the cavalry / the failure
As much as I like going to Ham, because I don't drive it means having to get the train to Richmond (and then a taxi from there – I don't mind getting the bus back to the station, but it's such a long walk down the drive to the polo club that I'd sooner walk at the end, especially if I've spent a long time in the saddle). At my expense, I've learnt that this Richmond branch is riddled with the same amount of failures and whatnot as the Uxbridge branch, the only difference being that the former runs on BR signalling. So today was very unexciting when I left Richmond (on time) at 1444, only to go one stop and then be stuck at Kew Gardens until 1700 (which is when they ran the first District line train through eastbound).
You can just about make a red dot in the distance; just as my train came in to Kew Gardens, one departed towards Richmond, and consequently got stuck in section – for over an hour. I mused to myself about how funny it would be if I'd had my polo lesson at the time I usually have it, as opposed to the earlier time today. My intention was to sit the failure out (the H22 from Richmond to Hounslow Bus Station, the bus we used to get as kids when I was staying round my aunt's), as it just wasn't worth my while trying to get a bus anywhere else and, as I later discovered, Kew Gardens is kind of in the middle of nowhere. The Overground obviously died a death at this point as well, and by the time the emergency services arrived and the BTP kicked us all out of the station (this was about 1510) "for our own safety" (according to the DRM that turned up – apparently there's some sort of risk for us to be waiting on the eastbound platform as they do a WDM to work the train stuck in section onto the westbound platform), there were hundreds of people. Every bus stop I walked to in the area (to try and catch the 391 to Hammersmith) was rammed and none of the buses were stopping anyway, given the schools had just closed for the day, meaning the buses were already full anyway. Whatever taxis there were happened to be ferrying spare District line Train Ops, and even after calling for one, Radio Taxis called me back to say they had nothing in the area. So I had to wait it out.
It was a very good thing to observe from a social psychology point of view, and how quickly you could notice the mood change. On the stations, I do remember feeling that mood change and just bracing myself for the onslaught, but on the outside looking in, quietly observing other people, it made for an interesting case study. I'm really proud of the station staff that were there though – they didn't have a Station Supervisor (not sure how it works on these small BR/LU stations) – there were two SAs and they were just awesome, despite some of the whinging.
Even at 1700, the bus stops were still swarming. In the corner of my eye, as I happened to walk back towards the station approach for the umpteenth time, looking for a cab, I saw a District line train pull into to the platform and some other passengers being ushered on the platform – this was going to be the first one through. I felt sorry for the ERU though – two trucks turned up, and after all the faffing around on the platform, with BR obviously calling the shots, they ended up having to drive up to Richmond in the end.
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You may not use this image, edit it or alter it in any way (and as a result, claim the image or the derivative as your own). And it's not for Tumblr / weheartit.com either.
the cavalry / the failure
As much as I like going to Ham, because I don't drive it means having to get the train to Richmond (and then a taxi from there – I don't mind getting the bus back to the station, but it's such a long walk down the drive to the polo club that I'd sooner walk at the end, especially if I've spent a long time in the saddle). At my expense, I've learnt that this Richmond branch is riddled with the same amount of failures and whatnot as the Uxbridge branch, the only difference being that the former runs on BR signalling. So today was very unexciting when I left Richmond (on time) at 1444, only to go one stop and then be stuck at Kew Gardens until 1700 (which is when they ran the first District line train through eastbound).
You can just about make a red dot in the distance; just as my train came in to Kew Gardens, one departed towards Richmond, and consequently got stuck in section – for over an hour. I mused to myself about how funny it would be if I'd had my polo lesson at the time I usually have it, as opposed to the earlier time today. My intention was to sit the failure out (the H22 from Richmond to Hounslow Bus Station, the bus we used to get as kids when I was staying round my aunt's), as it just wasn't worth my while trying to get a bus anywhere else and, as I later discovered, Kew Gardens is kind of in the middle of nowhere. The Overground obviously died a death at this point as well, and by the time the emergency services arrived and the BTP kicked us all out of the station (this was about 1510) "for our own safety" (according to the DRM that turned up – apparently there's some sort of risk for us to be waiting on the eastbound platform as they do a WDM to work the train stuck in section onto the westbound platform), there were hundreds of people. Every bus stop I walked to in the area (to try and catch the 391 to Hammersmith) was rammed and none of the buses were stopping anyway, given the schools had just closed for the day, meaning the buses were already full anyway. Whatever taxis there were happened to be ferrying spare District line Train Ops, and even after calling for one, Radio Taxis called me back to say they had nothing in the area. So I had to wait it out.
It was a very good thing to observe from a social psychology point of view, and how quickly you could notice the mood change. On the stations, I do remember feeling that mood change and just bracing myself for the onslaught, but on the outside looking in, quietly observing other people, it made for an interesting case study. I'm really proud of the station staff that were there though – they didn't have a Station Supervisor (not sure how it works on these small BR/LU stations) – there were two SAs and they were just awesome, despite some of the whinging.
Even at 1700, the bus stops were still swarming. In the corner of my eye, as I happened to walk back towards the station approach for the umpteenth time, looking for a cab, I saw a District line train pull into to the platform and some other passengers being ushered on the platform – this was going to be the first one through. I felt sorry for the ERU though – two trucks turned up, and after all the faffing around on the platform, with BR obviously calling the shots, they ended up having to drive up to Richmond in the end.
All Rights Reserved, as stated. Re-posts are with expressed permission only.
You may not use this image, edit it or alter it in any way (and as a result, claim the image or the derivative as your own). And it's not for Tumblr / weheartit.com either.