Beattys Overseas

Cousin Daniel kindly delivered us to Glasgow's Queen Street train station this morning, and off we went for a train ride to Edinburgh.  We have read amazing things about Edinburgh, and it was recommended as a "should see" by a few folks ( bro-in-law Shane, The, the Wandering Walkers).  Well, the recommendations were right, it's a wonderful place.  For us, however, getting there was half the fun...

The rail from Glasgow to Edinburgh is about 50 minutes, and it was an EXTREMELY crowded train because the one before it had been cancelled.  The conductor made numerous apologies about everything, and by God we believe he actually meant it!  We sat separately, and gad to part from our luggage, which was stowed in any free overhead areas we could find.  John gave up his seat to an elderly woman (what a gentleman) after 5 minutes of the train ride.  We had booked a great little travel inn in Edinburgh for the night, which is a few steps away from the Haymarket train station.  When the train finally pulled into the station, we suddenly realized it was our stop and hurriedly tried gathering our things before exiting the train.  The Chief working the mobile coffee and food cart in the car simultaneously blocked the door with his bedroom bureau size table of biscuits, scones and newspapers while watching us scramble, and felt it his duty to proclaim that the station stop is short, so we should rush to get off.  However, with 4 individual pieces of luggage, it was chaos.

Trying to hurry to get off the train, we left one bag behind: John's precious garment bag of wrinkled shirts, sweater vests and a 6 year old blue blazer.  As we stood on the platform, John frantically fought his way through the departing passengers and turned to make a last grab at something on the luggage rack.  Seeing him turn back one last time, Whitney (thinking that John was in search of the computer bag) yelled "John, I've got it!" John stopped, turned to see Whit happily holding up the computer bag and then, with his NYPD crimefighting reflexes quickly turned again to the train, only to watch the doors close and refuse to re-open. He banged on the windows a few times, locking eyes with the poor souls inside the car, all wishing they could help but knowing we would instead forever share this moment of " Oh #&%*.    The 12:26 to Waverly lumbered slowly away while we cursed it and shook our fists in hurt and in fury. 

BTW, we don't recommend yelling out "%@$*" at the top of your lungs on a crowded train platform anyway. . . it's not only non-productive, but it doesn't paint Americans in a proper light.

We found and talked to some station patrolmen, who sent us to the station manager, who told us to go to a different platform to wait for that exact train to come back.  You see, Haymarket is the second-to-last stop on the rail, so the staff figured that the bag would come back on the train after just a few minutes when it returned to the station.  When it came, John jumped on the rail car - which, honestly, looked like a scene from a European spy movie, because he stealthily hopped on and off each car during its short stop at the station - but came out empty handed.  Grrr... We figured it had been stolen.

We asked another [amazingly nice] station staff member who had her boss call the main station in Waverly, who then went on to describe a lost 'suit carrier' bag.  The conversation went something like this:  (Please note; wherever the word "pause" appears, this would be where railroad girl asks John a question, then gives the info to her boss on the other end of the phone.  Each such pause lasted somewhere between 90 seconds and two minutes).

RR Girl (on phone with her Boss), speaking to John:  "What color is it?" 

John:  "Black.  And it's a Sampsonite."

pause 

RR Girl:  "And you say it's a suitcase?"

John:  "No, I said it's a garment bag."

pause 

Reunited!Girl:  "You mean a suit carrier?"

John:  "Yes, a suit carrier."

pause 

RR Girl:  "Does it have an airport sticker on it?"

John:  "Yes!  Ryan Air!"

pause 

RR Girl:  "From The City of Derry Airport?"

John:  "Yes!   The City of Derry Airport!  That's it!"

pause

RR Girl: "From a few days ago?"

pause

John:  "Yes!!!  From Tuesday!!!  Tuesday the 1st!!!"

pause

RR Girl (now cupping the phone with her hand, and whispering to John): "I think we might have it." 

pause for 2,000 seconds

RR Girl: "Wow. They have it, and will hold it for you!" 

She directed us to get on the next train that came through Haymarket and go the one stop up to Waverly.  Off we went, and the station manager in Waverly safely delivered John's suit carrier (aka garment bag).  Victory!!!

- Whitney and John