Although we live just outside greater London, the Central underground line actually trundles through Lowtown and on to Epping. Naturally a great many of the residents in this area commute daily up to the ancient capital, earning a living…and taking advantage of the many delights on offer.
The other day Angela decided to take the lad on his first tube trip, aboard the rattler to South Woodford.
Being a hound who takes interest in nearly everything, we were all interested to hear how the trip would go.
Arriving at the station, the boy was a tad wary of these new surroundings, and so naturally the old ‘hooter’ was going like the clappers, and having gained the platform, he sat while Angela explained that they were going to take a little ride on the tube.
‘Cor, are we going inside a pipe?’
‘No not exactly’
‘I see……but we’re going to go underground?’
‘Er….not this time.’
‘Stone me I’m confused….let me see, we are going on the tube but it’s not a pipe - and it’s the Underground, but we’re out in the open?’
‘Um….yes that right.’
‘You can see why chaps like me get confused cant you?’
‘Well yes, but you see further down the line, the track goes underground, and through tunnels hence its name the ‘Tube.’
‘I see.’
‘Do you Bingo?’
‘Not really, but I’m sure you know what you’re talking about.’
From down the track the steady sound of a train approaching could be heard.
Bings ears pricked up, and yes, the old hooter was working overtime!
In came the westbound train, the doors opened and our intrepid traveller was coaxed on board.
‘I’m not sure you should be sitting there, Bingo, it’s for elderly folk and people who need to be seated.’
‘Don’t worry I’ll hop off if anyone should want this seat.’
‘M’mmm….I think it better if you sit at my feet, just in case.’
‘Right-ho.’
‘Well what do you make of it?’
‘It clatters along don’t it?
They arrived at the next station, and the doors magically opened.
‘Now that’s clever, how do they know when to open?’
‘The driver opens and closes the doors.’
‘I cant see him running up and down outside - he must be mighty fast on his feet?’
‘He operates the doors with some buttons in his driving cab.’
‘Oh.’
The doors closed, and the train continued on its way.
‘The thing is.’
Said the lad, observing the track-side trees scurrying by.
‘The thing is, are there any other trains on this railway? I mean he’s clattering along without a care in the world aint he?’
‘Well Bingo there are, but signals tell the driver whether he can continue along the track, or if he is to stop and wait until he gets a green light, which allows him to continue.’
‘I’m impressed.’
The lad continued to look out of a window, noting there were many more houses and back gardens passing by.
Eventually South Woodford arrived, and the exit negotiated..
‘I thought it a good idea Bingo, to make this first trip while it's very quiet. I don’t think it would be a good idea for us to travel during Peak time.
‘Good gracious, do they get a special time to travel?’
‘Who?’
‘Them there peek-e-neesies!’
‘Er, no Bing – this peak time refers to folk going to and from their work in town.’
‘I see, like you?’
‘That’s right.’
The train pulled out of the station and our travellers continued on their special day out.
And that was the lads first trip on the underground….as you can see they both arrived home safely,
HURRAH!!
........and the next time he was chatting to the aged guv..... he told me all about it!
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