Great Western Coffee Shop

60009 Union of South Africa came through Melksham at 20:00 tonight, on a special from the West Somerset to Paddington.  Due to a long phone call trying to sort out my home line, my phone died just before the train came through, but I did get some pictures of some of the enthusiasts around.

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/not_twits_mkm_20170819.jpg)

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/twits_mkm_20170819.jpg)

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/twit_mkm_20170819.jpg)

I see you managed to photograph Kermit and Fozzie in the second picture.

I had managed prior to this picture to persuade them to stand a few inches back ... they said they were going to step back as the train came - on a nice smooth surface NOT!  Better luck with the guy with the tripod - he had the leg about an inch from the platform edge, and explained to me he was going to lift it back as the train came round the bend, "was that ok". I told him it wasn't.  The only 'power' I have is persuasion - technically, I shouldn't get involved at all but I would much rather people didn't put themselves in danger.  The standard punters were fine on the platform, all standing and with all there stuff back behind the edging stones.

Not pictured, the lady in the disabled space who "forgot" her disabled badge at home, and the taxi that had no markings what so ever to identify it as a taxi. Not really bothered about those latter as I'm sure they only come to the station when there's a steam train about.

One of my hobby horses this - so bear with me.

I have paid to travel on steam excursions and I have taken photographs of them for nothing.

However it is people like the two in the middle picture that put all that in jeopardy.  Reputable rail magazines won't print pictures if they believe them to be from the "wrong side of the fence" unless such access has been authorised.  That won't stop the casual amateur sadly.

Saying all that I will agree the sign on the platform at Melksham is not helpful, given it is beyond the end of the ramp - but they were past that anyway.   Hopefully the platform extension will see that rectified.

(http://www.mbob.co.uk/rforum/melk22304.jpg)

Said extension hopefully to have a picket fence and anti-tresspass mat.

Electric fence and machine gun emplacement would be even better for these types. The sooner they realise a working railway is not an adult playground, the better.

If nothing else, it is simply not fair to place a driver in the position that they see someone at the line side, or perhaps even close to the platform edge, when they do not expect it.

Graham - you should've given BTP a call to deal with these numpties, they should take trespass fairly seriously. You should forward your photo to them for consideration/future reference - you have a clear face pic of the older guy.

If you wish to contact BTP then here is the Bath neighbourhood policing team email address

 bath.npt@btp.pnn.police.uk

... and we have direct contact with our local officers too. Time was such that they would not have been able to reach us during the incident ... I considered it at the time, and decided against as the signposting at Melksham is very misleading indeed.