In message
David Hansen wrote:

On Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:49:16 -0800 (PST) someone who may be SB
wrote this:-

I got off at Charing Cross, but noticed that by then the
two women had their end of the carriage all to themselves. What would
you have done? SB.

A long time ago many people in Portsmouth generally knew that HMS
Vernon dealt with things which go bang. Mines, torpedoes and that
sort of thing.

One day some sailors got on a crowded train to London with an oblong
package. They stood in a compartment and placed the package gently
on the luggage rack. Then one of them quietly remarked to another
that it was better if the contents of the package went across the
train, as the vibration was less.

A few minutes later one of the other passengers got out of their
seat, left the compartment and didn't come back. Then another did
so. Soon the sailors had a whole compartment to themselves.

The package was, of course, empty.


Compartments? That was a long time ago!

--
Graeme Wall

This address not read, substitute trains for rail
Transport Miscellany at www.greywall.demon.co.uk/rail
Photo galleries at http://graeme-wall.fotopic.net/