Railtour Passengers

In the 1980's, when my railtour activities were weekly, I was usually accompanied by one of my two sons. This ensured at least one seat with a window view. In more recent times, I have travelled alone. This has a huge disadvantage. A single booking invariably results in a centre aisle seat. In most instances, I have found my companions to be pleasant and genial, and often prepared to share their window seats with me for part of the journey.

Then there are the other sort of companions. They have booked either two or three seats but believe that they are entitled to the exclusive use of all 4 seats.

On the excellent "Southern Coasterman" railtour of 20th April 1996, I joined the train at Coventry. The Itinerary was 2 class 33's double heading as far as Basingstoke. Then Electric E5001 as far as Eastbourne, via Eastleigh, Fratton, and Brighton (reverse). Then the 33's again from Eastbourne, up the Brighton Line, then the West Coast main line, back to Coventry. An excellent and interesting itinerary that included a short stay at Brighton, though long enough for a walk along the beach, or around the town.

At Coventry I found my seat, and as expected, it was a centre aisle facing seat with the three remaining seats in the bay already occupied. But my seat was also occupied, by a pile of coats and baggage. I politely asked if I could please have my seat. The response was one of horror. Can't you find another seat?. This is the seat I have been allocated, I replied. They begrudgingly removed the baggage, and I sat down. I can only describe their subsequent actions as dreadful. Only quick action on my part prevented a lap full of coffee.

The situation continued. I was not able to be reallocated to another seat since the train was fully booked. But some time later my companions had the last word. West Bromwich Albion were playing Norwich City, and there was a full commentary on the radio. And they were going to listen to it. In fact all of the passengers in the coach were going to listen to it, the volume was turned right up. At this, I decided enough was enough, and I went to stand in the end vestibule of the coach. There I remained until the Clapham Junction stop on the return journey from Eastbourne. Several passengers disembarked, and I then had a 4 seat bay to myself.

Peace perfect peace.

Another type of behaviour was evident on 26th August 2002, when Pathfinder Tours aptly named "Bonebreaker" railtour, topped and tailed by a pair of class 58's, hit the buffers at Walton on Naze. I could not believe my eyes and ears when, having disembarked, I noted several other passengers on the platform on their mobile phones to the media. The result was that reporters and cameramen appeared on the scene in an indecently short space of time. The picture below shows a passenger to the right of the picture being interviewed. I hasten to add that the two persons standing in the background were not connected with the media frenzy.

But by far the worst behaviour I have ever come across was on 30th April 2002, when BR Standard Tank no 80098 ran an evening excursion from Exeter St Davids to Plymouth and back. The outward journey went without incident, the loco ran well. But on the return, the ambition of a large number of passengers was to consume the maximum amount of alcohol in the shortest possible time. I hasten to add that the alcohol was not supplied by the tour operator, Past Time, but had been purchased in Plymouth by passengers. In the carriage I travelled in, we had a drunken trumpet player, missiles thrown from the train, and general uproar. And while all of this was going on, 80098 was heading for Newton Abbot in a record 38 minutes 16 seconds.