Folks,

We are looking to install a new PA system in our coaches and would like to know what some of you have done for your PA systems.

We would like the flexibility to either run a CD or narrate live and to be able to add or drop cars as needed. We do have generators on board.

Thanks,
Scott Kwiatkowski

No equipment recommendations, but a couple of observations.

Earlier this year I was at the B&O Museum and road its train down the line and back. It was using a pre-recorded audio narration. This worked well as it was synchronized with the train movement. I felt that the set up was good (appeared to be using exisiting speaker grills in the coach I was in) and it made sure that the appropriate message was being provided to the public on each trip.

This last week I rode the tourist train through the Royal Gorge of the Arkansas River out of Colorado City, Colorado. Here too was a pre-recorded description of the line, its history, etc. However, it was significantly out of synchronization with the train location.

This points out to me that if a pre-recorded narration, etc. is provided it has to be cued at the correct point in the trip. Otherwise, features it calls to the attention of the traveler will be either too soon or too late.

As Brian noted we are fortunate at the B&O to have equipment already set up for a PA system. When our former MARC coaches arrived all we needed to do was to aquire some standard communication cables (I assume used by Amtrak and other Commuter Rail operators). Our Facilities Director is also very good with electronics and tapped into the system inputs so that a recording could be played.

I'm personally not a fan of a recording because if anything holds up the train at any point it gets behind, and if there is anything extra to see (passing freight on the Mt Claire Running Track) it can't be communicated. I'm much more for a carhost reading from a script.

Our PA system is a relatively inexpensive system from Radio Shack. Our coaches don't have power, so we installed a marine battery to provide the juice. A solar trickle charger on the car's roof recharges the battery during the week.

First I must admit a professional bias. I've spent over 50 years speaking into a microphone for a living. I listen to public announcements differently than most people.

Just because a crew member is an enthusiast doesn't mean he or she is very good at communicating with passengers over a public address system. I have heard some pretty bad live narrations that you could hardly understand. They had bad mike technique, poor diction, bad grammar, heavy accents, and all the rest. They were so bad they detracted from the ride.

Another problem is caused by car hosts talking too much. Lots of times the scenery should speak for itself. Sometimes enthusiasts get too technical in their talks and bore the general public.

You'd be much better off having a professionally recorded narration with a live person on the train pushing a button to start each segment at the proper location. That person could have a microphone available for emergency announcements or to explain train delays when needed. You could even use an old battery powered cassette machine to play the recorded announcements.

Lots of auto battery powered public address amplifiers are available at fairly low cost. You have to remember to charge the battery before train time. (Solar panels on the roof is a neat idea). If you have a very long train then you probably should use what is called a 70 volt system to connect all the loudspeakers to the amplifier. It requires a separate audio transformer on the amplifier output and on each loudspeaker. It also allows you to use smaller wire to connect the loudspeakers.

Even though free advice may be worth what you pay for it, I'll be happy to consult with you about problems for the good of the cause. Contact me with a telephone number and we can talk.

Fred Krock