Re: "you have to wonder how they get home each night
The weirdest thing I had to contend with the tube a few years back (On a return to the UK) was that apparently the Circle Line no longer operates as a continual loop they all go to Baker Street terminate & then go back in the anti clockwise direction*.
This was pointed out to us after watching every circle line train having Baker Street on its headboard for 20 minutes, while waiting to get to Liverpool Street from Paddington.
I used the Underground for years commuting between Devon & Kent & can wholeheartedly agree with the whole "knowing where to stand\board\disembark**" for the next stage of the journey.
There now follows an Ex Mrs Oncoming Scorn Story.
One happy August Bank Holiday Weekend, she had arranged to visit her sister & mother in Essex, I put them on the train at Liverpool Street & continued my journey to Kent with arrangements to meet me on the Friday of the long weekend back at Liverpool Street. I told she with the memory retention of a goldfish repeatedly what time to catch the best trains from Romford to avoid the rush hour on the tube all of which she managed to miss & so after arriving 90 minutes late commented "It's very busy isn't it!".
I was stuck with her, 3 kids & all their bags & forced to take the clockwise route on the circle line rather than the shorter anticlockwise route as the station was packed with eager commuters all wanting to get home. We get to Paddington without me killing her.
Stood on the concourse, full of people, all waiting for their trains I asked her for just one thing.
"When the time comes, please do as I say, please do NOT ask me why, please do not make a fuss, please please please just follow me got that?"
Yes!
Sure?
Yes.
& right on time as per usual the 18.33 from Swansea was 10 minutes late & had terminated on Platform 4.
"Right Let's go"
There then followed (as expected) a stream of complaints, comments, questions all of which I ignored regarding where we were going, why were we walking down Platform 1 (No gates\inspector), our train hasnt been called yet.
When we got to the top of the overbridge alas there was a ticket inspector preventing my usual early boarding of the 18.33 from Swansea, now being prepped as the 19.03 to Penzance it was time to answer her questions (& shes pissed....so am I as she decided to make a big scene instead of being quiet as I asked & theres a inspector preventing us from boarding ahead of the crowds).
Right You see those 4 men on the bridge with us?
Yes!
We stand here EVERY week to get on this train once its emptied, we have worked out the pattern while the rest of the sheep standing on the concourse haven't & while they are waiting for the gates to open, we have already boarded & stowed our bags. I didnt want to explain that to everyone in earshot in public & lose the advantage of early boarding especially with you, the kids & all the bags.
Hmmmph!
NOW The minute they announce our train....get down those steps find our carriage third from the front & seats, while I stow the bags.
We still had the majority of the trains length as an less than ideal advantage & managed to get them seated, while I contented with stowing the bags while being jostled by the sheep trying to find their seats, while looking forward to the next weeks journey by myself where I didn't have to worry about any of them.
*I have no idea if this wizard wheeze of an idea is still a thing!
**Friday Night Travel I usually had time to spare, so used to walk across London & depending on my meandearings used to join a tube train at unfamilier stations, but still work out where I needed to stand, based on how many carriages\doors from the front of the train I needed to be for when I got off.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
