Mr. James Thomson was less then happy as he sat behind the wooden desk, Perhaps it was the Long overnight journey on the Inter-City sleeper from Glasgow to Inverness, Or even the wind and rain he had faced upon departure from the coach, despite this being the start of Summer. What ever it was ...His mood was not of the Best. Mr. Thomson ...Personal Officer for BTH (British Transport Hotels) assigned to the Train Catering Division (Soon to be called Travellers Fare) and sent to Inverness to recruit 4 new staff for the Train Catering operation in Inverness.
4 New Staff ...That was all he required to complete his task, He had already interviewed 8 people, Finding success in only 3 of them, The rest he had discounted for a variety of reasons, Perhaps they lived to far from the Train Station, Maybe they had Tattoos visible (Against Catering Regulations) Or generally they just did not Suit. Whatever the man sitting in front of his desk, was the last person to apply, Failure would mean another long trip overnight and more time away from his beloved family.
Mr. Thomson slipped his hands under his glasses and rubbed his Eyes, He was tired, so very weary, The bumping and jostling of the Sleeper had kept him awake most of the Previous night, The breakfast of Tea and 3 Digestive Biscuits, Had not improved his mood, Nor had the Wash or shave in the Mini sized Sink with lukewarm water on board the Sleeper.
Removing his hands Mr. Thomson again looked at the Young man sitting across the Desk from him.
"So ...Mr. Fyvie!" .... "Let me get this straight ... You are a timeserved Fitter Welder?"Yes Sir.
"You have had 4 employers in the past two years?"
Yes Sir.
"You have absolutely no Catering experience ..What-so-ever?"
No Sir ...Except from making the lads tea when I was an Apprentice.
Mr. Thomson released a long loud sigh.
"Can you give me one single reason ...Why I should offer you employment?"Eh! .... (Long Pause) ...No.
"Well at last we appear to have something in Common" Sighed Mr. Thomson.James Thomson shuffled the Application forms on the Desk in front of him. He was not a Man prone to hasty or abrupt decisions. His tired eyes darted to the large clock on the Room wall.
16.00 hrs ..The last day train would leave in twenty minutes, If he was not on that, It would be another uncomfortable night on an Intercity sleeper, Another night and day before he could enjoy the Comforts of his Family Life.
Mr. Thomson again looked at the fresh faced young man sitting across the desk from him, 25 years old and engaged to be married, The man certainly was tidy and well presented, He looked the Part, He seemed confident enough ...But no catering experience.
James removed his glasses and holding his head sideways, again glanced at the young man, His eyes again flitting to the Wall Clock (16.08)
A long hiss of air escaped for Mr. Thomsen's lips.
"Right ... I will offer you employment as a Train catering Steward, But only on a Three Month Trial Period ...Is that acceptable to you?"
Yeah ..Great ..Smiled the Young Man.
"OK! ... Monday morning ...come to the Station Cafeteria and you will be issued with you Uniform and work roster"
The young man stood up from his seat, both Shook hands, with Mr. Thomson (Looking Doubtful) issuing a final sentence.
"Don't let me Down"
16.15. ... Both men left the Office, Ian Fyvie headed to the Station bar for a celebration Drink, My Thomson to the Glasgow Train. Neither of them could have possibly known, that the Conversation of the past 15 Minutes would lead to a Career spanning 17 Years ...Or leading this un-qualified Summer Steward to achieve Management Status in a very short time.
Inverness Train Catering
In 1975 Inverness was a busy Train Station, Well certainly during the Summer Season, When the Highland town was awash with Tourists. The Train carting Depot at Inverness was the 3rd largest in Scotland (Just behind Glasgow and Edinburgh). The Catering fleet included 1. full restaurant car (Inverness to London) 2 Griddle Cars (Grilled Meals Between Inverness and Glasgow/Edinburgh) Several DMU (Diesel Multiple Units) Mini Buffets (One man vehicles) Running between Inverness and Aberdeen. Also two RMB's (Full sized Buffet Cars) Running between Inverness and Wick/Thurso.
The Busy Summer season also saw the Inclusion of Catering Vehicles on the Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh line and a variety of "Special Trains" running to suit the various specifications of the Companies hiring them.
Tales from the Buffet (Inverness to Wick Line)
The Railway line between Inverness and Wick/Thurso ran three trains each day, Two of which contained Catering Vehicles (RMB's)
Both these services (06.15 & 11.10 departures) were incredibly busy in the short summer season, However the long Winters Proved to be ...Perhaps the Quietest Service on British Rail. Indeed the Catering service on these trains could never make a Profit, The losses of the Winter season easily gobbled up any profit made in the Summer, However as the Journey from Inverness to Wick/Thurso took 5½ hours (And often longer in Winter conditions) British Rail deemed it necessary to retain catering facilities on this Service. Now many of you, Who travel by Train, May wonder why the Buffet/Restaurant car does not always open Immediately upon departure.
Simple! ...When a Steward boards a Catering vehicle, All Sellable Stock (Food/Drink etc.) must be counted and checked against the Stock Sheets left by the Previous Steward.
Antiquated It may have been, But the System was simple. You had stock sheets listing the Amount of the Goods on the Train. You checked these figures were correct, Added any stores you received, Thus giving you a Grand Total ...30 minutes prior to your arrival in the Home Station, You again counted the Stock ... a Simple subtraction would give you the Daily sales ..and eventually the Amount of Cash you had to Pay into the Booking Office.
e.g.. The Stock sheet might show 100 cans of "John Smiths Bitter" on board. The New Steward had to check this Figure to ensure it was correct. If, For example there was only 90 cans on board and the Steward had not checked, At the End of the Day ...HE would have to pay, Out of his own Pocket for the Missing 10 cans.
The Inverness/Wick/Thurso line was A summer season joy to behold, Tourists to Britain want to travel the length and breadth of the Country, Wick/Thurso is the furthest North the Railway System runs.
However in the Winter months the Service is almost empty, The only exception to this was the 06.15 (1975) This train was mobbed leaving Inverness, But only because of the Oil Workers travelling to Dingwall (30 minute journey) to catch their connecting train to Kyle of Lochalsh.
The Experience.
One of the first things you learn when you join a company such as British Rail, Is that very quickly you lose your individuality, and merge into what can only be described as the Railway Family.
Regardless of you employment or Skills .. Be it portering/Driving or catering ..First and foremost you are a Railway Man.
Now People out there Might view the Job of a Buffet Steward as a rather Downbeat type of job. Just standing there in BR. Red uniform serving Tea & Coffee to thirsty passengers ..Sound easy.
However very quickly I began to realise that the job involved a lot more that ....I had the Responsibility to care for my fellow workers ...My Railway Family.
A Prime example of this ...Would be when working on the 06.15 Inverness to Wick train.
Upon departure from Dingwall Station, The Steward on Board would Sweep through the Train with a Black Refuse sack, Disposing of all the Debris caused by the Oilrig Workers .. However one commodity did not find its way into the Rubbish Bag .. Newspapers.
The Steward collected all daily Newspapers from the Table and took them back to his Catering Vehicle ... Why?
The Inverness to Wick line Runs through a lot of Open Countryside, Often some of the Railway Workers Houses are situated close to their Place of Work (Signalboxes/Level Crossings etc.) Often a great many miles from a Village or shop.
In places like this .. Newspapers are delivered by The post office (Postman) Now Mondays paper ..By the time it had muddled its way through the Postal System would not be delivered to the Home until Tuesday possibly even Wednesday.
However in true Railway style the problem was overcome. At this time Tea & Coffee was served on the trains in "MaxPax" (Cardboard cups with Granules already in them). These cardboard cups could get very Hot, So BR designed paper collars to slip over the Cups and so providing a little insulation for the Customers hands.
These Paper collars made ideal "Napkin type Rings" which fitted a rolled up Newspaper like a Glove .. All A steward had to do as open the Train window and throw the Newspaper into the Garden of the passing house. (Sounds difficult but is remarkably easy with a little practice) ..Therefore railway workers in remote areas were delivered a Morning Daily Newspaper.
Gratitude you would think? ... No way ...Believe it or not, One morning a PW Worker (Permanent Way ..Track) stormed into the Buffet car and loudly complained to me, That the Steward the Previous day had delivered a "Daily Express" instead of the Normal "Daily Record"
Even trying to explain that (a) I was not on duty that day .. Or (b) Perhaps the Steward couldn't get a "Record" that day. Was no consolation to the Demented Railwayman. His Wife was collecting tokens from the Record and now she was missing one ..It was my fault :)
Now the Job did not just concern the delivery of Free daily papers to other Rail staff.
No! .. Even Joe Public got into the act. You see the north of Scotland is dotted with remote houses (Gamekeepers/Gillies/Shepherds etc.) Often these houses are mile from anywhere .. Their weekly supplies of food or drink is by means of a Grocers Van arriving once a Week.
Fine in the Summer, But often in the Height of Winter the area can suffer Snowdrifts of up to "Twenty Feet". Of course in instances like this There is only one way to get fresh food supplies.
The Train Catering Steward.
Yes often in the Dead of Winter the Train would pull into some forlorn station and there would be 5/6 women, all clad in heavy wintercoats and wearing Headscarves to keep out the Chill wind.
The Door on the Buffet car would be flung open, and the Steward handed every womans "Shopping List" ..Plus Money.
On arrival at Wick ..It was a quick dash to the nearest Supermarket ...Eventually arriving at the Check-out ...the trolley groaning under the Weight ... Pay for the good and back to the train.
Back on board the Shopping was stored into cardboard boxes ..One for each woman. You know the Strange thing was ...Each woman seemed to know exactly how much her shopping would come to, And God help you if you short changed her by 10p.
The Stewards reward for all this Public Services ... Well ..They were generous at New Year time .. Often a line of people at an out back station giving the Steward a half bottle of Whisky for helping them out.
They might have known the price of shopping but sadly didn't know the Train Catering Roster ..Often the Steward getting the New Year Gift ...Had perhaps just worked the train on Two occasions that year ;)
One of the First lessons a Catering Steward quickly learnt, Was that Any Railwayman under the level of Management, Expected to get their Tea or Coffee gratis. If you were approached by a Train Guard and he asked you for a Cup of tea and a sandwich, You charged him for the tea at your own peril. (Each Railwayman has their own way of extracting revenge upon another)
In general terms this is not a problem, The Stewards do tend to carry Tea & Coffee for their own consumption. However Things are not always what they Seem.
I Remember one morning, A man approached the Counter and asked for a Cup of Tea and Packet of Biscuits .. A quick glance at him revealed he was wearing a black Donkey Jacket, With the Double Arrows railway insignia. The man was served and Payment offered and Refused.
"Nah! ..Yer alright Mate" :)
The man thanked me and went and sat down, had his tea and biscuits and gave me a cheery wave as he Disembarked at the Next Station.
Now for around the next three months this Pattern followed suit, Always the man having got his Free Tea and biscuits and went and sat down ...Some railwaymen stood at the Counter and chatted to you, Others like this man seemed a bit more private, So it was not unusual.
However ...The Summer season hits Inverness like a tornado, One day the Train is deathly Quiet ..The next its standing room only.
My first day of real business, The man approached and was served as Normal, But as there was no seating room, he had to remain at the Counter.
Time to strike up a conversation :)
"Hows things mate ...Are you busy just now?"
"Aye ..Always busy in the summer" he replied shaking his head.
"What is it you do at Alness? ...Do you work in the Station or the track?"
The mans eyebrows Knitted together as if he did not understand the Question.
"OH! ...No .. I work on a Farm just down the road, I'm a tractor driver"
"But your wearing a Railway Jacket?"
"Aye I got it from my Brother in Law ...It keeps you warm on the Tractor as it hasn't a cab"
So there is was .. Myself and I dare say, every other Steward in Inverness had been dishing out Free Tea and Biscuits to this "Merry Ploughboy" for the Last three months.
Needless to say ...He wasn't the Happiest customer the Next day, When he had to start paying like everyone else ;)
Now its not only the Train Crew and Passenger that make use of the Buffet Car. In stations like Wick, There was no cafeteria, So it was not unusual for the Platform staff to pop in for a Quick cup of tea or buy a pack of Cigarettes.
Now at Wick Station (1975) there was a certain Gentleman there who was known as "Daft Davy"
Davy didn't actually work for the Railway, "Davey" was not one of nature's most blessed when it came to looks and intellect. He was a penny short of a shilling, if you know what I mean. Davy appeared at Wick Station Mondays/Wednesdays & Fridays (The other week days I am lead to believe he appeared at the Wick Mart) Davy helped load or unload the mail etc. from the Guards van, On payday all the Wick Staff put their loose change into an Envelope, and presented to Davy as "His Wages"
It was the start of the Summer Season when I first encountered Davy, Being a man of few words he approached the Counter one day and simply said "TEA"
Davy of course got his Tea, However as the weeks passed, Davy came one day and started to construct a sentence.
"TEA and FAGS"
Now it was really Busy in the Summer and Steward did make a lot of cash by either getting Tips or Drinks bought for them.
Soft Hearted fool I was ...I gave Davy his Tea and Fags, But didn't charge him.
Every day after that ...Davys grotesque face would split into a giant grin when he saw me behind the Counter, and he would run down the Corridor for his "Tea and Fags"
Now I didn't really mind this ...In the Summer ..But as Winter approached and the Train got quieter, I suddenly realised I had to put a stop to this Free Cigarettes ...(I was just not making enough Tips to cover the Costs)
So when Davy arrived and demanded his usual.
"TEA and FAGS"
I explained to him as nicely as Possible, That I couldn't afford to give him Free "Fags" in the Winter time.
A hurtful and Pained expression came over Davys face, Suddenly his features distorted into what I assumed was Anger.
"I KIN PAY" screamed Davy.
"OK then" I sheepishly said ...Realising only to well that I had hurt his feelings.
I gave him his tea and Twenty Embassy Red.
Davy thrust out his hand.
It contained a Jumble of assorted Coins (possibly amounting to no more than around 36 pence)
What could I do? ... What would you do?
I took two ten pence coins from his hand ..said thankyou and slipped them into the Till.
From that day forth, My relationship with Davy was slightly more strained.
"TEA and FAGS ...I KIN PAY" would shout, But after the first day he no longer offered a jumble of loose change, But always exactly 20p.
I had made my Bed ...And had to lie in it.
Then one day on arrival at Wick ..Davy made his usual approach.
"TEA and FAGS ....I KIN PAY" he slapped his 20p on the Counter.
I gave Davy his tea but turning to the Cigarette shelf, Realised I had sold out of his Embassy Red, and all I had left was Players No6.
I picked up a 20 pack gave it to Davy, and stuck his 20p in the Till.
"NO RIGHT" Shouted Davy ..while waving the No6 in front of my face.
"Sorry Davy but that's all I have" ...Moving to show him the Shelf containing the CigarettesNow in all my year of Life ..Its seldom that Words Fail me ..But I'll never forget the Expression on Davys face ..When he uttered just one Word.
"CHANGE"Yup ..He might have appeared as a simpleton, But he was clever enough to know No6 were cheaper than Embassy and wanted his Change.
Shaking my head I went into the Till and gave him, 5p change.
Davy continued to con me for the rest of my time on that Circuit, And the big toughie that I am, I never had the Heart to tell him where to go :)
