Train Station

On Tuesday I shall be passing through and stopping at a lot of stations where trains may stop if they want to, or pass through. I will catch board a train at Bristol ? station and unboard it at Edinburgh.

I think we have changed the identity of a station from a 'place on the railway' to a 'place where trains stop'

Porters, signalmen, guards, cleaners.....

Nanaej some of them undoubtedly loaded baskets of homing pigeons, some helped old ladies with their heavy luggage, some heaved packages and crates on and off the 'goods van' and some probably kept the station garden looking lovely. And made sure the fire in the waiting room was stoked up in winter.

We have postcard of a previous inhabitant of our house from about 1900. He is standing, carefully uniformed with his team of about 8 othersoutside the station . I wonder what they all did. The station now has a ticket office that is manned until about midday but a coffee shop that has about 4 employees

I think we have some fans of Trollope on GN. According to something I've just read, he uses the term "railroad station".

But if they aren't going to stop, they don't need to tell you about the station. The next station we will be whizzing through at 80 mph, oh, the last station we whizzed through was.....' And I agree, 'train station' is just plain WRONG. And 'train manager'?

I left a book on a train once and when I went to the lost property office they asked me what it's title was and I had to reply 'The Idiot'. grin hmm

yes you would think that there were prizes being given out on the air bridge! Mind you after a 24 hour sit, one can be desperate to Stand!

True, JessM. I really hate it when the plane stops moving and everyone reaches for the top lockers and moves into the aisle, as if it's going to get them anywhere faster - the wait at the baggage carousel always sorts that out!

They probably did anno but it can be just wallpaper at the end of a long flight.

I left my handbag on an aircraft once. Was just reaching passport control when I realised. Was exhausted and nearly in tears, doing the 'helpless old lady' act, when a really kind young member of the cabin staff volunteered to go all the way back and collect it for me. I think I might have collapsed with exhaustion if she hadn't rescued me. If they had broadcast that warning about taking all your belongings before leaving the plane, this might not have happened.

- the "must have" accessory, obviously.
I once left a suitcase on a train. I was tired. It went to Manchester lost luggage - end of the line. Oh the trouble I had getting it retrieved!

wheni

JessM, I had always found the exhortation to take all your personal belongings with you annoying too, until the time we were on a train coming into Leeds and that announcement came on and a young man actually turned round, went back to his seat, and picked up something he had left! I hope he didn't notice us falling off our own seats with laughter. Ever since then I keep an eye open in case it happens again, but no luck so far.

I agree about the irritatingness of "train station" although that is not logical if one accepts "bus station". Also, when I am a passenger I hate being called a customer.

As for escalators, when it says "Dogs must be carried", why on earth don't they have a supply of small ones available for those who haven't remembered to bring one? Some of them even expect you to carry a small child too, which is awkward if you have a lot of luggage. And a dog.

When escalators were installed in Dublin airport there were a lot of nervous sounding notices which seemed to imply:
"If you are from the countryside and have never been on an escalator before, please don't take your first trip on this one, with a load of luggage"

Love the people who get off them and then stand and look round
And the train announcers that tell you to "take your all personal belongings with you"

There's a warning on a loop in Terminal 3 at Manchester Airport to the effect that passengers shouldn't take luggage on the escalator. Everyone does. I can only imagine the queue for the lifts if we didn't.

Heavy rain on the road between Seahouses and Bamburgh resulted in two cars needing their engines replaced. This will have to be paid for by the council or highways people as flood warning signs hadn't been put up [there wasn't time, I assume]. Once the signs were up they weren't responsible. We are going very much the way of the Americans, who sue for everything I believe.

.............................or the announcer?

They've recently stopped the most annoying one at Glasgow Queen Street, a non-stop repetition as you went up the stairs of: "Customers are reminded to always hold the handrail and to take care on the stairs. Customers are reminded...."

Incitement to violence!

As if people hadn't used stairs before.

[scream!]

Anyway, seems enough people complained, or else someone shot the equipment.

You are right about the fear of suing(is that really how you spell it?) At MK station and at Euston (the 2 I am in most) there are non-stop warnings about the state of the platforms "due to inclement weather", about minding the gap, about standing clear as the next train at whichever platform does not stop (useful, I usually hide when I hear that) about not leaving luggage unattended, about the fact that a "ticket marked London Midalnd ONLY will not be valid on a Virgin train "(really?) - it is a barrage of words, presumably so that nobody can say "I didn't know that". Maybe George Osborne should have paid more attention, come to think of it........

The Beeb isn't careful in the Jane Austen films, feetle – women, especially young ladies, would never have gone out hatless in Jane Austen's time, but they do in the Beeb films. Shame they miss that detail when on the whole the films are good.

Maybe there is a risk of people looking around for another train and falling down the gap . And then they'd sue [if they survived, that is].

Of course I don't mind, graces – shrug away!
Actually, I've just remembered one that does irritate me: "Please mind the gap when alighting from this train". Implication: on other trains you don't need to mind the gap, only this one. Always wonder why it's not just the train.

'Train station' is another US import - I objectto it when it is an anachronism - there is an episode of^Marple^, with Geraldine McEwan, in which Miss Marple has been picked up from the station, and as she rides away says something about the 'train station' - and this in the 1950s! I switched off in sheer disbelief - they are so careful about people's hats and motor-cars, and then they drop a stinker like that! Country's goin' to the demnition bow-wows...

(I watched it all in a later repeat.)

OK Bags but I'll continue to shrug if you don't mind?