Hey, You alright pal?
Stuart Boyd • 29 October 2021
On this day (31st October) in 2018 I was visiting St James Park, a station in the suburbs of Exeter.
I was visiting the station as part of one of my first major trips of the challenge. A trip that had seen me visit most of Cornwall and a decent amount of Devon, but on my 2nd to last day of the trip, things took a sad turn.
I was stood on the southbound platform awaiting for my train which would take me to Newcourt. While I was waiting for the train I noticed a gent on the opposite platform. After a short while this chap jumped down onto the tracks and walked across the lines and jumped up onto the platform I was stood on. He then approached me and asked if I had a lighter on me for his cigarette. I replied with a no, and that was all that was said.
I remember thinking 'he really shouldn't be crossing the tracks' but he then stood back near the fence and I assumed he was Ok and was waiting for a train. My train to Newcourt approached and I boarded and was on my way. A short wait at Newcourt before heading to Exeter St Davids when I boarded a train for Feniton. The journey to Feniton went without issue. At Feniton I hopped on a bus and headed to Whimple where I had intended to board a train to Pinhoe.
Sadly at Whimple, I noticed the departure screens were showing "Delayed" and then shortly later changing to "Cancelled". A quick look on my phone and I learnt that my train had been terminated at Honiton. At this point my heart sank, I learnt that the delay and following cancellation was due to a fatality at St James Park... I knew immediately who it was, my heart was in pieces!
I managed to find a bus service which took me back into Exeter. I decided to head back to St James Park and speak to the British Transport Police. My suspicions were confirmed, the person that had been hit was indeed the gentleman I had seen and very briefly exchange words with. I was one of the last people to speak to this gentleman.
I gave a statement to the BTP officer and then went for a long walk around Exeter before heading to my hotel. The questions I asked myself that evening are the same questions I have asked myself over a hundred time since. The questions are along the lines of
- Could I have done more
- Should I of reported him to the police for trespass
- Should I of asked him if he was ok
- Would he still be alive if I had done any of the above
These questions haunt me all the time, every time I see a tweet about another fatality on the railways. The answer I always come back to myself is "Yh, but I wasn't to know, but now I do know, I must do everything I can do to help prevent this happening again"
So what do I do differently now:
- I report any trespass sightings to the BTP. Not to get anyone in trouble, but more to get them the help they might need, be that life saving help, or education on the dangers of taking shortcuts across the tracks.
- Say hi to other people, acknowledge people and say things like "alright" or "how you doing". Many ignore me, but those short sentences might be all that is needed to make them feel wanted, make them change their way of thinking.
I've not written this blog in looking for sympathy, or for attention. I have chose this year to write this short blog as mental health issue calls to charities like Samaritans are higher than ever. Mental health affects people in different ways, it does different things to you, it can make you think there is no way out...
You might not know who you are talking too, but by just saying a word or two, you might help someone more than you could imagine.
To the gentleman who asked for a lighter, I'm sorry I didn't have a lighter, I'm sorry I didn't ask how you was.
RIP fella.
If anyone can spare a few quid, please consider donating it to the Samaritans.
This can simply be done by visiting the below link:
Donate to Samaritans | Donations | Samaritans Charity Donations
After hearing about the Steam Gala on the Llangollen Railway I simply had to see if I could make it work to visit. The day started at the awful time of 0645 with a train from Liverpool Lime Street to Chester. I hopped off at Frogsham on the way in the hunt of a cap in the Morrisons next to the station. Annoyingly thought he supermarket had zero mens clothing. So hopped on the next train to try my luck in Chester. Result, I got a cap! Hopefully this one lasts longer than this trip. I have a habbit of loosing hats! Aftert he great hat hunt I headed back to the station in order to catch the train down to Gobowen where I was meeting my good friend Rob. After the hellos we headed in car to Llangollen and started the great car parking space hunt which was followed by spending 10 minutes trying to work out how to pay for a car park ticket! After all that we headed down to the station and went straight to the platform. Couple of photos taken followed by boarding the first train of the day which would take us the full length of the line to Corwen station. We spent 20 minutes at Corwen before heading back to Glyndyfrdwy station and went for a short walk and took some photos. It was at this point we realised that every service on the line was running late. We boarded our third train and headed to Carrog where we alighted. Took some more photos and then went in search of a pub! The Grouse Inn to be precise. After a 5 minute walk we came across the pub and plonked ourselves in the beer garden with a drink and promply orders some grub! Was rather tasty! After this we headed back to the station, had a look around, bought some gifts in the shop and then headed over to the next train. On the way we asked a member of staff/volunteer what was happening with the timetable and their words was "the timetable is a work of fiction" so from this point we played it by ear with trains. The next stop was Berwyn which is quite possibly the best station on the line! The setting with the river next to the station was super and you simply couldn't stand on the platform and not be impressed! Given the timetable was completly out of the window we decided to just stay at the station and wait for the next train. This arrived and took us back to where we started: Llangollen. The line is a thing of beauty. The scenery was breathtaking, and every member of staff/volunteer we spoke to was great. After a walk around Llangollen we headed for the car and then drove to Machynlleth where i am based for the next few nights. Enjoy below some photos from today. And until next time... Ta for now
Kildale station is located on the very scenic Esk Valley Line that runs from Middlesborough to Whitby. From the June 2024 timetable change the station will see 8 trains per day, 4 in each direction! Although this is a limited service it does give you the opportunity to do some exploring of the area.
I set of on a walk with my sisters dog and headed for the disused canal from Kendal. I followed along disused canal to the village of Natland. I then swapped the disused canal for the river. After following the riverside path, I came across a footbridge that I had planned to use, annoyingly it was closed! Annoyingly I was planning to use this footbridge, due to this there was a lenghty diversion. Thankfully the diversion wasn't a total waste of time, I was able to walk through the beautiful Sizergh Castle and then head back up to my original route plan and headed to Helsington church and view point. After spending a little time chatting with my Dad (who's ashs was scattered there) me and Bailey then headed up to Scout Scar before setting of back down towards Kendal. Upon reaching the River Kent I decided that my feet was still feeling good and I headed back along the river to Hawes Bridge. I then headed up into the village of Natland and then up to Oxenholme where my walk came to an end!
A blog about the new Northumberland Line that is scheduled to start opening in the Summer of 2024.
This walk was a tail of two halves! The day started with walking through Reading suburbs and then through the city centre. Things mid morning took a positive turn as we headed to the The Kennet and Avon Canal which I then followed for the remaineder of the day. Only hopping away from the canal to go on to station platforms. A very enjoyable walk, even in the scorching heat! Stations visted today was: Reading, Reading West, Theale, Aldermaston & ended the day at Midgham. By walking between Aldermaston and Midgham I actually have managed to get a station ahead on my plan which can only be a good thing as I head down to the more difficult reagions of Somerset & Devon next week. Until tomorrow :)
Todays walk was a little bit of a tough one, mainly due to the excessive heat which is only going to get worse as the week goes on. Thinking there will be some early starts coming up to try and miss the worst of the heat! Today was a mixture of roads and walks across fields. Discovered there is some beautiful countryside between Maidenhead and Twyford. I strongly encourage you to take this walk! Stations visited today: Burnham, Taplow, Maidenhead and ended at Twyford. Was great to have Nick Badley along with me today. Make sure to check out and subscribe to his YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@NickBadley . After the walk myself and Nick headed to Windsor where we met up with Coastway Will and had a Nandos dinner where the unlimited refils was very much used again and again! Until tomorrow :)
Todays walk saw me starting at Southall and heading straight to The Grand Union Canal. We followed this for most of the walk today. Stations called at today was: Hayes & Harlington, West Drayton, Iver, Langley before finishing the walk at Slough. Was great to have pals Jack and Dave with me today. Laughed for the most part, especially when we got the wrong place for the London/Buckinghamshire borders. That video on twitter got filmed twice lol. Massive thank you to everyone supporting the event via donations to either/both: Donate to Samaritans: https://justgiving.com/page/greatwesternwalk Support me with the challenge: https://www.gofundme.com/f/GreatWesternWalk My photos from today are below. Daves photos from today can be found here on his Flickr photostream: https://flic.kr/ps/3ppCTV Until tomorrow :)
The first day of the walk from London Paddington to Southall saw me call at Acton Mainline, Ealing Broadway, West Ealing & Hanwell. On the way we saw unexpected viaducts, fancy McDonalds, pretty gardens & nice market squares. Today I was joined by a couple of friends who can be found online at the following places, Please do check their accounts out. Jack All Station: twitter.com/JackAllStations Midland London: youtube.com/@MidlandLondon Below is a selection of photos from today.
Walk around Windermere:
All photos © Every Last Station. Reuse only by permission.