i-Spy - On a train journey

[whole diary]

[grahame]

I remember as a child doing the I-Spy books while we were on journeys (and reading the Ladybird books too).  Ladybird have a new, adult series out and fun they are too.   Not sure what has happened to I-Spy .... but I came up with a few ideas for "on a train journey"

* What would you add?
* How many points would you award for each of the items listed?
* Is there anything politically incorrect in my list?

* On the train
A Bicycle
A Pushchair
A Suitcase
A Dog

* On the platform
A waiting room
A bicycle park
A photobooth
A vending machine for food/drink

* Getting on and off the platform
A set of Steps
A lift
A ramp
Flat access

* Posters
A timetable for trains leaving the station
A timetable for buses leaving from the station
Direction and times for taxis available at the station
A poster that is out of date

* Another passenger on your train
Eating cold food
Eating hot food
Drinking alcohol
Drinking a soft drink

* Another passenger on your train
using a laptop computer
using a smaller mobile device
reading a book
reading a newspaper

* Rail Staff
Someone selling tickets
Someone operating / supervising platorm barriers
Someone helping passenger on the platform
Someone not interacting with passengers at all

* A dynamic train departure board showing
A train on time
A train "delayed"
A train "cancelled"
A bus service

* A person wearing
A hat
A tie
A kilt
A hoodie

* Someone wearing hiVis
Orange
Pink
Green
Blue

* Special people
Someone who's famous
A Coffee Shop member
A baby in a papoose
Someone on their very first journey after lockdowns

[Bmblbzzz]

From the original book I remember awarding myself the points for spotting an ATP^▸ (Automatic Train Protection). I can't remember how many points and I can't remember where I saw it: Reading? Swindon?

A baby in a papoose

Haven't heard that word in a long time! On an American train it could be a papoose on a caboose.

[bobm]

There are a few on ebay

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/154463385020?hash=item23f6bc35bc:g:P-oAAOSwRRpgWh8Y

[Western Pathfinder]

Missed one Grahame A Rail Replacement Bus.....

[PrestburyRoad]

A yellow track maintenance vehicle such as a tamping machine.

For extra points, a loco-hauled measurement train.  And for jackpot points, the yellow banana itself.

[Clan Line]

Missed one Grahame A Rail Replacement Bus.....

..............should get something for actually spotting a train ?

[eightf48544]

Timetable for trains leaving the station 50 points

A timetable for buses leaving from the station 100 points

Or am I being too cynical?

[johnneyw]

On the trains.

Snack and drink trolley
Pullman dining wagon
B****t Car

[froome]

Timetable for trains leaving the station 50 points

A timetable for buses leaving from the station 100 points

Or am I being too cynical?

Yes, I was at a station yesterday and spent ages fruitlessly looking for a timetable to tell me when trains left there that day. Not one to be found anywhere.

[grahame]

Yes, I was at a station yesterday and spent ages fruitlessly looking for a timetable to tell me when trains left there that day. Not one to be found anywhere.

I believe that the requirement to display a printed timetable / list of departures at each station may no longer be a requirement. It remains a useful thing to have available, however.  Some stick-in-the-muds also like to have a printed timetable sheet they can take with them / put in their pocket.

[froome]

Yes, I was at a station yesterday and spent ages fruitlessly looking for a timetable to tell me when trains left there that day. Not one to be found anywhere.

I believe that the requirement to display a printed timetable / list of departures at each station may no longer be a requirement. It remains a useful thing to have available, however.  Some stick-in-the-muds also like to have a printed timetable sheet they can take with them / put in their pocket.

It seems bizarre to me that all staffed stations, AFAIK^▸ (as far as I know), still have printed timetables up, even though in theory you could ask a staff member about later trains, yet more and more unstaffed stations have no printed information. I was at Keynsham, a well used station serving a town which is probably larger than Melksham, which has a large notice board by the car park entrance which always used to have a printed timetable on it. But no more.

Sorry to have taken this away from the lighter side. Perhaps it can be moved.

[Bmblbzzz]

Yes, I was at a station yesterday and spent ages fruitlessly looking for a timetable to tell me when trains left there that day. Not one to be found anywhere.

I believe that the requirement to display a printed timetable / list of departures at each station may no longer be a requirement. It remains a useful thing to have available, however.  Some stick-in-the-muds also like to have a printed timetable sheet they can take with them / put in their pocket.

It seems bizarre to me that all staffed stations, AFAIK^▸ (as far as I know), still have printed timetables up, even though in theory you could ask a staff member about later trains, yet more and more unstaffed stations have no printed information. I was at Keynsham, a well used station serving a town which is probably larger than Melksham, which has a large notice board by the car park entrance which always used to have a printed timetable on it. But no more.

Not just for the sake of information, though obviously that's the main reason; but the lack of a timetable can contribute to an air of lack of use.

Sorry to have taken this away from the lighter side. Perhaps it can be moved.

Yes, sorry too!

[grahame]

Not just for the sake of information, though obviously that's the main reason; but the lack of a timetable can contribute to an air of lack of use.

A timetable, clearly dated to show it is current, also does wonders for peace of mind even if it just repeats the information that the observer has already gleaned inline.  Also applies to buses.

P.S. Also helps to have it in a nice, straightforward format and not a complex sheet that tries to answer for every possible journey understandable only by the transport industry staff and those with a doctorate in railway operation.