The 3.04 stopped and the driver got out and took a walk down the platform.“I think there’s kids riding on the rear coupling,” he said as he went past. Sure enough as he got further down the train, three youths jumped off the end of the train. Giggling they leapt off the furthest end of the platform and ran into the bushes beyond.
The driver came back and the train left.
A couple of minutes later I heard yelling from the nearby tram stop. Two youths were hanging onto the back of a departing tram while a third ran alongside trying to get onto the running board. How on earth did these guys survive? But they must have because no ambulance came. They also showed an impressive turn of speed in running that kilometer between the far end of our platform and the tram stop.
I’ve started checking the back of all the trains more assiduously because kids ride on the couplings regularly (a couple of times a month I see them) I recently caught one trying to get on a coupling on the opposite platform and was able to drive him off with a shout and a glare. (he was clearly too young to ignore me, about 15)
Once a group of them inside the rear carriage saw me checking and started waving and blowing me kisses. Hard not to be softened by their cheekiness.
I understand the appeal of riding on the rear coupling, I really do, but if you fall off it’s a long way down and fast and the trains have to stop while some poor para-medic scrapes you off the tracks.
Station Stories 
I wonder if it’s simple boredom or some part of the Y chromosome that makes young men and boys take such risks. It’s almost as if they have to test their a) reflexes and b) courage in this way because we’ve made the world too tame. 😦
Yes. I agree. It kind of looks exciting.
Maybe this is a kind of male rite of passasge. Or maybe the ancient peoples were wise than us and knew young men /needed/ a formal transition into manhood or they’d make one for themselves.
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
ADVENTURESOME IDIOTS ARE ALL OVER! KIDS! 🙂