Old POTM competition - see new sticky.

[Dave]

This month's winner is (again) Train-a-Mania!

Congratulations to you sir.

Since next month's competition is an open one, please start sending in your pictures right now! You have until October the 31st to get them in!

[XeryusTC]

Ameecher, I'm a big fan of that shot with the GNER XPT (erm, HST or whatever you lot call 'em) - the train is not the focus of the shot, because technically, it's a poor photo of a train.

That kid was really trembling with fear because as I'm sure you know, HSTs/XPTs aren't quiet and that thing was bashing along at 115mph ish, hence the slight (or extreme) blurriness of the picture.

Trains are allowed to go with that speed through stations? That's quite odd and very unsave. The speed limit for trains at stations is 40km/h over here and that's A LOT more save than 185km/h.

[Badger]

As long as people stay behind the yellow line along the platform edge when a train passes non-stop there isn't a problem. There are signs all along the platforms indicating this and announcements are made whenever a non-stop train approaches. This is common practice all over the Britsih rail network.

[Dave]

Although there have been problems that have prompted some to call for slower through line speeds. Limit at Smethwick is 65 due to the curve that unsights drivers.

There was a case a couple of years ago where a girl was sat with her legs dangling off the platform at a westcountry station (think it was Highbridge and Burnham). No announcement, she was looking the other way, HST comes through at 105.

Dead.

Simple as that.

[Ameecher]

I generally stand as far back from the platform edge as possible when a train canes it through but that is more out of personal choice. If you stand on the wrong side of the yellow line there is a possibility that you can get dragged along by the slipstream of the train but I am not aware of any times when this has happened.
The fast trains usually scare the crap out of people enough for them to stand back. The only people that stand near the edge of the platform when a train isn't stopping are usually going to jump and they'd probably be killed by a train doing 30mph too.

If there was a limit to the speed that trains are allowed to go through stations then most of the UK Network would be crippled with journey times being greatly lengthened. All the mainlines of Britain are 2 track at some point so they have stations like Grantham all along the route and no fast lines through the centre. In places where the line is 4 track then there are (generally) 4 platforms too.

Dave, that incident reminds me of an incident that happened at Stratford a few years ago now, a person decided to change platforms by crossing the tracks instead of the subway. He was climbing up onto the platform when a 312 came through at 80mph, he only survived because it was a mark 1 unit and thus had a narrower profile than the likes of the 315/7/21s that could have been running that service. It was all caught on CCTV. Think what would have happened if the running boards had been a bit wider...

[Dave]

There was a case but once again the bloke survived because of the smaller-profile mk2 stock. Think the 87 pulled him under at a station out of London on the West Coast. Dragged him under the coaches but as I recall he just about survived.

[Badger]

There was a case a couple of years ago where a girl was sat with her legs dangling off the platform at a westcountry station (think it was Highbridge and Burnham). No announcement, she was looking the other way, HST comes through at 105.
Dead.
Simple as that.

How f*** stupid, what the hell was she thinking??? (Bit harsh p'haps but c'mon, how thick must you be to do that?)

[XeryusTC]

There was a case a couple of years ago where a girl was sat with her legs dangling off the platform at a westcountry station (think it was Highbridge and Burnham). No announcement, she was looking the other way, HST comes through at 105.
Dead.
Simple as that.

How f*** stupid, what the hell was she thinking??? (Bit harsh p'haps but c'mon, how thick must you be to do that?)

Children don't think about stuff like that. They just play and make it easy for themselves without thinking about danger or looking for it.
It's one of the first things you learn about driving in cities and towns when you get lessons for your driver's license.

[Dave]

Just for the record, she was 14.

[Bad Hair Day]

Yeah, it tends to be teenagers who do the really stupid things.

For example I know good few people who frequently trespass onto the local line which is four tracked, pretty busy and 100MPH + running. There will be a time soon where someone will get unlucky.

Funny thing is, when something does happen, everyone blames the railway for not giving warnings, rather than the person having no common sense whatsoever.


In other news, I need to dig out some photos...

[Ameecher]

I've just seen this picture on DJC's flickr



That would have been a fantastic entry for last months competition, what a shame he doesn't keep an eye on this topic enough!

[Raichase]

Yes, I remember that photo, that'd be a clear vote from my camp, it's just a damned good photo.

The mans a genius, I say!

Congrats to Train-A-Mania. A damned fine photo, to be sure, probably one of the best of the bunch, if not the best, easily. My only qualm with it were that the people were not the subject of the photo, as per the guidelines. However, that doesn't stop it being an awesome moment of an unusual sight. Easily one of the best photos I've seen in ages.

That said, my vote stands with The Irish, I felt he captured the theme of the contest quite well, bravo to you fine sir .

I'll have to find something for this month, It's going to be tricky D:

[Dave]

Strangely enough, DJC's just entered with a similar (although very much not the same) photo.

[The Irish]

Hey,

How is it going with this months competition? How many entries do we have yet?

Looking forward to see the other pictures.

[Dave]

There are some cracking entries this month, but as per usual I'm being lazy. The weekend is where it's at gents.

I got VERY, VERY drunk last night and now have as much coherence as a broken face.

[andel]

I have entered... woo...

[Dave]

Right.

Here you go!

http://www.daveworley.co.uk/photocomp/october.php

Voting ends a week today! Enjoy yourselves!

[Dave]

Shameless double post.

Some amazing entries this month, but I plumped for 2-10-0 in the end. Beautiful perspective. Loved The Irish's and our newest entrant - YukonRob - has done well too!

Looking forward to the results!

[Ameecher]

Toss up between and Irish and DJC for me but, much as I like Zurich, gotta plump for the local shot of the North Norfolk. Cracking shot David!

[The Irish]

That's a tough one this month, I have to say.

In the end, it is DJC who makes it for me, although, as always, Rai's is close...