Train driver photographed reading newspaper

[jon0844]

It's true that any half-decent compact camera could probably get a shot like that. With many digital camera sensors now able to operate at very high shutter speeds, without loads of noise, a photo like that would be quite easy. I'd even say that some cameraphones, if set to sports mode, could possibly get that shot too.

I presume the photographer (a spotter I presume) heard a train was approaching in the tunnel and was intending to take a picture of the train emerging. No doubt other trains were photographed too, and these didn't reveal anything 'of interest'.

What's more, the photographer is almost certainly going to have been unable to see the paper when taking the picture. Whether looking through the lens, or even a 3/4-inch TFT screen, it would be impossible to see. This was obviously spotted later on when the photos were put on a large screen, or perhaps even uploaded somewhere.

 

[TDK]

I was in my car a little while ago, stopped at a level crossing and as the train passed, I could clearly see the driver was watching a portable DVD player.
Its the only time i've seen that sort of thing myself. I had a word with the driver at the destination station so i didnt report it, but I really think that things like this are unacceptable.

Blimey you must have broke the speed limit to get to the destination station before the train!!!! Is this a true account as it does seem a little suspect?

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Blimey you must have broke the speed limit to get to the destination station before the train!!!! Is this a true account as it does seem a little suspect?

As well as clearly being able to see the driver watching a DVD player as a train goes past at a level crossing, whilst you are at ground level!

 

[ukrob]

Agreed, sounds like nonsense to me.

 

[Strat-tastic]

I know bucket loads of people who've been trying to get into driver training at Laira and would quite happily give their right arms to drive HSTs up and down the GWML all day

Wouldn't that disqualify them from being able to drive HSTs?

 

[CaptainHaddock]

I remember hearing a similar story about a Midland Mainline driver a few years back who was photographed reading a paper while driving an HST. At his disciplinary hearing, the union argued that he wasn’t reading the paper, he was in the process of taping the paper up to the window as a sunscreen as he claimed the sunlight was imparing his vision. Apparently he was subsequently reinstated…..

 

[GB]

I was in my car a little while ago, stopped at a level crossing and as the train passed, I could clearly see the driver was watching a portable DVD player.
Its the only time i've seen that sort of thing myself. I had a word with the driver at the destination station so i didnt report it, but I really think that things like this are unacceptable.

Where was this then?

Personally I think you are talking wet.

 

[33056]

I was in my car a little while ago, stopped at a level crossing and as the train passed, I could clearly see the driver was watching a portable DVD player.

Are you sure? Many trains these days have TMS and DOO screens in the cab which could give the appearance of being the screen of a DVD player.

In a similar vein, have heard somebody berating a signalman for watching the TV as we went past slowly on a railtour - yes of course he would seeing the location controlled a CCTV crossing :roll:

 

[jon0844]

Does anyone use portable DVD players any more? Big, bulky, terrible battery life, need to carry discs around with you...

Seems rather implausible to me, ignoring the fact you wouldn't be able to see into the cab from so far down anyway.

I watch all my films on the go on a smartphone, with a nice 4-inch screen and battery life that would let me watch for a good 5-6 hours (compared to maybe enough time on a DVD player for one or two movies tops) and still do some other stuff. Much easier to carry too, and I can choose what I want to watch by storing loads of films and TV series' on a 32GB memory card.

 

[Intermodal]

What are you peoples views of Guards reading on the job? I see a lot of it, a particular Virgin train manager would get up, do the doors, see the train away from the platform, then do an announcement before just sitting and reading to the next station. Is there anything wrong with this?

 

[BestWestern]

What are you peoples views of Guards reading on the job? I see a lot of it, a particular Virgin train manager would get up, do the doors, see the train away from the platform, then do an announcement before just sitting and reading to the next station. Is there anything wrong with this?

It depends on the circumstances really. Many Guards, myself included, will have a flick through the papers during the day. If you've been particularly busy I don't think it is wrong to relax for a few minutes, even if you are between PNB's (breaks). Despite outward appearances and sometimes dubious personalities, we're not robots!

 

[Flamingo]

What are you peoples views of Guards reading on the job? I see a lot of it, a particular Virgin train manager would get up, do the doors, see the train away from the platform, then do an announcement before just sitting and reading to the next station. Is there anything wrong with this?

If it's not got safety implications, (e.g. during dispatch), what's the problem?

Even during dispatch, I'll be subconsciously reading the adverts around the platform. Is this wrong?

 

[Harbon 1]

I live next to the Birmingham Derby line, and most Class 66 drivers that pull up to the red at Clay Mills LC, where the line goes from 4 to 2 tracks, have their feet up on the dashboard and a paper in their hands (That's if their not staring at my house!:roll.

There might have been a temporary speed limit of say 20mph, so even if there wasn't any signals in front of him, there would have been adequate braking time.

 

[66526]

So you mean they're reading the paper after they've come to a stand at the stick?

 

[Harbon 1]

So you mean they're reading the paper after they've come to a stand at the stick?

That's the distance we're talking about, a good couple of hundred feet
(The red line is an arrow).

 

[falcon]

Are there any offences that the British Transport Police could investigate if they received a complaint from the public about the Train Driver reading the paper.Imagine you and your children were on that train and you have seen what was going on in the cab.hock:

 

[SqUaShIe P]

Blimey you must have broke the speed limit to get to the destination station before the train!!!! Is this a true account as it does seem a little suspect?

I have been known to drive a bit quick. I was at Highams Park L/C and it was a Chingford bound service. Its the next stop along and I was driving to chingford anyway.

As well as clearly being able to see the driver watching a DVD player as a train goes past at a level crossing, whilst you are at ground level!

The train was a class 315, and honestly I could see everything.

Agreed, sounds like nonsense to me.

The driver didn't deny it
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Are you sure? Many trains these days have TMS and DOO screens in the cab which could give the appearance of being the screen of a DVD player.

It was a class 315, I know the cab of them inside out. no TMS or DOO screens. Drivers on that line/traction have to 'look back' before closing the doors

 

[chiltern_chidg]

I am not going to pass any judgement because none of us can really be sure what is going on it that picture until, an investigation is conducted by FGW. However, it does rather look like a newspaper. But, the train does not look like it is stationary. On the other hand though, the driver is in a 'point of safety' every time he sits at the controls and should be fully focussed on the safety of his train.

Matthew

 

[O L Leigh]

I have been known to drive a bit quick. I was at Highams Park L/C and it was a Chingford bound service. Its the next stop along and I was driving to chingford anyway.

The Chingford run is 26 minutes end to end so hardly worth breaking out a DVD, not even for the passengers. Plus the approach speed across Highams Park LC is in the region of 35-40mph, as the station platform is a little way up from the crossing.

You would have to drive REALLY fast to have made it back to Chingford and get yourself onto the station in time to meet the driver as the train only takes 5-6 minutes. I concede that it might just be possible, but I've never managed it.

The train was a class 315, and honestly I could see everything.

I honestly doubt that. From the LC you don't get an elevated view into the cab and, at the speed trains go over the crossing, it's highly unlikely you'd have seen enough to ascertain exactly what the driver was doing. Plus the droplight window isn't that large and the sill isn't exactly what you'd call low, as I know from experience of having to lean out the damn things day after day.

The driver didn't deny it

Yes, of course. :roll:

You sure he wasn't being sarcastic? If someone had just chase me back from an LC and accuse me of something they couldn't possibly be certain about I'd be similarly dismissive.

Then again, I can't blame you for being certain about something you've only half seen. I have colleagues who swear blind that they see naked women through various windows on almost every trip. Sometimes they come back with quite lurid details of their sexual exploits, all glimpsed through a bedroom window from a moving train. There's one window in particular that always gets mentioned, but when I've looked in the view is so poor that for ages I was convinced I had the wrong one. You can barely even tell that it's a bedroom from the glimpse you get, never mind if there's anyone in there or what they're up to.

O L Leigh

 

[Bittern]

This typing is frankly astonishing and appears to show care that falls way short of the professional standards we expect from our country's media...

I's good to know that First Greast Western are on the case!

 

[Turbocharger]

Safety or not, if I was caught reading a newspaper at my safe desk in company time at work, my boss would not be impressed period.

IMO no driver should be taking a newspaper to read in their cab. Doesn't look good to the public even if the driver is on an official break.

 

[O L Leigh]

By the way, the driver in my avatar is not me and, while I may be in the cab with the paper, it's folded up in my bag for later. OK...?

O L Leigh

 

[Turbocharger]

It depends on the circumstances really. Many Guards, myself included, will have a flick through the papers during the day. If you've been particularly busy I don't think it is wrong to relax for a few minutes, even if you are between PNB's (breaks). Despite outward appearances and sometimes dubious personalities, we're not robots!

I don't agree with that statement. And I for one champion guards and respect them and the job they do. But sorry, people like myself (who aren't robots either!) who work in offices would be shot if we were found at our desks reading newspapers in company time.

And using an excuse "well I have been so busy boss" just doesn't wash it. You either have an official break or you don't. An unless there is a standby guard to cover, then the guard must always be on duty alert and ready to react to any danger etc.

I was on a XC in FC last year in the last carriage and the guard was sat in the last seat to the rear and after a quick look at the paper fell asleep and started snoring for God's sakes.

 

[SqUaShIe P]

Yes, of course. :roll:

You sure he wasn't being sarcastic? If someone had just chase me back from an LC and accuse me of something they couldn't possibly be certain about I'd be similarly dismissive.

Then again, I can't blame you for being certain about something you've only half seen. I have colleagues who swear blind that they see naked women through various windows on almost every trip. Sometimes they come back with quite lurid details of their sexual exploits, all glimpsed through a bedroom window from a moving train. There's one window in particular that always gets mentioned, but when I've looked in the view is so poor that for ages I was convinced I had the wrong one. You can barely even tell that it's a bedroom from the glimpse you get, never mind if there's anyone in there or what they're up to.

O L Leigh

Yeh, I guess your right. If someone said to me what I had posted, I probably wouldnt believe it myself unless I was there to see it, But I was there, I am certain of what I saw and I am certain of the actions I took afterwards.
I know there was a screen and it looked about the same size as a portable DVD player I had a few years ago.
If i'm at the front of the queue at that L/C, I always look to see if i know the driver. And the reason I didnt report it and spoke to the driver personally is before about a week previous to this incident, I saw a ECS 321 pass through Stratford going towards Ilford with tail lights on the front. I phoned control and informed them of what I saw. The day after, I spoke to one of the Anglia drivers and told him what I had seen and that I reported it, and he told me that he got in a lot of trouble a few years back for having tail lights lit on the front and he told me that I shouldnt report that sort of thing because the management come down really hard over it. With that still fresh in my mind, I didnt bother reporting it, and went to speak to the driver myself. Even if i did report it, there most likely wouldnt have been any proof.
I know the chingford run is only 26 mins, but again, I know what I saw.

 

[ainsworth74]

I was on a XC in FC last year in the last carriage and the guard was sat in the last seat to the rear and after a quick look at the paper fell asleep and started snoring for God's sakes.

Are you sure that was the guard rather than a member of XC staff traveling pass?

 

[Turbocharger]

The day after, I spoke to one of the Anglia drivers and told him what I had seen and that I reported it, and he told me that he got in a lot of trouble a few years back for having tail lights lit on the front and he told me that I shouldnt report that sort of thing because the management come down really hard over it.

I wonder why management come down hard on it! Because it is extremely dangerous and should be reported IMHO. Am I wrong?

 

[O L Leigh]

Squashie: Fair enough. Lots of people have been certain of seeing something even where it was later shown to be wrong, so you wouldn't be the first to have reached an incorrect conclusion on the evidence of your own eyes. I'm not saying that you are definately wrong, but simply saying that getting a glimpse of something means you can justifiably form many different theories and conclusions.

I do have to agree with the Anglia driver you spoke to, and I hope you won't take this the wrong way. You do seem a bit of a busybody. Everyone makes a mistake from time to time and to have an outside observer phone up Control and report it directly is bit much. I'm glad you didn't report my colleague allegedly watching a DVD player because he could have got into a lot of trouble and the report of the incident (together with the investigation) would remain on that driver's file, even if they were exonerated of all wrong-doing. That sort of thing marks people down as troublemakers and can affect their career prospects.

Mind you, people in glass houses and all that. If you got from Highams Park to Chingford in about the same time as the train you must have bent some traffic laws. I hope my colleague had a quiet word with you about that and didn't just call out the Old Bill.

O L Leigh

 

[Turbocharger]

Are you sure that was the guard rather than a member of XC staff traveling pass?

Oh he was the guard alright. He had checked my pass earlier. I was very shocked. The cleaner had to wake him up as we pulled in to Manchester.

 

[O L Leigh]

I wonder why management come down hard on it! Because it is extremely dangerous and should be reported IMHO. Am I wrong?

Extremely dangerous...? Hmm, well...

Yes it is a risk because it can endanger track workers. The assumption is that a train heading towards you is showing white lights, so anything with reds should be heading away from you and not be a risk.

However, it is just a mistake that isn't hard to make. If you arrive late and you get hustled by the platform staff to be on your way again, it's easy to forget to check the lights. I've nearly done it myself, but I always get out and check them before departing no matter how much the platform staff hustle me.

But the issue here is reduction of risk rather than punishment of wrongdoing. The driver has to change the lights over and, if one has forgotten, they need to rectify the mistake ASAP. For that reason I don't bother reporting it via the signaller but will try and attract the attention of the driver and point down to indicate the lights. This usually works.

O L Leigh

 

[falcon]

From this thread it can be seen how difficult it is to assertain what went on.If Jim Hayles did not have a photo and just reported what he had seen? Even with the photo all sorts of deffences are brought to light.