What do you do while you're on a train?

[yorksrob]

As a commuter I tend to find a seat and read a newspaper. For longer journies I tend to get a few tinnies in !

 

[Any Permitted]

I mostly read. I'll take my laptop if it's a long journey and use the internet on my dongle (or on the Wifi if I'm lucky).

I also take a notebook around with me so sometimes I sketch the other passengers or draw out maps from memory (because I'm that cool), the other day I decided to redesign NXEA into 'East Anglian' on my way back from London.

 

[Techniquest]

Shame they removed the tellys from 323s, are there any tellys left on trains?

Yes, in the form of Volo:TV (payable, although I believe they finally reinstated a free trial thing or at least allowed you to use the maps for free again recently) on FGW HSTs in coach D. £3.95 for a single journey (regardless of length, so best on a really long journey) or £1.50 for an hour. I've never enough credit on my phone to use the hour thing, otherwise I'm not on board for an hour or more.

Forgot, until I looked for a link, that it's on the FGW sleeper in the berths too.

http://www.volo.tv/about.html

As for this thread, I'm sure we've had one like it some months ago, but as for what I do on trains? Well most of it depends on how long my journey on board any particular train is, however a list includes:

Reading
Listening to music (did this for 8.5 hours virtually continuously last week, save for no more than 5 minutes of pausing!)
Have something to eat/drink/both
Stare out of the window if I have one nearby
Sleep
Update the notepad and/or moves book (although I do forget to do so on occasions! )
Get bored (usually when I've nothing to do and been up and down the same line all day)
Browse a copy of the Metro/other newspaper
Use my mobile for texting/calling purposes
Time a particular section of journey (very occasionally)
Daydream
Follow the route in the atlas/Quail, colouring in new sections as I do them

 

[asylumxl]

I listen to music, IM people on my phone, text and email people, browse the forum and the internet, some time go on my laptop, stare out the window. Usually all at once.

 

[jon0844]

I can see a lot of people using Volo TV in the future, when they actually fill the hard drives with loads of content. For long journeys, or to keep the kids amused, they seem perfect - although the company might wish to consider a 'family' rate that gives a code that can be used on more than one screen.

 

[AlexS]

Mr leigh, you are clearly not working hard enough on developing a varied driving technique

Have you never even considered trying driving in the nude, being serviced by an RPI, eating a chinese takeaway etc etc as reports occasionally appear in the press?


Personally, I tend to look out of the window, listen to my iPod or read a book/paper. I also quite often just sit and enjoy doing nothing for a change!

If the circumstances are right then I'll also try and make sure the set of stock or vehicle I'm trying to move about the place doesn't wallop the next one down in the siding - judgement of which with vacuum brakes takes some time to learn I found! Or admittedly when propelling, I'm fairly diligent in my duties of looking out for signals and things that are in my way

 

[313103]

I tend to listen to my ipod for the entire journey, no matter where i am going. The main reason for this is the constant announcements on board a train either from Automated announcements or from the Guard. It makes traveling by train a burden rather then something to enjoy. The fact that i sometimes have to spend up to 9 and half hours inside a train carriage on a class 378 or 172 with an announcement approx every 45 seconds makes me resent travelling anywhere, even on a London bus you get the same sort of pesky annoying announcements. Is is any wonder that when i am working a train 70% of people are listening to an ipod or mp3 player, the rest are either elderly or to young.

 

[4SRKT]

I like just looking out of the window in areas I'm familiar with. While on lines I'm not so used to I like to get the Quail track diagrams out and find things of railway interest.

On railtours I like to drink beer.

 

[Zoe]

While on lines I'm not so used to I like to get the Quail track diagrams out

Sectional appendicies are more interesting.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Sectional appendicies are more interesting.

5 mile diagrams are even more interesting!

 

[Zoe]

5 mile diagrams are even more interesting!

Yes but they are not available to the public.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Nor are the sectional appendices - only the baseline declaration which is over a year out of date.

 

[Railsigns]

Nor are the sectional appendices - only the baseline declaration which is over a year out of date.

Anyone can go online and buy current Sectional Appendices direct from the printers at:
http://www.willsonshop.com.

 

[VirginTrainFreak]

I like to talk to the guard,sleep,text,read signs and newspaper and take photos

 

[MidnightFlyer]

While on lines I'm not so used to I like to get the Quail track diagrams out and find things of railway interest.

Quail Maps are absolutely one of the most interesting things to do with railways I have ever seen Apparently they give them to trainees route learning etc to help them. That TrackAtlas thing is awful though, so many mistakes

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Anyone can go online and buy current Sectional Appendices direct from the printers at:
http://www.willsonshop.com.

They seem to have a lot of interesting stuff on there. Cheers, I'll add it to bookmarks!

 

[jimrbrobinson]

I wish I could think of something earth-shatteringly original to say I do on the train, but sadly it seems I do the same as many others, including bit not limited to; chat to on-train staff (if they're not too busy with other duties), eat, drink, gaze out the window (usually tutting at the amount of detritus about), read, listen to MP3, sleep, etc. Just proves what a boring and unoriginal person I am really! :P

 

[ChrisTheRef]

I'm not sure if anyone reads the texts which people send to The Metro, but I've been inspired by a recent theme, and started giving fellow passengers a super hero alter ego and imagining who would win in a battle

Cool, I know

 

[O L Leigh]

Mr leigh, you are clearly not working hard enough on developing a varied driving technique

Have you never even considered trying driving in the nude, being serviced by an RPI, eating a chinese takeaway etc etc as reports occasionally appear in the press?

I haven't had to consider driving in the nude since they fitted cab-cooling to our units, though I have given serious consideration to dropping my trousers on seriously hot days. I have seen some bare-chested freight drivers on Cl66's though and wondered how far they had divested themselves in order to keep cool.

As for your other suggestions; have you seen our RPI's...? Eww!!!

O L Leigh

 

[Drsatan]

Shame they removed the tellys from 323s, are there any tellys left on trains?

When I traveled on a 332 from Heathrow Terminals 1,2,3 to Terminal 4 in 2006 I noticed there were TVs in the coaches; don't know whether they're still fitted or not.

Other than that, when traveling by train I prefer to look out of the window while listening to music on my phone (using headphones of course, unlike some people).

Occasionally I work on my laptop or read a book.

 

[LE Greys]

When I traveled on a 332 from Heathrow Terminals 1,2,3 to Terminal 4 in 2006 I noticed there were TVs in the coaches; don't know whether they're still fitted or not.

They were still there two months ago, and are a right pain in the backside. Rip them out!

As for what I do, I write my books. A constant progression of inspiring scenes, wherever you set your work. You might notice the odd number scribbled in the margin of my writing pads (yes, I do all my work by hand). Other passengers sometimes make decent character studies as well.

Apart from that, I sometimes time certain sections. Stoke Bank is my favourite spot for that, trying to get 9-minute runs on the way down and 10-minute runs on the way up (from Helpston to Stoke).

 

[At_traction]

(using headphones of course, unlike some people).

And many of those who do use headphones make sure that the music is turned on to such a volume that nearby rows can all enjoy the music. :roll:
Earplug headphones would moreover reduce the effect of surrounding noises, requiring less volume input (engine/motor & rail sounds are of course a joy, not noise - except on a Pacer on Bishop Auckland branch ).

 

[Mojo]

Depends on the journey length. On my short <10 Min journeys I just look out of the window or around the train. On longer journeys I used to bring my laptop and play computer games but now I don't play them anymore I tend to browse the Internet on my mobile.

Currently on a 4 hour Voyager journey from Bristol to York.

 

[SouthEastern-465]

I generally just enjoy the ride, and look at the scenary (Although its not that attractive in SE London! :P) and make sure I have a look at the depots or stabling points as I pass.

I do the same on longer distance stuff to except bring some reading material along which does me fine.

 

[scotsman]

I do the same on longer distance stuff to except bring some reading material along which does me fine.

The books I've read on trains to Aviemore! 'Stupid white men' - Michael Moore, 'Dude where's my country?' - Michael Moore and 'Bad Science' - Ben Goldacre.

cracking books!

 

[SouthEastern-465]

The books I've read on trains to Aviemore! 'Stupid white men' - Michael Moore, 'Dude where's my country?' - Michael Moore and 'Bad Science' - Ben Goldacre.

cracking books!

I was reading Frankie Boyles 'title' lets say, and the title did get a couple of odd looks if you know what I mean!

 

[aspierail]

I normally look out at the window and see other multiple units.

 

[Powerplant]

I tend to sit back with a coffee if on long journeys and admire the scenery, also is a bonus when you get someone that sits next to you that shares the same interest and have a good old natter.

 

[4SRKT]

I tend to sit back with a coffee if on long journeys and admire the scenery, also is a bonus when you get someone that sits next to you that shares the same interest and have a good old natter.

In my experience this doesn't happen often tho, except on GC HSTs. Better still if a foxy chick is sitting next to you, but this happens even less often

 

[The 158 Man]

Better still if a foxy chick is sitting next to you, but this happens even less often

Seems to happen to me quite often. Must be because I'm so gorgeous and irresistable to women.....