Do you ever think about people who you met briefly on train journeys (or other ways)?

[Specialneedsnightmare]

Occasionally I still think about people who I sat near to on a busy train journey and wonder how things turned out for them. Not necessarily significant things either. Years ago I was on a train to Guildford and sat at a table with a mother and two adult daughters who were going to a restaurant followed by a party. They were debating what to eat and whether some person they knew would be there and what he might say. They were worried he might cause trouble. They wanted to leave early from the party. I wonder if they went and if the guy was there and what happened. Odd I know..

Another time I was on a train on the south coast and a group of college students got on. I was at a table with two girls who were discussing their upcoming exams. One girl was clearly intelligent and driven and waa trying to encourage her friend who was struggling with a lack of confidence. She told her she could do anything she set her mind to, but not to "be lazy" and to work hard for it. Clearly had excellent parents! Like with the women, sometimes my thoughts go back to the girls and I wonder how they got on.

Does anyone else ever wonder about people who they shared a brief journey with?

About 30 years ago I spent the journey chatting to a lovely crustie. He had long dreadlocks, combat trousers, army boots and beautiful eyes.

As a child, my friend caught a train with her mum. They happened to get chatting to the man sharing their group of seats - he was Michael Bond, the author! She has very fond memories of talking to him about Paddington.

I love reading all these, I often think of a couple who were supporting me on a flight. 10 years ago I went to visit my parents in Canada and took my DD and DH as well. We had a lovely time and the day after we got back home I got a call to say my mum died unexpectedly. She was only 61. I had to fly straight back and I couldn’t take DD who was only 7 so DH stayed with her.

I didn’t sleep much for 4 days! I got on the flight and I was sat next to an elderly couple. I was crying when the flight took off and the lady took my hand and asked me if I was ok. I told her what happened and she was so lovely and calmed me down, she asked me about my mum and then a little about me and my dd etc. It was a 9hr flight and during dinner service I asked about their plans. They were so excited for their Canada adventure and I often think about how their trip went. I hope they both know how much they helped me that day. There are some lovely people out there!!

Australian woman in a beach bar in Thailand had escaped DA and was trying to figure out how to move forward, She had two DC's. Every now and again she crosses my mind.

When I was aged about 6, my nan and grandad took me and my little sister to stay with family down south. It was a big adventure for us, as it was the first time DS and I had ever been on a train. Grandad struck up a conversation with the lady sitting across the aisle, who said she worked for a bank. There'd been a fire in one of their branches / offices (I don't know which) and, being in the days before everything was computerised, a load of customer records had gone up in smoke. She'd been sent down to try and sort the mess out. It always stuck in my memory - it was an inconsequential conversation in the grand scheme of things, but little 6-year-old me was in awe of this lady going on an important mission to save the day! Every now and again I wonder if she had managed to salvage the situation.

I love every one of these stories. Something about fleeting encounters while travelling really touches me. It's so true that some people stay with you forever, even if the conversation was seemingly quite inconsequential, as it was in my case.

Yes when I was about 20 I met this gorgeous bloke he was 19, about 30 mins into the journey we were all over each other - both at different unis - diff parts of the country… never saw each other again. But he was fucking gorgeous

In the 70’s, I met a young army officer on a train from Paddington - he was going to serve in Northern Ireland and I am of Irish ancestry. This was at the height of the ‘Troubles’ in Northern Ireland. We were just two youngsters chatting and I have often thought of him and hope that he returned home safely.

Years ago I worked in London and always used to chat with people on trains and Tubes. It took me a while to work out that it made them uncomfortable and then I used to award myself points for HOW uncomfortable the nutter on the train was making them by asking friendly questions and I gave myself bonus points if they said 'You're from the North, aren't you?'

I am. I'm from Scunthorpe and we chat to people.

I had a relationship with someone I met on a train. Lasted a couple of years but wasn’t to be long term

The lad I met on a train from Carlisle to Preston He was coming down from Glasgow and heading to London. He was 18ish give or take and was homeless. Had nowhere sorted to go to, no job either, knew noone, and had only a couple of hundred quid. He'd also fallen out with his dysfunctional family. By the time I got off the train he'd drank most of a bottle of Buckie and was onto a slab of Tennents.

I occasionally wonder what happened to him.

Yes, a few years ago, an older lady came and sat next to me and my family on the subway, NYC, I’ll admit first impressions she looked a bit of a bag lady, however we started chatting, she spoke really softly and was such a character, I often think of her, on her way home to the Bronx, how proudly she spoke of her small apartment, and how she’d bought her friend a pair of the same pumpkin leggings which she was also wearing. She’s really stuck in my mind!

I was 16 and moving to a stables in Surrey to work for the summer. A lovely Irish lad with incredible green eyes carried my bags for me and we chatted the whole journey.

Three years ago we got chatting with a young solo traveller on a boat trip in Egypt. He’d travelled the world and this was his last stop before going home to the US. His name was Judd and he looked exactly like Leo Dicaprio. The stories of where he’d been were just incredible and we had a great trip just chatting with him.

I once entertained a 5 year old for an hour or so. 'You read the paper Mum', she said, very thoughtfully giving her mum a break and devoting her attention to me. They got off before I did. This was over 20 years ago. I often think she must have spread happiness everywhere she's been since.

What are ear seeds?

That's an amazing level of empathy and sensitivity for a 5 year old. I'm sure she's a truly lovely 25 year old now and would love that you remember her that way.

That reminds me of the song ‘travelling Soldier “ by The Chicks. Have a listen if you dont know it already

I have many of these ..too numerous and some too sad to type out. Im a total introvert but these stories do make me think we should talk to strangers more.

Great thread @Specialneedsnightmare I have the sort of face that seems to make people want to talk to me. I like it (mostly!) and have always chatted with people on journeys or round and about. I have had happy and sad encounters. I do remember being on a Cal Mac ferry and standing next to a really sad looking man ordering himself a buttered rum at the bar. His voice was so quiet and he seemed almost apologetic for ordering his drink. He seemed so beaten down. It was years and years ago but for some reason it has always stuck in my mind.

I used to regularly back and forth to Dusseldorf 2008/09. One time, my return flight was delayed and i met a handsome Dutch guy who was on the same flight. I dont remember what we talked about but he was lovely. It turned out we were sat next to each other on the flight as well. I do think of him from time to time.

Where abouts was the station?

When I was a student doing my finals in the 1980s I used to go swimming most mornings. There was a heavily pregnant woman who I chatted to every day. I often wonder how their lives turned out. The baby would be over 40 now!

Not on the train or tube - no. Barely make eye contact on the tube! 😂

I have had some good conversations on planes though.

I sat next to a couple on a plane to Portugal once. The guy was such a chatterbox! The lady pre-warned me not to ask him anything; unfortunately that just doesn't come naturally to me.... In the end the wife put her headset on as she said she was fed up of listening to him already and she'd got to listen to him for a week.
I learnt a lot about security systems and CCTV 😂. Fastest flight ever!

What lovely stories.

For anyone interested, there is a brilliant Radio 4 play, over 5 episodes, that starts with two strangers meeting on a train.
The main character is played by one of my favourite actresses, Rosie Cavaliero, and it's so funny and poignent.

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0005289/episodes/guide

Not available yet 😔