Those red buffers were installed after the Moorgate train crash of 1975. Brake lining material under pressure in the buffers' foot mountings allows the buffers to slide along the rails for several feet before hitting a hard stop, and in an emergency is sufficient to arrest an over-running train safely. But not, obviously, if the train is doing 125 mph.

Because in recent years (until the Lockdown) I've used the London main line rail termini only for pleasant, leisure occasions and journeys (rambles, holidays etc.) for me they have a faint buzz of excitement, as airports once did. Alas I've had no mileage whatever out of my pensioner's railcard for nearly a year.

I didn't even know about the pensioner's railcard, as I hadn't been on a train since 2006. I didn't like the 125s and other modern versions, but I must admit I found this journey quite pleasant, and the livery is so much more attractive without the pink doors.

You save 1/3, and on a long journey it's possible to save the whole cost of the card, which is valid for a year or longer. Until the Lockdown, I saved the cost of each of mine within a couple of months.

I don't like the new carriages (they made room for extra rows of seats by making the seat backs more upright and the padding thinner) because they're so uncomfortable. It's like sitting on an ironing board.