MK3 carriage announcement chime

[CC 72100]

That would be because the XC HSTs are by and large ex Midland Mainline vehicles.

I remembered that as I wrote it, indeed when they were first dug out for XC use all were in the final Midland Mainline livery!

 

[lemonic]

I remembered that as I wrote it, indeed when they were first dug out for XC use all were in the final Midland Mainline livery!

I am sure that the chime found on XC HSTs used to be present on the Anglia Railways Mark 2 coaches too.

 

[LE Greys]

I've never personally experienced it on an HST or a Mk3, and travelled extensively on HSTs on the cross country routes and on Mk3s from Euston in the early 90s. The first you normally knew the PA was in use was "Good evening ladies and gentlemen, this is your senior conductor speaking....."

I also don't recall a BR refurbishment in the '90s I seem to recall it was the late 80's that introduced the pink theme into first and the orange into standard.

Indeed this video is from the '80s and shows the theme... (admittedly in Mk2s).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vv640aRwFS8

Looks like the TOCS introduced their own chimes in as part of their refurbishments (from the mid 90s)

EDIT. A video from Intercity days on an HST... have a listen from 2:40 to the stewards announcement. That's how they used to be. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDMoDq8x1vk

But I agree the bing bong was on the 225 sets from new.

Thanks for these, some interesting little videos. It's beginning to fit together now. The interior refurb was probably when they coaches were repainted in Executive or Swallow livery, which was probably eighties rather than nineties. Being so used to the MkIVs, I probably just assumed it was normal (my first journey in the Western Region happened when I was fifteen) and it sounds like FGW and GNER decided to use the same sound for some reason.

 

[Mojo]

Doesn't the announcement chime on the XC HST depend on where the announcement is made from? I've heard both the one mentioned in this thread and also the Voyager style 'bing bong' on the same train.

 

[BestWestern]

In the case of FGW sets having a 'bing bong', it is on a very small number of sets (maybe even just the one, I don't honestly know), and sounds only when the PA handset fitted in the vestibule of coach D is used. I presume the relevant vehicles were among those sourced from other TOCs. A warning is usually present in the form of a pen-scribbled 'BING BONG' inside the PA cover, which lets you know that you need to wait for the chimes rather than just pick up and start talking as normal!

 

[Stonesourscotty]

WAs aboard 150117 yesterday and it made a odd beep noise before the announcements any idea what that could be?

 

[BestWestern]

Very possibly the Guard hit the 'Call' button - it beeps when pressed in order to sound the standard 3 - 3 code to talk cab to cab - as he turned the PA on. The two buttons are right alongside one another.