Drivers eye view: What interesting things have you seen?

[Zontar]

It's quite a common statement that the driver has the best/unique view.

But in that light, I'm sure drivers have seen some "unique" things. I often look out of the window in to people's houses, I'm sure drivers/guards do too.

What's the most unusual/funny/weird/scary/awkward etc thing you've ever seen? (not scenery or fatalities)

 

[irish_rail]

See shooting starts quite often which is always a little awe inspiring.

 

[Master29]

I'm sure there was a large Postman Pat model around Totnes which I saw from a train a few years ago and I saw some weird dressed up hippo models somewhere but again I can't remember where. Also watching the HST I was on overtake a Piper Cub.

 

[bramling]

It's quite a common statement that the driver has the best/unique view.

But in that light, I'm sure drivers have seen some "unique" things. I often look out of the window in to people's houses, I'm sure drivers/guards do too.

What's the most unusual/funny/weird/scary/awkward etc thing you've ever seen? (not scenery or fatalities)

Most will probably say wildlife, especially on slower / more rural routes.

 

[Bigfoot]

Many will have seen plenty of fornication or nudity in the more built up areas. Is that classed as unusual or perfectly natural/normal?

 

[Fragezeichnen]

I remember seeing a leaked Railtrack incident report years ago stating that a trains were suffering delay due a driver encountering "large inflatable hamburger" on the line

 

[Zontar]

Perks of the job!

 

[185143]

I heard an audio recording of a conversation between a driver and a signaller once where the signaller had stopped the train to caution the driver as someone was... *ahem* enjoying oneself on a bridge ahead and the driver who reported it was concerned there may be a female driver heading the other way.

So I guess that would be such an example. I'm not a driver so can't give any examples sadly. I have seen an inflatable appendage in the cess more than once though.

 

[Jimini]

I heard an audio recording of a conversation between a driver and a signaller once where the signaller had stopped the train to caution the driver as someone was... *ahem* enjoying oneself on a bridge ahead and the driver who reported it was concerned there may be a female driver heading the other way.

So I guess that would be such an example. I'm not a driver so can't give any examples sadly. I have seen an inflatable appendage in the cess more than once though.

 

[185143]

That's the one!

 

[FOCTOC]

Not sure Perks of the job applies. Ugly people having sex, and a couple of suicides in 30 years seems to have been my lot. Stuff like shooting stars tends to get forgotten.

 

[Zontar]

Not sure Perks of the job applies. Ugly people having sex, and a couple of suicides in 30 years seems to have been my lot. Stuff like shooting stars tends to get forgotten.

Well as the saying goes, one man's sh!t is another man's toothpaste.

That's priceless!!

 

[Western Lord]

In the days of first generation DMUs, anybody in the leading carriage had a driver's eye view (if they were in a forward facing seat).

 

[ainsworth74]

Seeing as last time this was posted I spent a bit of time writing out a transcript at the request of a member for someone who was deaf I'll post it again to get some more mileage out of my efforts

(Bad language warning)

Call between Saltley PSB and a train driver:

Signaller (S): Saltley south top panel signaller speaking

Driver (D): Hello this is 2 Romeo 43 standing at Sierra Yankee number 8

S: Hello there driver 2 Romeo 43 standing at Sierra Yankee 8 signal. What it is drive, erm, your colleague on the one that's just gone past yeah?

D: Um hum

S: Has reported, you're not going to believe this, you know on the road bridge by Alvechurch station?

D: Yeah?

S: That goes over the railway there?

D: Yeah?

S: A gentleman in black tights...

D: (laughing) F***in bollocks

S: ...is masturbating as the trains go past...

D: (crying with laughter)

S: ... so he didn't know if it was if it was going to be a lady driver on the one coming down towards Barnt Green but we're just advising drivers in case he's a danger to himself

D: Okay okay

S: (finally chuckling) Okay mate, I'll clear the signal for you now... (laughing)

D: (laughter continues) ...all right

S: (laughing) ...and just watch out for the t*ss*r on the way (laughter)

D: (laughing) ...I can't believe this, all right mate

S: Okay drive?

D: All right

S: Cheers mate (laughing) cheers

(both laughing as call hangs up)

 

[Mintona]

It sometimes feels like I’m a professional waver who drives trains on the side.

Never seen anybody naked or up to ‘funny business’. There was a man who liked to sunbathe in just a speedo near a line I used to drive along but I don’t go there anymore.

Plenty of wildlife too. Different types of deer and birds of prey are always impressive. I would almost swear I saw a big black cat last year but I was going fast and it probably wasn’t.

 

[DarloRich]

Not a driver but as a passenger ( aged about 15) i did see a man flashing at trains. He was near Sheffield. He got a bit of a shock as our train ground to a halt at the signal and 20 odd 15 year old lads started banging on the windows and shouting out of the drop lights as he scuttled away!

 

[Efini92]

Seeing as last time this was posted I spent a bit of time writing out a transcript at the request of a member for someone who was deaf I'll post it again to get some more mileage out of my efforts

(Bad language warning)

I’ll show him your transcript next time I see him. He’ll love it ha ha

 

[75A]

In the early 80's we saw the aftermath of when a pack of hounds ran southbound through Clayton Tunnel on a Sunday morning, don't know how many drivers on 'up' trains saw them or felt the bumps.

We were on an evening 'spare' turn @ Brighton MT and took a 73 and and few grampus type wagons + assorted P.Way & Hound people in the back cab, through the tunnel to collect the remains.
Not the most glamorous of turns.

 

[TheSeeker]

As a passenger I once saw a couple having sex on the step of a fire exit at a factory unit in Raynes Park. It was quite surreal as our fully loaded train trundled past them with everyone watching.

 

[syorksdeano]

I seem to remember a story of a train passing a man and a goat. Think it was somewhere in or near Hull

 

[4F89]

The most incredible thunderstorm on Ditton Viaduct

 

[TheEdge]

I got a good view of the RAF practicing a Mall fly past once. And the view heading into Liverpool Street of all the towers of the Square Mile is always pretty impressive.

We used to have a lady in Norfolk who was very fond of trains, especially the 37s. She ran a very interesting website we managed to find showing off the photos she was taking...

 

[dan4291]

Once followed a Boeing 727 Oil Spill Response aircraft as it was on approach to Doncaster airport as I was heading north on the ECML. One of only 2 so very rare, just so happened my instructor was a planespotter too so he enjoyed seeing it!

 

[ExRes]

The 11th August 1999 was interesting, I was brake handling on 66s and on the way from Dagenham to Wembley during the total solar eclipse

 

[John Bishop]

The Northern Lights seen whilst driving through the mountains of the Highlands at night, incredible sight to see!

 

[King Lazy]

I once saw what I thought was a cat crossing ahead of me about 1/4 mile ahead.

A second later another followed it. I sounded the horn and the first jumped onto a low wall next to the line while the second stopped in the 4ft of the opposite line.

As I passed I saw it look at me. It turned out they were actually otters

I also had 2 Lancaster bombers pass over my train while stopped at a station. As I remember it was a countrywide tour before one returned to (I think) Canada. Was just right place, right time.

I was glad to be stopped because I got a great view but also a guy walked across the foot crossing from behind a train in the opposite platform while looking up at the aircraft. I’m certain I’d have killed him had I been a non-stop service.

 

[GatwickDepress]

As a passenger I once saw a couple having sex on the step of a fire exit at a factory unit in Raynes Park. It was quite surreal as our fully loaded train trundled past them with everyone watching.

Whoever said romance was dead, eh?

 

[D821]

I just hope they weren't blocking the exit

 

[physics34]

Ive seen some kids waving from a bridge and then aiming an air rifle at my cab window

 

[Peter Mugridge]

As a passenger I once saw a couple having sex on the step of a fire exit at a factory unit in Raynes Park. It was quite surreal as our fully loaded train trundled past them with everyone watching.

I am guessing that would be the steel works in the former railway yard between the running lines on the Epsom direction?