matt_world2004
Established Member
- Joined
- 5 Nov 2014
- Messages
- 4,581
I get it a lot at tube and overground stations in an bus operator uniform but I don't mind. I see it as a condition of free travel
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At schipol and the train driver smelt of more than just beer.
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It certainly does happen. Going back a fair while, a friend of mine who does work on the railway, but it must be stressed for the purposes of this story was entirely off duty, had been out at a beer festival all day and was changing trains at Swindon for whatever reason on his way home.
Standing on the platform in that hazy state between soporific and paralytic following an extended session on the ales, he is nonetheless approached by an American couple. "Gee sir," says the fella (I have no idea if they were actually this stereotypically American, but this is how the story is told), "do you work for the railway?" My friend begins to respond with "Yes, but.." intending to add a hasty caveat that his was not the condition you would expect to find an on-duty employee of the British railways, but is quickly cut off by the enthusiastic American who immediately queries "Oh swell, could you tell me when the next train to London is?"
My friend, recognising that he could still perform a useful service for the railway, provided them with details in the affirmative and the American couple walked off satisfied. Apparently our transatlantic cousins do not bat an eyelid at the idea of an official representative of Britiain's railway with the smell of beer on their breath and swaying gently back and forth on the platform during the course of his duties.
At schipol and the train driver smelt of more than just beer.
