Strange "Network Rail" employees

trebor79 · 30 Nov 2019

ElectroSoldier said:
It sounds suspisious to me from what you have said.
A NR employee would there there with a purpose and would know what he is doing.
By what you have said the only two things he didnt do that were odd was look before crossing the line and telling the passenger he doesnt know the train times.

All sorts of oddness. Like stopping in the middle of each track and looking along the line when using the level crossing. Seemed to touch/examine one of the grey boxes that the barrier arm is driven from. Most hilariously he looked at the wig wags as though to check they were working, only it would have been impossible to determine that as they weren't activated at the time. Had a sheaf of A4 paper in his hand, but no clipboard or pen.
I was on the phone at the time but could see other passengers bemusement at his behaviour, especially when he started telling at people well out of earshot.
I don't think they meant any harm, but one day a fantasy might be taken too far.

RailUK Forums

trebor79 · 30 Nov 2019

43066 said:
For most NR/TOC workers it becomes a deeply ingrained instinct to look right and left whenever you cross the lines - irrespective of whether it’s a running line, a depot siding with no train in it, or an open level crossing.

I’d agree with the previous poster, that’s the only part of the behaviour that didn’t seem weird.

Fair enough. That does make sense actually and I ought to have realised that, having nearly been killed myself in a shunting accident on a heritage railway 21 years ago (no exaggeration).

Bletchleyite · 30 Nov 2019

Dr Hoo said:
The other day I was at a station where a toddler in a push chair (out to watch trains with [presumably] their dad) was able to parrot the entire "see it, say it, sorted" speil. No doubt trying to impersonate an official announcer. No HV PPE involved, of course.

Much as SSS (!) grates, it does mean people know what to do if they see something odd like this.

Roger100 · 30 Nov 2019

Jimini said:
I saw a young lad at one of the suburban GWR stations (maybe Langley or Iver) the other week 'dispatching' trains from the UR platform with a brolly

There's a guy been doing that at Iver for years. When I've been there he's been up on the footbridge 'attending' to passengers but more recently he's been using his whistle. But his days must be numbered as Iver is now a TfL station and will be barriered and staffed during operating hours when the new booking office is opened.

alxndr · 30 Nov 2019

trebor79 said:
All sorts of oddness. Like stopping in the middle of each track and looking along the line when using the level crossing. Seemed to touch/examine one of the grey boxes that the barrier arm is driven from.
...
I don't think they meant any harm, but one day a fantasy might be taken too far.

That's exactly why reporting it is the right thing to do. It might just be a harmless touch of the casing today, but what about next time they start poking about a bit further. Pretty much everything is locked up, but there's still enough to be able to get injured or cause problems.

I'd have probably been tempted to go and ask for his paperwork...

Puppetfinger · 1 Dec 2019

Reporting this is definitely the right thing to do.

Never rule out that this could be what is known as hostile reconnaissance, whereby potential trouble makers or their associates maybe undertaking some form of reconnaissance, and trying to make it look innocuous or normal to the environment, so by reporting they are not allowed that opportunity. It is possible they could have been doing this at many other locations.

I know it sounds cliched, but reporting suspicions wont hurt you, and is absolutely critical to the excellent work the security services do to protect us.

bramling · 1 Dec 2019

Puppetfinger said:
Reporting this is definitely the right thing to do.

Never rule out that this could be what is known as hostile reconnaissance, whereby potential trouble makers or their associates maybe undertaking some form of reconnaissance, and trying to make it look innocuous or normal to the environment, so by reporting they are not allowed that opportunity. It is possible they could have been doing this at many other locations.

I know it sounds cliched, but reporting suspicions wont hurt you, and is absolutely critical to the excellent work the security services do to protect us.

Must admit I’m uncomfortable with the idea of being over keen on reporting things which appear suspicious. Unfortunately the consequence of this is things get take too far, and next thing anyone walking down a street they don’t live in starts finding themselves eyeballed. The next consequence from that is people start getting “reported” just for doing something which someone else doesn’t like.

Reality is most things are actually entirely innocent, and I’d really rather not live in a society where everyone is looked upon with suspicion.

I agree that the original post describes something which seems a little odd, particularly the bit about wearing makeshift hi-vi vests, however I don’t agree with the idea that things should be reported on a whim. I know someone as work who is always reporting or threatening to report things, most recently he reported to the BTP that some coffee had apparently gone missing from a coffee jar. A hostile atmosphere does no one any favours.

It’s also worth noting that railway staff are generally trained to engage with people rather than go straight to BTP or whatever.

Y Ddraig Coch · 1 Dec 2019

Puppetfinger said:
Reporting this is definitely the right thing to do.

Never rule out that this could be what is known as hostile reconnaissance, whereby potential trouble makers or their associates maybe undertaking some form of reconnaissance, and trying to make it look innocuous or normal to the environment, so by reporting they are not allowed that opportunity. It is possible they could have been doing this at many other locations.

I know it sounds cliched, but reporting suspicions wont hurt you, and is absolutely critical to the excellent work the security services do to protect us.

With the greatest of respect, "hostile reconnaissance" in clearly fake uniform, if you can even call it that and making themselves so obvious it sticks out like sore thumb.....?

Sprinter107 · 1 Dec 2019

bramling said:
Must admit I’m uncomfortable with the idea of being over keen on reporting things which appear suspicious. Unfortunately the consequence of this is things get take too far, and next thing anyone walking down a street they don’t live in starts finding themselves eyeballed. The next consequence from that is people start getting “reported” just for doing something which someone else doesn’t like.

Reality is most things are actually entirely innocent, and I’d really rather not live in a society where everyone is looked upon with suspicion.

I agree that the original post describes something which seems a little odd, particularly the bit about wearing makeshift hi-vi vests, however I don’t agree with the idea that things should be reported on a whim. I know someone as work who is always reporting or threatening to report things, most recently he reported to the BTP that some coffee had apparently gone missing from a coffee jar. A hostile atmosphere does no one any favours.

It’s also worth noting that railway staff are generally trained to engage with people rather than go straight to BTP or whatever.

Good post. I agree with everything in it.

Puppetfinger · 1 Dec 2019

bramling said:
Must admit I’m uncomfortable with the idea of being over keen on reporting things which appear suspicious. Unfortunately the consequence of this is things get take too far, and next thing anyone walking down a street they don’t live in starts finding themselves eyeballed. The next consequence from that is people start getting “reported” just for doing something which someone else doesn’t like.

Reality is most things are actually entirely innocent, and I’d really rather not live in a society where everyone is looked upon with suspicion.

I agree that the original post describes something which seems a little odd, particularly the bit about wearing makeshift hi-vi vests, however I don’t agree with the idea that things should be reported on a whim. I know someone as work who is always reporting or threatening to report things, most recently he reported to the BTP that some coffee had apparently gone missing from a coffee jar. A hostile atmosphere does no one any favours.

It’s also worth noting that railway staff are generally trained to engage with people rather than go straight to BTP or whatever.

I think it's one thing to be reporting colleagues for things that really are silly, like the coffee going missing, and undoubtedly that causes a bad environment, but different when there are people who are unknown and clearly acting suspiciously.

I completely agree about wanting to live in a society whereby we can be relaxed and not suspicious, but sadly I feel we are past that, and I'd much rather live in society that promotes safety for all.

Y Ddraig Coch said:
With the greatest of respect, "hostile reconnaissance" in clearly fake uniform, if you can even call it that and making themselves so obvious it sticks out like sore thumb.....?

I'm sure we all agree on here they did a very bad job of a fake uniform, however people on here are far more informed and in the know, these people may well have thought they were 100% looking the part!

43066 · 1 Dec 2019

bramling said:
I don’t agree with the idea that things should be reported on a whim. I know someone as work who is always reporting or threatening to report things, most recently he reported to the BTP that some coffee had apparently gone missing from a coffee jar. A hostile atmosphere does no one any favours.

I fully agree with the general sentiment expressed above.

Reporting low coffee levels to the BTP? The mind boggles! Goes to show there are some seriously strange people working the railway.

.

In terms of the OP’s situation, though, he did exactly the right thing. A handwritten NR logo is a complete red flag and I’d be reporting that myself, as a staff member.

jon0844 · 1 Dec 2019

Unless someone knows the BTP officer and is doing it (reporting the coffee theft) for a laugh (face to face, not over a radio or phone) then that's not on.. and given how stretched the police are, I think the member of staff might need a quiet talking to. We all know about the boy that cried wolf.

Anyone acting slightly suspicious - even if enthusiasts role playing a fantasy rail job - should have the police notified and I'd imagine trains cautioned if they're on or near the line doing 'safety stuff' that they're absolutely not trained to do.

I can't imagine anyone wishing to give evidence at a subsequent inquiry and admitting that they didn't do anything because they didn't think they needed to as it was quite obvious they were no threat.

Y Ddraig Coch · 1 Dec 2019

Let's just hope the said "NR workers" in homemade high viz jackets and trainers aren't members of this forum, as I would hate them to get any sort of sick satisfaction from a thread like this. I hope they realise we all think they are complete tools.

43066 · 1 Dec 2019

jon0844 said:
I think the member of staff might need a quiet talking to. We all know about the boy that cried wolf.

Sadly, just as every village has an idiot, every depot has someone like that :rolleyes:

.

mmh · 1 Dec 2019

Y Ddraig Coch said:
Let's just hope the said "NR workers" in homemade high viz jackets and trainers aren't members of this forum, as I would hate them to get any sort of sick satisfaction from a thread like this. I hope they realise we all think they are complete tools.

Not all of us think that. Only one of us was there to see. I wasn't, but my assumption is they're most likely people with "issues" not malice, and my feeling is one of pity, not scorn.

philthetube · 1 Dec 2019

43066 said:
For most NR/TOC workers it becomes a deeply ingrained instinct to look right and left whenever you cross the lines - irrespective of whether it’s a running line, a depot siding with no train in it, or an open level crossing.

I’d agree with the previous poster, that’s the only part of the behaviour that didn’t seem weird.

Totally agree, it is as ingrained as looking both ways before crossing a one way street, not thought about, just done.

edwin_m · 1 Dec 2019

43066 said:
For most NR/TOC workers it becomes a deeply ingrained instinct to look right and left whenever you cross the lines - irrespective of whether it’s a running line, a depot siding with no train in it, or an open level crossing.

I’d agree with the previous poster, that’s the only part of the behaviour that didn’t seem weird.

For example if a person regularly works within possessions, trains may turn up when the signals and level crossings give no indication that one is approaching.

jon0844 said:
Unless someone knows the BTP officer and is doing it (reporting the coffee theft) for a laugh (face to face, not over a radio or phone) then that's not on.. and given how stretched the police are, I think the member of staff might need a quiet talking to. We all know about the boy that cried wolf.

Would that be a meeting without biscuits … and without coffee either?

bramling · 1 Dec 2019

43066 said:
I fully agree with the general sentiment expressed above.

Reporting low coffee levels to the BTP? The mind boggles! Goes to show there are some seriously strange people working the railway. .

In terms of the OP’s situation, though, he did exactly the right thing. A handwritten NR logo is a complete red flag and I’d be reporting that myself, as a staff member.

I’m not saying don’t report stuff, just think twice about it - which is exactly what the OP seems to have done. Otherwise things degenerate into a very oppressive atmosphere for everyone, when in reality virtually all activities are entirely innocent and harmless even if others may consider them weird. Reality is every single one of us somewhere along the line do things which others would consider weird. A friend of mine recently as good as got accused of being a paedophile just for waiting to meet someone outside a railway station, simply because there was a patch of grass adjacent upon which a family happened to be playing on — this sort of neurosis we could well do without.

I’ve certainly been known to photograph some of the older SR concrete and brick substations which I find rather attractive in their way - fortunately most of them are in the middle of nowhere otherwise I’d probably have had busybodies reporting me all over the show!

Regarding the coffee jar, I’m sure everyone in the industry could write a Brittas Empire type TV series, in most cases without even having to alter or embellish! I don’t want to write too much as the person concerned is still serving staff, however the coffee jar incident is one of many. He’s also known for constantly reporting spurious faults, to the extent that his name is notorious in the service centre concerned!

Gathursty · 1 Dec 2019

I've seen genuine NR employees just stand/sit in cars at stations for long periods of times for no apparent reason so I'd find it hard to tell who is actually the real employee in such situations.

bspahh · 1 Dec 2019

philthetube said:
Totally agree, it is as ingrained as looking both ways before crossing a one way street, not thought about, just done.

These were a couple of Viz top tips:

Save time when crossing a one-way street by only looking in the direction of oncoming traffic. – D. Rogers, Hemel Hempstead
When crossing a one-way street always look in BOTH directions in case a large blue furniture removal lorry is reversing the wrong way up the road. – D. Rogers, Hemel Hempstead General Infirmary

Peter C · 1 Dec 2019

bspahh said:
These were a couple of Viz top tips:

This is going in my list of jokes to try and remember, think about, and make myself chuckle, probably at inappropriate times.

-Peter

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