pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Apr 29, 2014 19:18:16 GMT
On Summer Sundays in 1939, route 112 ran from Edmonton (Park Road) to Hampton Court. My father was at one time a conductor on the 112 route. I don't suppose you have a copy of the 1939 summer sunday timetable or a schedule of some sort. As I would love to see details of that journey.
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Apr 29, 2014 7:00:39 GMT
Thanks everybody for your input. I would like to suggest the following as contenders 12 North Finchley to Crtal palace 279 Waltham Abbey to Smitfield 140 Burnt Oak to Heathrow Central
It seems now that the longest journey is the x26 Heathrow to Croydon
Further to by earlier point about getting different answers to my questions. One of the points raised was do you mean length of journey or the distance between the two termini. Going on the first point I seem to remember there was a route some on the east side of London that was quite long in length of the route but relatively short between the two termini. Apparently the route would wander around a lot.
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Apr 29, 2014 6:47:21 GMT
Bottom landing at Goodge Street
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Apr 27, 2014 16:14:38 GMT
I think we are getting into the area of what was the longest bus journey you could make in London without changing buses ie The Longest Route. I have never been able to get a definitive answer and that's after working at the LT Museum for six years. All the Bus experts would come up with different answers. I know this is primarily a LUL forum but does anybody know the answer.
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Apr 19, 2014 19:34:58 GMT
For my two p's worth I would add that when I joined LUL in 1989 the selling of BR ticket was considered a "dark art". Most ticket offices could sell a very limited number of BR tickets. However a few selected ones could sell a far bigger range. These select few offices included HOH, Moor Park and the others on the Amersham branch. I can't speak of other offices on the District Line. I worked in the Moorgate Met offices and we sold a large range of tickets. But it was always thought that Farringdon sold the biggest range therefore making it a nightmare of a Booking Office to work in.
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Apr 3, 2014 12:13:35 GMT
Pathetic Council staff; sack them all and then see if they can jobs in the real world! XF Now now, we could fall out very quickly over this! As one of the "pathetic Council staff" you all too easily deride, we have been subjected to many years of cuts and downsizing, our present from central government for being i) widely recognised as the most efficient arm of the public sector and ii) the only part of the public service not under central control. We do the very best we can to serve our public under incredibly trying circumstances. Onto your point, which belies a fundamental misunderstanding of our role. As Council officers, it is a significant part of our job to put into practice the policies of our elected Members. Were this WO report real rather than an April Fool, such posturing over paint would have the stamp of the elected ego all over it. We are professionals, adept at maximising value for money, and would not advocate such nonsense, especially when it clearly flies in the face of common sense. However, the local democratic mandate that Members possess is an incredibly powerful tool and they do not hesitate to wield it. You will have a chance to "sack" them at the local elections; that for the executive Mayor of Watford is on 22 May this year and those for local councillors (county and district) rotate on a four-yearly cycle. Finally, we are all too aware of what goes on in the "real world", thank you very much. We have to house the homeless, take care of vulnerable adults and children and clean up the rubbish from people who think nothing of lobbing it in the gutter. All while coping with year-on-year budget cuts of several per cent each time. How much more "real world" do you want? Trust me on this, you'll miss us when the Coalition have finished trashing us and we're not there anymore. THC I don't want to sound patronising but I think my council's staff do a damn good job. I live in Central Beds.
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Mar 16, 2014 16:25:13 GMT
@cabmirror/norbitonflyer - I have a soft spot for the W&C. Not only was I determined to transfer it (and some other bits of BR infrastructure used by LU) to LU in advance of privatisation - I was eager to save something from the wreck - but I was also a Director of the line for a few weeks. We had to form a new BR subsidiary (the Waterloo and City and Underground Extensions Railway) as the legal vehicle for the transfer, and then run it as an operating company for some days, for tax reasons. Amongst other entertainments, LU invited my lawyer colleague, Helen Bissell, who had been working with me on the transfer, to choose the line colour (LU were very sexist). She was offered a palette of the available colours and chose the present eau-de-nil shade because she had an evening dress of that colour. The transfer went anything but smoothly. In the first place, LU lawyers turned up the morning before the transfer with a sheaf (C600 pages) of additions to the transfer document, concerning indemnities that Railtrack would have to give them (RT being a party to the transfer for such things as parts of NX and Wimbledon). RT refused to sign on the spot, rightly wanting time to read them. LU tried bullying tactics and said there was insufficient time for the indemnities to be read by RT's lawyers. RT replied that in that case, they would shut the District Line whilst they did. LU were astonished and backed off. We then faced the complication that we BR directors had to remain in office at the moment of transfer, so that LU could replace us immediately afterwards. That led to the problem that we in BR were, albeit only for a second or two, responsible for some LU operations, and we needed to be indemnified ourselves in case an accident occurred at that instant. This rather taxed the lawyers' drafting skills, and we collectively did consider suspending the District and ELL for 5 minutes either side of the transfer time (the Drain didn't run that close to midnight) just to avoid any mishaps. Luckily, common sense prevailed and the transfer went ahead smoothly. What a fascinating insight into the machinations of of operating a railway and transferring ownership. I wonder if there were similar incidents when BR as the operator of railways in this country transferred operations to the TOC's.. Thanks for posting Graham,
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Feb 20, 2014 8:15:28 GMT
I have just read the article regarding Booking Office closures and the accompanying comments regarding how much LUL staff get paid. Some poster have pointed out that the wage rate recognises what staff are responsible for. I would also like to point out that would those who complain be happy in starting work at 0500 one week then fishing at 0100 the next. Those who complain probably work 0900-1700 Mon-Fri.
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Feb 17, 2014 11:12:16 GMT
In an earlier age it was panted in Met Line colours and called Sir John Betjemen. It would the "Steam On The Met" trains. I had a ride in it once from Amersham to Watford Met quite an experience.
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Jan 31, 2014 8:13:44 GMT
As an ex Met Line employee I often wondered how the Chesham Branch stayed operating. Perhaps it was the large number of senior LUL managers who were said to live in the Chesham area.
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Dec 25, 2013 17:52:41 GMT
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to one and all. Would like to add my sympathy to all those who have suffered due to the floods in the South East. Many apologies, sympathy to those of course in the South West and Wales.
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Dec 25, 2013 10:49:43 GMT
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to one and all. Would like to add my sympathy to all those who have suffered due to the floods in the South East.
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Dec 17, 2013 12:20:00 GMT
Thanks Revupminster. That makes it a bit clearer but as I joined in 89 class 3/4 BC's had already gone. I started out as a BC2 on the Met that's where I stayed until Company plan and then became a MFSS on the Met. Then moved to the Northern to become a SSMF2 at Goodge Street. But going back to your post you don't mention an RBC1 which I believe stood for Relief Booking Clerk 1, This as I remember meant that the BC could be anywhere on the line, was paid considerably more but more often or than covering part of the line even class 2 booking offices but still getting the enhanced rate. However I will bow to greater knowledge. Anyway if I don't post again Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to all. The Relief Booking Clerk and Relief Clerk are the same. They were paid 10% more maybe 15% by the company plan. They could cover any BC grade including Depot Clerk who were equivalent of a Chief Booking Clerk A. Trying to remember I think the RBC 1 was done away with in one reorganisation. I was a RBC1 in my early twenties and when I covered Station Masters I wore my glasses to make me look older!!!. The Relief Booking Clerk was the route to Station Master and Divisional Inspector/Area Manager. Train drivers usually progressed via Station Inspector until the salary levels through one man operation did not make it worthwhile for them. Many relief clerks/train drivers were instructors at the training centre, another route to DI/Area Manager. Relief Clerks and Leave Cover Clerks could be sent any where on the line which due to historic reasons was Upminster to Hounslow West/Heathrow and South Harrow not including the BR stations and stations such as Victoria that was transferred to the Victoria Line. Relief Clerks could occasionally be sent to Piccadilly staffed stations which was Knightsbridge to Cockfosters not including stations staffed by other lines such as Piccadilly Circus, Holborn, Kings Cross. A colleague of mine was a RBC1 I certainly don't remember him covering depot clerk positions or station foreman. He did become a CBC A. However this may well have been after some reorganisation, he eventually joined me at Goodge Street as a SSMF 2. We certainly had a Relief Clerk at my end of the Met that as far as remember. I was aware of him covering CBC A grades though. Perhaps there were some reorganisations that I was never aware of. apart from "Action Stations" and ultimately the "Company Plan" during which a lot of VERY experienced booking office staff were lost, Including some at Euston. That was where I ultimately finished up trying to sort out there book keeping.
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Dec 17, 2013 10:49:10 GMT
Thanks Revupminster. That makes it a bit clearer but as I joined in 89 class 3/4 BC's had already gone. I started out as a BC2 on the Met that's where I stayed until Company plan and then became a MFSS on the Met. Then moved to the Northern to become a SSMF2 at Goodge Street. But going back to your post you don't mention an RBC1 which I believe stood for Relief Booking Clerk 1, This as I remember meant that the BC could be anywhere on the line, was paid considerably more but more often or than covering part of the line even class 2 booking offices but still getting the enhanced rate. However I will bow to greater knowledge.
Anyway if I don't post again Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to all.
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Dec 16, 2013 20:53:07 GMT
Ticket collectors were other characters I worked with. One at Whitechapel was an ex boxer, big, broken nose, cauliflower ear. Passengers did not argue with him. Another at Mile End had a false leg and if a passenger ignored him he would swear at them until they come back and he would put the station master right in it. Another station master at Aldgate East was often the worse for drink in the afternoon. Another Station Master was nearly arrested by the transport police at Upton Park when he wanted to make sure all the football fans had bought railway tickets coming back from the match. Another station master would walk alone through Watney Street market Shadwell to the bank with his uniform hat on and everyone knew he was carrying the station takings. Station Masters and Relief Clerks had plain buttons and a poachers pocket, unlike station inspectors who had griffin buttons, so they were not obvious railwaymen. Although I worked in the Booking Office for nigh on ten years I was never really sure of the grades that existed within the Booking Office hierarchy. Could someone explain what all the grades were particularly the different grade of Chief Clerk and the difference between a RBC1 and a Relief Clerk.
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Dec 15, 2013 20:46:57 GMT
I think during my time on the Met most of the characters must have left but I certainly remember the Tibbles. However I do remember two DSM'S (Duty Station Managers0 with somewhat of a reputation, I won't mention any full names but one of them had the initials C.A.T. He was known as "Cut Away ****. The other DSM if I remember hated crowds so why he joined the combine I will never know.
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Dec 9, 2013 20:30:41 GMT
the Met was always special to me as well. I always answered if anybody asked where I worked "On the Met" and I was proud to be a part of the lines team. However to enable me to gain promotion I had to leave and go and work on the Northern Line. With the passage of time I have often thought was it a wise move.
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Dec 8, 2013 20:44:32 GMT
Talking of uniformity across lines etc. When I worked on the Met there was talk on the combine of having line specific ties. There existed an unofficial Met line Tie and I believe an unofficial District Line tie. So staff would have been happy to wear a n appropriate line coloured tie for those lines and possible a couple of others . However no one would have been very keen to wear a Hammersmith & City tie for obvious reasons. (Pink)
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Dec 4, 2013 14:50:41 GMT
Just imagine how long a Denham-Ongar journey on the Central would have taken Two and half hours perhaps?
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Dec 1, 2013 12:39:19 GMT
But of a rant but I've just spent the best part of half an hour at Croxley waiting. The 9.38 was cancelled. So much for the controllers looking to reduce the gap. It's seemingly easier not to bother. If I'd known I'd have made other plans but they're advertising Good Service north of Baker Street. thanks for missing my appointment this 15 minute interval timetable is a nightmare when trains get cancelled When I worked at Croxley, on a Sunday we had a 20 or 30 min service, not sure what. Imagine the inconvenience if one of those had been cancelled.
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Nov 21, 2013 21:44:40 GMT
Correct me If I'm wrong, but Amersham and Chesham aren't known for their Night Life, and I doubt that the demand from people from the surrounding areas wanting to go London (or back) will merit a service. I could see there being demand for Watford Junction, but I could be wrong (I am making predictions about the Met from the other side of London...) The point I was making is that in their eyes is they are missing out on something whether there is a demand or not
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Nov 21, 2013 20:03:03 GMT
EVO will appear at earliest when the Piccadilly Line or Bakerloo Line gets upgraded, which isn't even scheduled yet. If they were to appear, contracts and the like would have been signed, in order to get them out on time. Looking at it more, they are all (or will be) ATO lines, apart from the Piccadilly, however, once the SSR has been resignalled, I can see it running during the night, although I doubt that Amersham or Chesham would get a service. Seeing how the residents of Amersham/Chesham got upset when they lost their fast services how are they going to feel if the don't get a 24hr service. Will the Met ultimately rub for 24 hrs to Watford Jct?
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Nov 21, 2013 13:41:32 GMT
I certainly wouldn't fancy being on a platform when all the pubs and clubs have tipped out. What happens when the automatic ticket machines go wrong and the staff member has to go inside the ticket office closely followed by a large number of drunks. When I was a MFSS out on the Met during the "Company Plan" period. Although there were never many people about you always felt vulnerable.
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Nov 15, 2013 11:53:23 GMT
I am still trying (and failing) to connect the second word of the lobster clue station to a lobster. You're not alone in that. The answer is " Male Monarch Crustacean" Not a 100 mts from STP.
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Nov 14, 2013 20:00:44 GMT
I understood the dock part, not the doctor The man in white coat is a Doc what he is standing on is the other part of the answer
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Nov 14, 2013 19:57:27 GMT
I have to agree. Wth does that have to do with a rock? It's not related to the object but the action. Like the planes at the top. Not the best clue, but there are worse ones. The lobster for example. I think a lot of the people who thought up the clues need to suitably punished, Perhaps hit around the head with a Traffic circular or something similar LOL Erm, thank you The Lobster clue was, in my opinion, one of the easier and more obvious clues
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Nov 14, 2013 15:42:19 GMT
I think a lot of the people who thought up the clues need to suitably punished, Perhaps hit around the head with a Traffic circular or something similar LOL
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Nov 14, 2013 8:45:47 GMT
The man is not chasing a swan but a bird that is similar, The answer is another name for a red herring?
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Nov 13, 2013 7:13:56 GMT
I have to give up at 99... the Chevron on the corner of the pub is driving me mad. It tells me Corner and Corners are close, but none of the three "Corner" stations I know of in London seem to be the answer. :-( It's a mathematical symbol.
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pitdiver
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Post by pitdiver on Nov 10, 2013 19:15:07 GMT
Thanks to all for the help. The gravestone really wound us up but have got them all at last.
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