Guard's buzzer on 377's

[ryan125hst]

I've just been watching a video by Simon Poole (sim0ntrains) which shows a ride on a Class 377 between Shepherds Bush to Clapham Junction.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9MrqS4mzss

One thing has confused me, however, as just before the train departs from each station, you can here the driver-guard buzzer. The strange thing is that it is not the usual modern beeping sound, but a very old fashioned bell. I am confused about this and I am now even more puzzled as I have realised that Southern trains are DOO.

The only solution I can think of is that the train in question was running between Milton Keynes Central and South Croydon and was required to have a guard on board.

Is this the case? Is there a reason why they need it on the WCML but not on the Southern routes? Does this last the whole journey or does the guard leave the train once it is on the usual Southern route? Finally, why the old fashioned bell?

Thanks

Ryan

 

[A-driver]

Southern are not DOO. Only the London metro routes and Brighton mainline services under 9 cars (or 10 for 442s) are. The Milton Keynes, oxteds, Reigate and all south coast/mid Sussex services have a guard.

And 377s do have a bell instead of a buzzer-no idea why.

 

[pendolino]

I've just been watching a video by Simon Poole (sim0ntrains) which shows a ride on a Class 377 between Shepherds Bush to Clapham Junction.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9MrqS4mzss

One thing has confused me, however, as just before the train departs from each station, you can here the driver-guard buzzer. The strange thing is that it is not the usual modern beeping sound, but a very old fashioned bell. I am confused about this and I am now even more puzzled as I have realised that Southern trains are DOO.

The only solution I can think of is that the train in question was running between Milton Keynes Central and South Croydon and was required to have a guard on board.

Is this the case? Is there a reason why they need it on the WCML but not on the Southern routes? Does this last the whole journey or does the guard leave the train once it is on the usual Southern route? Finally, why the old fashioned bell?

Thanks

Ryan

Southern services are not all DOO by any means. The Milton Keynes service is DOO between Croydon and Clapham, then a conductor jumps on. Plenty of other Southern services have a conductor, although Metro work tends to be DOO (the peak hour Clapham - Kensington shuttles have a conductor, but other than that it's pretty much all DOO).

Don't know what to say about the bell-buzzer. It's just that 377s have a bell instead of a buzzer, can't see why it matters, it does the job!

 

[jnjkerbin]

375s have a buzzer don't they?

 

[ushawk]

Southern services are not all DOO by any means. The Milton Keynes service is DOO between Croydon and Clapham, then a conductor jumps on. Plenty of other Southern services have a conductor, although Metro work tends to be DOO.

Don't know what to say about the bell-buzzer. It's just that 377s have a bell instead of a buzzer, can't see why it matters, it does the job!

The WLL isnt DOO either, so a conductor is required on all passenger services, includes LOROL as far as Willesden i think - not sure how DOO works with them.

As said above, the only Southern DOO routes are the Brighton Express services (not including the GatEx extensions) and "Metro" services. All others require a guard - even the Brighton - Hove shuttles !!

 

[pendolino]

The WLL isnt DOO either, so a conductor is required on all passenger services, includes LOROL as far as Willesden i think - not sure how DOO works with them.

I edited to include Kensington shuttles because having thought about it, it was about the only thing I could think of that was Metro and needs a conductor! There's those, and a few late night Vic services that have a conductor booked, and I suppose the back road to Horsham (conductor from Dorking) counts as Metro work. But other than that Metro is DOO.

 

[TheJRB]

375s have a buzzer don't they?

No, they also have the bell.

Southern's 171s use a buzzer though (that beeps rather than buzzes however).

 

[TEW]

A bell is traditional for a third-rail electrics. All the slam door stock had bells, it just keeps with the tradition.

 

[ryan125hst]

Southern are not DOO. Only the London metro routes and Brighton mainline services under 9 cars (or 10 for 442s) are. The Milton Keynes, oxteds, Reigate and all south coast/mid Sussex services have a guard.

I thought they were all DOO because the 377's have camera for the driver to see the train. I have only ever been on them once though, so my knowledge on them is limited!

Don't know what to say about the bell-buzzer. It's just that 377s have a bell instead of a buzzer, can't see why it matters, it does the job!

I just thought it was a bit strange for modern rolling stock to have such an old fashioned bell instead of the new beeping sound that most new trains have.

A bell is traditional for a third-rail electrics. All the slam door stock had bells, it just keeps with the tradition.

I am happy about that. I'm actually quite surprised that tradition is being taken into account when designing new trains. So much has been lost from the past. I always think I was born too late. Even looking at videos from the 90's makes me feel as though I have missed the best days of our railways.

 

[Kentish Paul]

Yes indeed, Southeastern 375s have a bell. If you are sat near the door that the conductor/guard is using then it is quite loud. It reminds me of the bell on Western National Bristol Lodeka buses I frequented in my youth (back in sunny Cornwall 1965).

 

[starrymarkb]

I've just been watching a video by Simon Poole (sim0ntrains) which shows a ride on a Class 377 between Shepherds Bush to Clapham Junction.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9MrqS4mzss

I see he still doesn't understand Aspect Ratios....

 

[bronzeonion]

Class 378's have a bell only from the panels in the cabs, they ones by the doors are a high pitched beep

 

[jon0844]

Is it a real bell or just a sound sample of a bell? Surely a modern train could make any sound you (the train operator) wanted?

 

[heart-of-wessex]

I see he still doesn't understand Aspect Ratios....

I have the same problem with my videos too though, I've kinda given up with YouTube, as no matter what setting on Sony Vegas I use, the final YouTube product is still being crushed to the normal size

 

[pendolino]

Is it a real bell or just a sound sample of a bell? Surely a modern train could make any sound you (the train operator) wanted?

Assuming each 377 hasn't got a different sample ranging from 'loud, ringing and clear' to 'muffled and barely audible', it's a real bell.

 

[Galvanize]

Assuming each 377 hasn't got a different sample ranging from 'loud, ringing and clear' to 'muffled and barely audible', it's a real bell.

I remember one 377 unit, the bell had become so knackered, it just sounded like a loud "CLICK" rather than an actual dinging sound, when the Conductor gave 2 to the driver after completing their station duties!

Whenever I'm travelling on a Wright Eclipse or Pulsar Gemini decker, the bells on those remind me of being on a Electrostar of some sort!

 

[starrymarkb]

I have the same problem with my videos too though, I've kinda given up with YouTube, as no matter what setting on Sony Vegas I use, the final YouTube product is still being crushed to the normal size

Do you upload straight from Vegas or save locally first before uploading...

 

[heart-of-wessex]

save locally to to hard drive, then upload it to YouTube from hard drive

 

[jon0844]

Is it down to a video being set as anamorphic (i.e. the camera records widescreen by actually saving a 4:3 image that is intended to be stretched, or squashed with black borders?

I am not sure YouTube will detect this and re-size, so it's probably best to record in 4:3 in the first place - or check for any other recording options. Otherwise you may need to edit the video in something on your computer first.