An Evening on the tracks

[boredb4ibegan]

Me and friend whos also a member on here Grimey121uk went looking for a nice disused track to take some pictures on and here are the best shots I took only just got the G9 so looking for some C&C

This one was an accident while finding a disused track a train flew past when we wern't expecting it and this was the result.
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y113/mattysmithuk/trainshot.jpg
This is one of the tracks took later
http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y113/mattysmithuk/tracks.jpg

C&C very welcome :D

[grimey121uk]

lovin first shot

[PhotosGuy]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v218/PhotosGuy/Forum%20Junk/Welcome-ChargerRT_020.gif

[lkb-28]

This one was an accident while finding a disused track a train flew past when we wern't expecting it and this was the result. :D

Not exactly DISUSED then! :oops:

Need to be careful out there - you never know when these things creep up on you!

Cheers;

Lee

[boredb4ibegan]

Not exactly DISUSED then! :oops:

Need to be careful out there - you never know when these things creep up on you!

Cheers;

Lee

Indeed lol we choose a long section of track with clear views either side so we had plenty time to get out of the way turns out theres a train every hour on that part of the track :oops: easy to see how so manny kids get hurt on the tracks though if you wernt listening and looking for one you can easily get caught out.

[BoySpot]

If you are in the UK, you know you are trespassing don't you? Judging train speed is difficult and I expect the driver wasn't too impressed to see you. A lot of the cabs have forward facing cameras as well so you might be the one getting photographed!

Rob

[boredb4ibegan]

If you are in the UK, you know you are trespassing don't you? Judging train speed is difficult and I expect the driver wasn't too impressed to see you. A lot of the cabs have forward facing cameras as well so you might be the one getting photographed!

Rob

Over here plenty of footpaths cross the railways at level crossings e.t.c and as this was where a path crossed the tracks there was a good half a mile view either side. I think the driver was pleased to see an adult with a camera rather than a kid with a brick to throw at his cab which is a new craze with the local idiots around here.

[grimey121uk]

If you are in the UK, you know you are trespassing don't you? Judging train speed is difficult and I expect the driver wasn't too impressed to see you. A lot of the cabs have forward facing cameras as well so you might be the one getting photographed!

Rob

over here trespassing isnt a criminal offence, its only a civil offence so any dispute is between the trespasser and the land owner. As we didnt cause any damage to any land we cannot be charged or even forced to move off the land unless the land owner has a court order and a baliff. (that is how gypsies/travelers work over here)

[lkb-28]

over here trespassing isnt a criminal offence, its only a civil offence so any dispute is between the trespasser and the land owner. As we didnt cause any damage to any land we cannot be charged or even forced to move off the land unless the land owner has a court order and a baliff. (that is how gypsies/travelers work over here)

Hello grimey...

With the greatest of respect, I don't think that is the right attitude or a good example of how we should behave as responsible photographers...

It's that sort of attitude (they can't do anything about it) which makes our life in general difficult in scenarios where we would like to utilise private land - such as train & plane photography - because landowners think we don't care, and assume we are all vandals!

Regardless of whether or not you have caused any damage, if you are on private property, uninvited, you ARE trespassing, and it IS an offence! The fact that some people abuse the system (mercilessly in some cases) does not justify your position...

Cheers;

Lee

[grimey121uk]

Hello grimey...

With the greatest of respect, I don't think that is the right attitude or a good example of how we should behave as responsible photographers...

It's that sort of attitude (they can't do anything about it) which makes our life in general difficult in scenarios where we would like to utilise private land - such as train & plane photography - because landowners think we don't care, and assume we are all vandals!

Regardless of whether or not you have caused any damage, if you are on private property, uninvited, you ARE trespassing, and it IS an offence! The fact that some people abuse the system (mercilessly in some cases) does not justify your position...

Cheers;

Lee

yes i 100% agree i commited a civil offence.
end of day i caused no damage and was fairly safe at all times. if for some reason i got hit by a train it would be my own fault. ive seen the odd urbex thread or post on here and again that is exploiting the fact that tresspass isnt a criminal offence

[grimey121uk]

Im not saying that everyone should go out and start messing around on railway tracks.
infact please dont

[BoySpot]

Getting hit may be your problem but having worked with railway guys in the UK, I can assure you none of them enjoy pulling bits of people out from under the trains. The drivers get counselling but the maintenance crews are the ones that have to remove the debris from the underframe. I guess that makes it their problem too.

PS: I'm a Brit so I'm familiar with the trespass rules. As I said, you may find yourself getting shot on the cab cameras so again would advise against this.

[boredb4ibegan]

I think that I need to make it clear that the intention of this trip was not to find a live railway line and take pictures on it we were told from sources that this stretch of track was disused obviously this was not the case and we left as soon as we realised otherwise.

However the photos taken could easily of been taken at a level crossing a mile down the tack this is a public footpath that crosses the track we observed the warning signs about the dangers of crossing the track and adheared to them at all times any picture taken of us would not of lead to any sort of prosecution as we had a legal right to be at this exact spot (grimey121uk may not of been aware of the right of way in his previous post). However had we jumped over a fence descended an embankment and stood on the tracks (which we didnt) i could see, quite justifyibly, why there would be such concern at the way these shots were taken. We opened the gate closed it behind us decended the brand new steps that had been built into the embankment and then took the pictures.

I feel perhaps my description of the first picture may of lead some of you to belive that it snook up and nearly hit us this was not the case as we had time to walk up the footpath to a safe distance and i was commenting on my lack of readyness to take a picture as it came past rather than my shock of the train being there.

Some important points made here trespassing on the tracks is never a good idea taking pictures near railways should be done with causion and within the law and in this situation i want to make it clear that it is the case with these pictures.

[ThomGascoigne]

If all photographers were gooddy-to-shoes we wouldn't have some of the worlds best photographs to date. If you don't harm anyone or yourself, You take alot of care and don't stuff up trespass all you want if it helps you to capture interesting and different flicks, The atmosphere of some of these areas are second to none.

[Sorarse]

If you don't harm anyone or yourself, You take alot of care and don't stuff up trespass all you want if it helps you to capture interesting and different flicks, The atmosphere of some of these areas are second to none.

I'm sorry but that sentiment doesn't justify trespass. Some of the biggest delays to services on the UK railway network are caused when drivers report seeing unauthorised people on or near the track.

Drivers of subsequent trains have to be cautioned and as a result have to travel at a lower speed through the affected area.

Even if there is public access, due to a foot crossing or whatever, people using the crossing are expected to cross the lines as expediently as possible, and not set up shop to start taking photographs.

I've worked on the railways for a number of years now, and have dealt with several reports of people on the line being struck by a train to even consider treating this topic lightheartedly.

[ThomGascoigne]

I'm sorry but that sentiment doesn't justify trespass. Some of the biggest delays to services on the UK railway network are caused when drivers report seeing unauthorised people on or near the track.

Drivers of subsequent trains have to be cautioned and as a result have to travel at a lower speed through the affected area.

Even if there is public access, due to a foot crossing or whatever, people using the crossing are expected to cross the lines as expediently as possible, and not set up shop to start taking photographs.

I've worked on the railways for a number of years now, and have dealt with several reports of people on the line being struck by a train to even consider treating this topic lightheartedly.

Fair enough Derek. I've known of two people to die in Australia while track walking. I've spent many hours illegally walking along railway lines to take photographs of graffiti in Australia.

Provided you wear a retro reflective vest and you stop and face any passing trains so the driver knows you have seen him and you hold one of your arms out side ways to signal all good then your fine. The driver won't have the police contacted and the trains will keep running as normal.

Now I wasn't specifically speaking about trespassing along railway tracks I was speaking in general, One example being abandoned buildings. The risk isn't going to be of causing delays or being hit by a train but rather risk such as falling through the floor or being jumped by a aggressive homeless person or drug addict along with other dangers like stepping on a used syringe.

I don't see trespass as a morally wrong crime, And pretty much every-time I go to take flicks I have to trespass at some point, I think as-long as you are carefully and don't do anything stupid you will be ok legally and psychically :eek:

[asylumxl]

Good pics :). At the end of the day, you got the pics and you did no harm, so whats the problem?

Most delays are caused by the classic leaves on the track, breakdowns, or bad management by the train operator *coughfirstcapitalconnectcough*.

[Sorarse]

Just to re-iterate how dangerous railway lines can be, we had another fatality involving a trespasser in my area the day before yesterday.

I've had training to go out and about on the tracks, and they still scare me. Personally the risks involved to just get a photograph are not worth it.

[ThomGascoigne]

Where can I get some special training? And if your not scared when on tracks you'd be a fool. What do you take photos of Derek?

[Sorarse]

I've had training because I work for the railways. Most of the railway themed photos I have taken have all been from the safety of a signal box.

[Trainboy]

I've had training because I work for the railways. Most of the railway themed photos I have taken have all been from the safety of a signal box.
You're lucky to have those! I just take shots from all over...I haven't used a trackside signal yet because all the ones I know of are in sight of the public (Read: I don't want to get in more trouble.)