The Coronation Express (VT) - April 2nd - Tyseley > Didcot for 6023 Launch

What really annoys me about these people is that as we went up,there were places behind the fences with much better viewing points than where they were trespassing,as well as countless bridges,we continue to have the arguement about trespassing in fields though so unless it is a footpath then I suppose 100 people would have to crowd round a foot crossing,which is hardly safe.....but why people feel the need to stand inside the fencing when there are good spots (at least one of which had a footpath and nobody stood at it!) I dont know.

Cheers,
Mark

 

It was good to meet you over the After Eights, Ben, and to find that Ben Vintage Trains and Monsieur le Chef are one and the same!

Hope you enjoyed my account of the run from the GPS and laptop - see Post 57.

Yes I'm coming to Llandudno but only First Class this time - can I place an order for those bacon rolls I've heard about??!!??

Peter, on a damp grey morning in Manchester
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pjhliners/

 

I can assure you, both of my posted shots were taken from the legal side of the wire

STEVE

 

Well, I don't know the Sapperton line at all, so my comment is not specific to there, but I have two thoughts about it:

1. I imagine that many/most of the people who stray are not part of the enthusiast community that frequents this board and others, but rather more "casual" spectators who've heard about the steam train somewhere, and gone out to get a good look at it. As such, they probably don't feel they are doing anything particularly wrong or harmful (any more than I do, perhaps, when I go into a private field to get a good shot of the lineside). If I get caught and told off by the farmer, I acknowledge it and move off (thinking "miserable old git, I wasn't doing you any harm ). But if one of "you lot" were nearby and told me off for doing that, I wouldn't think it was any of your business.

2. I think Network Rail in some places invites this to happen, by over-restricting, over-safetying. By which I mean, they fence off too much land and prevent any good views of the line. Far more than they need to for safety alone. As an example of what I mean, I'd cite the Sonning Cutting / Twyford area. The palisade fencing they use there is so high and solid, and so far back from the cutting edge that there are no views available except from road bridges. For safety alone, fencing halfway down the cutting embankments would work and would make some classic views available. I know it's not part of their corporate objectives to accommodate trainspotters, but it seems to me they could be more accommodating without causing danger. If they did, fewer people would trespass. I don't agree that the fact of their owning the land is in itself a good enough reason to say no-one's allowed on it.

There, my personal view. Partly due to my upbringing in the days of old. I don't expect people to agree with me, I just wanted to say it. And no, I don't trespass on the line. Except perhaps technically for a short time at foot crossings, very occasionally......

 

Have you ever thought that whilst on the lineside or track you are in an enviroment of danger to passing trains, then someone else comes out to get that bit better shot than anyone else and end up on the rail, if ever a fatality or near miss was to happen, then the answer would be why
were they their, this sort of behavour could lead to steam been stopped on the mainline and spoil it for everyone.

 

Yes of course I have, but I don't think you read what I wrote properly. I don't trespass on the railway.

 

And it got worse last weekend on our way to Chester with Lizzie.

We, and several other scheduled service trains were stopped outside Syston due to a report of trespassers on the line.

From what we could see as we crawled passed, they were not “casual on-lookers” but serious photographers with tri-pods. Some were ON THE BALLAST!

What are these people thinking (or not thinking?)

 

It seriously beggars belief how people think they can get away with trespassing, and such a shame that there actions can cause so many problems, delays and upset to others. Its not my video, but this just shows how bad it got on the midland mainline on saturday, nutters!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m98Ub32DXuA

 

Thanks for the link. What a bunch of !#$%^&&^%$#@#$%^&^% etc etc etc!