Passengers dropping phones etc on track

[cambsy]

Was on my 700 unit bash Wednesday 31st August, whilst at Bedford I dropped my phone on the tracks, had just taken pic of inside of cab with drivers permission, it was about 1pm with the train due off at 1.40pm to Brighton, I got hold of dispatcher/platform staff and asked about how to retrieve it he said he couldn't help as not trained, there were some Network Rail orange army about on end of platform, and asked them about it, and they said see what they could do, said get someone to use litter picker, so in the end just in time before my train left one of the orange army appeared with a litter picker, chatted to driver to get permission etc, then picked up my phone with litter picker, luckily not damaged, and one very grateful numpty, I didn't once try do it myself, lean down etc, reach for it, so I didn't do anything wrong or stupid, and was polite and grateful and even offered a tip because was very grateful but he politely refused saying this job, which to me put railway staff in very good light. not that I'm biased

So am wandering after this incident, how common is passengers dropping stuff on tracks, is it straight forward to retrieve stuff from tacks as it seemed quite convoluted to do, and what is required before u are passed to retrieve stuff from the tracks, is it a simple thing to do or is it complicated and a major pain?
did I handle it correctly?

 

[Carntyne]

It's more common than you'd think.

Normally involves correctly trained staff speaking with the signaller and identifying a gap in traffic so it can be retrieved safely, with either litter pickers or accessing the track.

 

[6Gman]

Was on my 700 unit bash Wednesday 31st August, whilst at Bedford I dropped my phone on the tracks, had just taken pic of inside of cab with drivers permission, it was about 1pm with the train due off at 1.40pm to Brighton, I got hold of dispatcher/platform staff and asked about how to retrieve it he said he couldn't help as not trained, there were some Network Rail orange army about on end of platform, and asked them about it, and they said see what they could do, said get someone to use litter picker, so in the end just in time before my train left one of the orange army appeared with a litter picker, chatted to driver to get permission etc, then picked up my phone with litter picker, luckily not damaged, and one very grateful numpty, I didn't once try do it myself, lean down etc, reach for it, so I didn't do anything wrong or stupid, and was polite and grateful and even offered a tip because was very grateful but he politely refused saying this job, which to me put railway staff in very good light. not that I'm biased

So am wandering after this incident, how common is passengers dropping stuff on tracks, is it straight forward to retrieve stuff from tacks as it seemed quite convoluted to do, and what is required before u are passed to retrieve stuff from the tracks, is it a simple thing to do or is it complicated and a major pain?
did I handle it correctly?

Common. No. Don't know. No. Yes. Yes.
Yes.



Having said that, I saw rules bent a few days ago (won't say where) to keep a little lad happy.

 

[najaB]

did I handle it correctly?

Yes. Always ask a staff member to retrieve dropped objects and never attempt to get them yourself.

 

[Clip]

yeah its quite common why even on tuesday night I saw the guys on the circle at vic stop a train half in the pklatform to pick up a phone.

Alwasy tell someone and try and get help - never do it on yoru own is the best advice

 

[cjmillsnun]

It's very common. You handled it absolutely correctly and set a good example unlike someone else who posted on another thread about what he did to retrieve his phone.

 

[Gemz91]

Had a lady getting on my train one Saturday morning when her shoe fell off down the side of the train onto the track. The station was un-staffed, but had a signal box on the end. I told her I couldn't get it, so she'd either have to get on the train with one shoe, or wait until we left and speak to the signaller to see if he could assist.

The poor girl told me she had to get to work, so couldn't wait for the next train (hourly service). Still makes me laugh seeing her get off the train at quite a major station walking away to work with just one shoe on. Least she was lucky it wasn't raining.

 

[dave87016]

One Friday I was at Glasgow and a hen party alighted the 18.01pm virgin pendolino ex Euston her cowboy style hat blew off onto the track on opposite platform she asked staff if they could retrieve it they got in touch with signaller and got the go ahead and a chap with a Alstom high viz jacket retrieved it the lady was grateful and planted a big kiss on his lips he looked like the cat who got the cream

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

If at a staffed station with frequent trains I'll have to ask someone to get it, say at Sheffield.

At unstaffed stations like Grimsby Town in evenings, I'll get it myself so long as the level crossings on both sides are open and no one is looking.

I will always have a concern over being safe first. But I'm not going to be out of pocket as someone took my phone and dropped it.

 

[168lover]

If at a staffed station with frequent trains I'll have to ask someone to get it, say at Sheffield.

At unstaffed stations like Grimsby Town in evenings, I'll get it myself so long as the level crossings on both sides are open and no one is looking.

I will always have a concern over being safe first. But I'm not going to be out of pocket as someone took my phone and dropped it.

Doesn't matter if it's Clapham Junction or Berney Arms, it's illegal to trespass on the mainline any time of day of week.

 

[theironroad]

Doesn't matter if it's Clapham Junction or Berney Arms, it's illegal to trespass on the mainline any time of day of week.

If you dropped your phone on the tracks at Berney arms what would you do?

 

[Llanigraham]

Doesn't matter if it's Clapham Junction or Berney Arms, it's illegal to trespass on the LINE any time of day of week.

Corrected that for you.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

If you dropped your phone on the tracks at Berney arms what would you do?

You would use the Call Point and get them to arrange it, otherwise you would leave it there
See above!!

 

[Marklund]

Was on my 700 unit bash Wednesday 31st August, whilst at Bedford I dropped my phone on the tracks, had just taken pic of inside of cab with drivers permission, it was about 1pm with the train due off at 1.40pm to Brighton, I got hold of dispatcher/platform staff and asked about how to retrieve it he said he couldn't help as not trained, there were some Network Rail orange army about on end of platform, and asked them about it, and they said see what they could do, said get someone to use litter picker, so in the end just in time before my train left one of the orange army appeared with a litter picker, chatted to driver to get permission etc, then picked up my phone with litter picker, luckily not damaged, and one very grateful numpty, I didn't once try do it myself, lean down etc, reach for it, so I didn't do anything wrong or stupid, and was polite and grateful and even offered a tip because was very grateful but he politely refused saying this job, which to me put railway staff in very good light. not that I'm biased

So am wandering after this incident, how common is passengers dropping stuff on tracks, is it straight forward to retrieve stuff from tacks as it seemed quite convoluted to do, and what is required before u are passed to retrieve stuff from the tracks, is it a simple thing to do or is it complicated and a major pain?
did I handle it correctly?

Orange Army? :roll:
Just no.

 

[Monty]

Orange Army? :roll:
Just no.

Whats the big deal? I've seen many references to NR staff being referred to as the 'Orange Army' in both the press and on TV.

 

[GatwickDepress]

Whats the big deal? I've seen many references to NR staff being referred to as the 'Orange Army' in both the press and on TV.

By some rail staff as well. I was chatting to a member of Waterloo's gateline staff about the Waterloo International renovations, before the 442 railtour last weekend, who called them the "Tango Troops".

 

[edwin_m]

Whats the big deal? I've seen many references to NR staff being referred to as the 'Orange Army' in both the press and on TV.

I doubt the term is used for track workers in Northern Ireland.

 

[lincolnshire]

Whats the big deal? I've seen many references to NR staff being referred to as the 'Orange Army' in both the press and on TV.

In most cases on big site jobs the so called orange army is mostly contractors and not Network Rail staff. So you could call Network Rail staff a mini army as usually nit that many staff.

 

[AlterEgo]

I'm not sure why the OP would ask whether reporting the incident to a member of staff was the right thing to do or not. Seems like an odd question. Of course it's the right thing to do.

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

Doesn't matter if it's Clapham Junction or Berney Arms, it's illegal to trespass on the mainline any time of day of week.

So I'm supposed to wait overnight at Berney Arms in the hope someone turns up to help pick up my phone? Remember I can't ring anyone as I would of lost my phone. I might need my phone to ring emergency services even.

 

[AlterEgo]

So I'm supposed to wait overnight at Berney Arms in the hope someone turns up to help pick up my phone? Remember I can't ring anyone as I would of lost my phone. I might need my phone to ring emergency services even.

It still remains illegal to trespass on the railway, whether you like it or not.

 

[GrimsbyPacer]

It still remains illegal to trespass on the railway, whether you like it or not.

So next time a pram rolls onto the track at Barnetby I shouldn't help save a life as it's illegal?
If a blindman dropped his walking stick I'm just supposed to hope he manages to leave the station without it?

If no harm is done, if safety is considered at all times, and it's only done when no alternative is available, I see no harm in picking stuff up.
The law doesn't overide morals in my opinion.

What should I do at Market Rasen though? I have to walk across the tracks at the station there.

 

[Muzer]

So next time a pram rolls onto the track at Barnetby I shouldn't help save a life as it's illegal?
If a blindman dropped his walking stick I'm just supposed to hope he manages to leave the station without it?

If no harm is done, if safety is considered at all times, and it's only done when no alternative is available, I see no harm in picking stuff up.
The law doesn't overide morals in my opinion.

What should I do at Market Rasen though? I have to walk across the tracks at the station there.

I'm pretty sure there are valid legal defences that involve doing something for the greater good that involve breaking laws, meaning you are forgiven for breaking said laws and aren't found guilty. Trespassing to save a life I'm pretty sure would be one of these (note: I'm not a lawyer, this is not legal advice). Trespassing to save your own phone certainly wouldn't be.

Walking across the tracks at a designated crossing point is not trespassing. I'm sure this is well-defined either through the letter of the law or, if not, through case law. That's how law works in this country --- when you're writing it, you don't bother trying to cover every corner case, you just let courts decide in practice and so set a precedent.

 

[6Gman]

So next time a pram rolls onto the track at Barnetby I shouldn't help save a life as it's illegal?
If a blindman dropped his walking stick I'm just supposed to hope he manages to leave the station without it?

If no harm is done, if safety is considered at all times, and it's only done when no alternative is available, I see no harm in picking stuff up.

The law doesn't overide morals in my opinion.

What should I do at Market Rasen though? I have to walk across the tracks at the station there.

Retrieving a phone you've dropped is scarcely a question of morality!

 

[AlterEgo]

So next time a pram rolls onto the track at Barnetby I shouldn't help save a life as it's illegal?
If a blindman dropped his walking stick I'm just supposed to hope he manages to leave the station without it?

If no harm is done, if safety is considered at all times, and it's only done when no alternative is available, I see no harm in picking stuff up.
The law doesn't overide morals in my opinion.

What should I do at Market Rasen though? I have to walk across the tracks at the station there.

All I was saying is that it remains illegal to trespass on the tracks, phone or no phone. That's all.

 

[mresh91]

So am wandering after this incident, how common is passengers dropping stuff on tracks, is it straight forward to retrieve stuff from tacks as it seemed quite convoluted to do, and what is required before u are passed to retrieve stuff from the tracks, is it a simple thing to do or is it complicated and a major pain?
did I handle it correctly?

Happens all the time. So long as it is in the cess area, and the item is of a retrievable size... then platform staff usually are able to retrieve the item when the train is in the station and the driver/guard is alerted.

It's not really a major pain as it happens all the time. But if it's not in the cess area of the track, or is too bulky to grab with a litter pick... then they'll just have to wait.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Isn't there a risk no matter how small of a phone's battery getting damaged if left trackside, causing the battery to catch fire with the resultant fire potentially damaging trackside cabling?

 

[jon0844]

Isn't there a risk no matter how small of a phone's battery getting damaged if left trackside, causing the battery to catch fire with the resultant fire potentially damaging trackside cabling?

Only if someone has already dropped their Samsung Galaxy Note 7 on the first official day of sale.

 

[philthetube]

On the underground staff will always remove a phone or other item as soon as possible because if they don't some member of the public will, not always the rightful owner.

 

[Mordac]

Whats the big deal? I've seen many references to NR staff being referred to as the 'Orange Army' in both the press and on TV.

I think to celebrate their valuable work, they should start organizing parades. Say around July?