BBC Documentary 'The Railways'

[Seacook]

Last one is the most appropriate

You mean etc?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Maybe, but i can assure you Ronnie is still there cleaning the trains, i was talking to her last night, now and again she brings me some eggs in from her chickens.

Good to hear. She's had a fair bit of flack on here but she seemed alright to me. She was a little bitter perhaps but that's not a crime, and not a sackable offence if you're not facing the public. She likes animals and even had sympathy for the injured rat, so she's good people as far as I'm concerned!

 

[Qwerty133]

You mean etc?

That piece of shi*t is the most appropriate knock name for a 153

 

[High Dyke]

Ah, thank you. I note that the Wiki article does not include the slang term.

Last one is the most appropriate

I once put in a delay report "skateboard on peak service." The delay clerk couldn't help but laugh when he phoned for an explanation...he'd never heard the term 'Skateboard' used to describe one before.

 

[Ferret]

Good to hear.

Very good to hear, as I was hoping it was untrue that she'd been sacked, even if she did sail a little close to the wind!

 

[Karl]

Good to hear. She's had a fair bit of flack on here but she seemed alright to me. She was a little bitter perhaps but that's not a crime, and not a sackable offence if you're not facing the public. She likes animals and even had sympathy for the injured rat, so she's good people as far as I'm concerned!

I'm also glad to hear she's still there. I was a little sceptical when the rumour earlier in the thread said she'd been dismissed. Where do these rumours come from?

Anyway, here's a 'heads up' for tonight's episode.....

Season 1 Episode 5 of 6
Railway on My Doorstep With 20,000 miles of track criss-crossing the UK and seven million people living near it, those running the nation's railway network have to manage local communities as best they can. This episode joins track teams dealing with fly-tipping and Merseyrail revenue inspectors trying to clamp down on ticket evasion. Meanwhile, Network Rail wants to close a level-crossing box and instead have it monitored by CCTV at a control room miles away, but has to contend with locals intent on keeping it manned
Read more at http://www.tvguide.co.uk/detail.asp?id=150787971#fYDwpvKC7tovWCWp.99

 

[Ferret]

Where do these rumours come from?

Well, it came from an EC member of staff that I know. I'd no reason to disbelieve them, until now of course. It'd be a massive shame for somebody to be sacked over something said in a TV show though.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Worth catching up on tonight? I forgot about it as i was at a meeting?

 

[CC 72100]

Worth catching up on tonight? I forgot about it as i was at a meeting?

Good so far. Some classic quotes and pacer behaviour at crew training at Cardiff canton.

 

[Hellfire]

Who'd be a train cleaner?

 

[eps200]

ugh Merseyside never looks good on the tele does it. It's not usually that grim, I'm also surprised they didn't get shot of central on a Friday night some impressive stampedes out of the station toward the clubs.

 

[VauxhallandI]

Remind me to avoid Scouseport

 

[Marklund]

Much too disjointed, although sadly indicative of modern TV productions.

 

[Swirlz]

ugh Merseyside never looks good on the tele does it. It's not usually that grim, I'm also surprised they didn't get shot of central on a Friday night some impressive stampedes out of the station toward the clubs.

I live in Merseyside and, spent most of my life in Liverpool, and even I think it has really deteriorated in recent years. The main cause is excess alcohol across the city, but more in the less pleasant suburbs and the City Centre. Every event day seems to involve stupid amounts of drink, Aintree races, Chester races, Orange Lodge, Mathew Street, Echo Arena nights etc.

Ellesmere Port is in Cheshire, but is probably one of the worst/roughest places in Cheshire but again bad parenting and alcohol continue to cause social problems, which is evident when travelling on the railway late night/weekends.

These problems are probably just as prevalent in other cities and towns, and the documentary shows a small insight into how it affects the railway and the staff. 15,000 Penalty Fares/Prosecutions a year (for Merseyrail) was a figure quoted early on in the episode. I think that is surprisingly low (too low to be accurate), (40-50 a day), for a network like Merseyrail that carries millions each year, with barriers on from like 5am to midnight every day, every station staffed, conductors and LOTS of ticket inspectors.

 

[trainophile]

Remind me to avoid Scouseport

Only on July 12th, the rest of the time it's quite nice. I'm there now actually .

As for those spitters and assaulters, they should be permanently banned from using any railway anywhere. Not sure how you could enforce it though .

 

[Pumbaa]

I thought Merseyside came out of that shining.

"It's full of everything you could ever wish to write about. The people are savage yet gentle".

"If you ask a Scouser to do something for you, you'll get all the co-operation in the world. But don't tell them to do something for you".

Two of my favourite quotations about Liverpool and it's people, and I thought they were well represented. From the amiable ex-bouncer who wore had little concept of a knot in a tie, the brilliantly relaxed and refreshingly honest station staff at Aintree and to the RPI revealing the true nature of the Orange parade, they appeared charming, personable and welcoming.

It was sad that the revenue managers estimate of the number of occasions per annum he'd be assaulted were so high.

Once again Kings Cross I thought came out of it badly. Durham is *south* of Newcastle (only faux pas by an otherwise very helpful assistant) and the whole staff seemed clueless at times.

 

[jsimpson]

'spit kits', only in Liverpool eh?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Durham is *south* of Newcastle (only faux pas by an otherwise very helpful assistant)

noticed that too!

 

[trainophile]

Merseyrail staff are wonderful. Never had a miserable one yet.

Thought it was a bit unnecessary to include the search for the lineside ashes.

 

[CC 72100]

'spit kits', only in Liverpool eh?

Sadly not, pretty widespread!

Must admit, I did particularly enjoy the Slovakian guard's accent. You could really tell that he'd learnt the language in Wales, made me laugh!

 

[Swirlz]

Only on July 12th, the rest of the time it's quite nice. I'm there now actually .

As for those spitters and assaulters, they should be permanently banned from using any railway anywhere. Not sure how you could enforce it though .

(CR)ASBO could be applied for by the TOC. Go to prison if you breach it.

 

[Manchester77]

I enjoyed this episode, but I wish there was an episode dedicated to Wales, the Valley Lines bit was very interesting.
Equally I wish there was a north west episode covering MerseyRail, Manchester (Northern, TPE) maybe even Blackpool etc.

Although it was good, did anyone else think oh god not Kings Cross again...

 

[trainophile]

It wasn't made clear why there were so many delays at Kings Cross that day. I'm assuming it was due to the torrential rain?

 

[yorksrob]

Poor old Kings Cross. The programme does rather give the impression that no trains ever leave on time (which from my experience isn't the case !)

 

[stuart100100]

It wasn't made clear why there were so many delays at Kings Cross that day. I'm assuming it was due to the torrential rain?

High winds in Scotland

 

[Manchester77]

It wasn't made clear why there were so many delays at Kings Cross that day. I'm assuming it was due to the torrential rain?

Someone mentioned because of strong winds and the roof at Edinburgh might blow off hock:hock:

 

[LE Greys]

High winds in Scotland

And a drunken idiot wandering through the tunnels at Welwyn.

 

[jopsuk]

Someone mentioned because of strong winds and the roof at Edinburgh might blow off hock:hock:

It wasn't the 2nd of January last year was it?

 

[Drsatan]

I'd have thought the high winds would have brought the OHL down near Newcastle as well, since the catenary masts were placed at their maximum possible distance apart.

 

[8J]

As a Merseyrail guard, I can tell you that Saturday night last train into central is possibly the worst job you can get... Constand passcom alarms being pushed, really drunk people wanting to kiss you, as seen twice in tonights programe.

RPI's must get it tough, it didnt really show you the extent of the stick that they take, on a day to day basis.

I didnt like how they subbed some sounds into the shots of the 507/8s such as the brakes squeeling sounded more like a 156 and there was a shot in Sandhills station where there was clearly an AC hum instead of the normal resistor fan that you can hear.

 

[trainophile]

Oh yes, I remember the tunnel tw1t now. Surprised it took them so long to sort that one out actually. Don't BTP have dogs?

Must have missed the bit about the high winds. That's almost as strange as the old myth about a butterfly flapping its wings in Borneo (or somewhere) causing gale force winds in the UK... or something like that .
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

As a Merseyrail guard, I can tell you that Saturday night last train into central is possibly the worst job you can get... Constand passcom alarms being pushed, really drunk people wanting to kiss you, as seen twice in tonights programe.

Do you have a "duty of care" to let them on board if they are obviously drunk?