Trivia: Stations that don't sound like they're Spelt

[ChiefPlanner]

like Flitwick, not Gatwick

Famous story of the first days of Brighton drivers working through to Bedford and making the PA announcements on a newish 319 - "posh" Harpenden lady imperiously raps on cab window and says "excuse me driver ..its FLITWICK ..."

Driver responds - "lady - its not Gatick my end , engages notch 4 and drives off"

 

[Eagle]

It means ox.

Like in Rhydychen (Oxford)? That's cool!

 

[cal12]

milngavie outside glasgow

actually pronounced mull-guy

 

[paul332]

Barnoldswick – pronounced Barlick

 

[37 418]

Some are easy to work out where the pronunciation is either a shortening or pronoucning letters out of character but how did Milngavie get to be pronounced the way it is?

LIke many Scottish placenames, Milngavie (from Muileann Gaoithe) has resulted from poor attempts at pronouncing and writing Gaelic. The same has happened in Wales and Cornwall, a good example was given in an earlier thread in Cornwall: Launceston (from Llansteffan)

 

[Bald Rick]

like Flitwick, not Gatwick

Famous story of the first days of Brighton drivers working through to Bedford and making the PA announcements on a newish 319 - "posh" Harpenden lady imperiously raps on cab window and says "excuse me driver ..its FLITWICK ..."

Driver responds - "lady - its not Gatick my end , engages notch 4 and drives off"

HaHa! Presumably from the same Brighton link who STILL announce trains calling at "St Albans, Harpington..."

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Smethwick (Galton Bridge and Rolfe Street).

Just call SGB Smelly Galton Bridge and everyone knows where you mean