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In 1994 the curse of
the Mobile Phone had barely arrived. At least not so far as rail travel
was concerned. My introduction was on 2nd February of that year, when I joined
"The Yorkshireman" steam hauled railtour at Banbury for a run
to Bradford. At least Bradford was the advertised destination. In the
event, we were delayed heavily at Landor Street Junction awaiting a
fresh loco crew, and by the time we reached Derby, snow was falling
heavily. In fact the tour was turned round at Sheffield, in the
interests of getting passengers home.
But to Sheffield "Taw Valley" had been doing her stuff. An 80 mph down Fosse Road bank, and later on, a superb climb up to Bradway tunnel in a blizzard. But during the whole of the journey, a passenger one row behind me, and on the opposite side of the Mk1 FO coach, was also doing his stuff. He was a Steel Stockholder, and he had brought his business with him. Most of his time was spent on his mobile phone receiving information from, and giving instructions to, his base. By the time we reached Sheffield, many of the unfortunate coach occupants knew as much about the business as he did. Now, ten years or so on, conducting business by mobile phone, and working on one's Laptop, has become the norm in first class. And second class is not exempt. Here you can listen at will to the senseless young men and women who babble on incessantly about nothing in particular, to the intense annoyance of those like me, who like a little peace and quiet. |
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| More recently, an
amusing incident was relayed to me by a friend who Guards & Conducts for
Virgin Trains on the Euston to Manchester route. It concerns a
businessman in First Class who was conducting a series of Multi-Million
Financial Deals on his mobile from his seat. But he was doing
so in a very loud voice, so that his fellow passengers would be impressed. This did not escape the attention of the
Guard/Conductor, who I will call John. Now somewhere south of Rugby, a
passenger became seriously ill on the train, and John wanted to ring to
have the train stopped and an ambulance waiting, at Milton Keynes.
And so our Multi Million pound dealer was approached for the use of his mobile phone. Suddenly the Multi Million pound dealer became a red faced Multi Million pound no dealer as he admitted that his Mobile Phone was a fake. A considerable number of smiling faces appeared from behind their newspapers, one of whom willingly supplied a working phone. |
