I met up with "Big Issue" seller Chris Page at Kidderminster and we prepared for the arrival of Tornado into Kidderminster Mainline station by staying under the footbridge to the south of the station. A crowd of fotters had gathered on the bridge and we didn't want to get in their shots while wearing hi-viz. The diesel shunter D3022 had dragged the dining train ecs into the SVR station and then after running around it dragged the rear three carriages back out and sat idling on the track adjacent to the diesel depot. Tornado then arrived. An SVR member of staff (I assume he was a member as he was not wearing hi-viz nor did he identify himself as such) approached us and told us in no uncertain terms "You'll have to move". "Why?" was the obvious question. "The shunter is bringing the three carriages onto this track and you can't stay where you are."

Chris politely asked if we could stay while Tornado departed in 1 minute's time. However this riled the "Jobsworth" and threats of "You know the rules of linesiding" "Are you refusing to move? - This is an operational railway". There was clearly no negotiation to be had from this gentleman so as Tornado began its departure I legged it to the location closer to the station - seen 50 yards or so away in the photo - and quickly whipped out the cameras again for the pass. Chris wasn't so agile and ended up with NOTHING except steam coming out of his ears. Some observations....
1. Why are apparently "Operational" staff exempt from wearing hi-viz and ID when lineside?
2. Why were non hi-viz wearing members of the public, including a "babe in arms" allowed across the track at the fence where I ended up?
3. Why did the SVR staff appear totally ignorant of the arrival of The Cathedral Express? For passengers alighting here and expecting a trip to Bridgnorth and back the next round trip service was diesel hauled!!!! Hardly what most would expect or want. (See a later photo in the SVR collection)
Finally - the 3 carriages took a further 10 minutes to reach the track that Chris and I had been moved on from. We would have been well away by then. Thankyou sir for totally spoiling the day for my friend with your unreasonable behaviour.

CLIVE HANLEY(C)