Train Happenings

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

Guard on a train asks for the police because there has been an assult. BTP take the usual 40 mins to arrive, train is obviously blocking the line. Another 20 minutes of statements and the guard is also arrested so after blocking the line for over a hour we finally move (this train out of service) and now everything is running around over 30 late and i've had to cancel a couple of trains.

No day is ever the same here!

[Little Miss Urchin]

Hang on, I'm confused. What is your job?

[AFF]

O.K. EFMTFTV, I'm trying to get the picture.

 

Is it a bit like the signal box in 'The Railway Children' or is it more like the control centre in 'The Taking Of Pelham 123'?

 

How does the driver talk to you?

[Rob_the_Saint]

Thomas the Tank Engine?

 

Who is the Fat Controller?

[GHA EFM]

TV Colin is a footballer, LMU.

[EFM's Librarian]

Why was the guard arrested? What was the incident?

 

This is the sort of thing when you get loads of idiots on the platform moaning about how bad the train company is, when there is clearly nothing the train company can do about it. Oh dear, I sound like my Dad <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> (who, incidentally, used to do a very similar job to EFMTFTV)

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

I don't speak to the driver, i speak to Network Rail (nee railtrack), they speak to the driver via the signalman.

I decide what to do with the train (well the service) It was me who cancelled the train and brought it empty back to Gospel Oak in order to start it's next round on time (well 33 minutes late) and I'll turn it again early to eventually get it back on time all together.

 

LMU - I work as a train controllor, but I also do this new TV station on my days off and afternoons (when on earlies), I shall be quitting this job and doing the TV full time when we go on air.

 

Now we have a track circuit failure at Channelsea Junction and everything is at a stand, so back in a while!

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

And I'm not sure why the guard was arrested, I think he was hit but the hitter made a counter alligation.

[AFF]

I thought you said that the train [the one with the guard/assault/counter-allegation] was out of service.

 

How can you cancel a train that's out of service?

 

Why does a train that's out of service need a guard?

 

What's a 'track circuit failure'?

 

Where's Channelsea?

[AFF]

P.S. How can there have been an assault when the train was out of service? Was it the driver that assaulted the guard?

 

I think that you're making this all up.

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

The train was in service until the assault - then it was taken out of service, the train can run without a guard if running empty.

 

Channelsea is just outside Stratford and is a major junction, a track circuit shows what train is in a certain signal section, if it fails it's showing the train as being there when in fact it isn't, so basically al the signals are red as it thinks there is a train there. So the trains have to be stopped and given permmisson to pass the signal at danger. it's quite a major thing hence the 823 minutes of delays and 12 part cancellations since it occured. My job is to bring the service back on time ASAP and my biggest dealy is now 37 mins but I'm terminating it early and it's next journey will start right time.

 

What didn't help was network rail sending a train the wrong way!

[Colin Zeal EFM]

Blimey, you still in work, mate??

 

 

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

Yeah just spent the last 3 hours sorting this mess out.

I'm on 7-7 today.

[Colin Zeal EFM]

What are your hours tomorrow??

 

 

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

I'm at the TV station, until about 5.30

[Colin Zeal EFM]

Fair enough. I'm off tomorrow so I was looking for a drinking partner!!

 

 

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

I'll meet you straight after I return.

[Colin Zeal EFM]

No, I'm busy between 5pm and 8pm. I was thinking more lunchtime/early-afternoon.

 

 

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

8pm, What about the Arsenal game?

[Colin Zeal EFM]

I intend to make the second half, but either way, I'll definitely be in the clubhouse for after the game.