Also shows that even with clear signs on how to open the door, people panic and signs are not noticed.Before the TfW mk3 stock was withdrawn, I made many journeys where I would hear people struggling to work out how to open the door and panicking they wouldn’t be able to get out, so I’d pop my head round into the vestibule and tell them to open the window, or do it for them. I remember one journey from Cardiff to Chester where this happened at every single stop! Understandable with the scarcity of slam door stock, especially if they’d boarded at an already open door at Cardiff so hadn’t had to use the handle to open it in the first place.
Slightly OT but on the same theme. Those of a certain age might remember that in 1970's BR used to sell rail blue branded sholder bags. I friend at the time was platform end at a station one day carrying said bag. Train pulls in and the driver says "she's all yours now mate". Cue appearance of relief driver muttering under his breath.
This reminds me of when I worked near a library and used the library some lunchtimes or just after work. When I was the only user of the library wearing a tie people occasionally thought I was a member of staff.Wearing London Midland's soft shell jacket in Marks and Spencer was quite an experience. Quite often questions would be asked about produce etc.
This reminds me of when I worked near a library and used the library some lunchtimes or just after work. When I was the only user of the library wearing a tie people occasionally thought I was a member of staff.
I have heard stories of “enthusiasts” getting a bit “over enthusiastic“ and donning full oranges, giving people directions etc, and even, however mythical it may be, gaining entry via ped crossings and attempting to bring trains to a stop. I geuss being a pilotman is somebodys dream job.
However I’m asked for help by customers of Sainsbury’s roughly once a month!
I've done something sort of not too dissimilar myself in that I used to put timetables up in my local bus shelters until the Council started doing it themselves. Even got a message of thanks graffitied on one once, which was nice.
I must have the same sort of face, since I get asked things a bit more often than you'd expect when travelling on trains - despite never being dressed anything like rail staff.I seem to have an "ask for directions face" - I'm frequently asked for them whenever I am out and about.
On another occasion, when Grey Green were running the 168 bus, there was a bomb scare in Aldwych and we were stuck north of Holborn, I was standing near to the driver's cab, and I directed him to Waterloo via High Holborn, Shaftsbury Avenue, Charing Cross Road, Whitehall, Westminster Bridge and York Road.
What route was he on?I've directed a Stagecoach Manchester driver around Manchester Airport before, he didn't have a clue, I guess hadn't driven that before.
What route was he on?
Ah right, no, the 313 is a much more recent addition; they only brought it up to the airport a few years ago. No idea what the one through Cheadle was called - sorry!This is late 90s, it was the one that used to go through Cheadle. I half recall it was the 48?
It didn't look good when I got on, he'd managed to end up the wrong way round in one of the Airport bus stations (this was before it was all centralised).