How's this for irony?
This morning I was chatting with someone at Potters Bar, while waiting for my train to London, as there was a steam train coming that was going to York.
I took some photos of some spotters who should have known better, like the following:
Before the train arrived, a long announcement was given to welcome (on behalf of FCC and Network Rail) enthusiasts to the station, and ask that people remained behind the yellow line, didn't use flash photography or go in areas that are out of bounds.
However, I'm sure that advice was being ignored by people desperate to get the perfect shot or video - going by every trains going through on platforms 2 and 3 giving the horns to warn the idiots (see above) facing the WRONG way on the up fast.
I left before the train arrived, but when I got to Finsbury Park, I decided to take a couple of photos of the new gates - which went/are going live today - before changing to get my train to Old Street.
Next thing I know, the station manager comes up to me and asks what I'm doing. I said I was taking some photos, as that's what I was doing (I suspect he knew that too). He said I wasn't allowed to take photos, so I said 'But what about the posters that welcome enthusiasts?' - even if I'm actually a mug commuter paying £3,500 a year and only changing trains.
The advice then changed to 'You
have to make yourself known to staff'.
Now, until today I've never seen the station manager at Finsbury Park. I still don't know where he 'hides' and he was only out because of the fact the gate lines switch on today, and there were probably around 15 people being briefed, from high-up FCC staff to revenue staff and BTP/PCSOs.
I wanted to clarify things, so I asked if the bit about making yourself known was a law or guideline. I was told I had to do it because of the 'heightened security risk'. I asked what this new risk was (I'd like to know as that potentially puts
ME at risk) and he didn't say anything so I asked if he meant the Royal Wedding.
I joked 'they're not coming through here are they?' sarcastically, purely because 'heightened security risk' seems to be the line I see mentioned everywhere people moan about the way they're spoken to by rail staff. And now I'd heard it said to me too.
He now seemed flustered and said I should make myself known out of courtesy and politeness and said there was no point in talking to me anymore, and walked back to the rest of the staff.
I bit my lip as I
wanted to say "And why the f**k should I come and find you when I'm waiting to change train, so I can take a photo of a platform and a gateline that is visible to everyone who comes to the station. People who are going to be seriously disrupted by you having just five gates for one of the busiest stations on the line. I'm going to be here for all of five minutes, so why don't you perhaps concentrate on checking why your train dispatchers can't be bothered to check the train doors are safely shut and clear to prevent another Huntingdon, instead of showing your power to someone you look at with contempt."
If I'd said that, I'd have been no better than him. No doubt he felt big having done what he'd done in front of his bosses, but sadly they hadn't taken any notice of what happened at all.
I then spoke to one of the senior revenue inspectors (who I have spoken to before) about the gates, wondering what will happen during football matches and they said they had no choice but to keep them open. He then admitted they'd probably be open a lot of the time, like at WGC, and FCC was concerned with the safe operation of the side barriers to relieve pressure if (or more likely when) it goes tits up (not his exact words I hasten to add). I noticed that the one by platform 2 opens quite easily, the one on platform 1 doesn't! Serco engineers seemed to be looking on to see how they might fix things.
I mentioned the telling off for taking some pics of the gates/platform and he said 'it's an ancient byelaw - you can't take photos on railway property, so it's true' and joked that earlier all of the spotters for the very same steam train I'd seen approaching Potters Bar had been made to sign-in.
He said that if people were sad enough to want to look at trains all day, they should take the time to make themselves known. His colleague then added that they'll also make them buy a platform ticket from now on. Perhaps that's why I was picked on, as I was wearing a green rain jacket that probably made me look like a spotter.
I've attached some photos below. I wasn't asked to delete them, and once the station manager clearly knew I was there, I guess I was free to take photos as normal. I haven't posted the ones that show the other FCC staff, including the revenue officers.
Perhaps
every morning when I go to FPK to get to work, I'll make myself known just in case I opt to take a photo, with my cameraphone. I really do hope that everyone else on the station does so too - as it is illegal to take photos on railway property, based on those ancient byelaws.
