A wonderful story was relayed to me the other day. It has the kind of credibility that any story that came from a friend of a friend, who was in a beauty salon getting her hair done when she overheard the story being told by a friend of the person involved in the story. Well, it’s good enough for me.
The story begins with a young woman boarding an empty train on her way to or from Sydney, and finding rest in an empty carriage. A short while later, three large, bulked up women enter with less than pleasant demeanours and spotting our heroine, decide to co-habit the carriage. The woman notices one of the scary women is staring right at her, and she tries not to look, but it is pretty clear what is going on. She, concerned for her safety, is relieved when she spots two ticket inspectors boarding the train at one of the stops. The inspectors enter the carriage, first checking the trio’s tickets. Apparently all is fine, and the inspectors move over to the young lady. The inspector announces that the ticket is no good. She protests, claiming she only just bought it and that there was a mistake. The inspectors keep insisting that she must get off the train because her ticket is not valid. Petrified that if she is forced to get off the train in the middle of nowhere, her safety will be in jeapardy, she keeps insisting she has every right to remain on the train. Suddenly, the two inspectors physically pick her up and remove her from the train, much to her disgust. Once off the train, the inspectors apologies profusely for their behaviour, finally admitting that the woman was in the middle of police operations and that is why she had to be removed. Not only that, but the police were in fact investigating a murder, and in a Twilight Zone-esque twist, the woman who had been staring at her on the train was in fact the murdered woman. Trying to not raise suspicion, the two women had boarded the train with the deceased, passing her off as a rather pre-occupied passenger. Freaky, huh?
Of course, this is also a common urban legend, but I really hope the story was true. If anyone (such as Kevin) has any more details or corrections, I’d love to hear them.
You have been had, dear friend! I heard an extremely similar story from Sophie a while ago, who heard it from a friend of a friend (apparently). Being suspicious, I naturally turned to our resident urban legend expert Becky, who confirmed that yes, this is a ripper of a story, and one which has zero truth to it. I highly doubt that your particular version of that story is true! Pity though.
Zoe, you’re much more of a train catcher than I, I prefer vehicles with drivers I can see, so don’t tell me murderers don’t constitute at least 35% of all train travellers.
Ohh i love shit like that! what cares if it’s bullcrap, it’s a good story.
The only flawsI can find in that story is that the Ticket Inspectors were checking tickets and actually helped someone who may have needed it. That never happens.
All the rest seems reasonable to me.
Steph – I’m with you. In fact, if anyone wants to retell this story, make me the one on the train, and Daryl Sommers the corpse.
Kevin – I thought as much. Most stories I know about ticket inspectors involve people faking deathly illness or just death to avoid the fines. I must say the government is very titchy about collecting money for a service few are happy with. The solution? I say we have no cricket for a year, and spend the millions of dollars saved on employing people who actually know how to fix things. This goes for transport, education, health care, the arts, the environment… well, you know.