Airsoft gear on trains

[Fiiish]

Re: Airsoft gear on trains

I used to carry air rifles on the bus a lot. I asked first national what there stance on it was and the response was "as long as it's unloaded and concealed in a case then it's down to drivers discretion".
I had a rectangular two gun hard case so when asked about it by joe public they normally assumed it was a keyboard so I just stuck to that to save the conflict of explaining that it was an air rifle and that i'm allowed to carry it on the bus.

[swill]

Re: Airsoft gear on trains

It seems to me what this thread demonstrates is that as airsofters, we tend to do out utmost (even beyond legal requirements) to not just uphold the law, but not to cause worry, upset or offense as we travel to and from our chosen sport.
It's also a bit of a paradox that we play a sport that that onlookers might think is only for the insane. Maybe the flipside is that we get to direct our "agression" in a positive way within airsoft and don't feel the need to create problems in our public lives.
<big mutal self congratulatory pat on back>....lol

i think you have nailed it there drmike the majority of the guys i play airsoft with are of the same opinion its a very good stress relief.
and the same goes with in regards to not wanting un needed stress from the police when it can be quiet simply avoided by a bit of common sense

[NULL]

Re: Airsoft gear on trains

i do it all the time i have a backpac with part that holds my m4 and i have never been stoped , ive done it on busses trains and on the ferry to france

[Caveira]

Re: Airsoft gear on trains

My concern with telling the staff is that they hear "gun" and ignore everything else. I know it's happened when people have tried to advise the local police that they have RIFs.

[Sci Fi Steve]

Re: Airsoft gear on trains

I agree with rockinrobin, go with a D.A.D.T Policy otherwise you could end up with the opposite effect .

[Fiiish]

Re: Airsoft gear on trains

you could always put some style to it and carry your rif in a guitar case desperado style :-)

[jfox61]

Re: Airsoft gear on trains

I was thinking about this problem the other day, the only flaw I see is being dressed up in your cammies with a gun bag over shoulder and walking up and down the train going "I'M LOOKING FOR THE CONDUCTOR, WHERE IS HE I NEED TO... SPEAK WITH HIM". Is their a subtle way around this?

Yeah. You speak to him before you board the train. we have to be on platform to despatch the trina you cant miss us. we are the guys with the whistle and flag.:D

[jfox61]

Re: Airsoft gear on trains

I suppose you could call ahead and arrange a meeting with a manager, conductor or whomever is in charge. That way you can explain to them where your going, provide all the infomation they need ect.. that way it gives them some time to call up and confirm who you are, what your doing and everything is Ok
Steve

You don't really need to call ahead. All you need do is tell the Guard of the train what you are carrying. They will usually tell you where to put the bag. On my train I would just tell him to stick it in the guards cabin and find out where he was going and hand it to him at the destination. Out of sight out of mind.

I had a word with my line manager this morning about this thread and FGW official policy. Basically you can travel but they must be in a lockable case and batteries disconnected. Either kept by the person at all times never left alone to go to toilet or they must be placed in the luggage car or guards cabin. The luggage car is only accessible by the guard so they are very safe there. So, no guitar bags, holdalls, disguised coats etc. It MUST be in a lockable case.

Obviously people will disregard this and carry on regardless with these things and the likelihood is they will never be questioned as to what is in a guitar case. But if you do be prepared for the consequences.

[jfox61]

Re: Airsoft gear on trains

Obviously I can't answer for other companies policies, or how strictly they adhere to them Fizzy, and I do agree the vast majority of people will not bat an eyelid about it hence you being able to travel undeterred. All I am pointing out is my companies policy and to point out also the consequence of not informing the guard. So yes, not declaring it to the guard may well seem the best option as you have never been stopped, but it only take you to be stopped once. I being an airsofter myself would be able to handle the situation a little more differently to a guard who isnt even aware we exist and that is the crux of the problem. Ignorance of what we do by Joe public. So by telling the guard not only are you assuring him what you are carrying isnt dangerous it provide him with some sort of information if a customer on board comes to report a suspicious package.

[Fizzy]

Re: Airsoft gear on trains

So by telling the guard not only are you assuring him what you are carrying isnt dangerous it provide him with some sort of information if a customer on board comes to report a suspicious package.

Well, I have to agree with what RR said. People just hear the word "gun" and suddenly alarm bells ring and they don't hear the rest. If the guy's clued in, then fine, but how many know about RIFs and airsoft?

[ejtrent]

Re: Airsoft gear on trains

Maybe say BB toy gun?

[jfox61]

Re: Airsoft gear on trains

No they don't mate theres a lot worse goes on on a train than some bloke with a toy gun I can assure you. How can a guy be clued in if he is never given the information in the first place? I have worked on the railway 17 years now and I have seen allsorts of stuff destroyed because they are suspicious packages. seems like you think Guards on trains are stupid. I am telling you fact not something i have decided to make up on the spot. It is a risk not telling a guard on a train if you a carrying what can classed as an offensive weapon. All I am trying to say is that FGW policy is to allow them on a train in a proper, padlocked case and the guard must be informed. If you don't then so be it. like i say you could ignorer my advice and get away for years by sticking your guns in plastic binliners holdall guitar bage et al. But it will only take one person to be caught and you have lost us our defence. Correct me if I am wrong but aren't all RIF and airguns supposed to be by law in proper bags and locked by. I have a doksprt double carry case it carries 2 rifles and 3 pistols and is treblw padlocked at all times. I also have 2 viper bags one large one medium with more guns in and mags and stuff and they are also padlocked. That is even if they are in my car Why risk it just do it properly in the first place for goodness sake.