What an excellent Guard

[bakerstreet]

On the train to Bristol today a chap wanted to alight at Reading.

I don't think he's been on the 125 HST before and missed his stop... Because... He didn't know you had to pull the window down and lean out to open the door.

Cue the guard who then came round to check tickets.

The passenger was clearly a bit perplexed, he thought the doors would open automatically and he'd been waiting!

The guard took his ticket, and said that he had marked on it that the passenger had been 'over carried' - a term I've not heard before, and gave him train times back from Didcot.

That's how to run a railway.

Is 'over carried' a railway term?

 

[HSTfan!!!]

Is 'over carried' a railway term?

yes it is

 

[Oracle]

A few years ago on a diverted Waterloo-Southampton SWT 442 a little old lady got on at the Windsor Lines platform at Clapham Junction, and then wondered why we went past East Putney without stopping! She had to wait until Woking to get off. The Buffet Car steward rang the Guard and explained what had happened. When the the Guard alighted at Woking he said he would see what he could for her. I still wonder to this day how she got home...back to CJ and then another go?

 

[trickyvegas]

I got the first TPE of the day, calling at Stalybridge on New Years Day after an all nighter and promptly nodded off and awoke in Huddersfield. Thankfully, as it was well below freezing, there was only a short wait for one back in the other direction and the guard was kind enough to accept my story and not charge me £10+ for my mistake.

 

[Oracle]

ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzz...a chap who was at college with me in central London in the mid-1970s was foolish enough to have too much booze, and then get on to the Central Line. He was carried to Epping and then ended-up at West Ruislip! In those days they had Guards of course. However, his story was accepted.

 

[devon_metro]

On the train to Bristol today a chap wanted to alight at Reading.

I don't think he's been on the 125 HST before and missed his stop... Because... He didn't know you had to pull the window down and lean out to open the door.

Cue the guard who then came round to check tickets.

The passenger was clearly a bit perplexed, he thought the doors would open automatically and he'd been waiting!

The guard took his ticket, and said that he had marked on it that the passenger had been 'over carried' - a term I've not heard before, and gave him train times back from Didcot.

That's how to run a railway.

Is 'over carried' a railway term?

Perhaps referral to a reading class might have also been useful; it is clearly stated above the door what to do!

 

[37401]

Perhaps referral to a reading class might have also been useful; it is clearly stated above the door what to do!

Yeah but they may get confused as it also says "do not lean out of the window"

I cant beleve how fast people forget things, it wasnt that long ago Mk2`s and Mk3`s left the rails

 

[90019]

I cant beleve how fast people forget things, it wasnt that long ago Mk2`s and Mk3`s left the rails

Doesn't mean they ever travelled on them before though.

 

[royaloak]

Even more reasons to read the instructions then!

 

[northwichcat]

I cant beleve how fast people forget things, it wasnt that long ago Mk2`s and Mk3`s left the rails

While it was around 8 years ago that Voyagers replaced slam doors on Cross Country routes it doesn't mean that everyone who uses Cross Country now has used slam door trains on Cross Country. Multiple unit trains that were built in the early 1980s have never had slam doors.

Do the instructions remain at all doors saying 'To open door wind down window and release handle'? If not then it's something CrossCountry need to look at.

 

[2030720310]

While it was around 8 years ago that Voyagers replaced slam doors on Cross Country routes it doesn't mean that everyone who uses Cross Country now has used slam door trains on Cross Country. Multiple unit trains that were built in the early 1980s have never had slam doors.

Do the instructions remain at all doors saying 'To open door wind down window and release handle'? If not then it's something CrossCountry need to look at.

I think its FGW being referred to here but yes I do agree with that

 

[Oswyntail]

It's a fair time since I travelled on an HST () but I seem to remember that the area round the door had a fair number of information/instruction stickers in evidence. One good principle of design is that you don't distract the least experienced user from picking up the right information. Any photos of the door area that we can give opinions on?

 

[Mojo]

Here is the information panel on the 'Pretendolino.'

 

[northwichcat]

I think its FGW being referred to here but yes I do agree with that

Looking back at the first post it obviously was FGW, but I didn't think mk3 carraiges have ever left FGW. As far as I was aware 180s replaced just some the HSTs.

Looking at the notice that's been posted it looks like that should be clearer to do then to find the 'door open' button on some 142s, where they are at a 90 degree angle to the door, on the seat side of a pole close to the door.

 

[Aictos]

then to find the 'door open' button on some 142s, where they are at a 90 degree angle to the door, on the seat side of a pole close to the door.

That's true, travelled on one yesterday so know they're hard to see.

 

[yorkie]

Looking back at the first post it obviously was FGW, but I didn't think mk3 carraiges have ever left FGW. As far as I was aware 180s replaced just some the HSTs.

No, it's the other way round. 180s were additional and HSTs replaced them. 180s may have allowed a loco hauled diagram to be removed but it was mostly to provide additional capacity.

 

[yorksrob]

While it was around 8 years ago that Voyagers replaced slam doors on Cross Country routes it doesn't mean that everyone who uses Cross Country now has used slam door trains on Cross Country. Multiple unit trains that were built in the early 1980s have never had slam doors.

Do the instructions remain at all doors saying 'To open door wind down window and release handle'? If not then it's something CrossCountry need to look at.

I don't see why they should. When these modern sliding door trains came in to replace the trains I grew up with I don't recall seeing instructions on how to look away from the window and look for an illuminnated button to open the window!

 

[ralphchadkirk]

On modern stock it is patently obvious where the door controls are - next to the door in clear view. On HST stock you cannot see how to open the door as the handle is on the outside. There is a massive difference.

 

[northwichcat]

I don't see why they should. When these modern sliding door trains came in to replace the trains I grew up with I don't recall seeing instructions on how to look away from the window and look for an illuminnated button to open the window!

They should because it's poor usability to have to open a window to release the door from the outside. If the door is locked when the train is in motion there is no reason why there shouldn't be a handle on the inside of the door as well. The only reason for making it hard to open the door would be to stop a child from accidentally opening it while the train is in motion. You say you're used to opening the door from the outside, are the many foreign tourists that visit London and Bath aware of this is how British Rail slam doors worked?

 

[Aictos]

Back to excellent guards, I had two today from East Midland Trains and Cross Country. Absolute stars they were like the majority of guards I've encountered who are good old boys or girls.