One of the TOC controllers has just thrown a big wobbler at me for daring to ask his assistant if she was aware of any issues affecting a train losing some time coming into Cardiff. She volunteered to contact the guard, who reported 'being held at a signal just outside Cardiff'.
Except, our systems all show different, that the time was lost before that. The signaller says they're not aware of any issues, so procedure states that I have to put it down to the TOC to explain.
The controller is now accusing me of 'getting his staff to do my job for me' and 'what difference does it make if we call the guard if you're just going to ignore what he's reported and put it down to us anyway'. I pointed out that this is the procedure I have to follow, that the signaller is the LAST person I contact, and that I spoke to his assistant as it is entirely possible that the train was delayed by something that the guard will know about (such as a wheelchair needing the ramps to get on) that the signaller won't; but in this case that wasn't the situation.
I haven't further said but quite correctly it's a case of what fucking difference does it make, as if I just check all my systems, get a 'no idea' from the signaller and just put it down to the TOC, the TOC's staff are going to have to phone the guard anyway as the onus is then on them to explain what's caused the delay.
This was 20 minutes ago and the guy is still going on about it, trying to identify these three stupid minutes, grumbling, being a big fat grouch.
And he is a notorious grouch. When he's in a good mood he's excellent, but sometimes he just gets into a mood and the stupidest things set him off.
EDIT: It's now been revealed that the driver reports they WEREN'T held at a signal, but the guard reports they had. So Mr Grouch has now had a go at his guard, asking why they incorrectly reported that which has lead to this whole kerfuffle in the first place and made him look like an arse for having a go at us. He's grudgingly apologised, but this is not before he's talked to other folks in the company who've in turn gone to my team leader who's just called me for my side of the story. He describes it as a 'storm in a teacup' and that it's better to just not interact with them at all
If it makes you feel any better, at least you don't have an author that jsut got disbarred....