Trespass incident during PRCLT event at Appleby

[hassaanhc]

During a steam event today at Appleby, a large number of people trespassed onto the railway. The Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust (PRCLT) has issued an appeal to identify those involved, and to report any information to the British Transport Police (BTP). There is also a warning about future steam events being banned.

The BTP can be contacted by text on 61016, or call 0800 40 50 40.

As The Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust feels so strongly about the possible fatalities and long term effects to the running of main line steam tours and to protect the livelihood of those who work within the steam tour industry, the images below have been posted in a small attempt to deter or prevent future idiotic actions.

Whilst trespass, in normal circumstances is a CIVIL offence,
unauthorised access to national railway property is a CRIMINAL offence.

Nobody within the heritage railway fraternity condones trespass of any nature. In order to safeguard the future of Main Line Steam
the PRCLT and its staff and volunteers will actively support the British Transport Police in any prosecutions for trespass.

Should you find yourself featured on this page and feel it is unfair or you were present on Network Rail Property legally,
please contact us to discuss.

And previous incident at Stafford:

http://www.prclt.co.uk/Trespass-Rogues-Gallery.html

 

[crewmeal]

You might see the results of their photography on this forum

 

[yorkie]

You might see the results of their photography on here

Highly unlikely.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Words just fail mehock:

 

[455driver]

Words just fail mehock:

Why?
There are plenty of these idiots around!

 

[chris89]

Hopefully caught very soon.

These are the idiots which, when (Sorry only a matter of when) get hit and killed, might be a deathblow to Steam Railtours.

Also frequently get these sort of idiots on the Severn Valley Railway as well.

 

[sprinterguy]

Trespass on a grand scale was once quite prevalent on the S&C in the presence of steam railtours, perhaps more so than on other routes. There's quite well known photos at the likes of Garsdale showing such. It seems that these folks have failed to acknowledge that the world has moved on since then...

 

[IanXC]

You might see the results of their photography on this forum

Highly unlikely.

As unlikely as it might be, if anyone does have any information they feel unable to pass on, or knows of any such footage linked to on our forum please do let us know (either by PM or using the report function, in confidence if need be).

 

[tbtc]

Looking at the images, all of these idiots look old enough to know better - we're not talking about some naive kids with camerphones - these are "mature" blokes with hundreds of pounds of cameras round their neck, which means there's no excuse.

Steam/charter services have enough problems as it is (finding paths, getting insurance to compensate "normal" train operators when one of their engines sets fire to something, the Stafford SPAD) without this nonsense giving railtours (etc) a bad reputation.

It's a minority that'll spoil it for the rest, but if they carry on like this then they will spoil it.

Stating the bleedin' obvious, I know, but most trespassers photographing the train en route aren't even paying for the service, so would be a shame if the railtour providers get a bad rep from people who aren't even contributing.

Let's hope the "Borders" line has some good fencing if we are going to see several steam services like Mr Salmond has suggested...

 

[43167]

Words fail me. Why!!. Only themselves to blame if they get a visit from PC plod and NR decide enough is enough and cancels or orders diesel haulage on all steam tours until further notice.

 

[Tracky]

Even diesel haulage doesn't solve the problem. A few hefty fines here well reported in the railway and wider press would be well worthwhile.

 

[Aictos]

worse case would be Network Rail refusing applications from Charter Companies on the grounds that it's too dangerous to permit them with cases of trespass like this and having a blanket ban on ALL charters which would kill the charter industry but hey ho, it's what these idiots want so let it be.

It's a shame a minority has to ruin it for everyone though, I mean a heavy hitting campaign run in co-operation between railway magazines, BTP, Network Rail, charter companies naming and shaming these idiots with fines might just work, they have to learn if the hard way that times have changed and they can't get away with trespassing anymore.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

The two pictures from today's event show a large difference in the number of people between the pictures, plus it was a booked stop for the train wasn't it? Then look at the way a lot of them are dressed - I suspect quite a few of them may be passengers from the train itself.

 

[scotsman]

Here's the thing: how many members of this forum could honestly say that they would call the police (or report in whatever manner) trespassers vandalising rolling stock?

Or crossing the tracks rather than using the bridge?

Or climbing the fence on a quiet line because there was nowhere else to cross...?

...to get the shot they wanted of a steam engine?

 

[tsr]

Here's the thing: how many members of this forum could honestly say that they would call the police (or report in whatever manner) trespassers vandalising rolling stock?

Or crossing the tracks rather than using the bridge?

Or climbing the fence on a quiet line because there was nowhere else to cross...?

...to get the shot they wanted of a steam engine?

Well, myself, for one. But I'd be far more concerned with dealing with the safety of the line and indeed those on it first, especially on any route local to me where I know I could assist Network Rail in their response to the incident.

In other words, I'm far more likely to call the signaller first than call the police. The reason being that I am far more concerned for safety and the welfare of all involved than for punishing them. I am not opposed to them feeling the consequences of their actions, but I could not care less about that when they are on the line.

That, I think, is where an important point lies. Yes, this is illegal, but it seems that quite rightly this is being dealt with primarily as a safety incident, though it is easy to forget that and get all worked up about legal consequences. The fact of the matter is that on many routes, four or five people would probably now be dead. There's a boundary between police and network safety. There's a lot of feeling about telling tales to police when some would forgive and forget, but the safety of the line is fairly unambiguous!

 

[antharro]

I've seen this on various tours on the Tube. I have seen some appalling behaviour from the younger generation, but have also seen some bad (and dangerous) behaviour from the older generation too. There's no excuse for it, and I would be very happy to see these people prosecuted/fined/named and shamed/etc. I would not be at all happy if the charter companies made the (very understandable) situation to stop tours or specials.

 

[TDK]

From a a drivers point of view when seeing this I personally think that if this is a common occurrence railtours should be banned from the main line! I remember the shot with the spotter nearly getting hit by a passenger train as he was too close to the edge. Only the other week at Helsby I had to blow up on the approach due to spotters on the ramp and too close to the running line to be in a position of safety. Sorry guys but these fools are going to ruin your hobby one day and to be fair what are you good law abiding citizens doing about it? Not a lot!

 

[Oswyntail]

The two pictures from today's event show a large difference in the number of people between the pictures, plus it was a booked stop for the train wasn't it? Then look at the way a lot of them are dressed - I suspect quite a few of them may be passengers from the train itself.

Sorry, but I am unsure if you are defending them or not. Whether or not it was a booked stop, they shouldn't have been on the track

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Sorry guys but these fools are going to ruin your hobby one day and to be fair what are you good law abiding citizens doing about it? Not a lot!

What do you expect people to do? Ask them to get back on the platform and expect them to willingly comply? Walk down onto the track to forcibly remove them?


It has been suggested elsewhere that those involved in the Appleby incident were not from the tour itself, but tourists from a coach party who had been told a steam train tour was coming through and that the stewards from the train, which had only just stopped, very quickly moved to get them off the tracks. In which case, there is nothing more that the tour company themselves could have done about it.

 

[neildimmer]

Trespass on a grand scale was once quite prevalent on the S&C in the presence of steam railtours, perhaps more so than on other routes. There's quite well known photos at the likes of Garsdale showing such. It seems that these folks have failed to acknowledge that the world has moved on since then...

not S&C but shows the same 50 years later
http://railway-photography.smugmug....otsman/44723442-Darlington-Marquess/i-fF59dvt

 

[455driver]

Back in the 80s I was on a tour over the S&C and we were actively encouraged to go trackside, the steamers then reversed out of the station before powering through so we could get some photos, then the train stopped, reversed back and picked us up. While all this was going on a Peak on a down train went hammering through with nothing more than 'there is a down train approaching stand back' from the stewards, no drama and no crisis.
Of course that was then (when people did as they were told and took care to look out for themselves and others) and this is now (when they dont).

 

[IanD]

Were there no stewards on this tour? When I did a tour on the S&C, we had a water stop at Appleby and there were plenty of stewards ensuring no one went off the end of the platform. If the tour company can't be bothered to provide enough personnel to prevent such stupid behaviour then maybe they shouldn't be operating tours.

 

[Nevillehill]

This is why Network Rail will ban steam.

 

[IanD]

Looking at the images, all of these idiots look old enough to know better - we're not talking about some naive kids with camerphones - these are "mature" blokes with hundreds of pounds of cameras round their neck, which means there's no excuse.

It's not just blokes is it? There seem to women in every picture.

 

[Nevillehill]

Hopefully caught very soon.

These are the idiots which, when (Sorry only a matter of when) get hit and killed, might be a deathblow to Steam Railtours.

Also frequently get these sort of idiots on the Severn Valley Railway as well.

Even the Worth Valley even volunteers do the same, with no HI-VIS.

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Were there no stewards on this tour? When I did a tour on the S&C, we had a water stop at Appleby and there were plenty of stewards ensuring no one went off the end of the platform. If the tour company can't be bothered to provide enough personnel to prevent such stupid behaviour then maybe they shouldn't be operating tours.

As mentioned above, these appear to have been bystanders, not tour participants and the stewards did tell them to stop (obviously the most they can do really, they are not police).

 

[IanD]

As mentioned above, these appear to have been bystanders, not tour participants and the stewards did tell them to stop (obviously the most they can do really, they are not police).

A couple of people guessed that they may be bystanders and someone else suggested they may have been off the train. Who knows who's right as no-one got any names?

 

[43167]

At least one person in the photo's knows he's been clocked. Lad in the middle with the tripod looking straight at the camera.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Sorry, but I am unsure if you are defending them or not. Whether or not it was a booked stop, they shouldn't have been on the track

I am not defending them; I am suggesting a possible means of identifying them more easily. If they were on the train, it'll narrow it down a bit.

It has been suggested elsewhere that those involved in the Appleby incident were not from the tour itself, but tourists from a coach party.

If this is the case, it'll be even easier to identify them won't it, given that the coach party would likely only have 30 - 40 people in it and ( like the train passengers ) they'd all be pre-booked?

 

[Tomnick]

Even the Worth Valley even volunteers do the same, with no HI-VIS.

Do what? If we're talking about volunteers in the course of their duties (not all railways require staff to wear hi-vis in certain situations), would the hi-vis make them invincible? Some of this lot at Appleby were standing in stupid positions, and the presence of hi-vis wouldn't make very much difference.