Overheard on a train

[whole diary]

[trainer]

I think the strangest, yet truest, thing I ever overheard on a train happened on the Welshpool and Llanfair Rly back in the days when some of their halts were hardly obvious.  The pleasantly ponderous progress being once more interrupted by the train pausing at (seemingly) nothing more than a hedge, led to speculation amongst nearby pax.  One lady loudly reached the conclusion that, 'This must be a place.' 

[BerkshireBugsy]

Meanwhile I'm still mulling over TTs comment about fake tans. Having travelled on trains  tat go through Essex recently I would suggest sunbathing topless but probably best not done on the train.

[Southern Stag]

Yesterday on an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) in Cornwall: "Is this train going to divide en route?"

I'm guessing the Gentleman comes from an area where splitting trains are quite common and it's better to be safe than sorry, but the thought of an HST dividing en route and then running off to different places did make me smile.

[Red Squirrel]

I once overheard an elderly aristocratic gentleman who had just got on at Paddington ask which way the train would be leaving, as he preferred his back to the engine. I resisted the urge to point out that there would be a hell of a mess if it went east.

[Ollie]

I once overheard an elderly aristocratic gentleman who had just got on at Paddington ask which way the train would be leaving, as he preferred his back to the engine. I resisted the urge to point out that there would be a hell of a mess if it went east.

Was it an HST^▸ (High Speed Train)?

If so which engine does he want his back to? One on the front or the back?

[Red Squirrel]

Was it an HST^▸ (High Speed Train)?

Yes. But given that the chap in question didn't seem to be able to grasp the concept of a terminus, I thought it best to save my breath.

[johoare]

"Can you hurry up. You are taking too long to get that wheelchair on the train" very loudly on a walkie talkie earlier on a train waiting to leave Reading..as said wheelchair passenger was struggling to transfer themselves from the wheelchair (which wasn't theirs) to a seat so the staff could take the wheelchair and themselves off the train.. Not one of FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'s finer moments and probably not one for the Lighter side really (apologies for that but it fitted into this topic best)

[JayMac]

Very poor form indeed, Jo.

Sad to say, but there is a minority of rail staff out there who believe that the trains would run much better if pesky passengers didn't have the temerity to insist on travelling.

[johoare]

To be fair I think the guy who said it didn't realise quite how loud the guy who's walkie talkie (that probably isn't the correct term is it  ) received it was set.. The whole carriage heard it..

[Super Guard]

Yesterday on an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) in Cornwall: "Is this train going to divide en route?"

I'm guessing the Gentleman comes from an area where splitting trains are quite common and it's better to be safe than sorry, but the thought of an HST dividing en route and then running off to different places did make me smile.

I actually get that quite often, especially when making lots of SDO^▸ (Selective Door Opening) announcements (such as Cornwall or between Westbury & Reading).

Someone also asked me the other day if the brand new trains would be making it down as far as Exeter.  I assumed they were talking about IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.), but was then told they'd seen one at Paddington the other day, and turned out they were referring to the 180s  .

[thetrout]

Two middle aged women walking through Coach F just before the 21:45 left Paddington

"Oh so the Air Conditioning only works in First Class then. Urgh."

I couldn't help but laugh at that. If it was you that I smirked at tonight. Considering my journey on a 158 not long ago I couldn't help it. I'm sorry.

[Scott]

I had one on a Voyager in the Sandwell & Dudley area a couple of years ago where two young Indian-descent women were discussing their respective driving tests. One of the two revealed that she failed because she stated in her Theory Test that all zebra crossings had traffic lights...

[TonyK]

On a day when signalling was a big problem at Birmingham New Street, I was sent from one platform to another several times by staff who were obviously as frustrated as I was with the lack of information. Eventually, I set off looking for the train myself, eventually finding one with Bristol TM^‡(resolve) showing on the front. I confirmed with the conductor that it was the next train to Bristol, and would leave as soon as the train in front got out of the way. A number of other passengers boarded just before the doors shut.

As we pulled out of New Street, next stop Cheltenham, a fairly elderly gentleman of oriental appearance asked the conductor what time we got to Telford.

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

Yesterday on an HST^▸ (High Speed Train) in Cornwall: "Is this train going to divide en route?"

I'm guessing the Gentleman comes from an area where splitting trains are quite common and it's better to be safe than sorry, but the thought of an HST dividing en route and then running off to different places did make me smile.

Maybe he was old and remembers when trains to Cornwall were Class 47's + Mk2E/F's, and the rear 4 or 5 coaches including Restaurant/Buffet came off at Plymouth. Or maybe he was French and is used to TGV^▸ (Train a Grande Vitesse)'s dividing en route (which they do quite often). Or maybe he didn't have much faith in buckeye couplings...

Always best to make sure you're in the right bit of the right train for where you want to go to.

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

I think the strangest, yet truest, thing I ever overheard on a train happened on the Welshpool and Llanfair Rly back in the days when some of their halts were hardly obvious.  The pleasantly ponderous progress being once more interrupted by the train pausing at (seemingly) nothing more than a hedge, led to speculation amongst nearby pax.  One lady loudly reached the conclusion that, 'This must be a place.' 

I used to be a fireman on the W & L. Must have been me on that day, and out of steam (again).