Rail Staff Knowledge of Station Locations

[Buttsy]

Keighley is pronounced like, Keith Lee! (Must be someone called that!).

People from Keighley say "Wakefield Kirkgate" as "Wakefield Kur-gut" and "Huddersfield" would be "'uddersfield".

Good job there isn't a station at Mousehole!

If there was a station at Cirencester I bet a lot of people would call it Siren-ster, to be in line with Leicester, Bicester etc. At least the Americans would get Cirencester right, while getting all the others wrong.

Ever had anyone ask for a ticket to "Loo-gah-bor-ouh-gah"? or "Loo-gah-bor-ouh-gah Junction"?

I found a station I'd never heard of announced on a local train in West Yorks - Slawit. Wasn't until we pulled into Slaithwaite I understood that was the local pronunciation! Though I've never had a problem with Milngavie (Mill-guy in local parlance), though when booking a train to start the West Highland Way in Oxford, I've had to pronounce in as spelt so the clerk can find it.

 

[Greenback]

Keighley is pronounced like, Keith Lee! (Must be someone called that!).

People from Keighley say "Wakefield Kirkgate" as "Wakefield Kur-gut" and "Huddersfield" would be "'uddersfield".

Good job there isn't a station at Mousehole!

If there was a station at Cirencester I bet a lot of people would call it Siren-ster, to be in line with Leicester, Bicester etc. At least the Americans would get Cirencester right, while getting all the others wrong.

Ever had anyone ask for a ticket to "Loo-gah-bor-ouh-gah"? or "Loo-gah-bor-ouh-gah Junction"?

I often annoy Mrs Greenback by deliberately misprononouncing places like Mousehole! Anothe rone is Lee-oh-minster! It really gets on her nerves!

Actually, when I was a child and we were in Yorkshire my mother upset a local resident by saying Kee-ley instead of Keith Lee when asking for directions. She got a five minute lecture on the correct way of saying it!

Speaking of Americans, one once asked me for a ticket to where I currently live, pronouncing it as Lan-elle-aye. I had to ask them to show me on the map, as they also (understandably) had trouble spelling it!

 

[northwichcat]

Anothe rone is Lee-oh-minster! It really gets on her nerves!

That gets mis-pronounced frequently on national radio when they report problems on the A49.

 

[Yew]

On near me is Southwell.

Either south - well or suvvle

In Derbyshire there is eyam

Either eym or e-yam

 

[scotsman]

Though I've never had a problem with Milngavie (Mill-guy in local parlance), though when booking a train to start the West Highland Way in Oxford, I've had to pronounce in as spelt.

Local parlance?! It's not a colloquialism, it's the correct pronunciation. Also, did you know that Cockburn Street is near to Waverley station (learn to pronounce that, or it'll be very embarrassing!)

 

[Buttsy]

Local parlance?! It's not a colloquialism, it's the correct pronunciation. Also, did you know that Cockburn Street is near to Waverley station (learn to pronounce that, or it'll be very embarrassing!)

I apologise for not making it clear that Mill-guy was the correct pronunciation. However, find me someone who isn't Scottish or a walker who will pronounce it correctly.

For me Bister is the correct pronunciation for Bicester, but there are many who'll say Bye-cester.

I suppose the argument over this is what IS the correct pronunciation for various place names, as these things vary over the centuries.

Coburn, like the actor I'd wager.

 

[LexyBoy]

For me Bister is the correct pronunciation for Bicester, but there are many who'll say Bye-cester.

Only wrong people Places ending in -cester generally are pronounced -ster. Only Americans would pronounce Gloucester as glaw-cester rather than the correct Gloster (which is also the correct spelling). Towcester's got to be my favourite anyway!

Cirencester is another one that's often mispronounced Siren-cester...

 

[gnolife]

On the Wigan via Bolton trains, one that I tend to hear other passengers giving multiple different pronunciations for is Westhoughton
Some people say it as "West-er-ton", others as "West-haw-ton" and others as "Wes-thought-on" (I'm one of those who takes the first way of pronouncing it)

 

[yorkie]

Cirencester is another one that's often mispronounced Siren-cester...

Are you sure? Isn't Cirencester is the odd one out, and that it's Siren-cester not Siren-ster, which people who are of how to pronounce Bicester, Leicester etc may expect.

 

[Buttsy]

Only wrong people Places ending in -cester generally are pronounced -ster. Only Americans would pronounce Gloucester as glaw-cester rather than the correct Gloster (which is also the correct spelling). Towcester's got to be my favourite anyway!

Cirencester is another one that's often mispronounced Siren-cester...

Even the locals pronounce it Siren-cester which shows how wrong you can be...

I know what you mean about Towcester, I've been to the Towcester races and also seen the Washing Machine handicap...

 

[LexyBoy]

Are you sure? Isn't Cirencester is the odd one out, and that it's Siren-cester not Siren-ster, which people who are of how to pronounce Bicester, Leicester etc may expect.

It was a bit tongue-in-cheek. The historically 'correct' pronunciation is Cisseter but yes, nowadays it's pronounced as it's spelt (or just 'Ciren') by everyone except the occasional elderly. I just like being awkward.

Speaking of being awkward, am I alone in deliberately mispronouncing Loughborough in the fashion of the now legendary Australian tourists overheard by a friend of a friend of everyone in the world? ("Looga-barooga")

 

[sheff1]

Hednesford caused problems at Sheffield.
When I spelt it, as requested, the clerk said in a very patronising tone 'oh you mean Hed-nes-ford'. I somehow resisted the temptation to ask if they supported Sheffield Wed-nes-day

 

[Buttsy]

Speaking of being awkward, am I alone in deliberately mispronouncing Loughborough in the fashion of the now legendary Australian tourists overheard by a friend of a friend of everyone in the world? ("Looga-barooga")

If you want fun with Aussies and pronunciation, ask them to pronounce Penistone or Clitheroe...

 

[Mojo]

Asked for a ticket to Witham at Surrey Quays last year; was asked if I wanted West Midlands and realised he thought I said "Witton."

On a train from an unstaffed station I asked the ATE for a return to Theale. "Where?!" was her response as she asked me to spell it.