It would be tempting to think that such examples of friendliness have become somewhat rare these days! Attentive and helpful staff are still out there, but with so few in direct contact with the public we don't get to meet them very often! Mind you, fortunately that means we don't come across quite as many surly, grumpy old gits either!
Bagshot station booking office is still manned, but only during the early morning peak. For the rest of the day, a watching eye is kept over the premises by a veritable battery of CCTV cameras. Mindful of a recent, extremely unpleasant and utterly disproportionate response by an overly suspicious camera operator led me to seek the highest authorisation before visiting! I spoke on the telephone to a very nice lady at South West Trains HQ, and she promptly emailed me a splendidly colourful certificate that sternly advised; "To all NR and SW Trains staff... ...provide any assistance that Mr. Insole might require" etc.
The appointed day arrived and, suitably furnished with several copies (just in case) of that Authorisation, I set to work with tape measure and camera. Yes, I will admit that I became more than a little disappointed that I was not now going to be challenged by anyone. No strutting, arrogant Police Officers this time, nor even a "Jobsworth", no, not one single soul to interrupt me!
Finally, a white van pulled up and a chap with Network Rail high-vis, hard hat and a clipboard got out and commenced measuring the station as well. He too completely ignored me! In the end I couldn't resist, and approached him saying;
"You needn't bother mate, I've already done that bit!"
"eh?" he replied, and when I proffered my own clip board for him to inspect, he loudly exclaimed;
"That's no bleedin' good, it's in feet and inches!"
"Ah, yes" I replied, "I do everything in the old money, that's probably why I haven't got any and look like this"!
We ended up having a good conversation. It turned out that he was quite knowledgeable and enthusiastic about large and fine scale model railways!
Pete.