Fiding humour in other people's misfortunes

[jednick]

I was on a train a few weeks ago, from Birmingham to Glasgow.

A couple wanted to get off with their bikes at Carlisle. Unfortunately, nobody opened the door to the bike section of the Virgin Pendolino at Carlisle, and the poor couple had to get off at the next stop....which was Glasgow Central, almost 100 miles away.


If this had been me, I would have been angry and in a total panic. Quietly inside, however, I found humour in this situation and I don't know why.

Should I feel bad, or would anybody else find this a bit humourous?

Also, should Virgin have arranged for the train to make an unscheduled stop at Lockerbie so the couple could return to Carlisle quicker?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Last time I saw that happen I pulled the passcom. After a bit of faffing and a short delay (no doubt put down to "disruptive passengers" or somesuch), the cyclist was able to alight, and everything proceeded without further issues.

The cyclist was very thankful as in this case it would have resulted in him getting stranded at MKC, as it was buses south thereof, and if he'd returned to BHI for the blockade buster he'd have missed the last one.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

I was on a train a few weeks ago, from Birmingham to Glasgow.

A couple wanted to get off with their bikes at Carlisle. Unfortunately, nobody opened the door to the bike section of the Virgin Pendolino at Carlisle, and the poor couple had to get off at the next stop....which was Glasgow Central, almost 100 miles away.


If this had been me, I would have been angry and in a total panic. Quietly inside, however, I found humour in this situation and I don't know why.

Should I feel bad, or would anybody else find this a bit humourous?

Also, should Virgin have arranged for the train to make an unscheduled stop at Lockerbie so the couple could return to Carlisle quicker?

This is exactly why, as a cyclist, I loathe taking my bike on any train that involves locking my bike away in a secure area I have no access to. I had a similar experience on an HST some years ago when travelling to a football match at Rushden. I was unable to get my bike off at Kettering due to the train stopping short, the cycle storage area remaining locked and there being no platform staff around. I ended up having to get off at the next station (Bedford), meaning that the leisurely 10 mile ride I had planned turned into a 25 mile slog and I missed half the game. Ever since then I've always tried to avoid HST stock when taking my bike on a train.

 

[VauxhallandI]

This is exactly why, as a cyclist, I loathe taking my bike on any train that involves locking my bike away in a secure area I have no access to. I had a similar experience on an HST some years ago when travelling to a football match at Rushden. I was unable to get my bike off at Kettering due to the train stopping short, the cycle storage area remaining locked and there being no platform staff around. I ended up having to get off at the next station (Bedford), meaning that the leisurely 10 mile ride I had planned turned into a 25 mile slog and I missed half the game. Ever since then I've always tried to avoid HST stock when taking my bike on a train.

The blessing of missing 45 mins at Nene Park was replaced with the misery of Kettering, I sympathise with your day.

 

[Blamethrower]

I was on a train a few weeks ago, from Birmingham to Glasgow.

A couple wanted to get off with their bikes at Carlisle. Unfortunately, nobody opened the door to the bike section of the Virgin Pendolino at Carlisle, and the poor couple had to get off at the next stop....which was Glasgow Central, almost 100 miles away.


If this had been me, I would have been angry and in a total panic. Quietly inside, however, I found humour in this situation and I don't know why.

Should I feel bad, or would anybody else find this a bit humourous?

Also, should Virgin have arranged for the train to make an unscheduled stop at Lockerbie so the couple could return to Carlisle quicker?

Don't feel bad, laughing at someone elses misfortune is the very essence of slapstick comedy.

Some may say that it is never OK to do that, the Germans have a word called Schadenfreude etc etc, but really, in my view, that's just people trying to justify a lack of sense of humour by moralising, and using the Germans as an example

 

[BanburyBlue]

I was on a very crowded XC service between Oxford and Banbury recently. As it was so busy I was stood in the crowded vestibule area. The guy standing next to me had an open bottle of Coke in his hand. He leaned over to get something out of his pocket and managed to pour his drink straight into this poor ladies handbag - he couldn't have done better if he aimed!!

The reason I found this amusing was that normally it would have been me, and it was nice for a change to see someone else squirm in discomfort.

 

[londonbridge]

http://www.railforums.co.uk/showpost.php?p=2142598&postcount=13

 

[Fincra5]

To be fair... as i'm horrible, I always giggle when someone gets locked out!

Yesterday some girl boarded at Aldrington (after long goodbye to her BF), 10 seconds later she realises he still has her phone .. so shouts for him to come back, in doing so gets off the train... Guard closes the doors... she gets her phone back but its too late. - Ding Ding-

 

[misterredmist]

I was on a train a few weeks ago, from Birmingham to Glasgow.

A couple wanted to get off with their bikes at Carlisle. Unfortunately, nobody opened the door to the bike section of the Virgin Pendolino at Carlisle, and the poor couple had to get off at the next stop....which was Glasgow Central, almost 100 miles away.


If this had been me, I would have been angry and in a total panic. Quietly inside, however, I found humour in this situation and I don't know why.

Should I feel bad, or would anybody else find this a bit humourous?

Also, should Virgin have arranged for the train to make an unscheduled stop at Lockerbie so the couple could return to Carlisle quicker?

No you should not feel bad, as inconvenient as it was for the cyclists, I would have found it comical too.....and if I ever did take my cycle on a long distance train journey, I'd be half expecting something like that to happen...... I hope they had enough time in their schedule as to not have ruined their trip....... as for Lockerbie stop, I'd imagine that's a non starter.....

 

[A0]

Some years ago I was at Stevenage station with a mate heading home to one of the intermediate stations further down the ECML - waiting for what was the last train.

There were a fair few people on the platform, there was also half a dozen guys (probably late teens early 20s, so same age as I was back then) who were pratting around on the platform, shouting and generally being obnoxious. You could tell by the body language of the other passengers they were starting to get fed up with them.

Back in those days there were usually two trains within a couple of minutes of each other - the first was the fast which went Finsbury Park and KX only, then second, following in its path, was the stopper for Knebworth, Welwyn North etc.

So busy were these guys being general dicks, that they didn't hear the station announcement. As the first train rolled in one of them turned to me and asked 'is this the Knebworth train, mate ?' - Oh yes, I replied claiming to be heading for London and wanting the fast train which would be up in a min...... The warm glow of approval from the other passengers was a joy to behold. All but one of the group got on the train and I watched smugly as they headed off to Finsbury Park....

 

[Hellfire]

No you should not feel bad, as inconvenient as it was for the cyclists, I would have found it comical too.....and if I ever did take my cycle on a long distance train journey, I'd be half expecting something like that to happen...... I hope they had enough time in their schedule as to not have ruined their trip....... as for Lockerbie stop, I'd imagine that's a non starter.....

non-stopper surely

 

[fowler9]

I can but laugh at myself. A couple of months ago I decided to do a little Virgin return from Lime Street to Crewe the day after a heavy night on the ale. Anyway, the guard woke me up just after we left Stafford. Very kindly provided me with a ticket at no cost to get back from Euston. I think he could tell I was genuine because I probably looked and smelled like I'd slept under a bridge and was nearly in tears when I realised where I was.

 

[Master29]

I know I`ve seen many cases of schadenfreude over the years but I`m don`t have much of a beef with bikes. I remember some cretin who missed his stop because he had his headphones at full blast much to the annoyance of others in the carriage. Considering he missed his stop at Taunton the next was Reading. I wasn`t the only one mildly amused I can tell you.

 

[Urban-Savage]

Many years ago on a Loco Hauled Mk 3 from Euston to Liverpool i decided to use the Loo - this being one of the very small doored cubicles on this stock at the time

Approaching the door and on my way down the carriage i could see that the loo was indeed 'empty' as the engaged sign on both the illuminated sign and toilet door was vacant.

I swung the door open with my usual force (bearing in mind I'm 6ft 2 and build like a barn door) to head butt some very misfortunate lady who was stood up, mid squat wiping her behind - needless to say she crashed down back on the seat and more or less into the loo.

Whilst it must have been a shock to her and must have hurt her we both found the whole incident quite hysterical

 

[EM2]

In the early 90s, we were waiting for a Tube at Paddington, but the next train wasn't for the line we needed, so we were at the back of the platform against the wall.
The train pulled in, and as the hustle alarm sounded, a guy bounded down the stairs, ran across the platform and leapt on through the closing doors, which unfortunately caught on his trailing foot.
Now, instead of doing what you or I would do, which is to wait for the doors to open again, he tried to pull his foot out from between the rubber edges of the doors.
All this managed to accomplish was his foot coming out of his shoe. At this point, the doors did open, obviously releasing his shoe, which then bounced on the step of the carriage, then on to the edge of the platform, before coming to rest.....under the train.
The doors closed and the train pulled away, with our now single-shoed traveller looking totally crestfallen.

 

[Bletchleyite]

So busy were these guys being general dicks, that they didn't hear the station announcement. As the first train rolled in one of them turned to me and asked 'is this the Knebworth train, mate ?' - Oh yes, I replied claiming to be heading for London and wanting the fast train which would be up in a min...... The warm glow of approval from the other passengers was a joy to behold. All but one of the group got on the train and I watched smugly as they headed off to Finsbury Park....

Don't think I'd deliberately do that kind of thing - two wrongs and all that.

 

[Mordac]

Many years ago on a Loco Hauled Mk 3 from Euston to Liverpool i decided to use the Loo - this being one of the very small doored cubicles on this stock at the time

Approaching the door and on my way down the carriage i could see that the loo was indeed 'empty' as the engaged sign on both the illuminated sign and toilet door was vacant.

I swung the door open with my usual force (bearing in mind I'm 6ft 2 and build like a barn door) to head butt some very misfortunate lady who was stood up, mid squat wiping her behind - needless to say she crashed down back on the seat and more or less into the loo.

Whilst it must have been a shock to her and must have hurt her we both found the whole incident quite hysterical

Is she Mrs. Urban-Savage now?

 

[pdeaves]

Don't think I'd deliberately do that kind of thing - two wrongs and all that.

Similar effect, but for totally different reasons...

In the early 1990s, I was on a train at St Pancras awaiting departure. At the last second someone rushed up the platform and the guard let them in before getting the train on its way. The breathless passenger asked 'is this the Welwyn [Garden City] train?". It was first stop Wellingborough!

 

[Jonny]

Similar effect, but for totally different reasons...

In the early 1990s, I was on a train at St Pancras awaiting departure. At the last second someone rushed up the platform and the guard let them in before getting the train on its way. The breathless passenger asked 'is this the Welwyn [Garden City] train?". It was first stop Wellingborough!

St Pancras for Welwyn Garden City? They should have done their research...

 

[DelayRepay]

St Pancras for Welwyn Garden City? They should have done their research...

A lot of passengers get confused between Kings Cross and St Pancras, probably due to the shared tube station and the fact that Thameslink used to have a station called Kings Cross Thameslink which now stops at St Pancras.

I often hear people at St Albans asking which train goes to Kings Cross. And only this week I helped a very confused family who who were on a Thameslink train with instructions to get off at Kings Cross and were worried that the announcements were not listing that station.

I must admit I always find it amusing when people charge down the platform, knocking others out of the way to get on 'their' train, only to find when the doors close that it's not the one they want and they're now trapped travelling a lot further than they intended.

 

[talltim]

I found humour in the misspelled thread title, does that count?

 

[Cowley]

I found humour in the misspelled thread title, does that count?

Well I've got a cold ad I don't fide it fuddy at all

 

[Mutant Lemming]

One of my brothers cycled in to a tree and knocked his front teeth out. He told as few people as possible because those he did tell found it between hilarious and amusing. There was very little (in fact almost no) sympathy for his injuries. Had he crashed a car in to a tree and knocked his teeth out I'm sure most people would have found no humour in it at all and been more sympathetic.

it just seems that misfortunes befalling cyclists seem to engender mirth. Had the couple had a pram instead of a bike or even luggage then I doubt many would have found it as amusing.

 

[NSE]

Oh life is too short not to laugh at those things. I was sat on the Kings Cross express at Cambridge and watched as two lads with bikes ran and just made it on the train. Turns out I knew them. Much relief was shared between both of them "phew we just made it, happy days" etc. One of them turned round to chat to me and told me he was going to Hitchin. So he could only laugh as I told him this was non-stop London. Mind you, was made worse by the fact we crawled right through the approach to Hitchin and stopped for about a minute in the platform. Just with all the doors locked closed!

 

[virgintrain1]

I was on a FGW 158 a few years ago and saw and couple make their good byes and the guy boards the train, just as the doors close he suddenly realises he has the car keys still and desperately tries to open one of the locked windows with no success. He then decides to get off at the next stop which was Westbury to then find all the services had been delayed by over an hour meaning by the the time he got back to his GF he would have missed the last train. It did make me chuckle.

 

[Denzo]

A lot of passengers get confused between Kings Cross and St Pancras, probably due to the shared tube station and the fact that Thameslink used to have a station called Kings Cross Thameslink which now stops at St Pancras.

I often hear people at St Albans asking which train goes to Kings Cross.

Out of my colleagues in my Central London office, the most extreme commute is one guy who lives in Leicester. He claims that he gets the train from Leicester to King's Cross and then the tube to Liverpool Street.

I've never bothered to correct him.

 

[pdeaves]

St Pancras for Welwyn Garden City? They should have done their research...

Indeed. There was a lot of to-ing and fro-ing to see if a special stop could be put in (it wasn't), then the guard made the chap a chit to get him back to London for no extra cost.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Standing inside a 1983TS at Baker Street - doors start closing - young man dives inside at a 30 degree angle - head first - head perfectly hits the grab rail above the opposite door , falls like a tree (scattering the commuters in all directions) ...

He was OK - we checked him over with an off - duty medic ....swore he wouldent do it again.

 

[Smelly_Diesel]

I remember as a small child as being on a Merseyrail service up to Southport on a day out when an elderly gent got on at Formby from a trip to a Tesco's. He alighted at Ainsdale, he remembered he had forgotten his hat and attempted to get back on bored as the doors closed and became trapped between the doors. In a panic to extract himself, he managed to slide half way down between the platform edge and the rails and the relevant emergency service where called by people and the train was delayed by a good half an hour whilst this all happened. All This to much chagrin from the on bored passengers. What makes me laugh about all of that is the gent in question remarked to waiting emergency services about his wife getting the subsequent phone call from A&E when he had just popped down to Tesco's for some Milk!

 

[route101]

Happened to me at Glasgow Central , i didnt off the virgin servive when saying goodbye and had to get off at Carlisle !