Has a Ticket Examiner ever been left behind?

[norbitonflyer]

I remember "Thomas Comes To Breakfast" where Thomas got a bit too big for his boots and thought he could run without a driver so he tried it and managed to set off, not realising it was only because a cleaner had touched his controls. He soon found out that he couldn't stop by himself and ended up crashing through the wall of the stationmaster's house.

More close to the case in point were three other stories,
- one (in Thomas and the Guard, in the fourth book) when after giving the right-away the guard tripped as he tried to jump into his van.
- another one (I forget which) in which a passenger's large green hat is mistaken for the guard's flag
- one on the Skarloey Railway where the tea lady at the top station was left stranded when the last train down the valley left without her (apparently based on a real inciodent on the Tallyllyn - in which the driver was the tea lady's son-in-law)

 

[Dave W]

Plenty of stories in the various anecdote books about things like this. Relief signalman Jack Warland spun a yarn about a driver and guard who didn't get on and the driver made a point of enthusiastically responding to the guard's waved flag by shooting off!

Embellished most likely - and in some cases a story more worn out and told than any other, but his - and many others - are an entertaining read so one can suspend their disbelief for a bit

 

[stadler]

A couple of years ago a train left Uckfield without the guard. The driver had forgotten it was a guarded service and closed the doors and departed. This was about thirty seconds before departure time and the guard was stood on the platform and had not turned their key switch on yet. So as a result the driver was able to close all of the doors and depart and ended up leaving the guard behind. The train then ended up stuck at Buxted station where the driver realised and eventually they had to get a taxi for the guard to get from Uckfield to Buxted to take over the train. It caused disruption on the line all evening. The drivers on the Uckfield line mostly work DOO 377 trains on other routes and it had been a while since that driver had last worked a guarded 171 train and they just completely forgot what they were driving. These things can happen occasionally.

 

[Bungle158]

Guards have been left behind before now!

Happened to me at Lelant Saltings one summer evening. The driver gave himself 2 and set off whilst l was on the platform.

 

[43066]

Or the other way round.....

Also less of an incident, to be fair, than the trainee driving off!

A couple of years ago a train left Uckfield without the guard. The driver had forgotten it was a guarded service and closed the doors and departed. This was about thirty seconds before departure time and the guard was stood on the platform and had not turned their key switch on yet. So as a result the driver was able to close all of the doors and depart and ended up leaving the guard behind. The train then ended up stuck at Buxted station where the driver realised and eventually they had to get a taxi for the guard to get from Uckfield to Buxted to take over the train. It caused disruption on the line all evening. The drivers on the Uckfield line mostly work DOO 377 trains on other routes and it had been a while since that driver had last worked a guarded 171 train and they just completely forgot what they were driving. These things can happen occasionally.

This has happened on SE - there was a case discussed on here recently where a Maidstone service had left London and then terminated at Otford (the first station to require guarded dispatch) when the driver realised he was the only member of staff aboard.

 

[Bald Rick]

A couple of years ago a train left Uckfield without the guard. The driver had forgotten it was a guarded service and closed the doors and departed. This was about thirty seconds before departure time and the guard was stood on the platform and had not turned their key switch on yet. So as a result the driver was able to close all of the doors and depart and ended up leaving the guard behind. The train then ended up stuck at Buxted station where the driver realised and eventually they had to get a taxi for the guard to get from Uckfield to Buxted to take over the train. It caused disruption on the line all evening. The drivers on the Uckfield line mostly work DOO 377 trains on other routes and it had been a while since that driver had last worked a guarded 171 train and they just completely forgot what they were driving. These things can happen occasionally.

I remember that one!

 

[185]

A guard was left behind some years ago. 2 units, no gangway.

- Train stopped 1am at a booked reversal station (not a passenger call).
- Guard opened cab (no 3) door on the rear unit.
- Stepped out. Shut the door. Went ten feet to the next cab (no 2).
- Reaches for cab door release keyswitch.
- Train drives off just 20 seconds after stopping.

Two drivers, one working, one going home after working first bit of the train.

- One in each cab to save time.
- Stopped. Key out. Key in. Got signal and off!
- Guard taxi'd to next station, 55 late.

 

[leonie13]

I seem to recall it happened on the Victoria Line once - despite the absence of cab doors. As I understand it, the driver had pressed start, but one of he passenger doors had stuck and the train wouldn't move until he had freed it............

There's so many different variants / outcomes of this story on the Victoria Line.

The version I heard - and I have no idea of its veracity - a train stood at a red signal in the tunnel on the approach to Seven Sisters, the train operator got out of his cab to use the signal post telephone to enquire about the delay (this was the days prior to train radio). As he did so, the signal suddenly cleared and the train trundled off toward Seven Sisters platform.

They very quickly added the M-door (the door at the front of the cab to the track) to the round-train circuitry, to prevent it happening again.

 

[starlight73]

There was a case 2 years ago when after isolating the interlock the train set off with the guard on the platform and the doors still open.

Maybe you’re thinking about this one - a class 323 at Styal (northern) drove off with the doors open and no guard

RAIB Investigation into Unsafe Movement at Styal

RAIB has started a new investigation. Their website says: At around 15:26 hrs on Wednesday 3 May 2023, a passenger train operated by Northern Trains departed from Styal station, Cheshire, with five passenger doors open. The train travelled for approximately 10 seconds with these doors open...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[generalnerd]

There's so many different variants / outcomes of this story on the Victoria Line.

The version I heard - and I have no idea of its veracity - a train stood at a red signal in the tunnel on the approach to Seven Sisters, the train operator got out of his cab to use the signal post telephone to enquire about the delay (this was the days prior to train radio). As he did so, the signal suddenly cleared and the train trundled off toward Seven Sisters platform.

They very quickly added the M-door (the door at the front of the cab to the track) to the round-train circuitry, to prevent it happening again.

Surely that’s unsafe, are the phones in divends of the tunnel or is there enough clearance for him to be out the way.

 

[Tetragon213]

Iirc when EMR retired their HSTs, on their tribute/farewell video they did have a guard who retold the story of seeing his train leave without him! Apparently the buzzers weren't working so they were doing a hand dispatch, and they dispatched the train without the guard!

 

[Alfie1014]

Guards have been left behind before now!

Confession time, in the mid 1980s I used act as an occasional courier (on overtime) on charter trains and regularly worked the National Holidays charter on Saturdays from Euston to Carlisle and return. At that time the train was normally formed of the former (MkII) Manchester Pullman set with extra air con MkIIs added if demand required. One Saturday for some reason the extra mkIIs at the rear of the set had some sort of problem and arriving at Wolverhampton I mentioned this to the guard and he went off to investigate. We knew in advance exactly how many NAt Holidays customers would be joining at each stop and it was practice to give the thumbs up to the guard and dispatch staff that all were on board. Well I gave the thumbs up that all were on board and this somehow got misinterpreted as the right away. So off we departed with the hapless guard still on the platform. So I pulled the chord to stop the train only for nothing to happen in the Pullman coach I was in and by the time I got through to the next one we were well on our way to Crewe. I can’t quite remember but I think as the Pullman cars didn’t CDL the practice was only to unlock the doors for the coaches needed to board the relevant number of passengers who were seated together at each stop.

In those days with no mobile phones there was no way to communicate the situation to anyone so it was a case of sitting back and praying that nothing happened until we next stopped. Amazingly control had rustled up a spare guard at Crewe who unceremoniously checked the Euston guards belongings off on to the platform before we set off with a full complement of train crew and I carefully made sure that there was no further misunderstandings at stations! Thankfully probably impossible to replicate these days, not least as charter trains today have many more on board staff!

 

[Falcon1200]

As have drivers (on “pass” trains).

And on at least one occasion, the booked Driver also!
(Traction Inspector and trainee Driver departed Edinburgh without first ensuring Driver was on board)

 

[43066]

Iirc when EMR retired their HSTs, on their tribute/farewell video they did have a guard who retold the story of seeing his train leave without him! Apparently the buzzers weren't working so they were doing a hand dispatch, and they dispatched the train without the guard!

Also the risk with HSTs that the driver could believe they’d received two on the bell when they hadn’t due to distraction (or even hearing the bells on an adjacent train), release the brakes and take power. With no interlock system this could be very dangerous, so it was good practice for drivers to step onto the platform to watch the dispatch process and witness the hazard lights extinguish.

And on at least one occasion, the booked Driver also!
(Traction Inspector and trainee Driver departed Edinburgh without first ensuring Driver was on board)

All’s well that ends well. A lovely early finish for someone. .

 

[AMD]

There's been a few instances in the Manchester area of conductors being left behind, usually involving a 150/1 in which the local door is a slam door and not interlocked.....

 

[Ashley Hill]

A guard (NOT me) on a DMU with a train and van full of Marines allowed himself to be wound up by them. He was threatening police action etc even though he had no way of getting them. On arrival at St James Park he stepped onto the platform to shut a door when the van door was slammed behind him and a marine gave two on the buzzer leaving the guard fuming and desperate on the platform. He walked along the track to Exeter Central where he was given a cheerful reception by the staff. On other occasions he was also debagged by a hen party and has been run over by his own train. Thankfully he’s now enjoying a long retirement.

 

[MadMac]

A guard (NOT me) on a DMU with a train and van full of Marines allowed himself to be wound up by them. He was threatening police action etc even though he had no way of getting them. On arrival at St James Park he stepped onto the platform to shut a door when the van door was slammed behind him and a marine gave two on the buzzer leaving the guard fuming and desperate on the platform. He walked along the track to Exeter Central where he was given a cheerful reception by the staff. On other occasions he was also debagged by a hen party and has been run over by his own train. Thankfully he’s now enjoying a long retirement.

The Frank Spencer of guards…..

 

[generalnerd]

A guard (NOT me) on a DMU with a train and van full of Marines allowed himself to be wound up by them. He was threatening police action etc even though he had no way of getting them. On arrival at St James Park he stepped onto the platform to shut a door when the van door was slammed behind him and a marine gave two on the buzzer leaving the guard fuming and desperate on the platform. He walked along the track to Exeter Central where he was given a cheerful reception by the staff. On other occasions he was also debagged by a hen party and has been run over by his own train. Thankfully he’s now enjoying a long retirement.

Some win the lottery, others…. Dont

 

[Horizon22]

On a similar note, platform staff ending up on ECS moves to depots is also not unheard of, and whilst not common is also not extremely rare.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Mar 2025 ==

There was a case 2 years ago when after isolating the interlock the train set off with the guard on the platform and the doors still open.

RAIB report on that one

 

[Taunton]

It's also not unknown for passenger assist staff to accidentally get carted off... York, next stop London has happened before!

Or even supposedly knowledgeable members here.

Accompanying elderly relatives to carry luggage, get them seats. Last minute advice of platform at Paddington. Insistent on boarding at first door despite my advice. Bag in rack, but no seats "together" in carriage. Forward two carriages, sat them down, pointed out to remember bag two carriages back at destination. Instant screaming that it will be stolen. Back two carriages, get bag, forward two carriages, stow bag, look out ... moving.

Fortunately first stop Reading.

 

[father_jack]

Or an assistance man with a birdy name at Temple Meads who LOVED being "locked on".

Busy summer Friday, single 158 1109 Wales and Borders Bristol TM to Manchester Piccadilly- first stop Abergavenny.

Radio gibberish, " Is that twit off.....sure he must be by now......rail 21 where are you.....ah to hell with this.....we're going to get a delay......send it......"

Train despatched while he waves out the window with big grin. Rest of shift used up and overtime to be claimed while getting back and the supervisor has to do the next 3 hours of assists.

Until Bristol panel butt in, "Rail 2 here, message to rail 21, we've heard all that conversation, how unfortunate you got locked on etc, we'll stop 1M09 at signals at Filton for you and call the driver on the NRN....".

Plan scuppered.

 

[dk1]

Happened in the early days of Stadlers in East Anglia. Drivers now open/close doors. Guard said to driver that he’d be onboard. Unfortunately their train was in a shared platform. The driver got in the leading unit and left with the guard sitting in the 755 on the stops.

Ever since then the guard MUST cab-cab the driver 3 minutes before departure to confirm they are onboard and NOT getting off. No further issues in the years since.

 

[Krokodil]

- one on the Skarloey Railway where the tea lady at the top station was left stranded when the last train down the valley left without her (apparently based on a real inciodent on the Tallyllyn - in which the driver was the tea lady's son-in-law)

The guard on that occasion was the book's author Rev. W. Awdry

 

[Ashley Hill]

The Frank Spencer of guards…..

Believe it or not we once had a guard called Frank Spencer! He transferred to Blackpool in the late 80s but I don’t know what became of him afterwards. He’s also probably long retired by now too.

 

[GB&K Joint]

A guard (NOT me) on a DMU with a train and van full of Marines allowed himself to be wound up by them. He was threatening police action etc even though he had no way of getting them. On arrival at St James Park he stepped onto the platform to shut a door when the van door was slammed behind him and a marine gave two on the buzzer leaving the guard fuming and desperate on the platform. He walked along the track to Exeter Central where he was given a cheerful reception by the staff. On other occasions he was also debagged by a hen party and has been run over by his own train. Thankfully he’s now enjoying a long retirement.

A long time ago but similar happened as a schoolboy prank at Patterton on the electrified south Glasgow lines. An obstruction was created preventing the doors from closing properly and while the unfortunate guard was down the platform investigating, a naughty boy leapt into the van, closed the doors and belled the ready to start signal to the driver. Doors opened at Neilston and the miscreant vanished into the crowd.

 

[Falcon1200]

Regular Neilston passengers know to avoid the school trains!

 

[Trackman]

There's been a few instances in the Manchester area of conductors being left behind, usually involving a 150/1 in which the local door is a slam door and not interlocked.....

In the NWT ish days, there were a couple I know of.
Staff gave them nicknames.
One was 'The Earl of Euxton' (who, I have met, was demoted to fare collector) and the other was 'The King of Kirkham'.

 

[LowLevel]

20 odd years ago on a 170 when they were fairly new I know of a guard who had a disagreement with a lady using a tip seat about his using the saloon door panel whilst she was using the seat. He pressed the door close button and stepped out on to the platform to watch the doors shut, she promptly took his keys out and threw them at him and as 170s will do the local door shut and a rather keen New Street man drove off without being buzzed and left him stood there.

 

[Skie]

Many a time the guards on class 507/8s have been left behind

Also on winter mornings when a guard simultaneously closes the cab door, gives 2 to the driver, puts their foot on the step to wedge the cab door open and finds themselves on their arse on the platform as the (tiny) step provided all of the friction of an ice rink.

Mostly just bruised egos, thankfully.

 

[LCC106]

I’m pretty sure a fitter got an unanticipated trip when he was brewing up on my train once. Stuck on it for an hour!