Collecting window labels

Murray Wallace · 13 Oct 2017

I see a lot of people within the hobby collecting window labels with train destinations on them (mainly from trains like HST’s where there are no electronic displays).

I’m quite interested in collecting a few (before all those types of trains are retired) so I am just wondering if you ask the guard if there are ones going spare?- or if there’s anything else you can do to get them?

Thanks,
Murray.

RailUK Forums

Bletchleyite · 13 Oct 2017

They only go in the bin at termini so nobody will care if you just nick one provided the train has completed the journey.

Murray Wallace · 13 Oct 2017

Ah right, thanks

DarloRich · 13 Oct 2017

worth noting VTEC ones are used for several journeys so best ask before you help yourself

Murray Wallace · 13 Oct 2017

Thanks for the heads up, Darlorich.

superalbs · 13 Oct 2017

Train companies are invoking hefty penalties (last I heard was £200 on GWR) for removing window labels without permission. It's not worth the risk, just ask an on-board staff member and I'm sure that one of them will say yes.

Bletchleyite · 13 Oct 2017

superalbs said:
Train companies are invoking hefty penalties (last I heard was £200 on GWR) for removing window labels without permission. It's not worth the risk, just ask an on-board staff member and I'm sure that one of them will say yes.

They have actually imposed those penalties in Court? Really? (It might say it on there, but I never, for example, heard of anyone being fined for removing a seat reservation card - I wish they would!)

Bletchleyite · 13 Oct 2017

DarloRich said:
worth noting VTEC ones are used for several journeys so best ask before you help yourself

I stand corrected on those - much more environmentally friendly! Certainly when I used to collect them years ago they did just go in the bin.

xotGD · 13 Oct 2017

Once you've got a few from VTEC you can have fun swapping the "Edinburgh" labels to "Leeds" labels at Kings Cross...

tbtc · 13 Oct 2017

DarloRich said:
worth noting VTEC ones are used for several journeys so best ask before you help yourself

Bletchleyite said:
I stand corrected on those - much more environmentally friendly! Certainly when I used to collect them years ago they did just go in the bin.

I don't know for certain, but it may be the case that, after EUREKA, the stopping pattern on the ECML is now standardised enough to use the same window display on more than one service.

Back in BR/ GNER/ NXEC days, it was fairly random in terms of stopping patterns (with no London - Newark/York "stoppers), so the longer distance trains took up more stops south of Doncaster, which meant some awkward gaps in the service at some intermediate stations. Now things are a lot more organised/ clockface, so less random stops.

Just my guess anyhow.

skyhigh · 13 Oct 2017

DarloRich said:
worth noting VTEC ones are used for several journeys so best ask before you help yourself

On one occasion after boarding at King's Cross a travelling cleaner came around just as we were passing Stevenage and removed all the reservation and window labels - I suspect that wasn't intended however! :lol:

Agreed with other posters, ask the train staff and they'd probably be happy to let you have one if they're not needed.

westv · 13 Oct 2017

Unless I'm looking in the wrong place, VTEC don't even bother to stick window labels on the Executive.

cactustwirly · 13 Oct 2017

superalbs said:
Train companies are invoking hefty penalties (last I heard was £200 on GWR) for removing window labels without permission. It's not worth the risk, just ask an on-board staff member and I'm sure that one of them will say yes.

I managed to nick one on the approach to Paddington with ease, you just have to be discreet.
I doubt anyone cares because they'll just go in the bin at the end of the journey anyway.

ainsworth74 · 13 Oct 2017

tbtc said:
I don't know for certain, but it may be the case that, after EUREKA, the stopping pattern on the ECML is now standardised enough to use the same window display on more than one service.

In very fine print at the bottom the it will list the services it can be used on so they certainly could be reused. I use it as a way of checking that a train that is indicated as being at platform on RTT but isn't yet announced is the right one!

westv said:
Unless I'm looking in the wrong place, VTEC don't even bother to stick window labels on the Executive.

They don't appear at every window and on HSTs (like the Executive) they will only be on the window that is actually the toilet compartment rather than the door window.

Mojo · 13 Oct 2017

Bletchleyite said:
I stand corrected on those - much more environmentally friendly! Certainly when I used to collect them years ago they did just go in the bin.

That's probably because they have a slot in the door (or HST toilet window) and aren't physically attached, whereas GWR for instance have them physically stuck to the windows so it wouldn't be as easy to reuse them.

ooo · 13 Oct 2017

One clever way I noticed SNCF use for window labels is to have a ring bound book with all the possible destinations and then place it on the correct page in a holder. They also did a similar thing for carriage numbers

SaveECRewards · 13 Oct 2017

One of the directors I talked to actually claimed he came up with the idea of VTEC reusing these labels. Of course for all we know they may have already been doing that pre-VTEC but didn't want to tell him his idea was already thought of. But whoever came up with it then it makes sense, it's one way of cost cutting that doesn't affect the service quality in any way. I remember in first class when East Coast used to have paper menus on the table that were thrown out after every service, it made more sense to have reusable card menus like they do now.

Is VTEC the only operator that puts the destination labels in a holder rather than sticking them to the window? I know it's been like that since GNER days. Do the GWR HSTs not have the place to stick these labels?

83G/84D · 13 Oct 2017

During British Rail days some HST's (certainly the East Coast sets) had window blinds not labels. These were miniature versions of front destination blinds on buses with calling points shown. These were accessed using a carriage key and were located in the toilet area facing outwards near the window.

I have one in fact but won't say how I came about it.

I assure you I am not making this up and would like to see any photos of this equipment in situ or in use.

Howezy_21 · 13 Oct 2017

SaveECRewards said:
Is VTEC the only operator that puts the destination labels in a holder rather than sticking them to the window? I know it's been like that since GNER days. Do the GWR HSTs not have the place to stick these labels?

Nope GWR always stick theirs to the windows, although I've sometimes seen HST's without any labels or labels from the previous journey. So presumably they only get changed at Paddington or other big termini providing they have the time.

xotGD · 21 Oct 2017

The other day I watched the reusable labels being removed at Leeds - and going straight into the rubbish sack.

MG11 · 29 Nov 2017

Please never take anything without permission, you do not want to be in hot water for pursuing your hobby. If you ask a member of staff, they may well be able to give you the label at the journey's end. Some companies do reuse them though, as has been said.

fowler9 · 30 Nov 2017

I have a huge collection from 30 odd years ago. Only ever taken at the end of the journey. I never asked but they did just used to go in the bin.

MG11 · 30 Nov 2017

fowler9 said:
I have a huge collection from 30 odd years ago. Only ever taken at the end of the journey. I never asked but they did just used to go in the bin.

I imagine things were more relaxed then though, before the days of RSAS staff and Bye law Enforcement Officers.

fowler9 · 30 Nov 2017

MG11 said:
I imagine things were more relaxed then though, before the days of RSAS staff and Bye law Enforcement Officers.

Indeed. Way more relaxed.

whhistle · 13 Dec 2017

I often wonder why trains bother with destination blinds.

I bet there are more travelling around that are incorrect, than are actually correct. Many only show the destination, which not everyone will get off at anyway, others only have half the LEDs working; it's just really old fashioned.

Bletchleyite · 13 Dec 2017

Station PIS has obsoleted them almost everywhere these days. They're basically just a sanity check.

centraltrains · 13 Dec 2017

Bletchleyite said:
Station PIS has obsoleted them almost everywhere these days. They're basically just a sanity check.

Stations without a PIS...

IanXC · 14 Dec 2017

centraltrains said:
Stations without a PIS...

I'm struggling to think of a station HSTs are booked to call at that doesn't have PIS!

Starmill · 14 Dec 2017

IanXC said:
I'm struggling to think of a station HSTs are booked to call at that doesn't have PIS!

Kingussie? Worle? Weston Milton? Honeybourne? Carrbridge? Langley Mill? Ivybridge? I'm not really sure about any of these, any of them could now have it installed.

Bletchleyite · 14 Dec 2017

centraltrains said:
Stations without a PIS...

Most stations without a PIS these days have a rather basic service which you can easily work out without either.

Collecting window labels

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