> Let me begin by stating that I personally
> hate PA systems on the train. That being
> said, we at Strasburg have a very good PA
> system that we use constantly.

You guys are the exception. The corny narration at Strasburg is part of the Strasburg experience. I can't imagine a Strasburg train without that speil -- it wouldn't be Strasburg. That said, at least you guys do it well. I guess the lesson here is, if you're going to do a narration, do it well.

One of the worst running narrations I've ever heard was on the good ol' No Hope & Insolvent -- excessive babbling, poorly done, and not loud enough to understand. Nobody paid any attention, and all it accomplished was messing up the sound effects I was trying to get of L&C #40.

The South Carolina Railroad Museum
mconrad@msmgmt.com

Several of you have mentioned and applaud the idea of talking one direction and quiet the next direction. I like that idea, if the talking direction is going downhill! At one tourist railroad, they narrated the whole trip while the steam loco was pulling the consist uphill. On the way back (downhill) they said "I'll be quiet now so that you can hear the sounds of the locomotive." Not much sound going downhill!

Goose Creek Railroad
gcrrmch@aol.com

Back in the Iron Horse Ramble days, the Reading used cars out of the coach yard. No PA, of course. This entailed someone going thru the 16-car train with a bullhorn to make announcements at each end of each car.

So a PA system has its value in getting the announcements out to the riders at the same time, and even telling them to listen for the ghost train right at the barn with the good echo.

There's no reason to babble incessantly, however. That's probably a turn-off to the public.

Electric City Trolley Museum Association

When I was a volunteer at the Black River, many moons ago, we had a short, tasteful "Welcome aboard" cassette tape that was played as the train was leaving Flemington. It was over by the time the train began its short climb to Ringoes. (And it became amusing when the cassette recorder needed new batteries-)

Another tourist line I've ridden played older (WWII and Big Band) music almost all the time over the train's PA system. Well, the tape became stretched over a period of time, and listening to it really hurt my ears. (I'm a musician, and have an excellent sense of pitch.) And then the accordian player came through the train-

The other ride that bothered me, from a PA (or lack of) standpoint was that big museum in NE Pennsylvania. When I last visited, the rangers were using crowd control bullhorns. After how many years(?), that train should have a good on-board PA system.

I think the best solution is a simple welcome aboard, with safety rules and a little bit of history. Then let the guests (and I like that word, too) sit back and enjoy the ride. Isn't that what its all about?



edm5970@earthlink.net

Much has been said about not using the PA and having the train crew "work the train." As someone who is both a trainman and a narrator on the Wilmington & Western, I'll throw in my 2 cents. When our PA goes out, the trainmen are asked to make announcements in their car. This usually means having to yell at your passengers so they'll hear you over the other passengers, the engine's horn, and the general noise that comes from an 85 year old coach rolling down jointed rail. There's just no way this can be enjoyable to our paying customers who we want to come back again and again.

As a trainman, I do make an effort to talk to individuals or groups of passengers, but only if they want me to or if they have questions. I've found that a lot of folks just don't like a trainman hanging over their shoulder and "bothering them" the entire ride.

I've never heard any complaints about our use of the PA on the W&W. I think most of our riders like knowing what they're seeing and where we're going. I grew up riding the Strasburg every summer so I'm used to riding a tourist train and hearing a narration, so maybe that makes me a little biased. I just think that if we can use the PA to give our passengers "something extra" by educating them about the railroad, the region and trains in general (as long as it's done tastefully) I say, "Why not?"

Andy Gwiazda
WWRR Volunteer

Wilmington & Western Railroad
andygwiazda@hotmail.com

Playing music on the PA sounds rediculous. The purpose I thought was to educate the public of the train and are history/sights. The one-way thing sounds like the best idea. But music just takes away the natural sounds and everything and doesn't even serve a purpose. I hope that wasn't on a steam line...that would really kill the whistle/stack talk sounds.

-Ed Kelley

ed.kelley@discoverlivesteam.com

For my two cents worth; Yes dislike the idea of a P.A. system as well (along with phony cowboys and indians, robberies, ect.)

However, the need for clear and consistant message is evident. How else would this work, say if you had an emergency ? Timing maybe important in these cases to let everyone understand what is happening, what to expect, and how the situation will be handled. Having one person walk from coach to coach, while perhaps they are also needed to respond to the emergency, might not be effecient use of ones time.

One person, who has a nac for public information, that is both clear and informative, but also uses the P.A. sparingly is certain to capture the audiance, not turn them off. Also a good P.A. system that can deliver the message is appreciated by all.

Sincerely,

Karl Johnson



karl_johnson@ci.sf.ca.us

There's no pancea here. Each method has its pluses and minuses. Playing music or babbling incessently are major turnoffs as far as PAs are concerned. My own view is that the C&TS deals with them pretty well. Each car is connected to the PA system which is used sparingly. The welcome aboard and safety announcement are made before the train departs and it is rarely used while enroute. The key reason for PAs should be public safety in the event of an emergency and with the modern electronics now available, there is no reason that any rail car used in passenger service should be without one. If it's the sight of the speaker that bothers one, disguise or hide it. If one wants to argue that a car shouldn't have it due to historical value, then one should ask whether the car should run at all.

On the other hand, volunteers can be hard to schedule and trainmen often have other duties to look after. I will also agree that passengers do not like to have a trainman hanging around incessently. When I worked excursion trains as conductor, I would walk the length of the train at least once every half hour to see that everything was right and deal with any potential problems. When I wasn't walking the train or attending to other duties, I could be found in the crew area of the commissary car at midtrain. On those trains, we did not do any sort of narration. Instead, trip information and FAQs were addressed by flyers that were placed one to every two seats. That kept the need for announcements limited to station stops and meal calls from the dining car.

awalker1829@yahoo.com

Not to be biased, I will do as suggested. I feel, based on talking with numerous guests, that a PA system is an important part of the entertainment experience, IF USED PROPERLY.

That said, it must also be set up correctly. Many operations think that you can simply go to Radio Shack, buy something and get it to be effective. Sometimes they get lucky and it will work well. But most are not clear, are not consistent in their coverage and are not reliable enough.

I recommend that you get a good acoustic professional sound person in the cars and get them to make sound readings of an actual train in operation. If you do not know of someone in your area, Dave Olds in Binghamton, NY knows his stuff. Dave sold his sound company, but I believe can still provide advice at a reasonable cost. He can be contacted at 607-669-4482.

The installation of equipment in the correct locations is critical. The speakers must have sound projection patterns which match the needs and shape of the area to be covered. Their specs need reviewed so that you acquire the speakers that match the frequencies needed and do not distort.

Using a PA system properly means not too much and at the right times. It must add to the experience and not interrupt it. The presentation and/or announcements must be tailored to the ride and each operation is different. What works on the Adirondack Scenic, will not work on the C&TS.

Enough from me, now I will read the thread.

Stone Consulting & Design
garylandrio@stoneconsulting.com

> If you don't want to be biased, reply BEFORE
> you read any further. I'm going to give my
> opinion now. :o)

PA, when handled professionally, can enhance the experience.

The Strasburg is a good example.

PA, in the hands of the wrong person, can be a disaster.

"The wrong person" is someone who strays from the subject, who does more than give a short history and quickly point out points of interest.

I once was tortured by a PA Terrorist - I heard about this person's hobbies, personal opinions on unrelated subjects, and the like in a non-stop, disjointed monolog. I'm willing to bet his finger never left the "on" key. The hostile body language was clear to anyone looking at the passengers - yet he continued to yammer.

And I remember a few other guilty parties, too.

If this is even a remote possibility at your organization, implement your PA this way:

a. Write a script.

b. Have it professionally recorded.

c. Edit the narrative into separate digital audio files: one for the history, one for each point of interest.

d. Import these files into a synthesizer, or sequencer, or even a Palm Pilot, and assign each separate announcement a button to be pushed. Integrate this with your PA.

e. A crew member can "play" each announcement at the appropriate time by pressing a key or button.

f. Lock the microphone somewhere where it can be retrieved if necessary, but not used as a Weapon of Mass Distraction.

JAC

> However, the need for clear and consistant
> message is evident. How else would this
> work, say if you had an emergency ? Timing
> maybe important in these cases to let
> everyone understand what is happening, what
> to expect, and how the situation will be
> handled. Having one person walk from coach
> to coach, while perhaps they are also needed
> to respond to the emergency, might not be
> effecient use of ones time.

Maybe you ought to tell Amtrak this! :o)

The South Carolina Railroad Museum
mconrad@msmgmt.com