Friday, July 30, 2010
The train it won't stop going no way to slow down
In the shuffling madness that is Birmingham New Street station, I got on the wrong train today. It would not have been so bad if it had just been the wrong train going in the opposite direction as I would have got off at the next stop and hoped nobody checked my ticket on the way back. However I got on a train totally devoid of passengers going to no station at all.
I suppose it was all too good to be true, I heard the announcement for my train, platform 6a, and got on at the bottom of the steps. The carriage seemed very peaceful and I stuck my head into a book. By the time I noticed the train pulling out of the station I realised something was up, it was going in the wrong direction, not only that the train was totally devoid of passengers, I had got on a train that had made it's last run for the day and was on it's way to the depot.
Now in something of a panic, I avoided the temptation to pull the handle, (penalty for inappropriate use etc.) and instead made my way up the train - well it's better than crawling down the corridor on my hands and knees, that was in the days of steam :) - I dare say the driver got a bit of a shock when someone started banging on his door, a bit like that old Hancock test pilot sketch with Kenneth Williams outside of the aeroplane.
Well I had to wait for the to pull into the depot and then follow him down to the other end and climb out of the other cab, as there are no platforms at the depot. Fortunately I was able to travel with him in a taxi back to New Street.
What had happened was that the train I wanted was further down the platform, and I had mistakenly assumed the carriage I got on was connected to that.
Oh well at least I wasn't dragged off kicking and screaming like this guy:-
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3 comments:
That really is the Bestest JT track.
Just dug up some crackin' Goss on your former GP's former counsellor.
It's feels good to be back from the dead :)
Ah, I mind the time I got onto a bus in Miami, FL, and zoned out to the extent that I forgot to get off, and the driver noticed that I was the only person left aboard, at the end of the route. In my defense, I must say that I was about 7 or 8 years old at the time. The driver and other bus people put me on a bus which sent me home.
I have a hard time remembering what Mom and Dad had to say about that to me, for some reason...
Now I actually find Birmingham New Street quite ok to deal with, though I always check it's the right train.
That was not the case earier this year at Shrewsbury. You know Shrewsbury? Quite smallish, relatively uncomplicated and I get the train from there loads of times. So, it's summer half term and I thought I'd treat the lads to a trip on the Welshpool steam railway. I get to the platform, I see two trains there, both leaving at the same time. I glance at the destination board. Then I make my mistake. Rather than asking for confirmation that the train is heading for Welshpool, I ask for confirmation of its terminus. Of course I mix up the two and ask for the wrong terminus.
I then have to explain to the ticket collector why we're on the wrong train. However, I remember something I'd read months before and realise I can get to Llangollen via the bus from Wrexham. So we got off at Wrexham and get to the bus station and have a lovely steam train ride at Lllangollen instead.
Of course I had a pounding headache and withdrew into myself for hours after, but the lads were fine and we all enjoyed ourselves.
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