I'm afraid I just don't see the logic in adults waving to train drivers unless they happen to know them of course, otherwise it just seems bizarre. My young grandchildren wave to train drivers and also to police vehicles and fire appliances but they'll probably grow out of it in a few years.
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Drivers: Do you like people waving from platforms?
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The_Train
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notlob.divad
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What type of wave are we talking about. Mad waving with full arms, or just a simple open palm jesture?
I wave (open hand jesture) at anyone, a simple greating or thanks. If a car driver stops to let me cross the road at a Zebra Crossing, I will wave to thank them. Equally if I am driving and someone stops to let me out. On a bus, if leaving via the front door, I will always thank the driver, equally the guard if I happen to see them when or after alighting. Thus a wave at the train driver as he pulls into the platform is my way of thanking them in advance.
I wave (open hand jesture) at anyone, a simple greating or thanks. If a car driver stops to let me cross the road at a Zebra Crossing, I will wave to thank them. Equally if I am driving and someone stops to let me out. On a bus, if leaving via the front door, I will always thank the driver, equally the guard if I happen to see them when or after alighting. Thus a wave at the train driver as he pulls into the platform is my way of thanking them in advance.
theironroad
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Children and families on bridges I'll definitely wave to, the last couple of weeks has been pretty busy.
I've stopped tooting the horn, as on the desiros I drive they are very loud even when you try to get the smallest toot and I've had a couple of incidents where it does more harm than good when it comes out real loud and the kids look scared....
When pulling into a platform im stopping at, if children wave I'll try to wave back, even if it's just a acknowledgment via side window, but I'm focused on the red signal on the end of the very tight car stop mark so sometimes there'll be no wave.
I don't respond to random requests, especially the horn/whistle tugging hand action and very rarely to adults waving, though sometimes I guess they are well meaning, it does seem a bit odd. I do however wave to the occasional times I see older men ,normally alone standing on bridges, as I have some belief, without any evidence!, that they may be retired drivers or signallers. Don't know why......
I've stopped tooting the horn, as on the desiros I drive they are very loud even when you try to get the smallest toot and I've had a couple of incidents where it does more harm than good when it comes out real loud and the kids look scared....
When pulling into a platform im stopping at, if children wave I'll try to wave back, even if it's just a acknowledgment via side window, but I'm focused on the red signal on the end of the very tight car stop mark so sometimes there'll be no wave.
I don't respond to random requests, especially the horn/whistle tugging hand action and very rarely to adults waving, though sometimes I guess they are well meaning, it does seem a bit odd. I do however wave to the occasional times I see older men ,normally alone standing on bridges, as I have some belief, without any evidence!, that they may be retired drivers or signallers. Don't know why......
that’s heartwarming
DynamicSpirit
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Because making human contact and acknowledging another person is a nice, friendly, thing to do? Another example, slightly off topic for this thread, is that cyclists will often say 'hi' to other random cyclists as they pass them - especially common when passing on country lanes (Obviously, in that context, it tends to be saying 'hi' rather than waving because you need your hands on the handlebars).
I have to admit though, it's never occurred to me to wave at a train driver - not least because if the train is stopping, I'm probably thinking about preparing to get on it. And if it's not stopping, it's probably going too fast for me to even see the driver on a casual glance.
RPM
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Quite happy to wave back to anyone who waves at me when I'm driving. Just seems the polite thing to do.
DynamicSpirit
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This discussion reminds me of this episode of To the Manor Born. Between 02:00 and 02:20 into the video...
Islineclear3_1
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I always give a wave to the driver if I'm photographing an approaching train from the platform
I would hope this would give some reassurance to the driver that I am fully aware of his train's presence and that he (or she) has seen me
I would hope this would give some reassurance to the driver that I am fully aware of his train's presence and that he (or she) has seen me
The same goes for walkers, it’s just polite if you see someone to say hi. I’d imagine drivers wave to other drivers - I’ve certainly seen bus drivers do it, it’s almost like a kind of solidarity amongst people in the same situation I guess.
alxndr
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I've been known to forget I'm not working and acknowledge a train out of habit, but that's more of a raised arm than a true wave. Caused some grumbles from companions who think I look stupid doing it in civvies.
I'll exchange pleasantries with anybody I encounter cycling along a country lane but I can't imagine a train pulling into London Bridge in the evening peak and commuters all waving to the driver.
I used to be the same as many on here where I would only toot at kids, but I’m taking an educated guess that several of the adults who wave are on the autistic spectrum, so why not. However, anyone does the ‘casey jones’ and I’ll ignore you. That’s OTT. You get to know some regulars as well, for instance the bloke who videos at Stockport waving a bit wildly, Most drivers seem to blank him. Whereas the young lad at Cheddington who just gives a polite wave will get a toot off most. Draw your own conclusions and if you know anyone with autism who may get huffy are the responses, let them know just to keep it simple.
Mintona
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Although if anyone fancies organising it I’d love to see a video of the driver’s face
Oooo yes I quite agree with that. I always assume they are ex-railwaymen and always get a wave from me.
I'm an HGV driver you would believe the amount of people that do wave especially from motorway overbridges.As others have said always wave at the little kids, adults you more worried about them throwing something
I'll wave to pretty much anybody.......if someone's taken the time out of their day to acknowledge my existence I'll at least do the same.
From a railway perspective and if it's an adult spotter or just a small child fascinated by trains I'll wave to either........you just never know who's day your making with a simple gesture. It's nice to see that drivers still get the odd bit of acknowledgement and respect..... Better a wave from these guys than the old tapping of a watch from a divvy businessman or the middle finger from a disrespectful teen .
From a railway perspective and if it's an adult spotter or just a small child fascinated by trains I'll wave to either........you just never know who's day your making with a simple gesture. It's nice to see that drivers still get the odd bit of acknowledgement and respect..... Better a wave from these guys than the old tapping of a watch from a divvy businessman or the middle finger from a disrespectful teen .
NoOnesFool
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All safety critical staff use hand signals i.e. to alert the driver of someone falling on the track. Therefore it is never a good idea to wave or make any gesture as in the moment it could be mis judged as an alert of danger. Many train drivers are quite welcoming towards enthusiasts but at the end of the day they have a job to do and cannot be distracted from that job.
We all wave at each other anyway.
It's an old fashioned thing that probably has it's roots in the idea that if you're waving at each other everything is OK with both of your situations.
You know a lot of people on the railway by face despite not having time to talk.
Track workers, station staff, drivers, guards, signallers - we all wave at each other and while it's a friendly thing to do it also shows that all is well.
I've never exchanged a word with the resident signallers at Bellwater Junction signalbox but even in the dark I turn the cab light on to wave at them as we go past and you can see their silhouette in the box doing the same.
Long may it continue. There's a time and a place of course but generally speaking railway folk look out for one another.
Bertie the bus
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Kids waving at trains I understand. Same with their parents/grandparents also waving. What I’ve never understood is why do some adults who aren’t with kids wave a trains? It’s just weird. When I drive or walk down the street I don’t wave at random strangers and nor do I see other people doing it so why wave at trains?
If I'm travelling on a train and see someone walking e.g. along a canal towpath I wave.
If I'm out walking and see a train I (usually) wave - to the passengers rather than the staff (who have a job to do).
If - in either context - I get a wave back it lifts the heart a little.
[There is, of course, waving and ... waving. Waving to a towpath walker is a cheery side-to-side open palm; waving to a driver to make it clear that you're aware of his approaching train would be a raised arm of acknowledgement.]
trainophile
Established Member
What a bizarre idea, that some people signal the driver to toot his horn. Never heard of that one before, and don't see the point really.
However I have had my day made a couple of times when platform ending at Kings Cross and a driver gives me a bit of a wave as he pulls his train away.
I don't wave at passing trains though, but I do wave out of them at kids on the top of the bank who are waving at the train.
However I have had my day made a couple of times when platform ending at Kings Cross and a driver gives me a bit of a wave as he pulls his train away.
I don't wave at passing trains though, but I do wave out of them at kids on the top of the bank who are waving at the train.
Yep the 12 to 16 year olds , that all over instagram
Adlington
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How do they do that? Is there a special kind of waving for that?
Minilad
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If someone waves at me I wave back. It's just a friendly thing to do. I don't care who's doing it or why it's just a wave. Of course if it's a one or two fingered wave then that's different.
Even the toot horn gesture thing doesn't particularly bother me. I won't sound the horn of course but the action itself doesn't bother me at all. Some people are just way too uptight.
Even the toot horn gesture thing doesn't particularly bother me. I won't sound the horn of course but the action itself doesn't bother me at all. Some people are just way too uptight.
trainophile
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That's what I was wondering.
dk1
Veteran Member
It's done in the same way you signal to 'give a brake test'.
RPM
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A lot of overthinking and mild misanthropy on this thread. If somebody waves at you, wave back. That's it. It's not a safety risk, not a distraction, no reason to brand people as special needs or whatever. Just normal human behaviour. I despair sometimes.
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