On Friday, 23 September 2016 22:43:54 UTC+1, Graeme wrote:
In message , Tim Streater
writes
In article , Graeme
wrote:

Perhaps it is just me, but 'the station' always means the railway
station to me. Any other station requires qualification.

But that because (I assume) you, like me, are an ordinary bod who
normally has nothing to do with any other sort of station.

Railway station most frequently, yes, but bus and police station too.

As I hinted before, it's a question of context. Two coppers will be
talking about the police station, two firemen about the fire station.
If they mean any other sort of station then they'll qualify as needed.

Agreed.

All this is bleeding obvious.

Well, yes, but if, for example, a pal said I'll meet you by the station,
I would just assume railway station. Perhaps I shouldn't. Having said
that, I have two pals who are police, and if they suggested meeting by
the station, I would assume police station, but only because I know
their occupations.

I thought police used teh term 'factory' to describe their station.
Well I think they did in the Bill about 20 years ago.