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The settling train

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Rik

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(Photo: Trowbridge Estate)

As everyone knows, the A60 and A62 trains were made by Cravens of Sheffield in the early 1960s and put to work on the Metropolitan Line. And no doubt they looked very modern and impressive as they trundled Aelwyn from Rickmansworth or Croxley to his office near Liverpool Street every working morning, from 1964 to 1974. These marvels of technology boasted luggage racks and umbrella hooks.

Aelwyn had fought with the RAF in Burma during World War Two, and perhaps he enjoyed, in contrast, the serenity of his commuting routine. He worked as an actuary, which supported a comfortable lifestyle for his wife and children.

But his younger son – filled with ambition in his teenage years – felt that, pleasant though his father’s life no doubt was, there was surely more to life than this? A nice house in Chorleywood, two children and a dog? Was that it? No, somehow, he was going to conquer the world.

Later the son began his career in the City, and spent his working life commuting to Liverpool Street and Moorgate. He met a girl, fell in love and married. They lived in London, but soon after their first daughter was born, they decided to move to a place in the countryside, with a bigger garden and fresher air. After viewing lovely houses in unsuitable locations, and perfect locations where no houses were for sale, the first place they found which ticked both boxes happened to be in Chorleywood.

So they moved there, and soon after, their second daughter was born. Six years later, they got a dog.

(Photo: Peter Skuce)

And the son continued with his daily commute to the City, and one day noticed the plaque on the carriage floor by the doors: Cravens, Sheffield, 1962.

And he thought: a nice house in Chorleywood, two children and a dog. Perhaps it wasn’t so bad after all. And he didn’t even have to fight the Japanese in Burma. Contentment, the slayer of ambition, had crept in. His career just stayed in the first comfortable rut it came to.

In 2012 the venerable A60s and A62s were retired after fifty years of service, and he realised he was no longer enjoying work quite so much. Perhaps it was time to call it a day. Conquering the world would have to wait.

10 responses to “The settling train”

  1. Avatar
    Anonymous

    And I’ll raise your luggage racks and umbrella hooks to the comfort of the Tring to Euston trains. Six seater compartments large enough to take six fully open copies of The Telegraph (or one open and five covering the faces of dozing commuters!)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Rik Avatar
      Rik

      Ah, who is the mystery Tring commuter? I knew that line well when my family lived near Kings Langley – some time after the time of the six seater compartment, though!

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  2. atrebatus@duck.com Avatar
    atrebatus@duck.com

    The Met line has been a marvel and a blessing.

    But I remain disappointed about the Croxley line extension nettle not being grasped. All that money spent on HS2 could have been better spent on that in my view.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Rik Avatar
      Rik

      Yes, a fraction of the HS2 budget would have gone a long way towards improving existing systems.

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  3. joyfullysuperb4adc82f3cc Avatar
    joyfullysuperb4adc82f3cc

    Having been brought up on the other side of Watford (Bushey) my childhood experience of tube travel was the Jubilee (then Bakerloo) Line from Stanmore. I thought that was exciting enough, but when I started at WBGS and became aware of the silver monsters arriving at the met station, I couldn’t wait to ride one of them. It took a few years before I was deemed old enough to travel into London alone, but then the thrill of changing from Bakerloo line to Metropolitan line at Wembley Park and overtaking the Bakerloo line train ahead before boarding it at Baker Street was enormous. Something that I just had to share with my great nephew on my recent visit home.

    Peter Neal.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Rik Avatar
      Rik

      Thanks Peter. I can get a similar thrill by using the Chiltern Line to overtake an all-stations Met Line train on the way to Harrow-on-the-Hill. Far fewer stops!

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  4. andrewdexteryork Avatar
    andrewdexteryork

    We lived in Northampton and once a year used to come to stay with our uncle, aunt and two cousins in Northwood Hills. A journey on the Metropolitan was always a highlight with us children singing “Harrow on the Hill, Harrow on the Hill” as the train clattered over the rails. Country bumpkins coming down to the bright lights of the capital. I also remember the yellow sodium lights as I lay in bed at night.

    To think one day I would actually live within sight of the Metropolitan trains is a dream come true!

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Rik Avatar
      Rik

      Ah those seductive bright lights! Well done for having such achievable dreams. There lies happiness.

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  5. obbverse Avatar
    obbverse

    Great dreams and expectations gently shuttled off onto a side line. Such is life.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Rik Avatar
      Rik

      Ho yus, my career just stayed in the first comfortable rut it came to.

      Liked by 1 person

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