What makes you smile?

[sarahj]

Just wondering what makes you smile as you travel round on the trains?

Just to start. Yesterday, after working a train that while quiet, there were some drunks and troublemakers on it, but as we passed Fratton, a SWT 450 was going through the washer, and all the intermediate cab windows were open. Made me smile and took my mind off the trip in.

 

[overtonchris]

Well I'm on the rails today - and this post made me smile to start with...."someones's gonna be soggy!".
The one that frequently makes me smirk a bit though is people who batter bejaysus out of the door open button before the little lights come on. I could understand it if perhaps they'd never been on a modern(ish) train before, but more often than not they seem to be "seasoned commuters". Perhaps I should try it...the harder you bash it, the quicker it'll open......

 

[David Sinnett]

Watching the look on passengers faces as they stand at the door waiting to stop at Harpenden not having listened to the driver's announcements that next stop will be Luton Airport.
Those regular travellers who weren't listening have a resigned look but you do get some panickers!
What then adds the cherry on top is the RPI coming through the train!

 

[TheEdge]

Well I'm on the rails today - and this post made me smile to start with...."someones's gonna be soggy!".
The one that frequently makes me smirk a bit though is people who batter bejaysus out of the door open button before the little lights come on. I could understand it if perhaps they'd never been on a modern(ish) train before, but more often than not they seem to be "seasoned commuters". Perhaps I should try it...the harder you bash it, the quicker it'll open......

Flipside. The ones who clearly are regular London commuters but not used to being in the rural world. They simply stand and watch the door waiting for it to open. No, this isn't the Underground, you need to press the open button.

 

[overtonchris]

Flipside. The ones who clearly are regular London commuters but not used to being in the rural world. They simply stand and watch the door waiting for it to open. No, this isn't the Underground, you need to press the open button.

.....seen that too!!......Some poor confused tourists are good at that one as well!

 

[ECML180]

Flipside 2. The people who sprint to a door someone has closed during a longer station stop, but can't seem to understand 'why their train is leaving 7 minutes early'.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Got another one! Sometimes a passenger takes offence to you travelling in the vestibule and stands unreasonably close on approach to the station(with you between them and the exit door)...the look on their face when the train stops at a different platform and the door behind them opens meaning they have to wait until everyone else alights or someone lets them in(usually the former).

 

[Emyr]

people who batter bejaysus out of the door open button before the little lights come on. I could understand it if perhaps they'd never been on a modern(ish) train before, but more often than not they seem to be "seasoned commuters". Perhaps I should try it...the harder you bash it, the quicker it'll open......

Alternatively, people who are new to Manchester and don't realise that your can press the button to request that the door opens at the next stop, without waiting for the tram to arrive at that stop. They look so tense, glaring at the button waiting for their moment!

 

[sprinterguy]

Early morning sunshine on the hillsides of the Tyne Valley.

 

[TheEdge]

Early morning sunshine on the hillsides of the Tyne Valley.

Well, if we are going down that route. Sitting in a 170 cab, lights off travelling through the big sky part of the Fens (Ely-Brandon) on a clear night.

 

[90019]

Just wondering what makes you smile as you travel round on the trains?

Not on the trains as I use them so infrequently, but driving the midnight 12 back in from Ratho on a monday night and not picking up any passengers, especially if it's a decent bus for a change, rather than one of the two usual heaps it gets. It only ever happens on a monday, though, as there are regular passengers every other night of the week.

 

[83G/84D]

Nothing bah humbug!

Only joking, looking every day at the wonderful Cornish countryside.

 

[Nean]

Coming into Hull by the Humber at sunset, if you get the right time the Bridge looks glorious. That and some of the people you meet on the trains, met a guy the other week who owns a brewery...

 

[Greenback]

What makes me smile is having a little chat with the friendly lads and lasses who operate the trolleys on local ATW trains here. They are brilliant, especially the irrepressible Pav!

 

[Beveridges]

Just wondering what makes you smile as you travel round on the trains?

Just to start. Yesterday, after working a train that while quiet, there were some drunks and troublemakers on it, but as we passed Fratton, a SWT 450 was going through the washer, and all the intermediate cab windows were open. Made me smile and took my mind off the trip in.

It would not make you smile if you were the MDD responsible.

The situation above is an absolute nightmare to the DD (Depot Driver). Its easily done through being 'rushed off your feet' and checks like rear/intermediate cab windows are easily missed.
When changing ends to find all the cabs completely soaked to the max, its not funny. I've done it several times and got into a lot of trouble for it. I've even been treatened to be taken off my job for it. Even stressful isn't the word.

 

[O L Leigh]

Another vote for the Fens.

When I did DOO I would sometimes see people standing on the platform with their fingers out ready for me to present the door open button just at their fingertip. So I'd run about four feet past the board. The other thing that made me smile was to watch someone come running down onto the platform like their hair is on fire. I'd then give it another 20 seconds before shutting up the doors. Ha ha!!

O L Leigh

 

[cf111]

Heading southbound out of Helmsdale in the summer or spring, with the railway meeting the sea. I've travelled the Far North Line more times than I care to remember but I always enjoy that part of the journey.

 

[GatwickDepress]

The look of confused puzzlement from some staff when I say "thank you", always brightens up my day.

The East Coastway between St Leonards Warrior Square and Bexhill Central, and Berwick to Lewes is absolutely stunning in the right light.

 

[user15681]

Helping people out is pleasing. Quite often there'll be people standing beside the train confused by the front 4/rear 4 split, or confused as to which tube line to get, or which trains gets them somewhere quickest, where locations/streets/attractions are in central London, etc. You can tell most people are genuinely grateful and appreciate the help, that goes a long way to making me smile. I recently helped an elderly gentleman as he tripped between the gap between the train and the platform - he burst out crying and was ever so grateful. It made my day.

Other times is when I overhear young kids talking about trains or asking questions to the people they're with. I remember one boy perpetually asking his mother about where each train was going that he saw - she didn't have a clue, but I was able to tell him each time and I could just see the excitement on his face. Another kid recently wanted a ride on a 395 but nobody knew which service would be the next one through, again telling them he got all excited and it made me smile.

Watching the sunrise can be quite pleasurable too along the north Kent coast. During the winter months I was able to watch sunrise and sunset each day from the train, was lovely.

I've heard a few funny stories from fitters too. Some were based at Gillingham and had been called to a problem with a train. They'd been told that the unit was at Stone Crossing, so they got in their van and headed off to the station near Dartford, called Stone Crossing. They arrived and there was no train to be found... only for them to ring up and realise the problem unit was at Stone Crossing (a level crossing, not the station) near Faversham, a total distance of about 40 miles away. Funny now and something to smile at, but at the time...

 

[Emyr]

Could be worse, the level crossing at Stone is 175 miles from Dartford

 

[O L Leigh]

Could be worse still.

A colleague had asked control to arrange for a taxi to pick him up from Tame Bridge. After a lot of waiting there was no sign of the taxi but control insisted that it was there outside the station waiting for him. A few phone calls later it transpired that there was indeed a taxi waiting for him.

At Cambridge.

O L Leigh

 

[Muzer]

I LOVE holding down the door open buttons on trains where this works, especially 158s. Nobody else seems to ever think to try this (hence the battering the button comment earlier...). Someone once asked me "How are your reactions so good?" - and, of course, plenty of people have indicated to me that I need to press it right before the doors come open and I walk through with a smug smile

Not quite sure why that gives me so much pleasure.


But no, seriously, helping people is a good one - I heard some people at Romsey utter murmurs of confusion (quite understandably given the service pattern) from the opposite platform, as well as the word "Eastleigh" - I spoke across to them that if they wanted Eastleigh it'd be faster to get the one on this side. They were very grateful, since not only was the train faster, but it arrived quicker to let them get out of the cold . Back when I commuted to Salisbury, I'd tell plenty of worried passengers there catching the 1620 (later 1621) that the train wasn't leaving, the doors were just shut because it was joining.

 

[overtonchris]

But no, seriously, helping people is a good one - I heard some people at Romsey utter murmurs of confusion (quite understandably given the service pattern) from the opposite platform, as well as the word "Eastleigh" - I spoke across to them that if they wanted Eastleigh it'd be faster to get the one on this side. They were very grateful, since not only was the train faster, but it arrived quicker to let them get out of the cold . Back when I commuted to Salisbury, I'd tell plenty of worried passengers there catching the 1620 (later 1621) that the train wasn't leaving, the doors were just shut because it was joining.

Most strange that this was posted today. I'm getting the train from home via Salisbury to Romsey today for a jolly. despite having lived in Hampshire all my life I've never done the Salisbury to Romsey bit! New track for me that my Missus won't moan about, and a beautiful day weather-wise. Smiling already

 

[ValleyLines142]

About a month or so ago the 0730 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour service, well known for being absolutely rammed with commuters and which is normally booked for a 150+158, was only formed of the 158. The train was absolutely full and standing by the time we left Newport, and the look on people's faces at Severn Tunnel Junction when we pulled in was priceless, and really made me chuckle. Unbelieveably, no one was left behind, but it was certainly a squeeze to say the least!

 

[hassaanhc]

As already mentioned, passengers legging it even though they have time
Also little kids being excited when they see other trains pass, last month on the DLR by Poplar Depot the PSA said to a little kid pointing at trains in the depot that they're sleeping

 

[alex17595]

It makes me laugh when people get confused by slam doors.

 

[sarahj]

Yesterday I was working a 313 that for reasons I had to lock out one coach. Each door had a sticker on it, and the CIS at stations said that this coach was not in use. Still did not stop people trying to open the doors at stations. you would still see the odd one or two bashing at the door open buttons while all the other punters who had noticed, or even heard me shouting down the platform happily boarded the other two coaches. :roll:

Also punter walking down the train chatting on the phone, time to go, blows whistle, no action, blows again. Nope, they are too cool for school. Closes doors. Only then do they try to board. byeeeeeeeee.

But on another note, I do like that when you leave Bishopstone and head towards Seaford, the bunnies that romp around. Sometimes there is even a fox around having a nap. Sometimes when your having a bad day, or just had a punter moan,not pay, etc, just sitting for a moment and looking at the lambs in a field can bring you back to life.

 

[Qwerty133]

Seeing a 153 broken on a depot.
Free food (such as last week when EMT were giving out doughnuts)
A ticket check on a certain train which never gets one
Seeing a TOC managing director on a overcrowded or short formed train.
Any other train on a service booked 153
meridian vice HST
No queue at the ticket office
the annoucement "due to <insert reason here>, there is no at seat trolley service on board today", especially at 7am.

 

[Minilad]

Having kids on bridges or platforms wave and watching the faces light up when you wave back or give them a little toot on the horn.
I like to think I have made a few kids days when I have let them have a look in the cab. whilst shut down at a terminating point. Although to be fair it's usually the dads that are grinning from ear to ear when they get off

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Looking west over the Vale Royal Viaduct (I think that's its name) near Acton Bridge generally raises a smile amidst mile after mile of horrendously dull WCML. Ditto the run from Carlisle-Carstairs, probably my favourite stretch of railway in the country, get a 390 tearing through it and I can very easily look out of the window for the entirety and just enjoy the sheer power of both the unit of carriage and the effort it took all those decades ago to build.

There's other little bits and pieces I'll look forward to on a certain route, the viaduct between Brighton and Falmer as already stated is one, as is the run up via Shap. The only real general non-scenery one I have is getting a seat on an semi-empty train at the end / on the way back home from a day out on the rails. I like the time to look back on the day, at photos or notes etc, and enjoy a bite to eat.

 

[LowLevel]

The look of delight on a child's face when you give them 'their' ticket (generally a receipt for their parent's). A ticket inspector used to do that for me over 20 years ago when I was a small child before I even started school and I've never forgotten it - along with the odd guard who used to let me help them do the doors or their announcements (wouldn't get away with it now!)! I always sort of knew to myself then that I wanted to be a train guard and I managed to achieve it.

I still see Rob the ticket inspector when I use the train to visit my parents and he still knows my mum by name and says hello to me even now, although obviously he's a lot older and time has passed and I moved away. He probably has no idea what an impact he wound up having on my life just through a simple act of kindness towards a train mad little boy.