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Author Topic: Train driver caught reading newspaper at 60mph (25 July 2011)  (Read 19783 times)
ChrisB
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« Reply #30 on: July 27, 2011, 10:57:19 »

It still involves keeping your eyes on the route ahead though - for obstructions, etc.

So yes, you can compare. My point being that the vehicle driver would get a ticket for doing that - a train driver, with the added responsibility of his passengers, should lose his job if found guilty.
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pbc2520
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« Reply #31 on: July 27, 2011, 12:58:47 »

I expect the unions will be demanding his instant dismissal, being as safety conscious as they are...
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vacman
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« Reply #32 on: July 27, 2011, 15:14:39 »

I expect the unions will be demanding his instant dismissal, being as safety conscious as they are...

Yeah right, the unions have the biggest monopoly and closed shop in the country, they only care about safety when it suits them.
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ChrisB
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« Reply #33 on: July 27, 2011, 15:21:24 »

I think perhaps there was an invisible sarcastic smiley on the end of that post, vacman!
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pbc2520
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« Reply #34 on: July 27, 2011, 16:56:58 »

I think perhaps there was an invisible sarcastic smiley on the end of that post, vacman!

Indeed there was!  In this case, I'm expecting a deafening silence.
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gaf71
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« Reply #35 on: July 27, 2011, 18:30:53 »

It still involves keeping your eyes on the route ahead though - for obstructions, etc.

So yes, you can compare. My point being that the vehicle driver would get a ticket for doing that - a train driver, with the added responsibility of his passengers, should lose his job if found guilty.
The very major difference is, that if you see an obstruction 200 yds in front of your train, when you are doing 70mph, you are still going to hit it, albeit at a slightly reduced speed, whereas in a road vehicle you may have an opportunity to take evasive action. As a previous poster has said, it's all about route knowledge and signalling, there is no way a train driver can concentrate on the line ahead for 100% of his driving time, it's too mentally draining. (This said, I do not condone the actions of the driver in the photo, nor am I trying to defend him)
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dog box
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« Reply #36 on: July 28, 2011, 10:36:31 »

gaf 71.....you are absolutely spot on.
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gaf71
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« Reply #37 on: July 28, 2011, 11:06:05 »

gaf 71.....you are absolutely spot on.
Thanks dog box, it's probably because it's what we do every day!
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ChrisB
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« Reply #38 on: July 28, 2011, 11:07:27 »

What, read papers??!!!
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12hoursunday
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« Reply #39 on: July 28, 2011, 18:14:17 »

To the Guys and Gals who wonder that due to lack of blurriness in the photo that the train was actually moving, is all I can say is the OTMR (On Train Monitoring Recorder) download will or will not prove this, and yes a download will have been done.

Mess Room discussions have also indicated that station CCTV (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) is being looked at to see if the paper was being read further down the line.
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Henry
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« Reply #40 on: July 29, 2011, 07:43:17 »


 Wouldn't have happened in the steam days.

 (the paper would have caught alight).
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broadgage
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« Reply #41 on: July 29, 2011, 09:16:25 »

Drinking from a beer bottle in view of the public?  How blindingly obviously a bad idea is that?   Roll Eyes

Not very sensible !
It was many years ago. The train in question was loco hauled one from Waterloo to Exeter, which dates it somwhat.
The driver filled the beer bottles with water at Salisbury, and the police met the train at Tisbury.
Great delay was caused whilst another driver came by road from Salisbury.
I dont know if the driver was refused permission to continue, or declined to do so.
It would seem in order to continue driving following a negative breath test.
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A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
smokey
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« Reply #42 on: July 29, 2011, 18:45:20 »

I expect the unions will be demanding his instant dismissal, being as safety conscious as they are...

Yeah right, the unions have the biggest monopoly and closed shop in the country, they only care about safety when it suits them.

There's Now a lot of Staff working on the Railway who are NON Union.
Hardly a closed shop
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vacman
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« Reply #43 on: July 30, 2011, 22:00:03 »

I expect the unions will be demanding his instant dismissal, being as safety conscious as they are...

Yeah right, the unions have the biggest monopoly and closed shop in the country, they only care about safety when it suits them.

There's Now a lot of Staff working on the Railway who are NON Union.
Hardly a closed shop
I know, but the way a certain major union acts these days is a closed shop, they threaten the TOC (Train Operating Company)'s with all sorts unless they get their own way, to do with things that are not in the public or their members interests, anyway, thats a discussion for somewhere else!
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gaf71
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« Reply #44 on: September 08, 2011, 19:23:37 »

The driver involved in this story was dismissed last week, but has since been reinstated on appeal.
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