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| "Don't stick your arms out the windows!" https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=20672 |
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| Author: | scrmcurator [ Thu May 25, 2006 10:49 am ] |
| Post subject: | "Don't stick your arms out the windows!" |
The thread on pax staying seated reminded me of an amusing (at least to me) incident this past weekend. SCRM gave free rides as part of SCDOT's annual Transportation Day festivities. I worked as a car host all day. When I car host, I give a standard start-of-trip speech about the windows. Those Canuk coaches were modified with school bus type windows on the inside. About half the springs in the catches are missing or broken, so the windows don't always stay up properly. I tell people that I know from personal experience that the windows hurt when they fall on your hands. I also usually comment that while we try to keep up with the brush, it's a losing battle and there are some places where plants -- some of them quite thorny -- hit the sides of the cars. The point is, I don't just say "don't put your arms out the window," I explain why. This weekend, I noticed a minority teenager sitting with his arm completely out the window. Not only was this kid right at the rebellious age where all kids resent all authority, he also had the "aggresive minority" attitude that resents all white people. When I gave my standard "window speech," he made a token effort to bring his arm in slightly and gave me a look that pretty clearly said, "No white grown-up is going to tell ME what to do!" A landowner adjacent to the railroad had some logging done this past fall. The loggers disturbed the roots of a smallish oak tree, which is now leaning over enough so its top branches hit the side of the train. We simply haven't had a chance to get out there and cut it down yet, although it's high on the "to-do" list. Mr. Attitude was sitting on the side this tree hits. Riding backwards, so he wouldn't see it coming. I made a second "window warning" shortly before we got to this tree. The young man again made only a token effort to comply. I decided experience was the best teacher, so I didn't make an issue out of it and let myself get distracted with a family in another part of the car for a while. A few minutes after passing the leaning tree, I glanced back at him. Funny thing -- his arm was safely inside the car, and stayed there for the rest of the trip! :o) |
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| Author: | Steve Zarick [ Thu May 25, 2006 11:21 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: "Don't stick your arms out the windows!" |
We had similar conditions on the tourist operation I was associated with for a while. The windows were not the most reliable, and there was plenty of brush along the route. And we had a whole spiel we gave at the beginning of the trip about the windows as well as other safetly stuff. Of course, our warnings about things like the windows more than occasionally went unheaded. And you know, the thing that irritated me the most, was not so much that the kids would do it, as kids will be kids, and to some degree, you have to expect that and be on the look-out for it. What really got on my nerves were the adults who would glare at you when you politely asked that the child (or adult, in some cases) get their body parts inside the coach, as if to say "How dare you!!!", and then not do anything to get their kid to stop it. It's especially irksome because they shouldn't have let their kid do it in the first place. It's as if they say"Screw you and your rules, they don't apply to me, I'll do what I want and I'll sue if something happens." I'm just venting a little. I don't think there's much you can do about it, except be vigilant, and make an honest effort, so hopefully, your backside is covered. I've found the great majority of patrons to bo be great and a lot of fun, but there's some that I'd like to.....well, never mind. |
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| Author: | scrmcurator [ Thu May 25, 2006 11:52 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: "Don't stick your arms out the windows!" |
Steve Zarick wrote: I'm just venting a little. I don't think there's much you can do about it, except be vigilant, and make an honest effort, so hopefully, your backside is covered. I've found the great majority of patrons to bo be great and a lot of fun, but there's some that I'd like to.....well, never mind.
I know the feeling. I actually asked one group never to come back a few years ago. It was some church outreach program, targeted at 'troubled teens" which basically meant young hoodlums. They did enough damage to the exhibits that I told them they weren't welcome back, ever. Customer service is one thing, and I'm usually pretty accomodating, but these kids pushed all the right (or wrong) buttons. |
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| Author: | rev66vette [ Thu May 25, 2006 3:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: "Don't stick your arms out the windows!" |
As with the prior topic of remaining seated, I feel that each individual operation may have it's own particular set of circumstances that are unique to it's operation. When we ran excursions on New Jersey Transit, Metro North, Conrail, CSX/NS etc, these major Railroads usually were emphatic that they would not tolerate any of this behavior. These trips usually had Police from the respective Railroads, and any instances were usually handled by them. I don't recall any unpleasant results from these rules. The Operation Lifesaver materials were also helpful in these instances. Handouts such as those, or trip itineraries would also serve for instructional purposes. On our home tracks however, there was an air of tolerance, especially with the open window cars. On many steam excursions, people would be trackside waving, and the intuitive response from the riders would be to wave back. This isn't a problem. The literal "hanging out" of a window should not be tolerated under any circumstances. Once again, car attendants are a key. And if anyone would get out of hand, they would be the first to intervene. I don't recall any incident getting out of hand. As for the "types" of clientle. I recall us hosting handicapped, mentally-challenged, Fresh-air fund, orphans, Juvenile detention, Boy and Girl Scout troops, but the worst experience in my recollection was those left by an upper class Catholic Middle-School!!!! Absolutely horrendous! Cheers: R.O. |
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