Defination of a Mad Man

I often wondered whether I was mad having a season ticket for Town when I live so far away. It involves leaving home at 7.15 and don't normally get home to about 10.30 at night. When I got to Cleethorpes yesterday after a 5 hour trip on the train I said to my wife 'what on earth am I doing!'
However, getting home last night was the stuff of my worse nightmare.

My friend, Alan, drops me off at Grimsby station which allows me to see all of the game and not have to leave early. Talking to my wife on the phone I looked up and saw the 5.35 train had been cancelled due to a shortage of conductors. But I had seen this train goes past Blundell Park to Cleethorpes. Feeling hungry I decided to kill time and have some food at McDonalds (I sure know how to live). Back at the station for 6.25 in time for the train to arrive. Rather full but, luckily I got a seat. Hopefully will be home by 11.30.

We got as far as Barnetby and we stopped. The conductor announced there was a signal issue and will let us know as soon as it was possible to get going again. 75 minutes delay (plus the original 60 minutes) meant we would get to Doncaster for 9.00. The last train to London was due to leave at 8.50! What the hell was I going to do? I was told the station staff will sort out a taxi to London. Eventually, 6 of us were put in a taxi minibus thing. Three proper seats and three fold-down type bench seat which I ended up on. I can confirm sitting on them for 3½ hours is not to be recommended.

When I got to Kings Cross I still had to get to West Byfleet in Surrey. Looking on my phone I found the last train to West Byfleet from London Waterloo leaves at 12.25. We didn't get to Kings Cross until 12.15 and I still had to get to across London so that was that. I was told the station staff would sort me out but there were none to be seen. What should I do?

I checked for any trains leaving Waterloo within the time frame I had and found the very last train going to Basingstoke in Hampshire, however, it will stop at Woking reasonably close to West Byfleet. So I got on that. Due to mainline track repairs, it took the scenic route, not that I could see anything. So instead of being about 30 minutes, it took close to 55 minutes. Finally arrived at Woking at 1.55am. Fortunately, there was a taxi available to take me back to West Byfleet, a distance of about 2 miles for the grand cost of £15. Very relieved to see my car and got indoors at 2.15pm - 9½  hours after the end of the match. I could have flown to the centre of the USA in that time!

After a bath and a sit down I was in bed at 3.30am.

The chances of me being at the next match are slim at the moment. I think I need to have a rethink about going to all home games. However, I'm sure I will back before I know it. The true definition of being a mad man.

Fair play to you Rob it puts my whinging about “not going from Weelsby Road because I can’t get anyone to take me” into perspective.

I'd be driving if I ws doing that journey. Would save a fortune.

Quoted from MarinerRob

I often wondered whether I was mad having a season ticket for Town when I live so far away. It involves leaving home at 7.15 and don't normally get home to about 10.30 at night. When I got to Cleethorpes yesterday after a 5 hour trip on the train I said to my wife 'what on earth am I doing!'
However, getting home last night was the stuff of my worse nightmare.

My friend, Alan, drops me off at Grimsby station which allows me to see all of the game and not have to leave early. Talking to my wife on the phone I looked up and saw the 5.35 train had been cancelled due to a shortage of conductors. But I had seen this train goes past Blundell Park to Cleethorpes. Feeling hungry I decided to kill time and have some food at McDonalds (I sure know how to live). Back at the station for 6.25 in time for the train to arrive. Rather full but, luckily I got a seat. Hopefully will be home by 11.30.

We got as far as Barnetby and we stopped. The conductor announced there was a signal issue and will let us know as soon as it was possible to get going again. 75 minutes delay (plus the original 60 minutes) meant we would get to Doncaster for 9.00. The last train to London was due to leave at 8.50! What the hell was I going to do? I was told the station staff will sort out a taxi to London. Eventually, 6 of us were put in a taxi minibus thing. Three proper seats and three fold-down type bench seat which I ended up on. I can confirm sitting on them for 3½ hours is not to be recommended.

When I got to Kings Cross I still had to get to West Byfleet in Surrey. Looking on my phone I found the last train to West Byfleet from London Waterloo leaves at 12.25. We didn't get to Kings Cross until 12.15 and I still had to get to across London so that was that. I was told the station staff would sort me out but there were none to be seen. What should I do?

I checked for any trains leaving Waterloo within the time frame I had and found the very last train going to Basingstoke in Hampshire, however, it will stop at Woking reasonably close to West Byfleet. So I got on that. Due to mainline track repairs, it took the scenic route, not that I could see anything. So instead of being about 30 minutes, it took close to 55 minutes. Finally arrived at Woking at 1.55am. Fortunately, there was a taxi available to take me back to West Byfleet, a distance of about 2 miles for the grand cost of £15. Very relieved to see my car and got indoors at 2.15pm - 9½  hours after the end of the match. I could have flown to the centre of the USA in that time!

After a bath and a sit down I was in bed at 3.30am.

The chances of me being at the next match are slim at the moment. I think I need to have a rethink about going to all home games. However, I'm sure I will back before I know it. The true definition of being a mad man.

Definition of a mad man ?....a man who expects rail transport to run to timeable.

Tip my hat to your dedication.

You should have a word with Golfer he might send you his helicopter.

Fair play to you Rob you deserve a medal.

I wondered what some Bury fans were moaning about on their forum about being stuck on a train.

Sorry to hear of your horrendous journey home Robin,You've got my number,could have come and had a meal with us,you know you're always welcome,Don't give up on coming mate,always look forward to seeing you.

Feel for you, Rob.

I made the rare trip up yesterday for the first time in a long time but with me being in the South as well I tend to just tag along on the away days as far as Cambridge and as wide as Yeovil

Quoted from MarinerRob

I often wondered whether I was mad having a season ticket for Town when I live so far away. It involves leaving home at 7.15 and don't normally get home to about 10.30 at night. When I got to Cleethorpes yesterday after a 5 hour trip on the train I said to my wife 'what on earth am I doing!'
However, getting home last night was the stuff of my worse nightmare.

My friend, Alan, drops me off at Grimsby station which allows me to see all of the game and not have to leave early. Talking to my wife on the phone I looked up and saw the 5.35 train had been cancelled due to a shortage of conductors. But I had seen this train goes past Blundell Park to Cleethorpes. Feeling hungry I decided to kill time and have some food at McDonalds (I sure know how to live). Back at the station for 6.25 in time for the train to arrive. Rather full but, luckily I got a seat. Hopefully will be home by 11.30.

We got as far as Barnetby and we stopped. The conductor announced there was a signal issue and will let us know as soon as it was possible to get going again. 75 minutes delay (plus the original 60 minutes) meant we would get to Doncaster for 9.00. The last train to London was due to leave at 8.50! What the hell was I going to do? I was told the station staff will sort out a taxi to London. Eventually, 6 of us were put in a taxi minibus thing. Three proper seats and three fold-down type bench seat which I ended up on. I can confirm sitting on them for 3½ hours is not to be recommended.

When I got to Kings Cross I still had to get to West Byfleet in Surrey. Looking on my phone I found the last train to West Byfleet from London Waterloo leaves at 12.25. We didn't get to Kings Cross until 12.15 and I still had to get to across London so that was that. I was told the station staff would sort me out but there were none to be seen. What should I do?

I checked for any trains leaving Waterloo within the time frame I had and found the very last train going to Basingstoke in Hampshire, however, it will stop at Woking reasonably close to West Byfleet. So I got on that. Due to mainline track repairs, it took the scenic route, not that I could see anything. So instead of being about 30 minutes, it took close to 55 minutes. Finally arrived at Woking at 1.55am. Fortunately, there was a taxi available to take me back to West Byfleet, a distance of about 2 miles for the grand cost of £15. Very relieved to see my car and got indoors at 2.15pm - 9½  hours after the end of the match. I could have flown to the centre of the USA in that time!

After a bath and a sit down I was in bed at 3.30am.

The chances of me being at the next match are slim at the moment. I think I need to have a rethink about going to all home games. However, I'm sure I will back before I know it. The true definition of being a mad man.

Similar.      
My last train to Cambridge from Cleethorpes was 7.24 to arrive back at 11.25
A train leaves at 8.24 arriving in Cambridge at 13.15 next day because of 7 hour wait at Doncaster !!! Quite an incentive not to linger in No.2 Bar.

Train left Cleethorpes 75mins late, therefore all connections missed.
Got to Doncaster. Saw Rob at the taxi rank at Doncaster. He off to London, me to Cambridge. Although I had the Black Cab to myself, I promise you it was bloody uncomfortable for 2.5 hours and bloody cold. The driver didn’t say a word for the duration.

Have to say the rail staff were really good, as helpful as possible - obviously not their fault

Rob’s journey sounds even worst than mine.  “All Exiles Are We”

See you at Oldham next week. UTMM.

A bath!!??