in the 1990s just before privatisation, just about every middle manager in the rail industry attended team-building events called "leadership 5000" (meaning the 5000 managers at that level - the top level attended "leadership 500). as each batch returned after their course, word got around about the content, which included some ridiculous role-playing. this encouraged later attendees to take with them props and costumes to help with the role play, and as time went on the sessions became more and more over the top. at this point, the press were alerted and printed lurid tales of debauched behaviour by railway staff - and completely ignored the context which had led to it.