Scariest Experience in a Train Station..

[Smudger105e]

When I was an apprentice, I got called with a couple of fitters to Portslade station for a VEP that had a seized motor wheelset. When we got there, a following 73 on a mixed freight was pushing it to Hove. The decision was made to push the VEP into the siding at Hove, so we greased the rails to make the move easier. Once inside clear, the 73 went back onto its train in platform 2. It was thought that the next train might slide through the platform on our grease, so we started cleaning it off with blue paper. So there were three of us in the four foot, cleaning the grease off, and forgot the 73 was in platform 2, so the next Brighton train came into our platform. Amazing how quiet trains approach! We all had to dive out of the way. Now THAT was scary!!

 

[NightatLaira]

Two true eyewitness stories from my own personal archive:

Man stabbed one coach down from me in what seemed to be the eye (although I didn't want to look), this was on a train pulling into Woolwich Arsenal (where it was immediately put out of service) in Nov 2006. It was horrible, absolutely horrible! Actually put me off travelling by train in London for a few months. Staff didn't know what to do, emergency stop had been pulled, passengers screaming and running everywhere, a couple of non-squeamish good samaritans trying to calm the guy down and hold what was left of his face together with wads of tissues. An experience I can honestly say I never, never want to go through again and needless to say... no sign of the perpetrator despite it all being on CCTV. Ambulance arrived quickly, police took their time...

Oh, and I was on a MML service a few years later on a Sunday afternoon where a gang of about 8 football supporters were sat together on two opposite tables for 4 making blatantly racist remarks to other passengers on the train as they passed by on their way to the toilet/buffet/whatever. This was bad, but what was even more unforgivable were inactions of the 4 BT Police who were clustered around them in the carriage right there with them all the way through in their fluorescent yellow uniforms - and the police just sat back and did nothing! Eventually I summoned up the courage to go to one of the police and said something to the effect of 'aren't you going to do something about this?' I was told to 'sit back down'.

:cry:

I wrote in and complained and got a sympathetic letter back, but these two incidents lost the police a lot of respect in my eyes.

 

[LE Greys]

Nearly ending up under the wheels of 43145 on one occasion at Reading. It was no accident. I remember falling backwards and hitting something, probably the nose cone/cabside and bouncing off. It knocked the wind out of me. Next thing I remember is running full tilt down the platform into "The Three Guineas" and downing about half a bottle of vodka, then going off and catching my train stone-cold sober.

How do I know it was 43145? I got stalked by the thing for years afterwards. Every time I was on the Great Western, there was 43145, at the country end of Paddington, on Swansea, Bristol or Plymouth turns (depending on which I was travelling). I must have done 3,000 miles behind/in front of that power car, and saw her about 400 times. The curse only broke when she got her MTU.

 

[Chew Chew]

Mine was self inflicted.

Many moons ago when I was young and stupid a couple mates and I were heading to Haymarket so we could go to Rezerection at Ingliston.

We had quite a few things on us that we shouldn't have had and decided to start the party early by having some acid before we got on the train. I had a terrible trip, freaked out and locked myself in the toilet for about an hour and once I finally managed to coax myself out the toilet I sat with my head in my hands with my eyes closed for the rest of the journey.

I never made that mistake again.

 

[Nightrider]

Yeah, years ago somebody boarded my train at Breich station. What a fright I got!

Now that is scary.

 

[Adam_Harrison]

i once pushed a vending machine and some crisps fell out? That's scary it never happens these days!

 

[Wyvern]

Not scary but you took care to stay in the waiting room where there was safety in numbers.

Bristol Temple Meads used to fill up on Sunday nights with servicemen waiting for the 0415(?) London train and the local homosexuals would gather looking for a pickup.

It was the biggest cottage in the South West.

I would only be there if I'd missed the 0015. One night I got fed up of waiting and went out to look for a lift to Colerne. This chap offered so off we went. All the way he was making suggestive remarks. I kept quiet and kept well over my side. Finally he got fed up and said "I'm turning off here" and dropped me in the middle of nowhere. A couple of minutes later his car reappeared heading back to Bristol.

I thought "You B***rd" and started walking. Then another car stopped for me and gave me a lift. The driver said "I shouldn't really be picking you up. I am carrying blood for Chippenham Hospital" as we roared along the pitch black country lanes.

(No motorways on those days)

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The most scariest moment that I ever had was on Middleton Junction station (about 1960) and two of the biggest German Shepherd dogs were there at the exit....just daring me to pass them. Coward that I was, I decided to make a new friend of the porter on the station for 30 minutes till the dogs went away.

 

[Chapeltom]

Getting off the last train at Chinley last year at 11pm it was pitch black, no lights on the platform, chucking it down with rain and I was the only one to get off. Not nice, especially as I had to walk half an hour home!!

 

[NightatLaira]

The curse only broke when she got her MTU.

Love it! I'm currently stalked by the flying banana - see that machine waaay too often for it to be a coincidence

 

[cuccir]

The most scariest moment that I ever had was on Middleton Junction station (about 1960) and two of the biggest German Shepherd dogs were there at the exit....just daring me to pass them. Coward that I was, I decided to make a new friend of the porter on the station for 30 minutes till the dogs went away.

I sympathise. I hate dogs, and was greated by three at the entrance to garsdale station. Theyd managed to get out of one of the houses beside the entrance. I went and waited on the other platform and thankfully the dogs had shifted by the time the train arrived! Much scarier than some chavs......

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Love it! I'm currently stalked by the flying banana - see that machine waaay too often for it to be a coincidence

Is that The Flying Banana that used to ply its trade up and down Great Yarmouth sea front? I've not been there for years and took a photograph of it and reckon that it was the bus fleet with the daftest name possible.

 

[ainsworth74]

Is that The Flying Banana that used to ply its trade up and down Great Yarmouth sea front?

I suspect NightatLaira actually means the NMT which is nicknamed 'The Flying Banana'.

 

[WelshBluebird]

Not specifically at a station, but mine was on a train at the hands of a conductor.
(sorry for the long post)

Was visiting my girlfriend at Barnstaple from my uni in Bath. I got the train from Oldfield park so had to buy a ticket on board. For whatever reason the guard couldn't get Barnstaple on his machine, so I just agreed to get a ticket to Exeter and buy a ticket to Barnstaple there.

For whatever reason (can't remember why) I decided just to buy a single from Exeter to Barnstaple. So all was fine.
However, on the return journey I got to Barnstaple station quite late, only just in time to catch the train. As such I didn't have time to buy a ticket to Exeter beforehand. Didn't really think anything of it as I had seen guards many times more than happy to sell any ticket you want on that line.

The guard came around right away, before we had left the station, so I asked for a single. She started having a proper go at me for not buying beforehand and would not accept my reasoning that I didn't have time. She proceeded to tell me I had to get off the train and buy a ticket from the ticket machine, knowing full well that would mean I would miss the train (we had about 1 minute before we were leaving) and so I would miss my connection in Exeter and thus Bristol (for oldfield park). Eventually she was prepared to sell me a ticket, but not with my 16-25 railcard. As such I didn't have enough cash on me (I did have a look and started seeing how much change I had, but she said she would refuse to take anymore than 20p in coppers). I offered to pay with my debit card, but without looking at it she just snapped back saying you can't use them to buy tickets. I tried to argue that point (which I knew was wrong) but she wasn't having any of it. She threatened to throw me off the train at the next station (in the middle of nowhere). Eventually after a load of arguing she finally agreed that I could pay with my debit card and that was that.

Needless to say, the possibility of being chucked off and stranded in the middle of nowhere was quite scary for me.

I know it was mostly my fault (should have bought a return from Exeter, should have tried to get to Barnstaple earlier etc), but I have never ever come across a guard that up themselves ever before. I realise that some people take the mick, but there is no need to have that attitude with customers IMO. To further add to my annoyance, she gladly sold a variety of tickets to other people on the service who had got on at Barnstaple. I swear it has something to do with the fact I am young (and look quite young), and she decided to tar me with the "youth" stereotype.

However, I do now ensure I have any tickets I need beforehand if at all possible. Still hasn't stopped me having to argue points with gateline staff though (trying to buy a ticket at Exeter when I was travelling from Castle Cary - they would not believe me that the ticket office at Castle Cary was not open, next time I'll take a photo!)

Note - I realise most guards are not like that. I have used trains enough to know that most guards are very friendly, very helpful and are more than willing to listen to what you have to say. Actually, in all my time using trains, she is the only guard I have come across who I have any reason to complain about.

In terms of on a station, I would probably say at Cardiff Central whenever Wales are playing rugby at home! Its a nightmare because of the amount of people and the amount of alcohol people drink.

 

[60163]

That moment when the camera battery runs out and the loco is in the distance, approaching.

 

[yorkie]

I have removed remarks that added nothing to the topic and could be seen as insulting toward ticket inspectors. The excuse that it was funny doesn't really wash as several of our members clearly were unhappy with it. It was uncalled for.I have also removed the arguments that followed. It's the sort of comment that could be funny if you said it in person among friends and I do not deem it necessary to take any action other than remove it.

By the way in response to "yes delete this post too" my suggestion to that is, don't post it! If you see something inappropriate use the report button (as some people have done) but quoting it and replying just means more work for us when we respond to the reports. Thanks.

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

i once pushed a vending machine and some crisps fell out? That's scary it never happens these days!

LOL!
Worst thing that's happened to me is threatened to be stabbed at Newcastle station a good few years ago. I had left my mother on the platform while i ran to the loo (I was only like 9) and we were returning from a shopping trip. A teenager pulled me aside just before i reached the toilet and told me to give him my money, and once i told him i had none he got a knife out, and looked at me. I just looked at him, and fortunately an East Coast train pulled in on the platform next to it where he realised he could be noticed, he ran.

 

[OxtedL]

Right yeah....

I'll just reinstate the anecdote about being on a train to East Croydon in a carriage full of seriously drunk toffs and not being sure whether to wet myself out of terror or laughter.

 

[Striker]

Right yeah....

I'll just reinstate the anecdote about being on a train to East Croydon in a carriage full of seriously drunk toffs and not being sure whether to wet myself out of terror or laughter.

Were you genuinely scared or could someone see this post as a joke?

I am actually quite posh and I'm regarded as lower upper class by my friends. I'm reporting this post as I am offended at the word "toff". :roll:

Only in Britain would there be an insult for somebody who tries to better themselves in society.

 

[telstarbox]

Scariest experience in a train station: expecting a XC HST to roll up and it's a Voyager. Nightmare!

 

[sutty]

A few years ago I was waiting at Milton Keynes for a train back to Birmingham when across the tracks a drunk guy started shouting at myself and a friend of mine. We looked at each other and dismissed it as our train was due within a couple of minutes.

We looked to the drunkard and he started shouting abuse at us and started toward the edge of the platform just as our pendo home came within view down the track. He jumped onto the tracks and stumbled toward us as I ran to a member of BTP on the platform and nearly dragged him in view of the guy. The driver must have braked hard and managed to bring his train to a halt just a few centimetres from the guy, who in his idiocy climbed up onto the platform and started on me!

Bloody idiot. At least he only endangered his life but he got dragged away hurling abuse.

It was scary indeed, the very distinct possibility of seeing a person being killed. I saw a man run over by a car when I was a child and the thought of seeing that again, large writ with a train was really worrying.

 

[stut]

The only incident I've been involved in in this country was being pushed onto the (T&W) metro tracks in the crowded Regent Centre station after school (that's Gosforth High School kids for you...) At the time, it seemed like no big deal, I just got up and walked up the slope, but in hindsight...

Otherwise, there's been a few scary moments abroad, but for different reasons.

I got involved in a 'heated discussion' with a police officer in a station in Kuala Lumpur. He wanted to see my passport and wallet and search me for drugs possession, and produced his ID. There was something about it that didn't seem right, so I did the recommended thing of insisting he accompany me to a marked police station in order to do so. He got quite upset at this, and I started to raise my voice louder and louder (which had the desired effect of getting quite a crowd watching). He made a clumsy attempt to grab my back pocket (no, I don't keep my wallet there) and then ran off quickly.

I spent a few days in Mumbai, mostly using the trains to get around. It's great fun, but I found myself out at Andheri when rush hour approached, and the crowding on those trains was utterly terrifying - I genuinely thought there were people going to be crushed. Bear in mind that the carriages are sealed and have bars on the windows. Those people hanging out of the doors? You have to seriously stand your ground to get those positions, they're the premium places! And don't even think of being able to get off the train once it's stopped - you have to jump way before that...

Finally, and not scary for me, but incredibly chilling, was at Oswiecim station in Poland. You might know it better from its German name of Auschwitz. I sat down at the end of the platform once the train had left, to check directions to the museum sites, and spotted a very overgrown branch going off in the direction I was due to head off in. It took a moment before I realised what that branch line was.

 

[TukayAway]

Got on a Brighton - Bedford 319 at London Bridge one Saturday. There had been a big gay pride event down in Brighton and there were a lot of people travelling back. Anyway, one gentleman who was wearing leather trousers and a vest that was way too small for him was sitting in the doorway despite there being plenty of seats. It soon became clear that he was under the influence of something and was sniffing copious amounts of poppers.

As we left Farringdon, he proceeded to urinate in the other doorway that was away from the platform and never tucked his heavily pierced old chap away. Train pulls into Kings Cross Thameslink and a crowd piles on, so he now stands in the "wet" doorway, and completely oblivious to the show he's putting on. As we left West Hampstead, and after more poppers, he decides to sit down...

 

[tempests1]

Over ten years ago I was a guard one day I was working a Shepperton to Waterloo service. We stopped at Earslfield between Wimbledon and Clapham Jcn. We were sat in Platform 2 on the Up Slow Line. I opened the doors we were a couple of minutes ahead of time. On the Up Fast Line a (52)Alton to Waterloo service was passing and I observed a passenger opening a Carriage door on the 4 Vep EMU he was hanging onto the droplight of the door, which was hard against the side of the carriage, when another EMU heading past on the Down Fast the train hit him & [detail removed]. after arriving at Waterloo later on me and the driver were interviewed by the BTP & we gave a statement of what we saw.

 

[Pumbaa]

Were you genuinely scared or could someone see this post as a joke?

I am actually quite posh and I'm regarded as lower upper class by my friends. I'm reporting this post as I am offended at the word "toff". :roll:

Only in Britain would there be an insult for somebody who tries to better themselves in society.

Good to see you've still got your award winning sense of humour Striker.

Difference between posh and toff. It's happened to me too on the way back from Chester races once (I was coming back from Flint) - I couldn't stop laughing. I couldn't decide whether they were seriously trying and meaning to outdo the Bullingdon club, or just accidentally doing it. Either way, it was ridiculous.

 

[SouthEastern-465]

Scariest thing I have seen?

Well, I was on a HST slowing for a signal just before West Drayton and I was looking out the window as I was bored, we were travelling at a low speed I spotted a body on the line face down in part of the undergrowth (Must of just been clipped?). I reported it straight away when I got to Reading. I don't even know what happened after that as I was busy and had to get somehwere.

 

[Ostrich]

* Slipping off the running board while ascending a vintage carriage at a preservation railway in the South of England and finishing up caught between the carriage and the platform edge. Managed to extract myself, but it wasn't easy.

* Standing in the corridor of Mark 1 stock many, many years ago when a rock thrown from an overbridge (outskirts of Leeds) totally smashed the window two down from me. One of those "if it had been seconds earlier" moments .....

* Walking through the carriages of Mark 1 stock (while travelling at speed through East Anglia) hoping to find an empty compartment. Being confronted by closed doors between carriage No.4 and (so I thought) carriage No.5, throwing said doors open, and staring at the back end of a working Class 47 ...... a slightly surreal moment!
Closing said doors rapidly, and standing guard while someone went to track down an on-board official with a locking-key!!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

And that scared you? Good grief.

Shocked more than scared.

 

[66526]

You'd be very surprised at how many people around you use recreational drugs. And not all of them are hardened criminals...

 

[Darandio]

I hate wasps too - I used to get very panicky near them. Waiting at stations with them is bad. Although after I was stung by one, I was not as bothered.

On platforms its fine, its when they are on board, crawling up the window next to you. Do you waft it away and hope it doesn't take offence, or leave it in the hope it will just depart of its own accord. Huge dilemma.

Problem is though, it either never goes away, or the man in front has a go with the Daily Mail and it decides to blame you.