Hi Mike,
I didn’t think to check for an error code, sorry, as I immediately moved away from the gate to let others through and sought out an attendant. Perhaps worth mentioning that my card is a 60+ Oyster so maybe the time-out is longer because of its high value? Anyway I just checked my impromptu walk on Google Maps and it was 1.2km so it should have been over 10 minutes but perhaps not as long as I initially estimated. Not got Tfl Go installed, but I will do so and update you.
Steve