Paul

Driver of the #PurpleTrain.
#lancasteruniversity physics graduate.
all views mine, puns might be someone else's

[Paul @PaulieOnTrack]

@AvantiWestCoast 1M16 from Lancaster very full today, no social distancing at all and no train manager to be seen. My elderly aunt scared to death of travelling like this and she had a specific booking for this train, what's gone wrong with your CV19 policy?

[Paul @PaulieOnTrack]

@sainsburys @wesstreeting Sainsbury store in Barkingside, woman on cold meat counter was cutting and putting meat on display with her bare hands, when asked whether she should be wearing gloves, asked if we wanted to buy any and followed with "well go away then". Not acceptable.

[Paul @PaulieOnTrack]

@iamhankhamTS Bermuda triangle railways.. getting you from A to.. well, who knows?

[Paul @PaulieOnTrack]

Class 90 / 08 combo

[Paul @PaulieOnTrack]

Some depot randoms whilst I wait 5.5 hours to drive a train and keep my steps up before my charity walking marathon in less than 3 weeks - and I've never seen the maintenance shed so quiet..

[Paul @PaulieOnTrack]

Today's office waits for me to drive it home.. where some depot guests awaited our arrival #class47 #class710

[Paul @PaulieOnTrack]

nipped into the local Wilko earlier and was approached by 3 separate customers asking if I worked there.. my uniform in no way resembles the bright red worn by their staff! on the plus side I managed to sell 3 dustpan and brushes, a tin of gloss & a kilo of food for a goldfish 👀

[Abbie Jones @abbiedjones]

A reassembled crew of a Lancaster bomber - all of them in their 90s - on the site of the old Chadderton Avro museum founded 80 years ago today. Shortly the cockpit of a bomber will make its way through the streets to the @Avro_HeriMuseum in Woodford @BBCNWT

[Paul @PaulieOnTrack]

Handed the second part of my job to a driver instructor and their trainee so they could get the dark hours required to sit their final assessment & also drive the shunt move into one of our sidings, they're passing them out with fewer hours nowadays than I had to accrue 🤷🏻‍♂️

[Paul @PaulieOnTrack]

The railway gods seem to have been kind to me and handed me a shiny 345 train for my first shift back.. now I only have to remember where the 2 emergency speed restrictions and the coasting zone that's sprung up since my last drive are, what that handle does etc. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[Paul @PaulieOnTrack]

@BeccyBarr1 @BBCNWT @LancashireFRS @LfrsStc The very best of luck for many safe and fulfilling years ahead of you 👍🏻🚒

[Paul @PaulieOnTrack]

3 weeks off is coming to an end, it's been fun but the day job calls once again, looking forward to hitting the ground limping with the 1604 ex. Shenfield and the 1700 back the other way tomorrow.. I'd get the next one! ☺️

[Paul @PaulieOnTrack]

@VirginTrains I used it in a PA once... Nobody got off 🤷🏻‍♂️

[Paul @PaulieOnTrack]

I'm old enough, sadly, to remember this as the promenade station in Morecambe. They've preserved it well as a pub, entertainment venue and host of many a BBC Flog It production..

[Paul @PaulieOnTrack]

@TrainspottingUK Today's one seems to be haunting me as I saw it only yesterday in Preston; it was surprisingly comfortable and a fraction of the price of the bus service it resembles

[Paul @PaulieOnTrack]

I believe that the last time I paid so little for a fare anywhere I was still at school! 😅

[Paul @PaulieOnTrack]

@TrainspottingUK I think I've discovered why it was 85p! 😂

[Paul @PaulieOnTrack]

Lancastrians are such an uninhibited lot 👀

[Paul @PaulieOnTrack]

The new fleet of trains for Northern Rail are very impressive, obviously built with a different set of criteria to ours in the South but so much more comfortable. I'm still getting used to seeing so many 2 and 3 car trains though!

[Paul @PaulieOnTrack]

It was my honour to meet the @VirginTrains star of Lancaster station today! The selfie king @dispatcher1965 himself! A selfie opportunity which could not be missed 😅