Lunatic fringe photographers

[mr B]

If only the bloke with the camera had his head screwed on, he could have sent the clip in to Harry Hill and would have been 250 quid better off !!!

Mr B

[third-rail]

not as shaken as the driver who could see an accident about to happen and could do nothing to prevent it.!!!

[chaz harrison]

Sorry third rail, my posting wasn't very clear. But we're in agreement. I was sympathising with the driver, and it was he who I thought would be shaken. If the photographer bloke was shaken he deserved it and maybe he learnt a lesson?

Chaz

[Bill Bedford]

I think we can all acknowledge the utter stupidity of the photographer, who was very lucky not to be injured or worse. Whether the driver was lax seems almost beside the point. In any case, having watched the video a couple of times, it seems to me that he would have had very little time in which to react.

I've watched too, and stopped framed it, and I can not see anything to suggest the bloke was nearer the train than he would be if there had been a yellow line painted on the platform. There must be hundred of people a day stand that close to moving train without causing this about hullaballoo.

[chaz harrison]

I must agree to differ Bill. Granted that it is often very difficult to judge positions and perspectives "on the screen", but to me that bloke looks perilously close to the platform edge and well over your postulated yellow line.

Chaz

[52A]

Careful Chaz, you will be accused of overheating the hullaballoo.

[chaz harrison]

Oh, ah erm.....as us cockney sparrers use to say "Fainyites".

Chaz

[Mr Bunt]

I must agree to differ Bill. Granted that it is often very difficult to judge positions and perspectives "on the screen", but to me that bloke looks perilously close to the platform edge and well over your postulated yellow line.

Chaz

To me he looks as if he's off the platform. As the video pans around you can see that he appears to be at ground level - there's a foot crossing next to him

[Ferrybridge Flyer]

At the end of the day,the message has to be,use your common sense,and step back!!!Was he after shooting the rivets,or what??Wonder if his trousers smelt on the way home???

[coachmann]

Wonder if his trousers smelt on the way home???

He might have had a flare up....

[mr B]

Wish it was a record then could have played the other side.

Mr B

[Autocar Publicity]

Or gone for a spin?

[Deltic18]

Having stood on Yate platform today, where "lots" of voyagers pass through and judged the distance between the edge of the platform and the yellow line, he definitely was over where the yellow line should be and is lucky to still have all of his bodily parts.
Keith.

[Mallard]

Things seem to have got a little heated!

I think we can all acknowledge the utter stupidity of the photographer, who was very lucky not to be injured or worse. Whether the driver was lax seems almost beside the point. In any case, having watched the video a couple of times, it seems to me that he would have had very little time in which to react. I sympathise with the man, who was probably quite shaken by the thought of what might have happened.

Chaz

The BTP gave a very calm and sensible response publicly (ITN site as linked) however I feel they should try to speak with this fellow if he can be traced. He needs a bit of education in my opinion even if he did feel ashamed (I doubt it). How he did not get his coat caught is a miracle and imagine the mess and consequences if he had been hit, especially as it was caught on camera (which would have caught the full blast as he was hit) ALL steam on the main line would probably have been banned for a period if not for a very long time and rail staff would have been given the word to clear enthusiasts from stations (where staffed of course); despite the fact that genuine enthusiasts would not have been in this position. He wasn't the only one who was doing daft things; just look at the start of the clip and the position of the bloke with the tripod!
Also, don't knock the unit driver. Just imagine the horror for that driver if there had been an incident. I hope he reported it to management as he/she was probably really shocked.
If the result of the BTP meeting was reported in the Enthusiast press it could encourage more responsible folk to challenge the behaviour of people like this.
Unfortunately this bloke has set in motion again that horrible 'train-spotter' image for those watching ITN news and elsewhere, following a positive period following Tornado's introduction.
I even received this clip from my mate in Poland (utube is world wide of course!)
36E

[Mr Bunt]

I've watched too, and stopped framed it, and I can not see anything to suggest the bloke was nearer the train than he would be if there had been a yellow line painted on the platform. There must be hundred of people a day stand that close to moving train without causing this about hullaballoo.

The subject of yellow lines is an interesting one. The signs on Ware station read "Please remain behind the yellow line until your intended train has stopped...". By implication that suggests that if the approaching train is one you don't intend to travel on then you can stand as close to the platform edge as you like

Since the nutty photographer obviously didn't intend to board the train which clipped him a yellow line would have meant nothing if accompanied by the signs I saw at Ware