The last time I ever fell in Love...
...Was with a complete stranger on my daily commute to work on the Train.
I may have told this story in another QOTW.

It was back in 2004 on the Doncaster to Leeds route. When I just happened to start noticing this girl that would get on the train at South Elmsall.
Theres an etiquette on trains, and that is people don't really speak to each other. Its first thing in the morning, and no ones in any mood for socialising. Or last thing after a hard days work in the City, and still... no one is any mood for socialising. Girls would get on the train and do their make up. Guys would get on there and hide behind the Metro newspaper.

So this is no nightclub situation where I can easilly say "Hi love how are you? Fancy a drink?" to start the ball rolling. Oh no, this would take some time.

I started noticing which carriage she got in which most of the time happened to be the same one as me. She would get on alone. She wasnt the best looking of girls that got on that train, but there was just something about her that caught my attention. She was pretty though and well dressed.

Sometimes she would end up sitting right across from me, and my heart would just start racing. I'd just sit there imagining what she was like, who she was etc. I made no obvious remark that I liked her. But inside she was driving me nuts.

This went on for months and months. Weeks would go by where I wouldnt see her. Then she'd be back on my train every day, and everytime I saw her, my stomach got fluttery, heart started pounding. I just wanted to know her! I just wanted to get into conversation with her, so I would at least have a chance of her noticing me and liking me back.

This is where it fits into the QOTW. It was traumatising! Poeple I told were just saying "Just say hello to her!" Noooo I couldnt do it. It wasnt that easy becuase of the etiquette of the commuter train! Plus it was even harder now because I actually like her and my words would be stumbled and wouldn't know what to say! I sat there wishing something would happen to break the ice. Daft things like the train breaking down, or even crashing (but we're all ok!) just so we can talk.

I even dreamt about her. Many times. I'd dream we were friends and were really happy.

I was totally besotted with this girl, yet I didnt even know her name. She had no idea she had a secret admirer that was crazy about her.

For over a year this went on. I sat on that train with her getting on it, and me thinking "Wow I really really like you!"

One Friday... The ice broke. We were having a Loud Tie Day at work. I had my geeky millenium bug tie on. Traingirl had come and sat right across from me and as usual the train headed off into Leeds as we sat in silence. I was just getting off the train when all of a sudden I heard her say "Excuse me?" and she had my railcard in her hand. Ooh! She said you left it on your seat. Gee that little wallet with the railcard had the server room fob in it and everything. She saved my bacon! I thanked her, and then thought.. Nononono!! I have to say something more! So said "The train was quiet today wasnt it?" Arghhh! Shes like "Ah yes it was yeah!" and then I just broke into conversation. I ended up walking up to work with her. She told me where she worked. She worked doing subsidence claims for one of the big insurance companies near the Headrow in Leeds. I was telling her about my job as an IT Techy for a Building Society and she seemed impressed! But oh my gosh we were talking! It was amazing!

We walked past my work first. And I said goodbye, she said "I will see you around no doubt!" "Yes you will!" Woo hooo! Wow I was on cloud 9 this was amazing! We spent a few minutes walking and talking and got on really well. I thought it was too soon to invite her for a coffee or anything like that. But now we're talking, this can carry on, on the train! For nearly a year I had waited for this moment. I was so happy!!

Worked dragged and dragged that day. I couldnt wait to get the train home and see her again and continue chatting. Finally at 5pm I got down to the station and kept an eye out for her... and she wasnt there. Damn! She was on a different train. Which left me with an agonising weekend of waiting till Monday morning. Would next week mark the start of something amazing?

Monday finally came, the train pulled into South Elmsall bang ontime every day. I was in the same carriage as always. And watched for her getting on.... She didn't. She wasnt on it! ARghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!! Ah well, maybe she was on the earlier one or later one and I'd see her that evening.

Another long day at work. Im stood at the platform in Leeds station at 5.10 and i see her walking down!!! Ooooh! As she approached me, I gave her a smile. She glanced at me, and walked straight past me without saying a word. Huh???

And that was that.. IwWas back to Square 1. I saw her a few more times and she didn't say a word to me. A couple of months later I moved house, which saw me getting a different train, and then eventually I finished working in Leeds altogether. And that was the end of Traingirl. I never even got her name.

Ive never felt the same for a girl as I did that one. I've met other girls since but have never found that amazing spark. I have no idea why. I wonder what she is up to now? I guess I will never know.
(Miggyman, Thu 29 May 2008, 18:32, 3 replies)

Sounds familiar but nonetheless....
still one of those simultaneously heartbreaking and heartwarming "what if" moments that we all go through

As Robert Smith said

"I used to sometimes try to catch her
but never even caught her name."
(tinypod will never learn. Ever., Thu 29 May 2008, 18:50, closed)

Dude...
you broke the rules. I get a nice quiet train every morning. I know everyone on it, i know where they work (tidbits of info and clues over a long period), i know all their names (flourescent bike guy, umbrella guy, blonde changes at Navigation Road girl, girl looks like clive from accounts etc) and I even recognise their outfits and can spot them arriving from miles away by their gait. I have my platform routine, I have my coffee, the metro, i have my seat on the train, I know every bush, every building the train goes past.

My biggest single fear is that something happens (like you said - a crash, some trauma) and I have to speak to someone. Imagine that? I'd probably have to change to a different train. I'd have to nod hello, or god forbid, talk to that person every fucking morning. It would be hell.
( I have run out of coke is a little sweaty, Thu 29 May 2008, 20:54, closed)

i have had similar
got on train from bristol to plymouth a few years back.
amazing girl came on and sat next to me. we chatted got on well. i wipped out my laptop to watch a film. offerered her a earpiece to join with me (felt like a smooth bugger, usually i do my upmost best to avoid confrontation) we watched "bad santa" (as was around christmas) we laughed a lot shared the same crude humour, then i get a tap on the shoulder to say i was sat in some guys seat. I checked my ticked and indeed i was, time to move. I had my ace card, i found out from our conversation she was getting off on my stop. i looked around with complete failure, never to be found again. boo hoo me.
(Lord Potato, Tue 3 Jun 2008, 23:43, closed)