
Guard (of terminating service): I don't know, you need to ask the station staff.
Man: (looking around, his eyes alight on me) Hey mate, are you station staff?
Me: Nope, sorry!
Man: (genuinely flustered) Why is he wearing a dickie bow then!

Because Railway staff are so often found wearing bow ties...

Not an excellent example of course, as he was no doubt hammered.

But seriously this isn't the first time this has happened to me.

While wearing a particular pair of blue trousers and a purple shirt I have been mistaken for a Northern employee! It happened twice in one day, and another time by an actual member of staff. and I think a couple have 'done a double take' as it were. I was wearing my own coat, which was black. It's not like I had any branding or anything and these were clearly respectable members of the public, at a few different locations, not just P13.

I had to avoid wearing that combination afterwards.

Has this ever happened to anyone else? Personally, I think I look too young and just to clarify I do not work for any railway related firm.

It reminds me of one of my teachers, who used to have a Stagecoach tie that he occasionally wore to work (he was very good for bus gen) and he always used the bus to get there, so he used to get funny looks from the drivers!

 

[Hyphen]

Has this ever happened to anyone else? Personally, I think I look too young and just to clarify I do not work for any railway related firm.

In EMT areas I'm often standing on a platform and people will come up to me asking if this is the platform for the train to X or how they get to Y. I'm not sure if they're mistaking me for staff (unlikely, I'm usually on my phone and have a large rucksack on my back) or if I just look like I might know about trains!!

It never bothers me, I'm usually happy to help and will fire up National Rail Enquiries or RealTimeTrains to help get them to where they need to be.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I have quite often been asked for details of train times / platforms / etc even though I don't look like staff - I recokon the notebook and camera might have something to do with it because I once explained I wasn't staff and the response was "Yes, but you're into trains aren't you? So I figured you'd know the answer...":roll:

 

[yorkie]

Has this ever happened to anyone else? Personally, I think I look too young ...

Nah, you could definitely pass for staff, maybe even a driver (Seth is also a member of this forum by the way!)

I'm always happy to help if I can, I am generally only asked if I am talking to someone else about train times etc, but if I overhear that someone has a connection I'll tell them the platform etc.

Earlier today I heard someone say they had to get a train departing Leeds at "1720-something" and I was checking my train was still cross-platform, and saw some cancellations. So I asked him which train he wanted and was able to inform him it was cancelled, I did a quick search for an alternative journey plan on NRE, which said it was better for him to stay on the train to Warrington. Only problem was he had a bike and Virgin can be militant about reservations, and there is no way to tell if there were bike spaces available online on the day (stations can reserve on the day).

 

[Tracked]

Got asked once last year at Doncaster station, a Grand Central train had broken down and people were being advised to get onto East Coast services, I was stood on platform 1 with my mp3 player on & someone asked me if I worked there.

I was dressed in grey jeans, light grey trainers and a purple jumper at the time, sort of similar to East Coast colours I suppose

 

[trentside]

Before I worked on the railway, I was mistaken for East Coast staff a couple of times at Doncaster, when I was wearing a black coat with a purple scarf. A woman actually started having a go at me because she was confused and about to miss her train - I told her I wasn't staff so she went off to yell at someone else :roll:

I must now have an 'I know what I'm doing' look as it seems to happen more often now. I think at the station I work at, people recognise me so ask anyway, but how it happens elsewhere I don't know. Was in SWT land yesterday wearing a blue t-shirt that vaguely resembles SWT/EMT colours (but is a bit brighter) I got asked questions a couple of times. One guy actually apologised saying "I know you're off duty but..." - as it was a Clapham Junction I had to refer him to station staff, that place confuses me too much to give him an accurate answer.

 

[Cherry_Picker]

Someone asked me where the frozen chicken was in ASDA once because I had the audacity to go there while still in my railway uniform.

 

[EM2]

When I get to my station before a late shift, I check the main departure boards before I go to clock in, just to see if there's any big problems. While I'm doing this, I'm generally putting my iPod away and various other 'getting ready for work' stuff.
While I do wear my uniform (blue suit and tie, light blue shirt) into work, I have no insignia visible, and have my black overcoat on during winter.
But the number of people that ask me a question in that couple of moments is astounding!

 

[Monty]

I've been mistaken for a member if staff working for Sainbury's after popping in for a shop straight after work.

 

[Lockwood]

Wearing a blue shirt, got off a tube train that terminated at Moorgate, other passenger was talking to me - I'd not noticed until I heard another another passenger saying "No mate, he doesn't work here!"

Stood in Tesco semi-smartly dressed with a mate; looking at a wall of hair care devices with a "What on earth were you meant to be buying?" "I can't remember! So much stuff! Confused!" conversation going on. Customer figured that the two men looking at that shelf must be store managers.

[Many many more shopping ones]

If I had a pound for every time I've been asked directions/platforms/times/routes while stood on a platform in a yellow&green hivis, green trousers and either a big green bag, I'd probably be able to get a SN only return to London!
I can't think of any TOC I've seen that has an all green uniform - does such a thing exist?


Best one of those was a guy having a go at me for not clearing the snow in an Asda car park. Since I was wearing a part green hivis, I must be on their car park staff, so go do my (swear) job and stop (swear) standing around!
(Pointing to the text on my hivis did not help here - it was still "my job")

 

[Flamingo]

I've had more than one passenger wanting to be mistaken for staff, wearing quasi-uniform, high-vis, "look like a freight driver at first glance" type clothes, invariably they didn't have a ticket.

I once took a FGW lanyard off a chap who when asked for his ticket pointed at his lanyard - him and his mate (both teens) had drivers bags as well, it was the shorts and flip-flops that made me suspicious!

 

[maniacmartin]

It's never happened to me. Perhaps because I don't dress smartly.

In fact a lot of the times when I've tried to help someone who looks a bit lost or confused, they seem to take offense that a member of the public thinks they need help.

 

[causton]

I once took a FGW lanyard off a chap who when asked for his ticket pointed at his lanyard - him and his mate (both teens) had drivers bags as well, it was the shorts and flip-flops that made me suspicious!

As in, were they off-duty, or (just noticed the teens comment so probably the latter) they had somehow otherwise acquired the passes/bags?!?

 

[185]

Morrisons....

Man in shop "There's no milk, AGAIN, I am sick to the back teeth of the attitude of YOU and all the useless staff at this shop, you ought to all be sacked for incompetence. I wouldn't employ you. Where is the milk? Eh? Where's the milk. Find some!!!???"

My reply cannot be written fully on here, but did involve mentioning dropping of trousers and a French baguette which was nearby.

 

[island]

As in, were they off-duty, or (just noticed the teens comment so probably the latter) they had somehow otherwise acquired the passes/bags?!?

I'm assuming the latter.

I was mistaken for the TM by three passengers in short succession last week on a HST at Gloucester. I obviously need a more expensive suit

 

[trc666]

I used to commute through Barking or Stratford regularly when I worked for TNT and the orange and black uniform shirt used to see me being mistaken for London Overground staff quite often, and now that I work for SWT I occasionally get mistaken for London Underground when commuting to and from work due to the blue shirt!

 

[175001]

When I go around towns on my breaks in my Northern uniform, I always get asked questions. WH Smiths is the worst one!

 

[Flamingo]

As in, were they off-duty, or (just noticed the teens comment so probably the latter) they had somehow otherwise acquired the passes/bags?!?

A "mate" had given him an ID badge lanyard, ("I know lots of important people in FGW" was his reply when asked) as it was FGW labelled and was causing him to be mistaken for staff (the Customer Host had), and the way he was behaving (other things he'd done) would lead others to mistake him for staff, I told him I was having it off him, or BTP would have a chat with him in Pad about stolen railway property.

I'm fairly sure the mate had given him the bags as well, but as there was no logo on them, I couldn't do anything about them.

 

[Nym]

I used to commute through Barking or Stratford regularly when I worked for TNT and the orange and black uniform shirt used to see me being mistaken for London Overground staff quite often, and now that I work for SWT I occasionally get mistaken for London Underground when commuting to and from work due to the blue shirt!

Thing is at the minute, when I am in uniform on LUL I don't get asked questions, but when I'm just in a shirt and jeans on my way in / out, I get asked every minute or so where the national rail station platforms are...

 

[Daniel]

I'm fairly sure the mate had given him the bags as well, but as there was no logo on them, I couldn't do anything about them.

Possibly, but non-logo'd bags can be purchased in a particular London shop for around £40.


Wearing LU uniform, a majority of the questions I get are in Tesco. Second is probably WH Smith.

And theres the odd case of when not wearing uniform but travelling on the underground, people still choose to ask me questions, even when on the same platform as a member of staff wearing a hi-vi...

 

[dvboy]

Often if I'm wearing a grey shirt with red tie I get mistaken for VT staff at Wolves.

The other day someone was getting off a train asking where the train for London was, I told her I didn't work there, but it would be platform 4 but if she stayed on the one she was on and changed at SAD instead, she wouldn't have to trek over the bridge with her luggage. I think she stopped listening after "platform 4" as she continued to get off.

 

[DavyCrocket]

Possibly, but non-logo'd bags can be purchased in a particular London shop for around £40.


Wearing LU uniform, a majority of the questions I get are in Tesco. Second is probably WH Smith.

And theres the odd case of when not wearing uniform but travelling on the underground, people still choose to ask me questions, even when on the same platform as a member of staff wearing a hi-vi...

I don't wear the same uniform as you Daniel but I was once chased around a Boots store by some customer as I wouldn't help her. The staff and my colleague (in civvies) thought it amusing!

In my local supermarket (out of London) I've been asked before where stuff is. If they're polite and I know I'll say whereabouts it is. Someone went to complain once as I wouldn't go get an item for them! If they're rude I'll just blank them and carry on walking!

Often I see people on the train or underground looking lost and go to help - the. Remember I'm not in uniform- they then think I'm a bit crazy!

 

[Geargrinder]

Not quite the same but do any train company employees commute out of uniform to prevent any hassle off duty ?

 

[island]

I know the bank I used to work for recommended that uniformed staff commute out of uniform, and that people with ID badges refrain from displaying or wearing them outside the office.

 

[Class172]

Once I got asked at Worcester when the next service to Malvern was, whilst standing at the platform - I knew the time anyhow but then told them I wasn't staff, and their face went bright red when they realised I was in school uniform. Perhaps I looked like one of the platform dispatch staff or a guard - no idea really!

I have twice been mistaken for staff in supermarkets, being asked things like, "Do you know where the minced meat is?" - I don't know why I get asked.

 

[GodAtum]

I wear a hi-vis (i cycle) so always get mistaken for staff!

 

[Rugd1022]

I've been mistaken for staff once or twice whilst in railway uniform... highly embarrasing!

 

[hairyhandedfool]

....While wearing a particular pair of blue trousers and a purple shirt I have been mistaken for a Northern employee!....Has this ever happened to anyone else?....

Happens to G4S staff all the time:roll:

Not quite the same but do any train company employees commute out of uniform to prevent any hassle off duty ?

Plenty don't wear uniform to work, I didn't for a long time and even now try not to be identifiable.

 

[43067]

slightly off piste i suppose, i've had on a few occasions when i've been out on a driving job been waiting for my "passenger" arriving into heathrow arrivals and been asked random questions like where is the taxi rank or the nearest bus rank is especially in T3. because wearing a cap with HMS XXXXX and a jacket with Royal Navy makes me look like a security guard . but glad to help them any way by pointing to the armed copper and his mate hiding behind the pillar chatting.

 

[district]

Some Southern staff have been confused for working for ''Gatwick Express''.