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Wednesday 13 August 2014

New Loco, Old Paint Job & Major Rant!

As I'm dog sitting at the moment I'm not getting out much, which is proving to be pretty frustrating, so I was delighted to receive a couple of pics yesterday from fellow blogger Kieran Smith of Norwich Buses. One of the new Class 68 locos has been in Norwich the last week doing driver training and Kieran managed to get a pic of it on his way to Ipswich yesterday. I'm in Ipswich myself tomorrow, and it's booked to be coming through so I'm hoping to see it for myself, but in the meantime here is Kieran's pic of it. Looks good, the only comment I have is I can't think of another type of loco or unit that has as little yellow up front as these 68's do. Just wonder how that will affect visibility from distance in adverse weather.
The rather impressive looking 68 004 sits in Norwich sidings with a 47 in background
The other pic Kieran sent me was of single car unit 153314. This is the last 153 to remain in the old "One" livery, and it was also the unit that went paddling in the Lowestoft floods last year, resulting in many weeks off the rails. Kieran said she was the centre of attention from numerous train enthusiasts, for reasons I don't know, but it's such a good picture I had to use it. Cheers, Kieran.

Single car unit 153314 leaves Ipswich sidings
Now the rant. I was monitoring Twitter yesterday morning when Kieran tweeted that he was getting abuse and extremely unfriendly attitudes from First Ipswich drivers for daring to take pictures at Old Cattle Market. To such an extent that it appeared he was quite distressed. I suggested he contacted Chris Speed, who I know hates that sort of thing and is looking to stamp it out. Now before I carry on ranting I must praise Chris, who I know is on holiday in America right now. Despite that he found the time to respond to Kieran and has passed all details to the depot manager at Ipswich. Fair play, Chris, that was above and beyond the call of duty.

However, that does not detract from the fact that someone harmessly going about his hobby was subject to verbal abuse from so called professional drivers. I used to be a driver and we had more than our share of enthusiasts who used to hang around taking pics. Yes, I admit occasionally I'd pull a silly face or stick my tongue out, but never once did it cross my mind to be nasty or aggressive to them. In fact now I'm highly grateful to those guys and I spend a lot of time looking at pics taken in those days. Still haven't found one of me driving though!

I am acutely aware that none of the drivers who have an issue with enthusiasts will be reading this, but I know management do and they need reminding that enthusiasts give you guys a while lot of free publicity. It's bloggers like Kieran who publicise your new timetables, routes, initiatives and vehicles. It's thanks to bloggers like Kieran that potential customers well outside your catchment area see what's going on and come over here, thus generating more publicity and even revenue if they travel on the services. Negative attitudes from drivers and staff generate negative publicity and that is not good news for any company. Now it must be said that I have never had any problems at Ipswich from anyone while taking pics, and in a way that is even more worrying. I am big, middle aged and hairy. Kieran isn't, so if these big brave drivers are only picking on the younger generation then that makes it even more despicable and it needs to be sorted and quick. Norwich Buses has a similar readership to this blog - around 10,000 page views a month,and that is a lot of people seeing this negativity.

I hope Kieran gets a depot tour and interview with the depot manager to make up for this - it's the least First can do. I hope the drivers concerned are identified and disicplined. Companies NEED enthusiasts like Kieran. To read him say that sometimes he felt like giving up the hobby was truly sad. Perhaps those drivers would prefer he was throwing eggs at their buses or vandalising the bus stops as opposed to taking pics of them. Kieran - next time you intend to go to Ipswich let me know, and I'll do my damndest to meet you there, and God help any driver who objects to you taking pictures.

As an ex driver I will defend drivers to the hilt - in fact I'm waiting to hear if I'll be needed as a witness in defence of an Ipswich driver right now, and I have never reported a driver as I know anyone can have a bad day at the office. But there are limits to everything, and if I see any driver verbally abusing a young enthusiast there will be smoke coming off my phone.

13 comments:

  1. Well said. I view a number of the blogs and websites and its thx to them I hear all the up coming timetable changes fleet movements etc. What happened to kieran the other day was nothing short of bullying. Hope he finds the will to keep pursuing his hobby.

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    1. Oh I think he will - Sam will make sure of that. However I'm not going to rest on this one and an idea has come to me. It's about time enthusiasts and companies started working and co-operating together, and appreciating each other, and it's time for some major consulting I feel!

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  2. OK, I've never driven a bus, photograph everything but, and don't understand it either; but I'd like to hear the drivers point of view. I sometimes wonder if they feel bullied by management, rightly or wrongly; and the bullied always bully, in any walk of life. As for having a go at the drivers; my granny always used to say that two wrongs don't make a right, and I agree with her. But Kieran no, don't give in to bullying, they're the ones with the problem, not you. Carry on with the hobby you enjoy, that's one of the most important lessons in life.

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  3. Steve I have had it twice in the last few weeks one IB driver called me a sad sack for taking a photo of his bus the other a first driver told me to get out of the way in a aggressive manner, people like that shouldn't be driving a bus, I have been bullied at school and work and it leaves scars.

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  4. Dunno why, but giving them wheels does something to people's brains - turns them into animals. Just look at the behaviour of many car drivers, lorry drivers and taxi drivers. Same thing happens with cyclists. And a lot of people just don't like being photographed. They really have to get over it. Be grateful for the attention. If nobody was interested in your bus then you wouldn't have a job. And being polite costs nothing, and repays well.

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  5. I'm a bus driver and as I tell my work mates you guys arent taking pics of the driver, but the vehicle! I have no issue with it at all and even slow up for you guys if I can. In fact one enthusiast in Norwich later passed on a printed a pic of me driving the pimped up E400 when it was on the X2s. Nice touch and now stuck on my fridge. I'm not an enthusiast myself but often check these blogs as you have info before the companies pass it on to us! Keep up the good work and ignore the few miserable so-and-sos that I have to work with.

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    1. That's so lovely to hear! As you said, I ain't at all interested in who's driving, I get on with a lot of drivers and give them waves if I see them. At the end of the day, the reflections hide the drivers face anyway!

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    2. I second that. I assume you're at Lowestoft if you drive the X2's and I only wish everyone was like you. Kieran is right in that it is normally inpossible to identify the driver in a bus pic, and I should know as I've been searching for pics of me driving in SE London and I'm forever squinting at pics thinking is it me isn't it me. If I can't recognise myself then that really does prove the driver anonymity of most bus pics.

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  6. I have been taking photograghs for over 50 years,and it's only in the last 10 years or so where by abuse has been aimed at me,but i have to add it has only been around 5 or 6 times,and it is off putting,it helps if you have a couple of high profile names aand say i'm reporting this to who ever,they so go quiet,most times i chose to ignore,it's the best policy really.

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  7. I think the most concerning time was just after the bus & tube bombing in London,i was at Market gates in Gt Yarmouth busy going back and forth from one end to the other,when two policemen came over,excuse me sir can we have a word,we have been watching you on our monitors and noticed you have been taking pictures of buildings and street scenes,no i haven't i replied,oh yes you have came back the answer,well i said,i have a digital camera have a look for yourselves,and i started to show them the buses i took,their answer another bus nut,hang on i said,i don't like the term i said,because i'm not,i take many other subjects as well,they soon apologised and wished me well,by this time my good lady had spotted what was going on,came over,what have you done wrong now! they looked and laughed...

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  8. I agree about the last ten years or so. It's infantile behaviour, copied, I think, from the ubiquituous "stand up" so-called comedy which is just student pranks, from people who should have grown up. I blame the advertising industry too, keep us all kids and we're easier to sell to. When did you ever see an ad showing sensible behaviour, and they're everywhere?

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    1. Smurf my friend I think we have found the inspiration for Victor Meldrew! Shall we form GOTE - Grumpy Old Transport Enthusiasts? I remember the Flora ad when I was a boy with the idiot dad outside the supermarket mouthing "Flora" so men have never exactly been portrayed as intelligent. But don't get me started on advertising as if you think bus rattles get to me that is nothing compared to sexism in advertising!

      When I was driving open toppers in London in 1989 it was cyclists who had me a nervous wreck day after day and nothing has changed except there are more of them, and they think they own the road even more. Glad I don't drive in London now.

      As for bad tempered drivers everyone has bad days and if you are unfortunate enough to encounter one then let it ride.however if the same guy or gal does it more than once then you have a case. I've been known to be grumpy occasionally - yes even me!

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    2. Moi . . . grumpy? With your eyesight you should be driving a bus in Cambridge! I think it's God's proving ground for saints. I can only think that dogs and bus drivers must go to heaven. (Well, some of them).

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