Friendly Stations

klambert · 27th May 2009, 17:43

A lot of the staff at Reading and the surronding stations are quite friendly. I dont mean in the business type way where they have fake smiles and a too cheerful "can I help You" I mean some will actually stand around and talk to you about trains or football or whatever. I have made friends with this ticket guy who mans Reading West at peak times. Sometimes you get the odd one or two station tyrants like some of the barrier guys or the occasionsal porter but most of them are friendly. I have noticed that if we do meet an unfriendly one we end up thinking the whole lot is like it. This may differ at some stations.

adc82140 · 27th May 2009, 18:30

You should meet Norman at Twyford then- he's the archetypal old fashioned station master- I think he's been a railman for over 40 years- nothing's too much trouble, if he's not involved in dispatching trains he'll be out sweeping the platforms in all weathers- his station is absolutely spotless. I think he was awarded an MBE for his trouble in 2005, according to Wikipedia.

Oh and his station announcements during the snow disruption were hilarious!!!

klambert · 27th May 2009, 19:21

What were his station announcements?

adc82140 · 27th May 2009, 19:55

A few examples...

"Next train at platform 4 is for London Paddington, calling at [phone rings] hold on....[sounds of a phone conversation with control] well the person on the phone says this is terminating"

"Well I told you that train approaching was going to Paddington, but would you believe it those headlights have turned in to tail lights- it's going back to Reading- well I've never seen that before!!"

"I don't know what order the trains are going to be in- if it's got people on it it's the stopping service to London, if it's empty it'll be the fast Maidenhead and London only straight from the depot- keep your eyes peeled"

CCF23 · 27th May 2009, 22:24

Never seem to have problems at Clapham Junction, although i never seem to come across the staff. The staff at Chester seemed very friendly and encouraged me to take my pictures.

Daimler · 27th May 2009, 22:48

At Watford, there's an older guy who does a lot of the announcements, and he seems quite friendly - he injects a little humour into the announcements, such as:

'Would a member of the cleaning team head over to the ladies' toilets. Rumour has it they're smelling fresh!'

HSTfan!!! · 27th May 2009, 22:58

I'm all up for being friendly, I'll talk to anyone, but there are some annoying people who will talk to you about the most random boring annoying stuff and expect you to care.

thefab444 · 27th May 2009, 23:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by adc82140

Oh and his station announcements during the snow disruption were hilarious!!!

Was he interupting the automated announcements? If he was, all my respect for him has been lost.

adc82140 · 28th May 2009, 19:44

No, the auto announcements had been turned off. They'd have been a fat lot of use during the diruption anyway.

Pumbaa · 28th May 2009, 22:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daimler

At Watford, there's an older guy who does a lot of the announcements, and he seems quite friendly - he injects a little humour into the announcements, such as:

'Would a member of the cleaning team head over to the ladies' toilets. Rumour has it they're smelling fresh!'

Yup - hear him a lot. He does gateline duty often as well, at Hemel, Berko and Tring also. Elderly gent, white hair and always up for a chat.

Daimler · 29th May 2009, 00:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pumbaa

Yup - hear him a lot. He does gateline duty often as well, at Hemel, Berko and Tring also. Elderly gent, white hair and always up for a chat.

Oh, is that the same guy as at Hemel?
I've spoken to him a fair few times but never put two and two together!

27th May 2009, 17:43	#1
klambert Surfing with the bird Station Manager Join Date: 11 Sep 2008 Location: Often Found sticking my head out of a MK3 window between Reading and Paddington Posts: 545	Friendly Stations A lot of the staff at Reading and the surronding stations are quite friendly. I dont mean in the business type way where they have fake smiles and a too cheerful "can I help You" I mean some will actually stand around and talk to you about trains or football or whatever. I have made friends with this ticket guy who mans Reading West at peak times. Sometimes you get the odd one or two station tyrants like some of the barrier guys or the occasionsal porter but most of them are friendly. I have noticed that if we do meet an unfriendly one we end up thinking the whole lot is like it. This may differ at some stations. __________________

27th May 2009, 19:21	#3
klambert Surfing with the bird Station Manager Join Date: 11 Sep 2008 Location: Often Found sticking my head out of a MK3 window between Reading and Paddington Posts: 545	What were his station announcements? __________________

27th May 2009, 18:30	#2
adc82140 Interested commuter Train Dispatcher Join Date: 10 May 2008 Posts: 142	You should meet Norman at Twyford then- he's the archetypal old fashioned station master- I think he's been a railman for over 40 years- nothing's too much trouble, if he's not involved in dispatching trains he'll be out sweeping the platforms in all weathers- his station is absolutely spotless. I think he was awarded an MBE for his trouble in 2005, according to Wikipedia. Oh and his station announcements during the snow disruption were hilarious!!!

27th May 2009, 19:55	#4
adc82140 Interested commuter Train Dispatcher Join Date: 10 May 2008 Posts: 142	A few examples... "Next train at platform 4 is for London Paddington, calling at [phone rings] hold on....[sounds of a phone conversation with control] well the person on the phone says this is terminating" "Well I told you that train approaching was going to Paddington, but would you believe it those headlights have turned in to tail lights- it's going back to Reading- well I've never seen that before!!" "I don't know what order the trains are going to be in- if it's got people on it it's the stopping service to London, if it's empty it'll be the fast Maidenhead and London only straight from the depot- keep your eyes peeled"

27th May 2009, 22:24	#5
CCF23 Conductor Join Date: 12 Dec 2008 Location: London Posts: 363	Never seem to have problems at Clapham Junction, although i never seem to come across the staff. The staff at Chester seemed very friendly and encouraged me to take my pictures.

27th May 2009, 22:48	#6
Daimler Managing Director Join Date: 5 Feb 2009 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 805	At Watford, there's an older guy who does a lot of the announcements, and he seems quite friendly - he injects a little humour into the announcements, such as: 'Would a member of the cleaning team head over to the ladies' toilets. Rumour has it they're smelling fresh!'

27th May 2009, 22:58	#7
HSTfan!!! TOC Owner Join Date: 11 Jun 2005 Location: S.Wales Posts: 1,651	I'm all up for being friendly, I'll talk to anyone, but there are some annoying people who will talk to you about the most random boring annoying stuff and expect you to care.

28th May 2009, 19:44	#9
adc82140 Interested commuter Train Dispatcher Join Date: 10 May 2008 Posts: 142	No, the auto announcements had been turned off. They'd have been a fat lot of use during the diruption anyway.