I'm doubtful as to whether anyone will remember the guy but perhaps people might have their own stories of similar well known railway staff in their area.
In the late 80s while bashing trains along the sea wall in Devon there used to be a Travelling Ticket Inspector who we all called 'Clint', I'm not sure what his actual name was, but for some reason Terry is ringing a faint bell.
When thinking about taking a particular train someone would say "don't get that one, Clint's on there".
His general air of animosity towards us enthusiasts was legendary and the first you'd know about it would be him hammering on your shoulder and pointing to the 'Do not lean out of the train window' sign and then asking you (a) if you could read, and (b) if you could read it out to him? He would then ask to see your ticket and you would usually produce some kind of rover, or if you were unlucky (or financially challenged) just a return between Exeter St David's and Newton Abbot. "Ha" he would triumphantly say. "You've been going up and down on this! I saw you earlier!” This bought lots of agonised protestations from us and occasionally he would give the ticket back (he was of course quite often correct. But not always).
On one memorable occasion he turfed about nine of us off a train onto Dawlish station and then retired to a dingy office on the platform to drink his horrible stewed tea and squint at us evilly (hence the name Clint) from underneath his enormous oversized BR hat with a smirk of smug satisfaction on his face. He was loving it as he watched us counting out what money we had between ourselves to buy new tickets. Oh the injustice.
Has anyone else got any similar stories?
In the late 80s while bashing trains along the sea wall in Devon there used to be a Travelling Ticket Inspector who we all called 'Clint', I'm not sure what his actual name was, but for some reason Terry is ringing a faint bell.
When thinking about taking a particular train someone would say "don't get that one, Clint's on there".
His general air of animosity towards us enthusiasts was legendary and the first you'd know about it would be him hammering on your shoulder and pointing to the 'Do not lean out of the train window' sign and then asking you (a) if you could read, and (b) if you could read it out to him? He would then ask to see your ticket and you would usually produce some kind of rover, or if you were unlucky (or financially challenged) just a return between Exeter St David's and Newton Abbot. "Ha" he would triumphantly say. "You've been going up and down on this! I saw you earlier!” This bought lots of agonised protestations from us and occasionally he would give the ticket back (he was of course quite often correct. But not always).
On one memorable occasion he turfed about nine of us off a train onto Dawlish station and then retired to a dingy office on the platform to drink his horrible stewed tea and squint at us evilly (hence the name Clint) from underneath his enormous oversized BR hat with a smirk of smug satisfaction on his face. He was loving it as he watched us counting out what money we had between ourselves to buy new tickets. Oh the injustice.
Has anyone else got any similar stories?
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