How To Distinguish the Genuine From the Pirate (Illegal) Copy.

Cab Ride video and DVD are frequently sold both new and second hand on eBay. Genuine VHS tapes and DVDs are normally described as being issued by one of the established publishers of such material and in most instances the seller will have included a picture or scan of the item concerned.
Genuine products will usually be in the original library case and with the original cover picture (or other front cover titles) and narratives intact. The front or back will normally include the name of the publisher. The narrative will include the name and address of the publisher and a copyright notice. In many cases the narrative will include background information about when the recording was made.
A useful guide to issued videos appears on the Wolverton Rail web site but, sadly, they ceased updating this after January 2003. Perhaps the task became too onerous. Despite this most, probably all, published works up to then are listed. Well worth a look as a cross check for anything published up to then. Bear in mind that footage may be published some considerable time or years after being filmed.
When played, a genuine item can be expected to start with a copyright notice from the original supplier normally declaring that it is for home use only. Sometimes this appears after the title rather than before. Some, but not all, publishers also include adverts for other items from their catalogue.
Of course, there are some quite genuine "home productions" that sometimes lack the editing finesse and polish of the commercailly published footage. And these may lack any copyright notice and arouse suspicion because they 'fail' one or more of the tests set out below. If in doubt, ask before bidding or buying.
No one should be travelling in the driving cab of a train or locomotive without proper authorisation. If they are a genuine visitor (as the camera operators who filmed the commercially issued footage are) then an Inspector or Manager would be present and probably be heard on the sound track. However, drivers out 'learning the road' are not accompanied in that way.
You should bear in mind that footage of a particular line or route may well have been published by more than one publisher - several popular routes have been. But the footage will differ in respect of when filmed, weather conditions, sound track and so on and this will be clear when the narratives are compared.
It does seem that there may be some illicit (pirated) copies beginning to circulate on eBay. If you think the advertised item is suspicious - ask questions first. There may be genuine reasons for one or more of the pieces of information below not being available - but the seller should be able satisfy you of the genuineness of the item by their answers.

You should be suspicious if any or all of the following apply -
Lack of copyright notice on the packaging.
Lack of copyright notice or publisher's name on the tape or disk.
Lack of copyright notice at the start of the recording when you play it.
The copyright notice does not include the name and contact address of the copyright holder.
Claim that the seller owns the copyright but the name of a well established publisher appears during play back or at the end.
Claim that the seller filmed the footage personally but is identical in every respect, including location names that appear, to footage has been or is also marketed by one of the established publishers.
The sound track includes names of people who are normally associated with the commercially published recordings.
The item is offered on DVD but was recorded before DVD's became widely available.
The DVD is clearly 'home made' as can often be identified from the style of menu on the DVD, or lack of any menu at all.
A clip of something entirely irrelevant, perhaps from a private 'home video', is also present somewhere on the recording, possibly at the end.
The 'copyright' holder declines to reveal when and under what circumstances the recording was made.
No library case and / or original packaging, just a small paper or plastic sleeve or mailer.
No printed label on the tape or disk, either unlabelled or just a marker pen entry with the disk manufacturer's brand name showing.
The listing demands immediate payment by Paypal so that their address is not normally revealed to the buyer.
The seller has several different concurrent identities on eBay, particularly if these have the same registration date.
The seller has opted to keep their feedback 'private'.
The seller is evasive when responding to questions.
The seller has just started selling the particular ride and had very recently bought an original of the same ride.

Suggested Tactics If You Have Been Sold A Pirate Copy -
BUT MAKE SURE YOU HAVE PROOF SUFFICIENT TO SATISFY A COURT OF LAW BEFORE ACTING
Carry these out in the order shown-
1. Challenge the Seller.
2. Leave Negative Feedback stating the origins of the pirated material as a warning to other prospective buyers.
3. Raise a dispute through eBay and, if you used them to pay, Paypal.
4. Report matter to Trading Standards. Locate the consumerdirect web site, its a dot gov dot uk one, it has a lot of information about rights, how to complain etc. and is the main route for initial contact with Trading Standards.
5. Notify the copyright holder as they are best placed to take matters further.

Keep a Record of everything either by printing out on paper or printing to pdf file.