Mrs Peel, we're needed.
Monday, May 19th, 2008 11:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
caddymanSometimes the Tube irritates and amuses on the same journey.
This morning I got to the station just as a train was pulling in, destination Kennington via Charing Cross. I just had time to get to the far end of the platform for optimal platform change at Euston. A couple of stops later, at West Finchley, the driver gleefully informed us that the service would be terminating at East Finchley. Had I known I should have waited for the next train; there is generally somewhere to sit when it pulls in to Totteridge and Whetstone, but not by the time it exits East Finchley. So I decanted at Finchley Central to give myself one less station’s worth of co-passengers to compete with. I duly got a seat, but on a Bank branch train, which meant that I was at the wrong end of the platform for a simple interchange.
At Euston I had to let a train go and wander to the far end of the platform again – behind slow moving tourists with wheelie bags fitted with scimitars on their wheels in best Ben Hur racing chariot fashion. Why are we not allowed to cull these people? Normally this would have maxed out my annoyance quotient for the journey, putting me into my habitual murderous commuter mood.
I was stopped mid-seethe, however, well before the interchange, when the train got to Highgate. At that station I was pleasantly surprised when a dapper City gent from circa 1935 came aboard, all pinstripe, furled umbrella and bowler hat. The very stereotype of a City businessman, and one rarely seen these days.
I was privileged to share part of my journey with John Steed’s dad, travelling out of time, but in place for about fifteen minutes, some 73 years late. I love the time and dimension vortices on the London Underground. The world is much the better for them.
This morning I got to the station just as a train was pulling in, destination Kennington via Charing Cross. I just had time to get to the far end of the platform for optimal platform change at Euston. A couple of stops later, at West Finchley, the driver gleefully informed us that the service would be terminating at East Finchley. Had I known I should have waited for the next train; there is generally somewhere to sit when it pulls in to Totteridge and Whetstone, but not by the time it exits East Finchley. So I decanted at Finchley Central to give myself one less station’s worth of co-passengers to compete with. I duly got a seat, but on a Bank branch train, which meant that I was at the wrong end of the platform for a simple interchange.
At Euston I had to let a train go and wander to the far end of the platform again – behind slow moving tourists with wheelie bags fitted with scimitars on their wheels in best Ben Hur racing chariot fashion. Why are we not allowed to cull these people? Normally this would have maxed out my annoyance quotient for the journey, putting me into my habitual murderous commuter mood.
I was stopped mid-seethe, however, well before the interchange, when the train got to Highgate. At that station I was pleasantly surprised when a dapper City gent from circa 1935 came aboard, all pinstripe, furled umbrella and bowler hat. The very stereotype of a City businessman, and one rarely seen these days.
I was privileged to share part of my journey with John Steed’s dad, travelling out of time, but in place for about fifteen minutes, some 73 years late. I love the time and dimension vortices on the London Underground. The world is much the better for them.
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(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-19 10:10 am (UTC)Time Lord!
Date: 2008-05-19 10:18 am (UTC)Re: Time Lord!
Date: 2008-05-19 10:29 am (UTC)Re: Time Lord!
Date: 2008-05-19 10:30 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-19 10:22 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-19 10:53 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-19 11:12 am (UTC)You say that now, but given the wrong lights, a brakedown here, a delayed service there and instead of qaint echoes from other times the gates of hell get opened. Luckily there are some good people constantly working to stop the pattern unfolding.You might have seen them, dragging little trolly bags along the platforms,do be careful of those bags they have unlicenced nuclear accellerators in them.
(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-19 11:34 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-19 11:36 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-19 01:52 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-19 02:23 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2008-05-19 02:46 pm (UTC)You won't be saying that when the Morlocks get ya !