What makes you smile?

[user15681]

Some more things that made me smile, although maybe not for those involved...

Once saw the aftermath of a Highspeed animal impact. The amusing (perhaps not the right word, slightly humourous with a grimacing smile) part, was that the dead Deer had hit the nose coupling covers on the 395 so hard it got stuck between and arrived at St Pancras with a dead Deer hanging off its nose.

465906's doors make me smile every time I see them. Someone must be a bit embarrassed for the painting error.

Seeing a 375 and 376 in multiple during a rescue. Although not a literal smile, it was interesting to see the two together in such a rare site. I just wish I'd seen the 395 and 375 together!

 

[fowler9]

I went for the late running 18:41 from West Allerton to Lime Street this evening. It changed from platform 4 to platform 2 at the last minute so as the train stopped I was right by the drivers cab of the 156. The driver appeared to forget that his drop down window wasn't down and smacked his head on it as he tried to lean out as the train stopped. Kind of tickled me.
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Oh, and the time the bus driver looked at me like I was mad when I tipped him on New Years eve.

 

[Techniquest]

There's lots of little things that make me smile, first few things that come to mind:

Successfully making a Man of Steel move, even better a minus connection.
Unexpectedly falling onto a winner.
Helping people at work, or on my travels with advice on trains to catch etc.
Getting a medium coffee instead of a small coffee (happened to me once in Costa).

Other things would include lush views through the Scottish borderlands, as someone else pointed out charging and tilting through that area on a 390 is an experience and more enjoyable than on a 185. I can't immediately think of other examples right now.

 

[harry42]

When station announcements announce a platform change and everybody does that funny "should I walk, should I run walk"

Or when your coming out of a busy station and people "waddle"

 

[Kite159]

When I was on the Severn Beach line earlier, and after clearing the industrial area to have this beauty come into view

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd....7_10152418386220041_6522232424603430317_o.jpg

Or seeing one of the SWT units on loan to FGW pull into the station on a standard-class only service, everybody rushing to get a seat in standard leaving 'first' empty

 

[Techniquest]

Aye I used to love it when I was down that way and everyone would cram Standard out on the SWT 158 hire-in, whereas the rest of us would fill First quite happily. Even if it was just for a 4 mile journey, it sure makes you smile

Another thing that does make me smile quite often, well away from the railway, is seeing certain people at work

 

[Kite159]

Aye I used to love it when I was down that way and everyone would cram Standard out on the SWT 158 hire-in, whereas the rest of us would fill First quite happily. Even if it was just for a 4 mile journey, it sure makes you smile

Another thing that does make me smile quite often, well away from the railway, is seeing certain people at work

It was like it on the 159 hire-in from Westbury last night, standard was rather full, 'First' was empty. As soon as I saw it heading into the station I headed straight to the First Class door, nice single table seat looking out of the window when it was light

 

[Old Shire]

What make me smile is my days out as something always goes wrong. (you have got to smile or you would never do another trip again). Last weekend l went from Bristol to Ledbury via Worcester and smiled in the SWT 159 as l sat in first class on my own with my standard ticket. My return trip was to be via Hereford and Newport. Got to Newport mid afternoon and there was nothing moving south. Ended up returning via Ledbury and Worcester, for the Bristol train. So the return leg took about 6 hours in total. Again you got to smile or another trip will not happen. This weekend l took another trip to Okehampton. l got an early train from Bristol to allow plenty of time for the connection at Exeter. On arrival at Weston Super Mare the train is cancelled as a cow has been hit by the preceding service. It was then a coach to Taunton and onwards to Exeter. l got to Exeter and just managed to get the 153 unit to Okehampton. Got back to Bristol in time to catch the last service to Severn Beach. This was formed of two 153's and a 2 coach 158. We were told to sit in the 158 as the other units were being detached. We were then told to move to the 153's. We were then told that the service had been cancelled! The smile was now fading but was bought back on again when Taxi's were provided for all the passengers to their home stations. So FGW bought my smile back but a certain Welsh company does not impress me. As a warning to you all my next trip is to Ongar for the Not the Last Thumper Event. Something will happen!

 

[47403]

Early morning sunshine on the hillsides of the Tyne Valley.

I agree on that one, especially if your bouncing about 3ft off your seat on a 142
It used to be when a peak failed or a 101 failed in Carlisle and those kind folk at Kingmoor/Upperby sent out one of those beloved Rats, attach it to the front of said 101, window open, head out the window, enjoying the sound all the way back to Newcastle, kid in a sweet shop didn't come close.

 

[Hyphen]

Aye I used to love it when I was down that way and everyone would cram Standard out on the SWT 158 hire-in, whereas the rest of us would fill First quite happily. Even if it was just for a 4 mile journey, it sure makes you smile

I used to love doing that on the Cardiff-Nottingham service, back in Central Trains days. With the ex-MML 170s they inherited they did nothing with the first class section in the middle of the train. It was always rather beautiful going through Birmingham New St at rush hour, seeing people crammed to the rafters in 'standard', and sitting in (quite luxurious, for the stock) first class with just a handful of others who knew the score.

Shame I was only able to do it for just over a year, having started uni in 2006, before XC took over in Nov 2007. I think it did last for a very short time into their franchise, but I recall they were quite quick to refurb the 170s, and I wasn't sure whether it'd still be allowed as they did technically operate first class by that point.

 

[Techniquest]

Ah yes, I used to do it all the time on the 170/1s on the Hereford to Birmingham route, was very nice and a shame when it went! That said, the LM refurbishment was done to a high standard and smartened up the fleet quite a bit, still looks good now

 

[GatwickDepress]

A lot of people still don't realise the Class 171s on the BTN -AFK services have declassified first. The 2+1 seating and large tables are sheer bliss, especially when it's just you and an off-duty Network Rail bod in there.*

*NR people usually leave behind better papers than the Metro. Got a Telegraph once, and they didn't do the crossword!

 

[Techniquest]

Really? I didn't know that, I might have to take advantage of that next time I'm on a DaySave...

 

[jnjkerbin]

Today at Tonbridge, there was a school trip on the platform and the driver of an incoming 375 used the depot whistle to great the children: made me smile at least

 

[CallySleeper]

As a car passenger, racing trains on the M6.

 

[user15681]

As a car passenger, racing trains on the M6.

Hmm, wonder if this could be tried on the M20 alongside HS1... I would be a little confused if someone overtook my train!

 

[Kite159]

A lot of people still don't realise the Class 171s on the BTN -AFK services have declassified first. The 2+1 seating and large tables are sheer bliss, especially when it's just you and an off-duty Network Rail bod in there.*

*NR people usually leave behind better papers than the Metro. Got a Telegraph once, and they didn't do the crossword!

*makes a note for future reference*

Although I find with the broadsheets it's hard to read them on the train as they are large