TheRailwayStation

Here we are at the station from which Frieda and Jan are going to Switzerland. None of the students are here yet, so we can look round the station and watch the busy life that is going on. There are a lot of platforms (seventeen of them) from which trains come in and go out. Frieda’s train goes from platform 2 so let us walk in that direction. There’s the booking office where you can buy a ticket for your journey. Let’s listen to that man buying a ticket.
MAN: I want a ticket to Brighton, please, second-class.
BOOKING CLERK: Single or return?
MAN: Return, please.
BOOKING CLERK: Second return, Brighton; fifteen shillings, please. (The man gives him a pound note.) Five shillings change, thank you.
MAN: Could you tell me what time the next train goes?
BOOKING CLERK: 8.55, platform 12. If you hurry you’ll just catch it.
MAN: Thanks. (He hurries away.)
We’ll have a look at the waiting-room and see if Jan and Frieda or the other students are there. No, they’ve not come yet. We’ll walk to the bookstall and get a morning paper.
The porters are very busy carrying luggage to the train or pushing it on their trucks. They are taking those trunks and suitcases to the luggage van. Look at the labels on them—PARIS, BERNE, BRUSSELS. Quite a lot of people are going abroad for Christmas. There’s a through train to Paris; it’s due out at 8.50; the signals are already down. Those porters will have to hurry to get that luggage in the luggage van before it starts.
Here’s a train that has just come in, with crowds of people getting off it. It has had a long journey. Those are sleeping-cars in the front of the train. There are some soldiers coming home for Christmas, and looking very happy. Those sailors on the other platform don’t look so happy; they are going on that other train to join their ship at Chatham. They won’t be home for Christmas. It’s a stopping train, not an express; it stops at five or six stations before it gets to Chatham.
That man is the station-master. There’s his office next to the booking-office. There aren’t many people in the restaurant, just a few having breakfast, but there are rather more people getting “light refreshments”. Can you see them? They are drinking cups of tea or coffee, eating sandwiches, buns or biscuits. What’s that woman saying to the man at the left-luggage office?
MAN: Yes, madam?
WOMAN: I want to leave some luggage here until this afternoon; is that all right?
MAN: Oh, yes, madam, that will be quite all right. Is it just one bag?
WOMAN: No, there are these two suitcases and this trunk. My husband will call for them with his car this afternoon.
MAN: Very well, madam. What name, please?
WOMAN: Mrs. Macpherson.
MAN: Right. Here’s the ticket. That will be one and sixpence, please. (She gives him two shillings.) Sixpence change, thank you.
WOMAN: Thank you.
Here’s Frieda’s train coming slowly into the platform. I think we had better get platform tickets; the ticket-collector won’t let us go on to the platform without a ticket. Ah! There’s Frieda and there are Jan and the other students—all except Hob. Let’sjointhem.