Strange lot those city gents Smiffy. My mate used to get on the morning train to London at Gillingham, from memory, and me at Rochester. He'd stick his head out of the window of the "First Class" carriage so I knew where our seat was and in I'd get amid much sniffing from some of the "City gents" already there. We'd pull up an arm rest and squash them up a bit which didn't go down too well with them either. Lots of muttering and cries of "I say chaps...."
But it was so funny when a jumper
(ticket inspector)
got on and only one of those toffy nosed lot was an actual holder of a 1st class ticket. It used to cost us commoners an extra 1 shilling and 6 pence from memory. (How the heck do you write that these days? 1s/6pence?) I've completely forgotten.
I know this is all off topic, but I can't resist.....there I was wandering down through the city one fine day at lunch time when who do I espy coming towards me but none other than Desperate Dan one of those passengers that looked down their noses at such common workers daring to travel with them. Mind you he was also one of those who never paid the full fare either.
"Hello Dan" I called out "are you on holiday then?" I asked this because his attire was so different from what he'd been wearing on the morning train up to London.... comfortable shoes, old slacks and shirt and he was carrying a large bag. Not at all like the City business man gear he wore on the train.
Turned out our Dan was a bank messenger and all the mornings papers he had with him on the train were a part of his daily duties and he distributed them to the managers when he got to work.
12 quid a week he got plus luncheon vouchers.... we were quite jealous as we didn't get those LVs but to make up for it we got about 48 quid a week instead.
AlanH.