a southbound Amtrak

a southbound Amtrak
passenger and mail train gone
when the windows clear



From an NPR news story some time in the early 1990s. One evening I turned on my car radio and the words in the poem were the first thing I heard. Submitted by John Maruskin.

Commuter Chat

I have a vision of the universe
– because nobody can find the end of it –
as stuffed in a glass jar
on someone's desk,
maybe God's desk
but a desk, anyway.

I think the white noise on TV
is the leftover noise
from the Big Bang.




Overheard at Macclesfield station, March 2013. Submitted by Ailsa Holland.

The broken down train

The broken down train has started moving. We will be able to get all the trains moving soon.

The train has just started moving. We will be able to get everything running soon.

The train has moved, we will be able to move all trains now. Some residual delay will occur.

The broken train has moved, Trains will be able to run again. Sorry for the delay.

The train has just started moving, Trains are able to run again. Some residual delay will occur.

The broken down train is now on the move. Residual delay is expected until 19:15

Ha, Make sure you tweet again next time.

You're welcome, sorry for the delay.

Sorry for the delay today.



Consecutive tweets from South West Trains, 16th March 2013. Submitted by MsJinnifer.

Monday the fourteenth of May

A tanka

Urchins clustering
like barnacles to the stilled
rails. We wait. The
tannoy clicks on then clicks off
without an announcement. We wait.



A whole tweet from Reverend Richard Coles, 14 May 2012. Submitted by Gabriel Smy.

Personal longings

LCOME TO THE
AMES EXPRESS
S TRAIN IS FOR
DON PADDINGTON
LING AT:
DING
UGH
AND
DON PADDINGTON

SMOKING PLEASE

EASE REMEMBER
TAKE PERSONAL
LONGINGS WHEN
VING THE TRAIN



The digital display board of a Thames Express train from Oxford to London, some time around 1995. The first three character spaces were hidden from view. Submitted by Dan B.

The Passenger and the Privy

I am arrive by passenger train Ahmedpur station
and my belly is too much swelling with jackfruit.
I am therefor went to privy.

Just I doing the nuisance that guard
making whistle blow for train to go off
and I am running with LOTAH in one hand
and DHOTI in the next

when I am fall over and expose all shocking
to man and female women on platform.
I am got leaved Ahmedpur station.

This too much bad, if passenger go to make dung
that dam guard not wait train minutes for him.
I am therefor pray your honour to make big fine
on that guard for public sake.

Otherwise I am making big report to papers.



A letter of complaint sent in 1909 to the Sahibganj divisional railway office in West Bengal. Source: New Delhi Railway Museum, via Letters of Note. Submitted by Gabriel Smy.

De Hors

Do not lean out
Do not punch the horse
No spaghetti
Night of the tinsel hen



A rather loose translation of a warning sign in a New Zealand train, February 2011. Submitted by Noah Slater.

Nonstop

Danger
No Trespassing
Staff Only

Shenfield
One Two
Shenfield

Question mark
Romford

Shenfield
One Two
Shenfield

Welcome to Shenfield

By Andrew. These are the signs across Shenfield station seen from a moving train. This completes his train trilogy.

Pack a Punch

Travel is subject
to National Rail
Conditions of Carriage
(NRCoC) and to the
conditions of carriage
of other operators
on whose services
this ticket is ( )

Copies of the NRCoC
can be obtained
from any staffed
national rail station
or from website:
www.nationalrail.co.uk

From Andrew – Offpeak Day Travelcard, 6 June 2009. The gap in parentheses marks a word that was punched out by the ticket inspector.

Please Secure Catches

Please secure catches
and latches
and barrel bolts,
fitted to doors,
and windows
(especially at night).

From Andrew, 'from an Indian sleeper railway carriage my family took once.' Seen in 1993.