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I did.
Yes, the debacle that was the blackout struck me down with extreme vehemence and left me a gasping shell of a man watching the carnage, chaos and despair of other commuters as they were stranded in a world of madness.
My rage was only confined by the boundaries of my mortal body. If I could have flung myself in the path of a train, I would have. Except i would have just fallen down and sprained my ankle rather than hope for an end to the tragic and despicable city that is London.
I eventually got home after 11.00pm. Too tired to care or to be angry, I flopped into bed and floated into another world.
This morning I was quite calm. However, I was plunged into a black venomous anger when the tube didn't stop at my designated stop due to a "fire hazard". So I had to change and change again until I finally got to another stop and walked from there.
Why oh why are bloody ticket prices going up when the service is getting worse?
SOMEONE TELL ME.
Yes, the debacle that was the blackout struck me down with extreme vehemence and left me a gasping shell of a man watching the carnage, chaos and despair of other commuters as they were stranded in a world of madness.
My rage was only confined by the boundaries of my mortal body. If I could have flung myself in the path of a train, I would have. Except i would have just fallen down and sprained my ankle rather than hope for an end to the tragic and despicable city that is London.
I eventually got home after 11.00pm. Too tired to care or to be angry, I flopped into bed and floated into another world.
This morning I was quite calm. However, I was plunged into a black venomous anger when the tube didn't stop at my designated stop due to a "fire hazard". So I had to change and change again until I finally got to another stop and walked from there.
Why oh why are bloody ticket prices going up when the service is getting worse?
SOMEONE TELL ME.
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I got stuck in a tram once with a bunch of tanked up kids intent on killing each other. The driver and the conducter got out of the train and locked all of the doors so nobody could get out, then called the police.
I have never been so scared as I was locked in that tram with a bunch of ruffian teenagers. I still can't believer the driver and the conducter left us all locked in with no way to escape.
Luckily the kids only had it in for each other, and although some of them came out of it with blood spilled, the other passengers were all fine.
I have never been so scared as I was locked in that tram with a bunch of ruffian teenagers. I still can't believer the driver and the conducter left us all locked in with no way to escape.
Luckily the kids only had it in for each other, and although some of them came out of it with blood spilled, the other passengers were all fine.
Good anecdote Unbeliever. I ended up in a fight on the Glasgow Subway. Nothing so amazing though.
DW wrote:
> They're like 3 years behind schedule with their new trains, right?
>
> Along next to Kingston Station, they've got two new South West
> Trains...never been moved. They're still using Slam Doors, which
> should have been out last year.
They went looking for a 10 year extension to their licence last year, and were only given 1 year and told that if they don;t sort it soon, they'll get the chop.
Even the "new" trains now are out of date. The problem they seem to be having is that they spent millions buying the trains without checking if they'd run on crappy old english train lines. They don't, so they have to refit them individually, which costs a fortune, and is why ticket prices went up a few months back.
Bad management is to blame for it all.
> They're like 3 years behind schedule with their new trains, right?
>
> Along next to Kingston Station, they've got two new South West
> Trains...never been moved. They're still using Slam Doors, which
> should have been out last year.
They went looking for a 10 year extension to their licence last year, and were only given 1 year and told that if they don;t sort it soon, they'll get the chop.
Even the "new" trains now are out of date. The problem they seem to be having is that they spent millions buying the trains without checking if they'd run on crappy old english train lines. They don't, so they have to refit them individually, which costs a fortune, and is why ticket prices went up a few months back.
Bad management is to blame for it all.
I think I've read your escapade before, it sounds familiar and I still think you were lucky to come out the other side of the experience alive.
While I was looking for the story on the blackout I came across the story of a 30+ bloke who has just died after jumping in the sea to rescue a child in a freak holiday accident. I was curious about the actions of someone like this. What kind of person just reacts without thought of the consequences of their actions, it is along the same lines as you jumping in to defend the girl.
The child was alive and in hospital last night but they haven't released the deceased mans' name until his relatives are contacted, in Blackpool I think.
I'd like to think I would react like this but have serious doubts and would not like to have it put to the test.
While I was looking for the story on the blackout I came across the story of a 30+ bloke who has just died after jumping in the sea to rescue a child in a freak holiday accident. I was curious about the actions of someone like this. What kind of person just reacts without thought of the consequences of their actions, it is along the same lines as you jumping in to defend the girl.
The child was alive and in hospital last night but they haven't released the deceased mans' name until his relatives are contacted, in Blackpool I think.
I'd like to think I would react like this but have serious doubts and would not like to have it put to the test.
Insane Bartender wrote:
> I know what you mean though, and as it happens, South West Trains are
> dangerously close to losing their Railtrack licence to run trains...
They're like 3 years behind schedule with their new trains, right?
Along next to Kingston Station, they've got two new South West Trains...never been moved. They're still using Slam Doors, which should have been out last year.
> I know what you mean though, and as it happens, South West Trains are
> dangerously close to losing their Railtrack licence to run trains...
They're like 3 years behind schedule with their new trains, right?
Along next to Kingston Station, they've got two new South West Trains...never been moved. They're still using Slam Doors, which should have been out last year.
I've had a couple of rucks on the tube, always late at night and always stepping in when drunk blokes in suits make unappropriate advances to women by themselves.
What angers me is that nobody else helps, everyone tries to think themselves invisible and ignores the situation.
What angers me is that nobody else helps, everyone tries to think themselves invisible and ignores the situation.
Very true. There are a lot of nutters out there.
These days when I get onto the tube I make sure there are no easily identifiable nutters around.
These days when I get onto the tube I make sure there are no easily identifiable nutters around.
Damn, I lost! I hate going to London sometimes because you never know what kind of nutters you'll meet. Last time I went was to Brixton Academy for a QOTSA gig. Some nutcase at the bar started accusing me of pushing in, even though he was standing behind me, and he was getting more and more abusive, but the last thing I want is a fight in a place like that. For a start he would probably have kicked my head in, but more than that I didn't want to ruin our night out. Worst bit was coming out after the gig and hoping he wasn't going to be sitting 5 seats down from me on the tube!
I live in Harlow, which is in Essex, just North-East of London. Whisked girlfriend to the sunny shores of Inverness for a week. Inverness is right up there in North Scotland. That week was also the week that there was that big suspension of train services down the East coast, so coming back was a nightmare. Took about 3-4 hours to get there. Harlow to Liverpool St, first class (stylish, eh!) to Inverness. No problems. Enjoy a week sight-seeing (mainly the inside of the log cabin we rented), then it's time to come home. Get to Inverness train station - no trains. "Excuse me, Mr Scottish trains spokesperson, how are we supposed to get back down to London?", "Well, ye should have thought about that before you came.", "What, we were meant to predict the train crash that closed the entire East coast line and then not gone on holiday!?", "Yes, but there's a coach round the corner that leaves in about 10 seconds. run, run!".
So we get a coach which goes all the way down to Edinburgh. But still no luck with the trains. So we go across to Glasgow, and they are running a train service, but it's the West coast line, which means it goes through Liverpool, Manchester, and all down the west before we have to go back up the country and into London the back way (oo-err). Then a train back to Harlow and our last fiver, which we avoided spending on food, went on a taxi home.
Journey time - 14 hours.
So we get a coach which goes all the way down to Edinburgh. But still no luck with the trains. So we go across to Glasgow, and they are running a train service, but it's the West coast line, which means it goes through Liverpool, Manchester, and all down the west before we have to go back up the country and into London the back way (oo-err). Then a train back to Harlow and our last fiver, which we avoided spending on food, went on a taxi home.
Journey time - 14 hours.
Okay then...I won! Some of you might have seen this before....
I was on the tube one day about four years ago and it was quite late at night. I sat in one of the seat next to the doors and the tube stopped and two people walked on - a massive man of West Indian origin who was built like a brick sh*thouse and a diminutive old Chinese woman who sat directly opposite me.
The other guy (I'll call him the bouncer because that's what he resembled) went to the end of the carriage and sat down. No-one else was sitting in our section of the carriage, past one set of doors - a few randoms were sat at the other end of the carriage, minding their own business, as you do.
Anyway, the tube starts moving and the bouncer starts muttering to himself under his breath. He's swearing as well as swigging from a hip flask. I thought to myself, "Uh-oh...this doesn't bode well but I've only got another 9 stops to go so I can grin and bear it."
The old woman is sitting quietly and not saying a word when suddenly the bouncer got up (while the tube was still moving) and walked in the direction of the old woman, pulls his leg back and delivers on of the hardest kicks I've ever seen. He kicked her in her legs and her shoe flew off and spun down the other end of the carriage. I had my eyes closed and it wasn't until she screamed in pain that I opened my eyes and noticed something was amiss. The bouncer had retreated to his original seat and by now I was feeling the fear and slightly angry that someone could attack this poor defenceless woman for no reason. The old woman slowly lifted herself to her feet and hobbled towards her shoe to put it on. She was in obvious pain and retreated to the other end of the carriage, still nursing her probably) broken foot. A few shocked stares were directed at me and the bouncer bloke sitting 5 seats away on my left hand side.
I glanced quickly at him - he was still shouting obscenities to himself and looking around wildly. He caught my sidelong look at him and directed such a look of malevolence towards me that I feared for my life.
The tube stopped and I was debating whether to get off or not. The old woman had stumbled off, helped by someone else. I was too numb to do anything and still in a state of shock at what had transpired before my eyes. Then a couple of people got on. A Swedish bloke and his girlfriend by all appearances (blonde, speaking a foreign language. Yeah it was stereotypical but, frankly, I wasn't in the mood for any political correctness) The girl sat directly opposite me and her boyfriend sat next to her. I fearfully glanced towards the bouncer but he had retreated into the mumbling mode that usually mentalists seem to embrace. I thought no-one could do it again, it's just a coincidence that it happened. He's obviously a bit too drunk. So I closed my eyes and tried to ignore the love-struck couple and think peaceful thoughts. I just wanted to get home. My cool disposition was shattered when the bouncer got up and strode forward faster than I could imagine. He delivered a hard kick to the Swedish girl sitting opposite me and she screamed a bloodcurdling wail of pain. It made me frightened. Very frightened. I looked at the hulking brute of a bouncer looming over me and saw him (with his back to me) staring down at the girl with a freakish lopsided grin on his face. After venting forth a series of expletives, he calmly walked to his seat and sat down. When the boyfriend finally got over his shock, he shouted, "Hey! What she do to do? We do nothing to harm you. What you doing this for?" (Their English was particularly good)
The bouncer just laughed - a maniacal crazed laugh that went on for a good 10-20 seconds. I glanced around and noticed we had an audience - about 5 or 6 people were staring down the carriage at us with worried miens. My mouth was dry and I could feel my own heartbeat threatening to burst out of my chest. I tried to look calm as the Swedish couple got up and staggered to the other end of the carriage and settled in a free seat.
I was alone with a complete nutter. I looked to my right and saw all the other people looking at me with confusion. Why on God's earth hadn't I moved seats? they probably thought to themselves. I don't really know. I only had a couple of stop to go so I thought I'd "ride out the storm."
The tube stopped and a beautiful girl walked on. She was exceedingly fit, as they say. And she sat directly opposite me. Now I was worried. Was the madman targeting people who sat opposite me or just woman. And, if so, why? I tried to make eye contact with her but she wasn't having any of it. Indeed, she looked at me as if I was a weirdo.
"Fine!" I thought, "That's all I need." Maybe the madman wouldn't attack this girl? So I sat there rigidly and the tube moved off...I heard a noise. Glancing to my left, the madman bouncer had risen out of his drunken slumber and was grinning at the girl. She looked up and noticed and glanced to me in confusion - as if I was in collusion with a crazy fool like that.
The madman got up and slowly took a couple of steps...and then I went into what can only be described as "hero mode". I stood up and shouted something garbled that said, "You not doing that again you mad f**ker!" (At least that's what I hoped I said - I was too scared.)
And with that cry of defiance I flung myself at the bouncer in an attempt to stop him striking out at this nice looking girl. I was a fool for doing so but sometime situations dictate your actions rather than the other way round. Luckily I caught him off-guard and sent him into the armrest on the chairs. he bounce doff them and lost his balance and tumbled to the floor, and me with him. What followed next was the very definition of insanity. I was kicking and punching out at him and he was kicking me with all his might. I realised why the other two victims had screamed so much - he was wearing steel toecaps and they were cracking my ribs. I took a bad punch to my jaw and thought to myself, "This is the end. Beaten to death on the tube by a mad drunkard isn't exactly the greatest epitaph to my life but when you go, you go." That thought and a plethora of other regrets, emotions and desires raced through my head in minute fractions of a second. It's amazing what you think about when you're convinced you're going to die.
However, it was my lucky day - someone else had run up and was swiftly raining blows upon the madman whilst dragging me away from him. I looked up stunned as I'd realised the tube had stopped and police were running onto the carriage and forcibly restraining the nutter. Peering through a black eye I noticed my rescuer - the Swedish boyfriend who had retreated to the other end of the carriage. I also realised the nice girl was bending down towards me and asking me questions but I was too dazed to answer. She smiled at me, thanked me and also accompanied me to go to the hospital to sort myself out and to make a statement at the police station. Every cloud has a silver lining eh?
The Swedish couple and the fit girl (Isobel) are now good friends of mine and we go out once in a while when our busy schedules allow. As far as I know, the madman got sent down for 6 months - aggravated assault. My injuries took a couple of months to heal but I felt good about what I'd done. I'm only sorry that two people got hurt before I reacted. I still think about that day...and the fear I felt.
I was on the tube one day about four years ago and it was quite late at night. I sat in one of the seat next to the doors and the tube stopped and two people walked on - a massive man of West Indian origin who was built like a brick sh*thouse and a diminutive old Chinese woman who sat directly opposite me.
The other guy (I'll call him the bouncer because that's what he resembled) went to the end of the carriage and sat down. No-one else was sitting in our section of the carriage, past one set of doors - a few randoms were sat at the other end of the carriage, minding their own business, as you do.
Anyway, the tube starts moving and the bouncer starts muttering to himself under his breath. He's swearing as well as swigging from a hip flask. I thought to myself, "Uh-oh...this doesn't bode well but I've only got another 9 stops to go so I can grin and bear it."
The old woman is sitting quietly and not saying a word when suddenly the bouncer got up (while the tube was still moving) and walked in the direction of the old woman, pulls his leg back and delivers on of the hardest kicks I've ever seen. He kicked her in her legs and her shoe flew off and spun down the other end of the carriage. I had my eyes closed and it wasn't until she screamed in pain that I opened my eyes and noticed something was amiss. The bouncer had retreated to his original seat and by now I was feeling the fear and slightly angry that someone could attack this poor defenceless woman for no reason. The old woman slowly lifted herself to her feet and hobbled towards her shoe to put it on. She was in obvious pain and retreated to the other end of the carriage, still nursing her probably) broken foot. A few shocked stares were directed at me and the bouncer bloke sitting 5 seats away on my left hand side.
I glanced quickly at him - he was still shouting obscenities to himself and looking around wildly. He caught my sidelong look at him and directed such a look of malevolence towards me that I feared for my life.
The tube stopped and I was debating whether to get off or not. The old woman had stumbled off, helped by someone else. I was too numb to do anything and still in a state of shock at what had transpired before my eyes. Then a couple of people got on. A Swedish bloke and his girlfriend by all appearances (blonde, speaking a foreign language. Yeah it was stereotypical but, frankly, I wasn't in the mood for any political correctness) The girl sat directly opposite me and her boyfriend sat next to her. I fearfully glanced towards the bouncer but he had retreated into the mumbling mode that usually mentalists seem to embrace. I thought no-one could do it again, it's just a coincidence that it happened. He's obviously a bit too drunk. So I closed my eyes and tried to ignore the love-struck couple and think peaceful thoughts. I just wanted to get home. My cool disposition was shattered when the bouncer got up and strode forward faster than I could imagine. He delivered a hard kick to the Swedish girl sitting opposite me and she screamed a bloodcurdling wail of pain. It made me frightened. Very frightened. I looked at the hulking brute of a bouncer looming over me and saw him (with his back to me) staring down at the girl with a freakish lopsided grin on his face. After venting forth a series of expletives, he calmly walked to his seat and sat down. When the boyfriend finally got over his shock, he shouted, "Hey! What she do to do? We do nothing to harm you. What you doing this for?" (Their English was particularly good)
The bouncer just laughed - a maniacal crazed laugh that went on for a good 10-20 seconds. I glanced around and noticed we had an audience - about 5 or 6 people were staring down the carriage at us with worried miens. My mouth was dry and I could feel my own heartbeat threatening to burst out of my chest. I tried to look calm as the Swedish couple got up and staggered to the other end of the carriage and settled in a free seat.
I was alone with a complete nutter. I looked to my right and saw all the other people looking at me with confusion. Why on God's earth hadn't I moved seats? they probably thought to themselves. I don't really know. I only had a couple of stop to go so I thought I'd "ride out the storm."
The tube stopped and a beautiful girl walked on. She was exceedingly fit, as they say. And she sat directly opposite me. Now I was worried. Was the madman targeting people who sat opposite me or just woman. And, if so, why? I tried to make eye contact with her but she wasn't having any of it. Indeed, she looked at me as if I was a weirdo.
"Fine!" I thought, "That's all I need." Maybe the madman wouldn't attack this girl? So I sat there rigidly and the tube moved off...I heard a noise. Glancing to my left, the madman bouncer had risen out of his drunken slumber and was grinning at the girl. She looked up and noticed and glanced to me in confusion - as if I was in collusion with a crazy fool like that.
The madman got up and slowly took a couple of steps...and then I went into what can only be described as "hero mode". I stood up and shouted something garbled that said, "You not doing that again you mad f**ker!" (At least that's what I hoped I said - I was too scared.)
And with that cry of defiance I flung myself at the bouncer in an attempt to stop him striking out at this nice looking girl. I was a fool for doing so but sometime situations dictate your actions rather than the other way round. Luckily I caught him off-guard and sent him into the armrest on the chairs. he bounce doff them and lost his balance and tumbled to the floor, and me with him. What followed next was the very definition of insanity. I was kicking and punching out at him and he was kicking me with all his might. I realised why the other two victims had screamed so much - he was wearing steel toecaps and they were cracking my ribs. I took a bad punch to my jaw and thought to myself, "This is the end. Beaten to death on the tube by a mad drunkard isn't exactly the greatest epitaph to my life but when you go, you go." That thought and a plethora of other regrets, emotions and desires raced through my head in minute fractions of a second. It's amazing what you think about when you're convinced you're going to die.
However, it was my lucky day - someone else had run up and was swiftly raining blows upon the madman whilst dragging me away from him. I looked up stunned as I'd realised the tube had stopped and police were running onto the carriage and forcibly restraining the nutter. Peering through a black eye I noticed my rescuer - the Swedish boyfriend who had retreated to the other end of the carriage. I also realised the nice girl was bending down towards me and asking me questions but I was too dazed to answer. She smiled at me, thanked me and also accompanied me to go to the hospital to sort myself out and to make a statement at the police station. Every cloud has a silver lining eh?
The Swedish couple and the fit girl (Isobel) are now good friends of mine and we go out once in a while when our busy schedules allow. As far as I know, the madman got sent down for 6 months - aggravated assault. My injuries took a couple of months to heal but I felt good about what I'd done. I'm only sorry that two people got hurt before I reacted. I still think about that day...and the fear I felt.
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