Monday, 23 April 2012

What time does the matinee start...............

Just starting a week of nights this week so should be some interesting characters riding the rails. I don't mind working at night, of course I would not want to do it all the time. Once every four months is plenty, however, there is never much to do on the night shift. Normally it is one trip and back to the capital and then sit and watch a film, tonights offering is Cop Out starring Bruce Willis, bought for only £1 at a car boot sale.................bargain ! I shall let you know what I think about the film.

Meanwhile much has been quiet on the trains this week. Mind you, my friend, we call him Igor, I dont know why but he has an awful lot of facial hair which might have something to do with it but he has been called Igor for as long as I can remember, anyway back to what he did. While working on an old fashioned type 321 unit, he came out of his cab and started to carry out his revenue duties, all was going well until the next station appeared on the horizon. He made his way back to the cab only to discover, to his horror, that he had locked himself out. Now for a guard this is the height of embarrassment because in an instant the passengers are aware of what has happened. Feeling like you want the ground to open  and swallow you up, your pride takes a further hit as panic sets in. In Igors case he opened a small window and had to shout for help waiting for a passenger to hear his somewhat desperate cries who then somewhat tentatively agreed to go and inform the driver of the situation that had developed within the rear units. Accordingly, his driver came and rescued him and his passengers from their makeshift prison. However, poor Igor,  his acute embarrssment was not yet over, as he had to make the walk of shame along the platform to the rear of the train, open the train from the outside and finally reunite himself with his long lost key. I understand at the end of his shift his first stop was the locksmith to get a spare key cut.

I was never really interested in becoming a driver of a train, indeed I am quite sure I would be useless. However, an opportunity for promotion has arisen and the role of conductor instructor is now up for grabs, so this week I shall be updating my CV and writing a formal letter of application to my employer which hopefully will warrant me a candidate worthy of an interview. Watch this space for any developments.

Anyway off to bed now for the afternoon, so I shall be ready for another hard night watching a film or two.

Wednesday, 11 April 2012

All quiet on the western front

Well, Easter has come and gone and, if like me you took time off you no doubt are back to the grindstone by now. I spent several days away from the job visiting the East coast of England. I am sorry to say that in keeping with most Bank Holidays the weather was TRULY AWFUL. Is there anything sadder than a holiday resort out of season in bad weather. How sad it is to see the little children playing on a windswept beach in shorts, sandals and a thick winter coat, their legs looking like stilton cheese, Mum wrapped up as if experiencing a nuclear winter and Dad, trying to cheer everyone up by clowning near the sea in just his T shirt. i am pleased to say I spent most of the time in the local coffee shops as we moved from one promenade to another. During my time away from the job, the only train I saw was the one that gave pleasure rides up and down the sea front. I decided to pass up this opprtunity.

Until next time, keep riding the rails.