Use of Tripods

I'm glad you remember to switch off your flash - nobody else seems to!
I seem to get blinded by tourists about twice a week.

Are you meant to ask for permission? I never do at local stations or when i filmed some tube trains.

It seems entirely to depend on what you look like. Although not a professional film crew, all our university equipment is the same TV industry standard gear so we generally have to go to the station offices and say "hey we're students not a production company being cheap and trying to do it for free please let us film".

At mainline stations I've only twice been approached abotut permision, once at Bristol Temple Meads (run by FGW) where the rather snotty member of platform staff asked me to show them what photos I had taken (which I did) and then gave me a lecture on how it is strictly forbidden to take photographs of staff (not that I had taken any of staff) and how inconsiderate I was for wasting his time (he went out of his way to speak to me). I was then directed to the customer help desk to get permission. The chap there was much friendlier, said that as long as I wasn't taking photos for commerical reasons I was fine. He gave me a very short H&S briefing (dont' go down any of the ramps, keep at least 2 metres back from moving trains, "and just common sense stuff really") and told me about the fire alarm and where the assembly point is (in the covered car park) and that was it. He didn't need me to sign in or anything (as the platform chap said) and didn't mention anything about staff.

The other time was at Newcastle where a member of platform staff just checked I wasn't taking photos for commercial purposes, and that was that. I think it really just depends on the staff member in question (at least for national rail).

Chris

Because of the confusion that seems to predominate on this subject, some months ago I did put up a page on the topic on my web site which can be viewed at www.trainweb.org/districtdave/html/photos_on_lu.html - it even links to the appropriate section within the Conditions of Carriage.

BUT - bearing in mind 'recent events' - I'd suggest that a little caution and commonsense be used in the present atmosphere. 'Tourist' photos (as alluded to by ADW) are one thing, but if you're taking photos of any more 'specific' details, you might get some raised eyebrows.

Please bear that in mind, and respect the reasonable requests of staff and/or police.

I was at Cannon Street NR a few months ago when 1001 (Southern Region Class 201 DEMU) was on a Railtour from Cannon Street to Hastings in the evening. (around 18:00 IIRC)

There was at a guess over 100 enthusiasts taking Photo's on the Platform and many more who had paied to go on the tour on the Train, I was standing with the Railtour for a good 20mins as I wanted to get a Photo of it departing. (by the way I do not own a tripod)
After I had I was the last person to leave the platform and an SE Trains Customer Assistant approached me and said 'why were you taking Snaps of that Train?' and I replied 'Because it was a Railtour'' he then replies 'delete your snaps now!' in a very aggressive voice, I was in a mood to tell him to f**k off (obviously I wouldn't have... But the way he said it to me made it tempting...), didn't he notice the other 100 enthusiasts taking Photo's too!? (And he DID know we were present on the Platform, as he was just up the other end of the Platform watching us!)

Luckily I know a little trick on my Camera to make it say 'All Files Deleted' on the screen without actually loosing any material at all. ;D
I done it and showed it to him and he walked away without saying anything else.

Me - 1, Aggressive CA - 0 ;D

Here's a Photo:
chrisjolly.sphosting.com/1001_CannonStreet.jpg

I've never had any trouble taking Photo's before, all the staff who have approached me have said in a calm welcoming voice that it’s fine as long as I don’t' go into any place of danger, which I obviously don't do.

Probably a bit of both ;D

No, it would be theft.

Maybe not theft in the classical sense, but certainly not legal either.

It might even go as far as breaking the unauthorised modification section of the Computer Misuse Act, depending on the interpretation of what a computer is, which IIRC carries a maximum 5 year custodial sentance.

Photographs (unless subject to an overiding contract) are the (Intellectual) property of the photographer - regardless of subject. And I'm fairly sure that refers to the image, and doesn't have to mean something physical...
So why shouldn't it be theft, or an equivalent offence if someone forcefully deletes your photographs.

Interesting that, didn't know that.

Anyway I counter with that it has to be "dishonest"., Which is includes the definition (from your link)

"A person s appropriation of property belonging to another is not to be regarded as dishonest- (a) if he appropriates the property in the belief that he has in law the right to deprive the other of it, on behalf of himself or of a third person"

I expect this would apply in this case

Breach of copyright only exists where unauthorised use is made of an image or a piece of prose, i.e. someone puts a photo or an article or story in a book or on a website.

If it is then used by someone else without asking permission or giving due credit (and/or payment) the author's (i.e. the creator) copyright is breached and he has (nominally at least) recourse to law.