Met Line Staff Reader

Whilst I was working today, I received a phone call from Line Information Assistant, asking me if I could have a look at the long line camera on my eastbound.

The long line cameras are the cameras that the Line Controller can view any platform on any station, especially if there is an incident in progress.

As I wandered up to the headwall (this is where the front of the train stops). I rang LIA from the platform phone.

The lovely lady on the other end asks me who was at the next station, and is it the man who has a secret admirer, remember PINK STRAWBERRIES.

when I replied yes it was, I was then told that the other LIA reads his blog, and that he reads mine and the other SS blogs too.

When I went back to the office, I received a call from the LIA asking if it's ok for him to pop down tomorrow for a little chat.

Finally proof other staff do read our blogs.

Crack Down

As you may have read from yesterdays entry, I've been having some fun with my rostered staff.

So today I put the plan into action.

I sent my Duty Station Manager 2 copies of the letters that I intend to issue to the station staff and my fellow SS, and asked him to proof read them and make any adjustments that he deems necessary.

After reading my letters, he totally agreed with what I am doing, and has even given it his full backing and has given it his full support.

I have spoken to four of my fellow SS colleagues at my station and all four have agreed it needs to be done, with one even saying to me "it's about time I (meaning himself not me) acted like a Supervisor"

So as of tomorrow morning all my CSA will be getting a letter from myself informing them that playtime is over. They think that they been ruling the roost for to long.

If they put in a grievance, who cares as I am playing them at their own game and using London Underground rules to their full function.

Today one of the CSA was 10 minutes late, and as soon as he walked in, I asked him for a memo explaining why he was late, he told me he was held up on the Victoria line, (which unfortunately was suspended) and asked if he was booked.

I told him yes he is booked as he could have rang from any station platform. He then started fretting and said "well as I'm on medication he would book off and see his doctor"

My reply "Bye then".

Unfortunately, because of the Vic Line problems I couldn't actually book him, however I believe tomorrow is another day and as he is early turn which is an 04:45 start, he has problems getting up and didn't ask me to book him a taxi. Oh Dear.

My fun will start on Tuesday as I'm nights. Believe it or not I'm actually looking forward to the challenge.

My Staff And There Rude Awakening

After 4 incidents, my station staff have finally pushed me to far,

I'm normally easy go lucky and I don't usually let things bother me, however 3 of my staff have pissed me off.

Incident 1, On Saturday when one of my booking clerks arrived and I told him that I wanted 2 out of my 3 staff on the gate line at all times, giving information whilst my station was closed to the public. He started off by telling me the other SS only have one out at a time and why am i being difficult. After a much disgruntled expression and vocal disagreement by the SAMF, I gave him the 3 options.

1, he could work on the gateline.
2, he could work at the next station which is a lot busier.
or 3, I could make all of the staff work there full shifts on the gate line, they will work to there correct finish time and only get 30 minutes official meal relief away from the gate line.

Incident 2, One of my CSA's arrived 1 hour 10 minutes late for work, after I asked him why, he replied and excuse the wording but they are his, "I was tongue deep in pussy last night".
Impressed I didn't think so, especially after I recieved his memo stating the reason for him being late was one of his children was taken ill.

Incident 3, Today just before the LFCDA check I found a water extinguisher with a broken seal, I asked my CSA if he would go to another station which has a pool of extinguishers, my CSA then claimed he wouldn't as he has a bad back, which is the first I've heard of it. As my DSM was due to arrive, I rang him and asked him to bring the extinguisher to the station for an exchange.
When my manager arrived, I informed him of the conduct of the above CSA.

Incident 4, Again today a different CSA was wandering aimlessly around my ticket hall area with his hands in his pockets, I asked him could he take his hands out of his pockets whilst walkind around, he replied he is allowed to walk around, to which i agreed but again mentioned about his hands in his pockets. His reply "Do I look bothered about it" Once again I informed my manager and told him exactly what I'm going to do, and he told me to send and email first to my fellow SS about this and he would fully back us.

My CSA are in for a very rude awakening next week.

From Tuesday night they will find out that they have pushed it just to far, as The Station Master knows, I have a very long fuse, however this has been burned through.

From now on when my CSA book on they will have only 5 minutes to get themselves prepared for there duty.

They will only have a 30 minute meal relief, instead of there usual unofficial 60 minutes.

There meal relief will be at there official time as written on there roster.

If they need to leave the gate line for any reason they will have to ask permission or be booked missing from duty.

They will be booked late even if it is only by 1 minute.

There will be no more reading of newspapers, drinking tea and coffee on the barrier. No more going into the ticket office.

Any leaway they had with me has now been burned up.

There is only one CSA who i feel sorry for but I've spoken to him and he is ok about it, as he realises that I'm only doing it because i i have to show the same face across the board.

Exhaustion!!!

I would like to apologise in advance for my foul language.

I've been very busy all weekend, what with engineering and a fire inspection.

I started back to work at my own station after spending almost 2 weeks at my colleagues station, I knew that on I would be early turn on the Tuesday when the station was having its annual LFEPA fire inspection.

Guess what, whilst I've been away my own station colleagues have done absolutly sweet fuck all about it.

The station is a shit hole and with in 25 minutes I found 2 holes in an area with 1 hour compartmentalisation. If the LFEPA arrived then I would have been in deep shit, as this would have caused a contravention of the 1989 fire regulations, and could have close my station.

I total after doing my first set of station checks i found 12 things wrong with the station, which would have cause me serious trouble.

With help from the contractors who were on site we had most of the problems sorted by the time I left work.

However because there were engineering works all weekend, I wasn't going to be to bothered with my station as the contractors had until Monday to tear my station apart and put it back together again. I even left a message with the night turn supervisor to ask the contractors to make sure everything was fine for Monday morning. However this useless fuckwit did nothing.

I arrived on Monday to find 14 different problems. With rooms looking like a shit hole, ladders being stored in Switchrooms, fire stopping being inadequate in certain rooms, I basically tore a strip off of the day contractors and was inform today that the day manager stayed on and tore into the night staff.

When I arrived this morning I threw a few fucks at the night turn supervisor for not carrying out his proper station checks,

So today arrived and after my first station check I was quietly pleased, as all the contractors had finally pulled there fingers out and left my station in an emaculate condition.

The Fire Inspection came and went, and after all the stress and strain my station passed with only 5 very minor problems, although at one stage myself and my manager went deathly pale, when we opened up an IMR (interlocking machine room, this is where signalling equipment is based). And there sat in the corner of the room was a bucket containing sealant that was supposed to be removed the night before, but after some quick bullshitting from me, we escaped a caution.

So now I feel total relief. I was even awarded a £10 voucher for all the assistance that I have given over the last 2 weeks. My manager was even shocked when I asked what for I was only doing my job.

They Call It Love! Love! Love!

Well it looks like lady luck maybe smiling on my colleague the Station Master.

There seems to be a certain lady who likes his looks, as read from today's Metro.

"I like the handsome guy who works for London Underground at xxxxxx xxxxxx.
I believe he's a Supervisor there and he wears round gold glasses and has blondish coloured hair. He is so nice and polite, I think he is such a gent, I would love to know him better".

"Pink Strawberries, London Town"

(The name of the station has been changed to protect the innocent).

As I was working at his station today, covering the late turn, I was tempted to write a noticeboard to try and coax the young lady out into the open.

Tell Me What You Think:

Pink Strawberries, Let me be your cream.

I could make your head swirl.

I hope she has the courage to say hi on Friday, and that the SM has the courage (he is shy after all) to cover the gates and not hide away.

What A Long Week.

I was working all week at my colleagues the station masters station. His station is ok but I prefer mine, as although I bitch about the contractors at my station, at least they are company.

I only have one more shift there, then i'm back to the happy farm for a week of earlies.

When I complete those it's house moving time, Hooray.

Revenge Is sweet

Normally I'm not really a pissy sort of person (ok I am), but seeing as the Train Op reported me to the Dom on Wednesday night, I made sure I was on the platform for all the trains that I see off.

So last night as I'm standing on the platform the last train to Harrow On The Hill arrives and departs, this is normal you may think, however as I stood on the platform with my green light to give the driver the right, the train pulls in and then closes up and vanishes into the darkness, without me even showing me the green.

So I had no option but to inform the Line Controller. Oh Dear...

But apart from my little run ins with drivers, this week of nights have been extremely slow, I'ts been that slow I even defrosted the fridge to help keep me awake.

I might moan about the contractors at my own station, but bring them on as at least they are company.

Last Train To Amersham ... What A Wanker.

Last night whilst at work, I was supposed to see the last Amersham train out of the platform by showing the driver a green light, unfortuately I was dealing with a contractor and only realised the train was in my platform when I looked up and saw the train sitting in my platform.

Instead of rushing down to the platform, I checked the CCTV and gave the train the "RIGHT" (which gives permission for the train to depart) over P.A.

No Movement.

I asked my CSA to go to the platform and give the right instead.

The Train Op tells my CSA tomorrow he wants a green light and then departs.

Next thing I get a call from the Duty Operations Manager, asking me why i hadn't seen off the Amersham train. So I explained it to the DOM.

Wait until I speak to the fuckwit of a driver tonight.

And to make matters worse the contractors couldn't book on anyway as there were other engineering works taking place, so the area couldn't be booked out. Sheesh!!!

My Kids

I've said recently that my ex wife has been nice to me, which to tell you the truth as the Station Master will tell you has had me a bit worried, but I must admit that I was chuffed to bits when she gave me this picture of my kids. God know where they get there good looks.


Update:

I have found out why my Ex wife was being nice to me.

I am on annual leave for 3 weeks in July and she wants me to take them for the last week before school breaks up so that she can go to the Isle of Wight, with her fella and her new baby.

I knew there was a reason for the niceness. (Not sure if there is such a word).

Ingenious

Whilst working at my colleagues station last night, I could only get a completely crap reception on the radio, so in a moment of madness, I thought I wonder if the tea cup tree would work.

Tada, it worked and I had music all night long.

Don't Forget The Northern Line Ladies

Don't forget that the Northern Line Ladies need sponsorship for a very good cause.

Email From A Friend

I received a lovely email from a friend of mine in Aus

It read:

THE CAB RIDE
Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living. When I arrived at 2:30 a.m., the building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window. Under these circumstances, many drivers would just honk once or twice, wait a minute, then drive away. But, I had seen too many impoverished people who depended on taxis as their only means of transportation. Unless a situation smelled of danger, I always went to the door.

This passenger might be someone who needs my assistance, I reasoned to myself. So I walked to the door and knocked. "Just a minute," answered a frail, elderly voice.

I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 80's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

"Would you carry my bag out to the car?" she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness."It's nothing", I told her. "I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated". "Oh, you're such a good boy", she said.

When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, then asked, "Could you drive through downtown?"
"It's not the shortest way," I answered quickly. "Oh, I don't mind," she said. "I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice". I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. "I don't have any family left," she continued. "The doctor says I don't have very long."
I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. "What route would you like me to take?" I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing. As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, "I'm tired. Let's go now."

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up.

They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

"How much do I owe you?" she asked, reaching into her purse."Nothing," I said. "You have to make a living," she answered. "There are other passengers," I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. "You gave an old woman a little moment of joy," she said. "Thank you."

I squeezed her hand, then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk.
What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life. We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID, BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.

When I had read this I actually sat at my PC and paused, and thought a little more about my own life.

Accidents Will Happen And Not Just To Shortstops!!!

A good friend of mine, who calls me tirch on this blog, seems to have becom accident prone.

Late last year whilst shopping at IKEA some some goods fell off a shelf and damaged her arm, so she was off work few a few weeks.

Today I get a text from Short Stop telling me that she has another accident.

Whilst coming in through the back door at home, she slipped and landed badly, breaking a rib.

So unfortunately she is now laid up again.


This week I'll be working at the Station Masters place, looking after the shop whilst one of our colleagues are in hospital haveing and operation on his shoulder, which he injured when he came off of his motorbike.

So at the moment its injuries 3 safety 0

Good News

Well I'm moving on the 26th, to a nice 3 bed place which is a bit bigger then my one bedroomed place.

Apart from that work has run smoothly over the weekend, so no complaints, which is a shok for me. Even my ex wife is talking nicely to me. Which is the only thing that is worrying me.

So not much to report really. Although I might annoy my old neighbours as I've started listening to Old Irish Drinking Songs from groups like The Dubliners and The Clancy Brothers and Christy Moore

Heat Wave

Today on the Met, Hammersmith & City and District there were multiple speed restrictions put in place because today's heat wave effected the rails. So I this is only the first day of summer what else are we heading for.

Well luckily I'm rest day tomorrow and wont have to worry. However I'm working overtime on Saturday and Monday to help pay the bills and to pay back the loan for the new pad.

Secondly I'm covering nights next week at the Station Masters station as one of his fellow SS is going in for an operation on his shoulder on Monday morning. I hope it all goes well for him.

Oh Dear!!!

mThree bits of news to report,

Firtsly, the Met, Hammersmith and City and circle have been completely fecked for the last 2 days, all because of the engineering works at Farringdon over the bank holiday weekend, I heard a nasty rumour that the problems will be in place until this weekends work. This has caused signal failures all day yesterday and today, so the peak services have been dire. Also 2 trains hit metal brackets that were placed on the walls in the tunnel west of farringdon.

Secondly, an incident on the Bakerloo Line on Tuesday saw a passenger dragged along the platform at Lambeth North, with the passenger ending up in the pit with serious injuries. I haven't got exact details but it sounds pretty grim.

And finally, my move has been put on hold, as the property i was going to renat is now being sold by the owner, so more looking on Friday during my day off.

I'm Moving On

For the first time in a while, I actually have something to look forward to.

My application has gone in, and I hope to be moving into my new pad on 16th June. So only 6 weeks and counting.

So fingers and legs crossed, I shouldn't have to sleep on my sofa when my kids are here.

However back to work related stuff.

I had a fairly good weekend and although I did a lot of gate line work, the time fairly flew, the only time i was really bored was after 19:00 when I closed up the gates as the tourist flow had generally died off.

On the romance side, I'm still single and looking forward to just relaxing for a while, at least my new place will have a small garden for me to sit in and I'll be able to chill with a couple of beers in the summer evenings.