Inspector Sands at Reading

[ollyrogers]

Sat on the 11:12 out of reading with a loud'inspector sands' message blasting across the concourse with a lot of passengers looking worried! Anyone got any news on this?

 

[Tracky]

Sat on the 11:12 out of reading with a loud'inspector sands' message blasting across the concourse with a lot of passengers looking worried! Anyone got any news on this?

He doesn't half get about. He must have a gold pass...

 

[feline1]

Keep Calm and Carry On...

 

[Jonfun]

Mid morning on a Monday is probably going to be the weekly test, I'd imagine - I know that's when at least one other NR Major Station does it.

 

[ollyrogers]

Could it be something to do with the PHBT at Burnham? Just noticed it was created on the NRE site at 11:24, which would fit with my timing above?

Obviously best wishes to everyone involved with the incident regardless

 

[tsr]

Mid morning on a Monday is probably going to be the weekly test, I'd imagine - I know that's when at least one other NR Major Station does it.

I always thought it was mid-morning on a Tuesday for Paddington, but I can't be sure of that. It may be done more often. I know it is usually around that specific time. It should usually be preceded by an explanatory announcement about the alarm test.

 

[paulravuslante]

I always thought it was mid-morning on a Tuesday for Paddington, but I can't be sure of that. It may be done more often. I know it is usually around that specific time. It should usually be preceded by an explanatory announcement about the alarm test.

Correct about Tuesday. The alarm is tested at 11am. I seem to remember that they also started testing on Sunday mornings. I believe it was also 11am but haven't worked there around that time for a while now.

 

[455driver]

I always thought it was mid-morning on a Tuesday for Paddington, but I can't be sure of that. It may be done more often. I know it is usually around that specific time. It should usually be preceded by an explanatory announcement about the alarm test.

The OP was at Reading so what relevance is the alarm test taking place at Paddington?

 

[noddingdonkey]

Surely preceding the message with an announcement defeats the purpose of a coded message? Shouldn't those who are supposed to know what the message means know when the system is tested?

 

[tsr]

The OP was at Reading so what relevance is the alarm test taking place at Paddington?

I'm sorry, I should have added that I supposed it may be similar for other stations in the area or of that size on the FGW network. It would perhaps make sense to be able to test them all on the same day so that any faults could be collated and sent to a contractor (if there is a single contractor/set of contractors) all in one go. Then again, for larger organisations, that probably doesn't really matter.

 

[traji00]

The "Inspector Sands" message is a coded warning that a fire alarm has been activated ("Please report to..." refers to where the activation took place.)

I believe it lasts about six minutes - after that the station may be evacuated


Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

 

[Sacro]

Inspector Sands is due to visit Reading around 11am

 

[43167]

Have heard them asking for him at Kings Cross and Leeds.

 

[jon0844]

Given the call goes out all over the UK, he must be hard to find. Maybe they should call someone else?

 

[Jonfun]

Given the call goes out all over the UK, he must be hard to find. Maybe they should call someone else?

No, don't be daft. He just travels about a lot on business, but he's quite forgetful and leaves his car headlights on quite a bit when he parks at the station car park. Quick call over the tannoy, he can pop down and his battery'll be reet.

 

[Kite159]

Where's Sands, from the makers of Where's Wally.

Can you spot him in the crowds at a station during rush-hour?

 

[Leylandlad]

They were asking for him at Manchester Piccadilly in Nov 2003! Have they still not found him? :roll:

I was waiting for the train back to Leyland after coming back from a works Xmas do in London (the Dorchester actually )...so a bit hung over

"Would Inspector Sands please contact the Communications room" repeated continuously for about half an hour...I remember every word...

Listen and repeat....:roll:

 

[dysonsphere]

He turns up in Theatras as well must be a buzy bee.

 

[transmanche]

He turns up in Theatras as well must be a buzy bee.

I guess he's off-duty then, as he's just plain old Mr Sands at the theatre.

I believe the phrase originated in theatres, as a coded request for a sand bucket.

 

[Yew]

Given the call goes out all over the UK, he must be hard to find. Maybe they should call someone else?

Maybe the Mr. Robinson whom often visits supermarkets?

 

[OMGitsDAVE]

Nothing can be quite as bad as the larger Sainsbury's store alarms... 'This is a test of the fire alarm system' followed by huge beeps, and repeat... several times.

 

[plastictaffy]

Stoopid question, perhaps, but what/who the hell is Inspector Sands??

 

[jon0844]

'This is a test of the fire alarm system'

This is of course a coded message to tell those in the know that there's a special promotion on own-brand baked beans.

 

[GatwickDepress]

Stoopid question, perhaps, but what/who the hell is Inspector Sands??

It's a code phrase used in manual or automated PA systems at (just large?) stations to alert staff to an actual or potential emergency. Mr. Sands is also used in theatres, but I've no idea what came first.

I get the feeling the "Sands" part refers to a fire bucket.

 

[richw]

I'm sorry, I should have added that I supposed it may be similar for other stations in the area or of that size on the FGW network. It would perhaps make sense to be able to test them all on the same day so that any faults could be collated and sent to a contractor (if there is a single contractor/set of contractors) all in one go. Then again, for larger organisations, that probably doesn't really matter.

I would imagine same time/ day at all locations for a test so that staff are aware if they are at different locations that its only a test.

My previous employer did the tests at 730am every Wednesday morning in all of their sites, whilst it was typically low customer numbers.

My current employer carries out alarm tests 1030 every Friday morning on all of their sites. Should we have a genuine alarm at 1030 am on a Friday nobody will leave their desks!

 

[Be3G]

I always thought the Inspector Sands messages don't work as automated announcements – because if you stop to think about it, which train operating company would ever go to the bother of pre-recording the name of every ‘inspector’ who works for them and every possible place for reporting to them? Owing to that I always realised something was odd about them before I understood what the announcements actually meant.

Of course, a manual announcement doesn't have that problem!

 

[cf111]

Stoopid question, perhaps, but what/who the hell is Inspector Sands??

It's not stupid!

It's an announcement used to draw staff attention to an emergency while keeping the public calm. For example, it might sound something like "Could Inspector Sands please report to platform four" because that's where the <insert emergency here> is, but they don't want to scream "Holy s***, there's a fire!"

It's a code phrase used in manual or automated PA systems at (just large?) stations to alert staff to an actual or potential emergency. Mr. Sands is also used in theatres, but I've no idea what came first.

I get the feeling the "Sands" part refers to a fire bucket.

This is what I was told as well so there must be something behind it.

 

[tsr]

I usually find members of the public notice "Inspector Sands" announcements because they are often so much louder than the others, or else delivered in Phil's voice when the station usually uses another for auto-announcements.

 

[edwin_m]

I guess he's off-duty then, as he's just plain old Mr Sands at the theatre.

Even if they're performing "An inspector calls"?

I'd have thought this is far too well known now to be effective at preventing panic.

 

[scotsman]

It varies between stations, I know of two stations that I visit regularly which sees the Inspector call at different times and days...