Photography of long-closed and long-gone railways

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Following on from my post the other day - a further one to remind us all (as if we needed reminding) to respect the privacy of those who live in or near completely abandoned railway sites, as well as keeping well clear of closed stations on open lines.

From the other day:

I'm seeing pictures on my Facebook feed of an old station site in Wiltshire. Lovely to see - but please if you are taking such pictures, please be safe, please follow the rules which are there to keep everyone - including you the photographer - safe. i really don't want to be writing your obituary here.

This post is not directed at any current Coffee Shop members - it's posted here as a permanent reminder to everyone, and as a link I can use when writing elsewhere. But never the less it's a reminder to us all:
   * to be safe
   * to act in such a way that others feel safe
   * to set a good example to others

Once again, this post is not directed at any current Coffee Shop members - it's posted here as a reminder to everyone

Following text is a public post - so I feel free to quote it for review and comment purposes.

Without wishing to reignite a debate that this group had a week or so ago (I think), I'll suggest this post is just to act a warning for those going close to [location]

We parked up on the left of both 'google maps' pictures below, beside the [deleted] and made our way down the path ahead towards today's goal which was the location on [deleted] station.

With two cameras in hand (and not lifting either at this stage), we were broadsided from the lady in the house on the right, who came from her garden as we walked past it. She shouted across her garden and said "What do you think you are doing?". A conversation from a position of defending our walk ensued.

Her main issue seemed to be that "Some people in the village have had trouble with your sort" and "Don't you dare put any pictures on Facebook".

To clarify 1) We had not filmed/photographed anything at this stage. 2) Had no intention of filming or photographing her house (It wasn't either of the original stations, the one across the road where we parked was and is for sale all over the internet at a cool £895k). 3) The pictures below are again not mine as can be seen they are Google's. Unbeknown to us they have obviously requested the blur from Google. 4) our walk was 100% on a bridleway besides the ladies house.

It really left a disappointing taste, and I wonder what has happened in the past to upset her in such a way that makes her manner fairly aggressive to those walk past with a camera! A said end to an otherwise lovely day out.

Comment - it takes two to tango ... if in doubt, don't dance.

[JayMac]

And what of the right to go about in public, doing nothing wrong, without being harassed by uppity homeowners?

If you are standing on public property (such as a bridleway) you can by all means respect the privacy of adjoining property owners, but there is nothing in law they can do to prevent you taking photographs of their property for non-commercial use. An invasion of privacy would only come about if they were, for example, seen in your photographs dressing or undressing inside their property, and you were deliberately taking photographs of that activity.

Taking a picture of a former station that is now a private residence, from the public highway, footpath or common land, is allowed. You are breaking no laws.

One of mine. From a public footpath. No permission was sought or given. None was needed.

[grahame]

And what of the right to go about in public, doing nothing wrong, without being harassed by uppity homeowners?

Can't disagree with you - like I say, a two way thing. 

And ... if you choose to live in a place of some architectural or specialist interest, you really should expect more interest than if you live at No. 24 Daisy Close (*) in amongst 300 other homes that were built together on a green field 20 years ago.   Been there ... our old place being a listed building.

P.S. Not sure there's anything in law to stop anyone asking someone in public what they're doing?  Obviously not acceptable /appropriate to harass people thought.

(*) Little Boxes - Malvina Reynolds

Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes made of ticky tacky
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes all the same,
There's a pink one and a green one
And a blue one and a yellow one
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same.