Starting Out – 2024…

…That first spotting trip…

The first trip out in a new year is always going to be about visiting favourite haunts. I set out with a simple and oft executed plan; Out to Barking for a couple of hours and then across to Stratford for another couple of hours before heading home in time to avoid the school kids and the forecast heavy rain. I have written before about how trainspotters have an inbuilt flexible approach to their day’s activities. On last Thursday’s outing I was going to need them.

The first part of the trip went as planned; – Northern Line train to Bank and then Docklands Light Railway out to Limehouse. From there I was on a C2C service to Barking, allowing me to log some of the newly delivered class 720 units on East Ham Depot. The 720’s will replace leased class 387 units (that I’ve never seen in service!) and bolster the existing 357 fleet. I did see 720602 & ’03 out on a test run, so I think introduction into service is not too far away – assuming no issues like those experienced with the 701’s on South Western. I’m sure the 357’s, and their passengers, will welcome the extra capacity…

While at Barking, I took the opportunity to visit the east end of the station and see what photo opportunities where there. I quite like this shot of a Hammersmith & City service coming out of the dive-under that keeps Underground services separated from the mainline traffic…

I did have a chat with a member of security staff at Barking – I think the contract has changed hands. A young man in uniform approached me, clearly a little concerned to understand what I was doing – especially as I’d just pulled a longish object out of my bag! It was a friendly chat because I made a point of responding in a positive manner immediately I was aware of his concern. He now knows about Trainspotters and where we’re likely to be found standing on Barking Station😎

After my time loitering with intent on Barking it was time to retrace my steps to West Ham and take the Docklands Light Railway over to Stratford. Once at Stratford, this should have been a pleasant couple of hours watching the lunchtime freights rolling through the station. I can easily recite them and when they pass through as they usually run well to time most days. But as I reached the top of the stairs on platform 10, there was an announcement… The 12:54 to Braintree is Cancelled due to a person being struck by a train at Shenfield. As I was processing this information, I was shocked and disgusted to hear a man expressing to his family “That’s a load of bollocks” Someone has just departed this world and that is all he can think to say? When did we become so uncaring that we think it’s ok to react in such a way, especially in front of a young child – his daughter was around 10.

It was clear that the line was going to be closed for some time as the Police and Medics carried out their tragic duties. I’m fortunate, I can go elsewhere… Step out of the tragic and continue my life. I can’t say I was unaffected – I was thinking about another sad loss of life off and on for the rest of the day and later on I learned that a similar tragedy had happened over at Pangbourne on the GWR later the same evening. So many people choosing to end their lives in this country has become a symbol of an uncaring self-serving government and a right wing press that supports them😒

I got on with my day – Back on the DLR…

…and taking the opportunity to log some more of these units in the knowledge that they will be replaced by new units later this year if current plans come to fruition. I had planned to be doing this later in the month, but needs must.

I wandered the DLR, ultimately down to Lewisham where I then started heading home, intending to avoid the incoming rain – me getting wet isn’t going to help those who have lost a loved one and neither is walking away from my hobby. I spent around 30 minutes on London Bridge Station after catching a train from Lewisham. This being the first week of January, some services were short formations like this Ramsgate train operated by 4-car unit 375912…

…Normally 8 coaches, it resulted in a lot of passengers briskly walking back along the platform to board. The unit I had ridden from Lewisham was a new one for me and I was lucky enough to get a shot as it passed back through London Bridge – Here’s 465906 complete with graffiti…

Then it was time to head home before the rains arrived – it was drizzling as I walked along the street to my front door. By the time Epi came home it was in biblical deluge mode and she was very wet – just as well I had dinner on the go😎👍

8 responses to “Starting Out – 2024…”

bushboy

January 7, 2024 at 9:17 am

I feel for the train drivers as well if they were suicides. Accidents are bad enough but when you have a step off 🥲
It is a wonderful trip around the stations and trains. If this is the first for the year…..

Reply
1. 2e0mca
  
  January 7, 2024 at 10:37 am
  
  Thanks Brian😎👍 Train crews and other staff are always affected and a proportion of drivers never go back to driving after experiencing what staff sometimes call a ‘One-under’. If that term seems in itself disrespectful, I believe it is a part of the coping mechanism of those having to deal with the tragic situation.
  
  Reply
  1. bushboy
    
    January 7, 2024 at 10:39 am
    
    Yes using other terms does take the edge off for those effected
Debra

January 8, 2024 at 12:29 am

I’ve told you before that my husband was a career trainman. He was a brakeman, a conductor and finished his career as a switchman, so never an engineer. But he had many friends who were, and the occasions of either “suicide by train” or true accident involving a vehicle were devastating to the engineer and crew.

Security is so intense in the stations these days, I’m kind of surprised it’s taken this long for you to draw attention to yourself. Like you said, you’ve now given one person a mini-lesson in Trainspotting and he’ll likely now notice other enthusiasts. Great start to the new year, Martin.

Reply
1. 2e0mca
  
  January 8, 2024 at 8:36 am
  
  I think this was just a symptom of a change of security company. I see security and station staff a lot and often pass the time of day with them as they do their platform patrols. Back when the railways were first privatised there was a period when certain train companies had an anti-spotter period but that drew a lot of complaints to their head offices and also to the infrastructure company that owns the stations. It didn’t take long for Network Rail to issue guidelines to spotters and train companies. Basically, Trainspotters are welcome on stations as long as they obey safety rules and should be viewed by staff as an extra set of eyes watching for the unusual.
  
  I always feel for the train crew and other staff dealing with accidents and suicides. The only difference between the two is that an accident may have been preventable and a subsequent investigation by the RAIB will produce a set of recommendations for future operations. I think we’re now experiencing something like 4 suicides a week across the network judging by the number of ‘person struck by a train’ notes I see from train operators. It’s a terrible situation. All our stations have Samaritan’s signs at the platform ends – Samaritan’s are a charity that people can call free of charge and talk about their problems to a sympathetic ear that will not judge or criticise. Often the act of talking is enough to get the person past the suicidal stage and back to staying alive for another day.
  
  Reply
Clare

January 8, 2024 at 8:31 am

Some people just make me shake my head. Honestly, who was teaching them to be human? No one I guess. Here’s to happier travels next time, Martin.

Reply
1. 2e0mca
  
  January 8, 2024 at 8:46 am
  
  Thanks Clare 😎👍 I’m fortunate in that I can put it behind me and move on without thinking ill about someone who feels unable to continue their life. The only effect on my day was that I changed my planned activity. I can always return to Stratford another day for a relaxed lunchtime’s spotting.
  
  As I noted in my reply to Debra, all our stations have Samaritan’s signs at the platform ends – Samaritan’s are a charity that people can call free of charge and talk about their problems to a sympathetic ear that will not judge or criticise. Often the act of talking is enough to get the person past the suicidal stage and back to staying alive for another day.
  
  Reply
  1. Clare
    
    January 8, 2024 at 8:50 am
    
    Like you, I too can move on without it affecting my day, and that’s not me being callous either. Samaritan’s sounds like a wonderful organisation. People just need to make the call and ask for help – I’m sure there’s a lot of help available, it’s the asking that people get a little too proud about.