(05 Dec 2013, 7:07 pm)Dan wrote Add 'some of' in front of 'the directors' and you've got that spot on. I don't get why you're mentioning this when it has already been established both by me and others before your post, however?

You may detect jealousy, but you're incorrectly identifying that feeling if so. What I am glad to hear is that 'others' detect it too - it means that those posts have been passed around secret groups and the like, and I've got what I wanted. Some people are far too stubborn to sign up to 'fantasy island forum', but those who aren't have clearly done us the favour and passed those messages on to the parties concerned. We've even gained one or two new members as a result, so thanks to you (or anyone else, if you haven't) for passing it on!
The original posts were not designed to slate the photographer, but were designed to raise awareness of the divide between enthusiasts and the opportunities GNE are missing out on as a result of said divide. I am confident in saying that the message has reached certain members of GNE staff who I wanted to see the message, and even those who aren't members have seen the message in some format. Nothing may change, but I'm glad that my views have been heard.

Yes, there are good reasons why members of the public are prohibited from entering bus depots - and the same reasons apply to enthusiasts too. Why should one enthusiast be treated differently to another enthusiast? As I see it: one rule for one, and another for everyone else.


Everyone was aware that the photograph was a publicity shot (albeit a poor one at that) - that comes as no surprise to anyone, and it was obvious that the photographs would soon appear on GNE's Social Media pages, even if the photographer has published them to his Flickr photostream before Go North East has published them.

My problem is that certain enthusiasts are being granted permission to enter depots, while others are not - especially when this has led to certain enthusiasts getting photographs of vehicles which have just arrived to the fleet, when they otherwise wouldn't have. The interior shots of the B9 that arrived yesterday are quite startling... An enthusiast has been given permission to be one of the first people to walk around a bus which has just been delivered to the fleet... If the vehicle hadn't actually been checked over because it had just arrived, and an enthusiast is wandering around inside of it taking photos - what if there was some damage? If this damage was actually caused at Wrights, surely they could claim that the damage could have been caused by the enthusiast and not them at the factory?

I am well aware that there are certain Go North East employees who own DSLR cameras and take them to work too, and they could produce photographs of the same (if not better) quality than the ones they are currently being provided with. Sent a link to one of the photographs published on Flickr yesterday to a guy I know at Deptford, and he seriously questioned whether that was the kind of photo GNE were really looking for - and he went on further to explain how his iPhone 5 could produce a better quality shot (though this is relying on the vehicles within the publicity shot to be lined up properly, without looking like they've been pulled out quickly while they have five minutes to spare). That's a whole different matter though, and I've suggested in other areas of the forum what GNE could be doing when it comes to promotional shots to maximise potential reach.


Sorry for the delay in response and I also apologise for adding more to this prolonged (and rather pointless) debate - I had thought it was finished with last night when NEB's own "Official DAF Appreciation Officer" told us to put our claws away!