Passengers thanking Drivers

[LowLevel]

That's made me think, bus drivers wave to their mates as they pass; but I doubt train drivers do? Thinking unless they are going slowly, a quick wave simply wouldn't be seen by the driver coming in the other direction?
As a pax I wouldn't see, so train drivers here can put me right!
As for thanking drivers, I did last week as he was leaving his cab!

Both drivers and guards definitely do Signallers are fair game for waving too!

 

[sw1ller]

I get thanked by at least half of passengers when I’m stood at the internal cab door waiting for everyone to get off before me and weirdly, two children at 1 particular stop always thank me, and every other driver I assume, without fail. I’d love to meet their parents to tell them what a good job they’ve done raising them.

 

[baz962]

That's made me think, bus drivers wave to their mates as they pass; but I doubt train drivers do? Thinking unless they are going slowly, a quick wave simply wouldn't be seen by the driver coming in the other direction?
As a pax I wouldn't see, so train drivers here can put me right!
As for thanking drivers, I did last week as he was leaving his cab!

Even at 125 in either direction , you can see a wave in daylight. Can't usually make out the other drivers face , but definitely can see a wave.

 

[Mintona]

I’m always slightly surprised to get a thank you. Only ever happens at a terminal station.

I always appreciate it but I’d never expect it.

 

[43066]

Happens to me about half a dozen times a year. Happened today . Was told thanks for a smooth ride driver.

About the same for me. I’ve been asked “how fast were we going?” a couple of times and, on one memorable occasion, “is it good money doing this?”. The guy who asked me that was a spotter who seemed somewhat eccentric .

 

[urbophile]

Certainly was common arriving at London termini in steam loco days, if the crew were (as often) hanging over the cab windowside watching the passengers pass. Very often newspapers would be handed up to the crew, who might casually read them for a minute before tossing them into the fire. Small children - you can doubtless think of one straight away - might be taken alongside for a moment to look admiringly up into the cab ...

Took me a second reading to make sure you weren't commending tossing small children into the fire!

 

[berwicksfinest]

Both drivers and guards definitely do Signallers are fair game for waving too!

Sometimes we use all our fingers too

 

[Trainfan2019]

I rarely get chance to see the driver but always say thank you to guards if I'm getting off the train if they are around. Also, I always say thank you when I get my ticket checked onboard too. Always say thank you to bus drivers as well.

 

[Horizon22]

For drivers, it seems to be an extremely rare occasion when I see them leave the cab, but then I've generally lived and worked around the "souless, London commuter base" I've seen a couple of younger kids do it before though. I've given them a quick nod and smile once or twice, this was after disruption and they had some good announcements.

Guards / on-board stuff much more so, and has happened to me on a few occasions previously.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

By the time that you've alighted from coach 'A' at the country end of an Avanti Pendolino which has recently arrived into London Euston, and walked the full length of the train, the driver (at the far end) has almost certainly long gone.

 

[JohntyRogers]

How much do you all tip your driver? I'm comfortable with 20% of the fare price.

 

[FManc]

That's made me think, bus drivers wave to their mates as they pass; but I doubt train drivers do? Thinking unless they are going slowly, a quick wave simply wouldn't be seen by the driver coming in the other direction?
As a pax I wouldn't see, so train drivers here can put me right!
As for thanking drivers, I did last week as he was leaving his cab!

When I’m running at 125mph I can still see another driver wave at me. I’d say the majority do give a cheeky wave!

 

[Acey]

That's made me think, bus drivers wave to their mates as they pass; but I doubt train drivers do? Thinking unless they are going slowly, a quick wave simply wouldn't be seen by the driver coming in the other direction?
As a pax I wouldn't see, so train drivers here can put me right!
As for thanking drivers, I did last week as he was leaving his cab!

Prior to the ASLEF drivers strike in 1982 ,most drivers ( on South Eastern at least ) would wave in passing but after the strike it more or less came to a halt as some drivers were worried that they may be waving to a scab ( and vice versa ) It wasn't a very pleasant working environment for quite a few years !

 

[4F89]

How much do you all tip your driver? I'm comfortable with 20% of the fare price.

The only way I'd be persuaded to go pass!

When I’m running at 125mph I can still see another driver wave at me. I’d say the majority do give a cheeky wave!

Giving guns or "bow and arrow" is also fun

 

[D6130]

As an ex-driver and guard, I always thank the traincrew at the end of a journey when it's possible. Despite having been retired for nearly ten years, I still know quite a few of the drivers and conductors in and around West Yorkshire....although there are a lot of new ones about. I always enjoyed being thanked, especially at the end of a journey over the Settle-Carlisle line, where the majority of passengers are leisure travellers.

 

[43066]

Giving guns or "bow and arrow" is also fun

Or a Mexican wave. The risk there is they think you’re telling them to do an emergency stop and drop the lot (has apparently happened) .

 

[4F89]

Or a Mexican wave. The risk there is they think you’re telling them to do an emergency stop and drop the lot (has apparently happened) .

Aaah yes

 

[northwichcat]

A thank-you costs absolutely nothing. I don't think I've ever thanked a train driver, but that's probably because they've not been there as I walked past. The guard and catering staff are the most visible traincrew and will always get my thanks when I alight.

With catering staff and ticket sellers I normally thank them at the end of the transaction if I use them, as I do with all retail staff.

It's perhaps a bit strange on both trains and planes that the visible staff get thanked when the person who has played the biggest role in getting the passenger where they want to be, usually remains out-of-sight. There are of course other people who play an important role who are even more hidden like signallers and air traffic controllers.

 

[43066]

It's perhaps a bit strange on both trains and planes that the visible staff get thanked when the person who has played the biggest role in getting the passenger where they want to be, usually remains out-of-sight

That’s true. Albeit probably also true to say that the majority of people who become drivers don’t necessarily wish to interact regularly with passengers (albeit a thanks is always very much appreciated!). Frankly, if you do enjoy doing that, it’s completely the wrong job. Especially if you drive the kind of trains @4F89 does!

 

[Tangent]

That's made me think, bus drivers wave to their mates as they pass; but I doubt train drivers do? Thinking unless they are going slowly, a quick wave simply wouldn't be seen by the driver coming in the other direction?
As a pax I wouldn't see, so train drivers here can put me right!
As for thanking drivers, I did last week as he was leaving his cab!

On smaller routes in London on quiet roads, two drivers in opposite directions can stop and lower their windows for a brief chat. The logistics of doing such a thing on the railway would be interesting...

 

[4F89]

That’s true. Albeit probably also true to say that the majority of people who become drivers don’t necessarily wish to interact regularly with passengers. Frankly, if you do enjoy doing that, it’s completely the wrong job. Especially if you drive the kind of trains @4F89 does!

The fewer hangers on, the better! More than happy in my T3 sleeping!

 

[londonboi198o5]

I been thanked quite a few times at terminus both by leisure and commuters does brighten up your day.

 

[northwichcat]

On smaller routes in London on quiet roads, two drivers in opposite directions can stop and lower their windows for a brief chat. The logistics of doing such a thing on the railway would be interesting...

Something similar happened on a service I was on the other day. It did have a reason though, there was horrendous queues due to temporary traffic lights being stuck on red and the driver who had got through was able to tell the driver in the other direction what was going on.

 

[43066]

The logistics of doing such a thing on the railway would be interesting...

It’s possible. Generally when stopped at a red, with the driver of the train stopped on an adjacent line.

 

[D6130]

It’s possible. Generally when stopped at a red, with the driver of the train stopped on an adjacent line.

....or - in the case of a train stopped due to an incident and exhibiting flashing hazard lights - a train travelling in the opposite direction may pull up and the drivers converse through the open cab windows....if the driver of the train travelling in the opposite direction is able to stop in time.

 

[Ken H]

I’m always slightly surprised to get a thank you. Only ever happens at a terminal station.

I always appreciate it but I’d never expect it.

I got off a northbound train at Ribblehead. As I waited to cross the line*, I thanked the driver. And i have only travelled from Horton.

*I didnt think darting across the crossing while the guard was despatching the train was a good idea!

 

[trainophile]

I always nod and say thanks to any crew members on the platform when I alight, unless of course they are at the other end of an 11 car Pendolino or similar.

I do sometimes wonder whether bus drivers get fed up with having to acknowledge maybe 30 passengers getting off at the terminus stop and each one saying thank you.

 

[Deepgreen]

At my local station, Betchworth, I'm either at the front (EB) or the back (WB) so one of the crew gets thanked!

 

[route101]

That's made me think, bus drivers wave to their mates as they pass; but I doubt train drivers do? Thinking unless they are going slowly, a quick wave simply wouldn't be seen by the driver coming in the other direction?
As a pax I wouldn't see, so train drivers here can put me right!
As for thanking drivers, I did last week as he was leaving his cab!

I wonder if they flash their lights or toot their horns, I guess that might cause confusion though.

Saying that some drivers are very introverted even towards fellow train crew? I once nodded to a southern driver as he looked at me (don't work for southern) and the minute he did he turned away... pretty rude to he honest

You always get people like that. I had it in one of my jobs, would say hi to a colleague and just get blanked. Perhaps they have boundaries and don't speak to people they don't know.

 

[Geoff DC]

I'd love to thank the Drivers when I alight in Penzance, but they are usually first off and long gone - don't blame them though