The Talisman 7th February

a very good day out yesterday thanks to the a1 lads and lassies,there was a electrial supply problem at the HOLM feeder south of peterborough that held us up as we then lost our path it was fast line then slow line all the way to the cross,the day could have ended badly with the situation at the cross BT Ploice did not have the situation under controll and Mark Allett did not help matters by blocking the platform for the tv interviews i know they want all the publicity they can get but this could have back fired also there was nowinfo given when the empty stock went out so people crushed on the platform edge were hit by door handels

 

This is what we faced at KX when we got of the train - mayhem as we all had nowhere to go but into an almighty crush.



BTW, why do people on electric disabled buggies think they have a right to push on through when those of us on foot can't move an inch? He soon got told when he started shouting and using his horn.

Tornado arrives at a packed York station:



A view at speed from the train:



Pulling into New England yard for water and a long wait for the electric trains to sort themselves out.



And finally, Tornado backs out of KX, whistling, to mass applause. As you can see, I finally got off the platform, jumping back on the train and emerging from the support coach helped.

 

Nice shots everyone =D>

My shot of Tornado passing Hadley Wood
http://craigrailpics.fotopic.net/p56290118.html

And a video of Tornado being dragged out of King's Cross
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKGCgglF ... annel_page

 

Well, BTP can't win can they? Had they 'controlled' it by not allowing people into the station there would have been lots of screaming here! Yes, the station was packed, no surprise there. I thought the 'authorities' showed empathy and tolerence which made the event even more enjoyable for the hundreds that turned up to watch her arrive.

 

We were on the footbridge north of Finchley Road - what was memorable were the sheer number of "non enthusiasts" who either lived nearby and came for a look because they saw the BBC News, or because they'd walked past and sounded interested. Some had no idea what it was all about, but were genuinely interested and chuffed that a lot of individuals had clubbed together, raised the cash, and make a dream reality. It's brought preserved steam to the masses - even the people who'd never dream of visiting their local line. Also thanks to the footplate crew for the OTT whistling as you saw us all waving!

 

I'll probably get shot for saying this, but they either do nothing (as on saturday) or go to the total opposite and go ott, never somewhere in between.
I got off the train, and then couldn't move, and as for when the train went out, that was just stupid, one slip and a whole load of people would have gone under the wheels. I think this was the one time when the btp should have done something, not stand there looking at 60163.

I'll run and hide now...

 

My usual experiences at Kings Cross are invariably bad, I find the station is usually very negative to enthusiasts. However I have to say on the day NXEC made over and above any amount of effort at every station I saw.
At Stevenage, we had a running commentary of it's location and which line it was due through, and how many service trains were ahead of it.
At Peterborough, they announced the track and time it would leave the yard.
And Kings Cross.. threw open their gates, fenced off the top end and ensured there was plenty of staff and announced it... For me this is unheard of.

So to be honest.. well done NXEC.

Yes the crowds at KX we're enoromous, the picture I took at the buffers showing the platform was only half the story.. I was in the middle of the crowd with an equal number of people behind me trying to take the same pictures. I would put the numbers at around 1000-1500 people at KX, obviously including 60163's own passengers. There was approx 100-150 people at both Pboro and Stevenage platforms, and groups of 20-30 people at dozens of lineside locations...If this was repeated from Darlington to London, there could have been as many as 5000-10000 people out that day !!!

 

i am glad i was not the only person concerned about croud control at the cross lets hope things will be better at edinburgh on the 28th

 

Given a chance - how would you manage it ?

 

The problem seemed to be that Platform 1 was already full when the Talisman pulled in, coupled with the building works going on, there was no way off the platform other than via the concourse. That, of course, meant getting past the huge hullabaloo going on next to the loco.

It was hard enough to get off the train in the first place.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but not letting the public onto Platform 1 before the Talisman arrived would've helped.

 

How i would fix it,NO ONE without a VALID ticket for travel be allowed onto the station. Barrier ticket checks are the way to go.

 

Then they would sell 2000 singles to Finsbury Park !

 

...but if that had happened there would be people complaining about the heavy-handed approach, just as happened when NXEC originally proposed not allowing non-passengers on Darlington station in the morning.

 

Indeed - but the way I saw it, there were so many people blocking platform access from the concourse, they asked them all to go onto platform one to keep the station working. Catch 22 all round. Never easy, never an easy answer. Damned if they do, damned if they don't. #-o

 

You won't succeed with that at Edinburgh Waverley - especially with its symmetrical H-shaped platform - so now fix it for maximum public access with minimum operating difficulties remembering that the footbridge is used as public access from the Old Town to Princess Street by many people who don't wish to use the station, its trains or its facilities.

 

That's the problem too many people descend too many arguements etc best to just leave the engine to it in my opinon,give it 6 months to a year or when its been to all areas and itll start to calm. York and Edinburgh will be especially hard to stop people due to the multiple entrances,i presume they will arrange the barriers at York in a similar manner to those at Reading?

 

Have the Hull Trains go onto platform 3 (which was empty), and leave Platform 2 clear. No one on Platform 1, everyone else on platform 2. problem solved.

However...I wasnt expecting the crowds they got !! so i'm very sure they we're not expecting the crowds they got either...

To be fair (and what Ive seen before)... they could have said no one on any platform at all, and then flow channel all the passengers out of the side entrance of Platform 1..but then no one would have had any fun after all, it is a busy railway station, not a circus.

 

As time goes on,the crowds will abate leaving the platforms/bridges to a handful of the trusted steam buffs.

Human nature being inquisitive the world and it's wife wants to have a look at the present moment.Especially with all the publicity,and anything new on the scene.

 

I was half way down the ramp not at the bottom as far as i knew i did not think i was tresspassing?????????

 

Its a grey area... I am not sure how that sign about 15 feet up the platform reads - if it says "Passengers must not go beyond this point" then clearly you must not. On some stations however the signs just read "Passengers must not cross the line" generally suggesting a painted line on the concrete though open to interpretation as the railway line.

That said - it is generally accepted that once off the flat platform and onto a ramp, members of the public have no reason or business to be there...