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Post by q8 on Mar 25, 2005 13:25:51 GMT
It's nice to know that you guys like me reminiscences of the old days.These are all recollections of things told me by former staff now unfortunately long dead during meal reliefs and spare turns and such like. We had some real "characters" on the job then such as the guard who was regaled by a regular passenger who was much later travelling than usual and explained that he had been delayed because a man had jumped under a train. This elicited the response from the guard that the poor chap must have been "cut up" about that. So if you guys have any queries about the job in the past then post them and if I know the answer I'll reply A.S.A.P. As for my spelling mistakes please be tolerant as my typing finger sometimes get going before my brain is engaged.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2005 20:04:59 GMT
That's nice to hear Q8 - I love hearing stories about LU in the 'good old days', when trains had two handles and apprentices were made to fear for their sanity  ;D Hopefully I'll be able to come up with more questions about stuff that will spur on some more recollections  |
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Post by Alexh on Mar 27, 2005 10:01:15 GMT
Hi Q8,
I find your posts facinating and I'm glad someone like yourself takes the time to write about the way the Underground used to be like. It's excellent reading and I wish I could have seen the network like that for myself. I'd love a ride in a R stock, but unfortunatelty they were withdrawn one year before I was born! Never Mind.
Thanks again,
Alex
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Post by q8 on Mar 27, 2005 11:41:48 GMT
Hallo Alex nice to hear from you. AAHHH..... R stocks now there was stock that looked the same but nearly every train was different. For instance you could have a set one day and she'd go like a rocket. You could have thae same set the day after and she'd take some pushing along. Not only that a set could behave totally different from each end. I.E. Ggo like the clappers westbound and strain a bit going east. The lower the west end car number the slower she was generally. The fastest sets were those above 21145 especially 21150. By christ man could she go! She had a proper clock speedo on board and once coming down from Elm Park to Dagenham East the needle was hitting the top stop so that was not far short of 60mph. When I was a guard we had a driver known for his speed and one afternoon we had a complete 8 car train of lightweight R cars and as when left Elm Park WB she took wings. The normal braking distance for Dagenham East westbound in those days was to shut off at the last home stick and give it full EP. That normally meant you stopped right on the car mark. Not this day...no sir old Tom slammed the full EP on at the normal place but she was going so fast that when we stopped my guards door was up by the gents toilet at the far end of the station buildings. Tom was seen standing near the top of the platform ramp facing me and bowing low from to left and right waiting for the applause. My answer to that was a victory sign with both hands. It's a good job those east end platforms were so long AND that the starter was off. Speaking of long platforms we once had, during severe service disruption, two complete 6 car R stocks and the leading car of a third in Dagenham Heathway westbound platform. But thats another story. Oh what fun boys and girls!!! ;D ;D
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Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2005 15:48:00 GMT
Have you ever thought about writing a book about your time on the Underground, Q8?
I think it would sell very well! I'd love to read it!
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Post by Chris W on Aug 16, 2005 15:40:55 GMT
8-)Speaking of long platforms we once had, during severe service disruption, two complete 6 car R stocks and the leading car of a third in Dagenham Heathway westbound platform. But thats another story. Q8 Don't think you ever told that story.... is that one for the book?? ;D ;D Hows that going by the way?? |
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Post by q8 on Aug 16, 2005 16:36:10 GMT
Don't think you ever told that story.... is that one for the book?? ;D ;D .............. It's aleady been told in the story about the flyunder flood.
Hows that going by the way??.............slowly
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Post by Chris W on Aug 17, 2005 8:19:45 GMT
Don't think you ever told that story.... is that one for the book?? ;D ;D .............. It's aleady been told in the story about the flyunder flood. Hows that going by the way??.............slowly Cheers Q8..... I must have missed that one... will hunt it down... ;D  |
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;D
