Doing some work on York station recently, doing passenger surveys. Asked one guy who was getting on the Hull train (due to depart in 5 minutes or so), if said yes only if I promised that he wouldn't miss his train. As the survey takes only 2 minutes I naturally said of course. Whizzed through the survey, just got to the last question and the guard decided to close the doors. I shat myself thinking I had made this guy late, the guy shat himself thinking he'd have to wait a few hours for the next one, only for the guard to reopen the doors. Found it quite funny after that, although I didn't make the same mistake with that guard again.
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Missing trains
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33056
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Have missed few trains over the years, but the most embarrassing one was in the late 1980s when I worked on the North London line.
Arrived at Willesden Junction on a cold winter day with some time to spare before the next Eastbound train, so decided to pop into the AOC office which was on the high level platform. The only windows were at ceiling height so it was not possible to see out so I was slightly wary about missing the train. "No problem" said the AOC; "When the train comes up the hill from Acton, the TV picture in the driver's mess room always goes funny and you will also hear it roll in". Said TV was visible from the office so I kept one eye on it whilst chatting and waiting for the tell-tale rumble of a train outside.
Unfortunately one of the numerous freight trains then went past on the Down, shaking the office as it trundled past, the TV picture showed no sign of any interference and I noted that it was time for the passenger on the Up. Better go then - so I walked out of the door just in time to see the 2-car EPB unit heading round the corner towards Kensal Rise
Good job there was another train in 20 minutes time!
Arrived at Willesden Junction on a cold winter day with some time to spare before the next Eastbound train, so decided to pop into the AOC office which was on the high level platform. The only windows were at ceiling height so it was not possible to see out so I was slightly wary about missing the train. "No problem" said the AOC; "When the train comes up the hill from Acton, the TV picture in the driver's mess room always goes funny and you will also hear it roll in". Said TV was visible from the office so I kept one eye on it whilst chatting and waiting for the tell-tale rumble of a train outside.
Unfortunately one of the numerous freight trains then went past on the Down, shaking the office as it trundled past, the TV picture showed no sign of any interference and I noted that it was time for the passenger on the Up. Better go then - so I walked out of the door just in time to see the 2-car EPB unit heading round the corner towards Kensal Rise
Good job there was another train in 20 minutes time!
Lampshade
Established Member
Hmm, it was 29th November 2007, myself and a friend were travelling from Preston to Manchester for a university open day. We arrived at the station quite late and we needed to catch the 09:10 to get there on time. Back then it was usual for the xx:10 to depart from platform 6 so when we bought the tickets, although the TPE was sat in platform 4 I instinctively legged it up the steps to go to platform 6.
My friend shouted after me and legged it towards the train, she got on just in time when the hustle alarm came on, for me it was a case of *beep* *beep* *beep* *DIVE* *beep* *beep* *shut*. Two seconds later and that would have been it
hock:
My friend shouted after me and legged it towards the train, she got on just in time when the hustle alarm came on, for me it was a case of *beep* *beep* *beep* *DIVE* *beep* *beep* *shut*. Two seconds later and that would have been it
hock:
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At least you ran when the hustle alarm went.. The amount of people that seem to tiptoe towards the doors is unreal! The funniest for me was a man who came slowly towards a (tube) train and got his face stuck in the door - that's how late he was! Must have hurt like hell although he didn't show it, when he managed to get on after the doors re-opened.
Wyvern
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Around 1960 I used to catch the 7.30 of a Sunday evening at Derby for Bristol. It didnt take me long to cotton on to the fact that it was always up to an hour late, so I was able to extend my weekend slightly by leaving home later.
The 12.15 sleeper out of Bristol always used to wait for it. The platform staff used to hold everyone back while a horde of servicemen, many in hob nailed boots, hotfooted it down the platform, along an underpass, along another platform, through an archway, down another underpass up to the platform where the London train was waiting.
I often wonder what all the folk in the sleeper coaches thought of the approaching tumult.
The acceleration of the double headed locos out of the station was something else.
The 12.15 sleeper out of Bristol always used to wait for it. The platform staff used to hold everyone back while a horde of servicemen, many in hob nailed boots, hotfooted it down the platform, along an underpass, along another platform, through an archway, down another underpass up to the platform where the London train was waiting.
I often wonder what all the folk in the sleeper coaches thought of the approaching tumult.
The acceleration of the double headed locos out of the station was something else.
EM2
Established Member
I was once at Paddington waiting for a District Line train. The describer showed the next one as a Circle service, so I was at the back of the platform, leaning against the wall.
As the doors on the Circle service closed, a guy came charging down the stairs across the platform and leapt onto the train. Unfortunately, he wasn't *quite* quick enough, and the doors closed on his trailing shoe.
He then decided to pull his foot free, rather than waiting for the doors to open, but only managed to pull his foot out of his shoe.
At this point, the doors re-opened, (you're ahead of me here, aren't you?
) and his shoe, no longer constrained by having his foot in it, dropped, hit the edge of the platform and bounced under the train.The doors closed, and off he went, with one shoe
Not too often thankfully - had a few guards wait for me though too!
Most annoying was at Milton Keynes a few months back - had tickets already but was tight for time to get the train - flew through the barriers, along to platform 6 and got to the platform just after the doors had shut but before it moved off - result, an hour to wait! As it happened it was a nice day and was interesting to see everything going through the station, including a Royal Mail 325 and a Steam special through platform 1!
Had a few times where I have just missed buses too (since it was on the way home from school, buses would try turn up early if it was just after school finished to avoid as many of the kids as was possible!) but thats off forum topic!
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I'd argue the German ticket machines are worse, especially if printing multiple tickets!
Not only that but they also then give change at the rate of one coin every 5 seconds too!
Most annoying was at Milton Keynes a few months back - had tickets already but was tight for time to get the train - flew through the barriers, along to platform 6 and got to the platform just after the doors had shut but before it moved off - result, an hour to wait! As it happened it was a nice day and was interesting to see everything going through the station, including a Royal Mail 325 and a Steam special through platform 1!
Had a few times where I have just missed buses too (since it was on the way home from school, buses would try turn up early if it was just after school finished to avoid as many of the kids as was possible!) but thats off forum topic!
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I'd argue the German ticket machines are worse, especially if printing multiple tickets!
Not only that but they also then give change at the rate of one coin every 5 seconds too!
Drsatan
Established Member
After getting off a late-running Waterloo to Weymouth service at Southampton Central a few years ago I had two minutes to catch my connecting train. I ran across the footbridge from platform 4 to platform 3, then discovered the connecting train (a 153 on a Southampton - Westbury service) was at the far end. I ran down the platform, got to within 20 metres of the train, then the doors shut and the train pulled away. The guard saw me but decided not to hold the train.
scotsman
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What amazes me is the amount of people who leg it past doors that are unlocked to get to a door that's open further down the train
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Ok, so this is horriffically embarrassing.
I was Stewarding the SRPS Dundee - Stanhope tour. Me and a mate had bailed out at York. When the train had returned to York, a Grand Central was booked into platform 10, while we were in 11. We worked out that it would get priority over us, leaving plenty of time to get back to out own train. We filmed it, saw every door on the train shut and legged it, given that they were clearly anticipating the tip!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Ok, so this is horriffically embarrassing.
I was Stewarding the SRPS Dundee - Stanhope tour. Me and a mate had bailed out at York. When the train had returned to York, a Grand Central was booked into platform 10, while we were in 11. We worked out that it would get priority over us, leaving plenty of time to get back to out own train. We filmed it, saw every door on the train shut and legged it, given that they were clearly anticipating the tip!
Peter Mugridge
Veteran Member
In slam door days on the SR it was even worse; people would inevitably charge down the platform at the last minute if it was a corridor unit but if it was a SUB or an EPB or similar, they would all spend 5 minutes piling into the carriage nearest the barrier...
I'm sure plenty of time served staff would confirm this happened elsewhere on the network when there was still a mixture of corridor / non corridor stock in use?
I was lucky enough to have a guard wait for me at Lincoln once. When Central Trains were busy installing the ticket barriers, they'd employed only one member of staff to check tickets during the peak period. Unfortunately, the poor woman seemed to think that she had to inspect tickets in microscopic detail - or at least it seemed that way to me, as I only had a couple of minutes to catch my train thanks to a late running bus, and a long ticket office queue. After checking my ticket she said to me I'd only catch the train if I was quick. So I snatched back my ticket and ran over the footbridge only to hear the hustle alarms sounding. Luckily the guard had seen me and I jumped in through the local door, thanking the guard for waiting.
On a couple of occasions, I've also seen a Northern guard give a buzzer signal to the driver to stop shortly after signalling for him/her to move off - and then let late running passengers on. I'm amazed that some of these people don't even seem greatful :roll:
On a couple of occasions, I've also seen a Northern guard give a buzzer signal to the driver to stop shortly after signalling for him/her to move off - and then let late running passengers on. I'm amazed that some of these people don't even seem greatful :roll:
blackfive460
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- 23 Jun 2010
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- 869
Used to happen to me regularly at Seamer and it was never my fault.
Changing from TPX to the Northern train down the coast the connection time in theory on the train I regularly used was 10+ minutes but TPX was usually about 10 late. The number of times the Northern would be departing as the TPX doors opened amazed me; after all, the Northern driver must have seen us coming.
I recall one year when only one of my (at least) monthly visits was completed by train; on the other journeys I arrived by taxi, paid for by TPX of course. After a couple of years the Station Manager at Scarborough got to know me quite well but I've solved the problem now; I've moved to the coast!
Changing from TPX to the Northern train down the coast the connection time in theory on the train I regularly used was 10+ minutes but TPX was usually about 10 late. The number of times the Northern would be departing as the TPX doors opened amazed me; after all, the Northern driver must have seen us coming.
I recall one year when only one of my (at least) monthly visits was completed by train; on the other journeys I arrived by taxi, paid for by TPX of course. After a couple of years the Station Manager at Scarborough got to know me quite well but I've solved the problem now; I've moved to the coast!
OuterDistant
Member
I was on a Central Trains service a few years ago where the driver saw a girl reach the platform just as he throttled up, so he shut it down and buzzed the guard to let her on! It may have been when the service was reduced to two-hourly during the dispute about overtime, but I'm not sure.
deltic1989
Established Member
Theyre good like that at Lincoln. Because they understand that the buses in Lincoln have never heard of a timetable.
AlexS
Established Member
I've had a few issues and near issues!
When I was a bit younger in the early days of Virgin I nearly missed the last Euston Wolverhampton with my dad. Came running up the platform, dodged the station staff and the guard let us on through the DVT just as the train started to roll.
A mate of mine works for Network Rail, we were at New Street and he decided to go and get a cuppa tea before getting on the train with me over to Derby. He had come from work so was wearing his orange jacket and well and truly mistimed things, getting to the platform with just the local door open. He was quite miffed that the guard wouldn't let him on despite the fact he was a railwayman and spent the next 10 minutes grumbling down the phone
Another mate (who now is ironically a train dispatcher himself) went to catch a train at Loughborough in his GCR uniform, and was quite miffed that the platform bod had dispatched it 3 minutes early. He took this up with him and he retreated behind the 'well, as you know, it's guard's responsibility to take the tip' and hid in the office.
When I was a bit younger in the early days of Virgin I nearly missed the last Euston Wolverhampton with my dad. Came running up the platform, dodged the station staff and the guard let us on through the DVT just as the train started to roll.
A mate of mine works for Network Rail, we were at New Street and he decided to go and get a cuppa tea before getting on the train with me over to Derby. He had come from work so was wearing his orange jacket and well and truly mistimed things, getting to the platform with just the local door open. He was quite miffed that the guard wouldn't let him on despite the fact he was a railwayman and spent the next 10 minutes grumbling down the phone
Another mate (who now is ironically a train dispatcher himself) went to catch a train at Loughborough in his GCR uniform, and was quite miffed that the platform bod had dispatched it 3 minutes early. He took this up with him and he retreated behind the 'well, as you know, it's guard's responsibility to take the tip' and hid in the office.
317666
Established Member
I came very close to missing a Norwich - Cambridge train at Wymondham a few months ago - I was with two others, and we legged it over the station footbridge, the train was in the platform. One of my mates got on, then the doors closed. Luckily the guard saw us and re-opened the doors.
DaveNewcastle
Established Member
Missing slam-door suburbans and catching them just-in-time.
I used to commute regularly from Paddington on the slam door diesel units. This was on a turn up and go basis, so if I saw that one was about to leave, then I'd make a dash for it.
Sometimes I was lucky, sometimes not, and sometimes I'd board a moving train - just in time. This would involve running towards a moving door, grasping that big brass handle, giving it a sharp turn and pulling the door open - all while the train was accellerating away and quite probably with some disgruntled passengers on either side of the door, worried that their brief case was about to tumble out of the moving train!
Then I'd pull myself up banging into their knees with an apologetic smile, and slam that door behind me.
Okay, I shouldn't over dramatise this, those DMUs didn't exactly get up much speed while pulling away from the platform, but you get the idea.
Anyway, one evening I was firmly acosted by one of the platform staff. He gave me such an angry lecture about my irresponsible behaviour, which was all about my own safety - nothing to do with any regulations or timekeeping, and that made a very deep impression on me.
I felt intimidated at the time, but I'm grateful that someone pointed out how stupid I was being - BEFORE I had an accident.
I never tried that trick again.
I still don't like missing trains and am one of those last-minute people, but I'd not like to try doing that again, even if it was possible with modern stock.
I used to commute regularly from Paddington on the slam door diesel units. This was on a turn up and go basis, so if I saw that one was about to leave, then I'd make a dash for it.
Sometimes I was lucky, sometimes not, and sometimes I'd board a moving train - just in time. This would involve running towards a moving door, grasping that big brass handle, giving it a sharp turn and pulling the door open - all while the train was accellerating away and quite probably with some disgruntled passengers on either side of the door, worried that their brief case was about to tumble out of the moving train!
Then I'd pull myself up banging into their knees with an apologetic smile, and slam that door behind me.
Okay, I shouldn't over dramatise this, those DMUs didn't exactly get up much speed while pulling away from the platform, but you get the idea.
Anyway, one evening I was firmly acosted by one of the platform staff. He gave me such an angry lecture about my irresponsible behaviour, which was all about my own safety - nothing to do with any regulations or timekeeping, and that made a very deep impression on me.
I felt intimidated at the time, but I'm grateful that someone pointed out how stupid I was being - BEFORE I had an accident.
I never tried that trick again.
I still don't like missing trains and am one of those last-minute people, but I'd not like to try doing that again, even if it was possible with modern stock.
TomJ93
Member
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I arrived once, decided not to try buying a ticket on board so used the "Quick pay" machines as fast as I could. The doors were closing as I approached the platform so I ran to the door where the TM stands (Sorry forgot to mention this was a 390), didn't try to barge my way on but politely asked may I board and he said no! That irritated me.
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