Deep breath

I used to be a trainspotter… there, I’ve said it and now there’s no going back!

I stopped underlining the numbers in my spotters handbook in the late 1980s, realising that I found railway photography far more interesting and rewarding that trying to record every unit, locomotive or carriage I had seen on the entire network. I first pointed a 35mm Konica camera at a train in Laira depot, Plymouth back in July 1985 and almost twenty five years later I’m using a Canon 400D. Whilst I may still not be capturing professional standard images, I have at least learnt how to manipulate the shutter speed, ISO and aperture settings to cope with different lighting environments.

In recent years there has been a marked increase in the number of confrontations reported between enthusiasts and railway staff. Maybe we’re aware of this simply because this topic is very much in vogue given the security focussed nature of our society today with talk of ID cards being the ultimate solution (surely we’ve all been brainwashed into applying for one by now)! Nigel Harris, the editor of Rail magazine, regularly reports incidents of railway staff bullying or even allegedly assaulting photographers in the magazine’s Stop & Examine section. These railway officials cite rules such as photography being banned on security grounds or that written permission is required from TOCs. I’ve experienced hostility first hand, having been told by one Northern Line underground driver a couple of years ago that photography not only broke underground bylaws but was also a criminal offence! The truth is different from this fantasy land. Photography isn’t even mentioned in LUs bylaws (it is though in section 4.5 of the Conditions of Carriage) and is certainly not illegal, although there are strict rules.

The trust that may have existed in the past between railway hobbyist and railwayman has long gone. Vandalism is commonplace (not by enthusiasts… or at least I hope not) and sadly with the advent of 7/7, a mist of paranoia has descended between enthusiasts and the railways we love.

Its not always a requirement, but I usually choose to make myself known to station staff (typically signing in at the station supervisor’s office), however there are 3 basic rules when taking personal photographs on railways:

1. No flash
2. No tripod (busy stations)
3. Stay within areas accessible to the public

This is not rocket science but just simple common sense, yet I’ve witnessed all three being ignored by enthusiasts on both London Underground and the mainline. Maybe that’s why enthusiasts are treated with derision by a minority within the railway industry, however that still does not excuse their actions in treating all enthusiasts with the same level of contempt.

When it comes to using flash there’s probably a number of causes. Perhaps the photographer has a camera that they don’t know how to use or they simply cannot turn the auto flash function off. Alternatively they might not be aware of the guidelines or at worst they don’t care and are selfishly happy to blind anyone as long as they get the perfect photo.

I was on a railtour during the first week in August. An old 1938 red tube was visiting a number of stations on the Jubilee Line including the disused Charing Cross, yet a couple of enthusiasts were happily flashing away. I was even dazed by the flash from one camera when I wasn’t even the subject of the photo, so I dread to think how it affected anyone in the line of fire.

Before I get all holier than thou… have I ever used flash when taking photos of railways? Yes! I was admonished appropriately by a member of railway staff who also took the time to explain the reason and I stopped immediately.

Imagine standing in a slightly darkened room for a few moments allowing your sight to adjust and then someone takes a photo of you using flash. Your sight would be impaired for a second or two. Now imagine having the same flash used at you while you’re driving a train at speed out of a tunnel and into a station or you’re a passenger standing too close to the edge of a platform.

I have heard it said by drivers that electricity arcing from the 4th rail is more painful on the eyes, however I consider using flash in a railway environment as being downright rude, antisocial and ultimately unnecessary, reinforcing the persona of sub-normal intelligence that society has given those that enjoy railways as a hobby. If you do use flash when taking railway photos, this is a polite request to stop it.

Transport enthusiasts and photographers are right to scream, shout and complain when we are wronged by those working in the industry or by police but we must get our own house in order too!

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