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JayMac
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« on: September 21, 2023, 15:26:11 » |
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On a train from Basingstoke to Farnborough Main earlier and the guard made the following announcement:
"Welcome aboard this SWR» service to London Waterloo... this train has five carriages.
(stops details and safety information)
You can find me in coach five of this five car train."
Well, it amused me!
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« Last Edit: September 21, 2023, 19:12:49 by JayMac »
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"Good news for regular users of Euston Station in London! One day they will die. Then they won't have to go to Euston Station ever again." - David Mitchell
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eightonedee
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« Reply #1 on: September 21, 2023, 19:10:16 » |
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It does seem that "car" is only used to describe the length of a train, otherwise it's coach or carriage. Shows how sometimes it's easy to cause misunderstanding by not using precise language, but sometimes there's many ways to say the same thing. Funny old thing, the English language.
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JayMac
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« Reply #2 on: September 21, 2023, 19:15:28 » |
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Funny old thing, the English language.
Indeed it is. And often wobbled through the prism of empire and colonialism. Brief chat with the guard as I alighted at Farnborough Main. She is originally from Canada. |
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"Good news for regular users of Euston Station in London! One day they will die. Then they won't have to go to Euston Station ever again." - David Mitchell
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grahame
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« Reply #3 on: September 21, 2023, 19:20:19 » |
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It does seem that "car" is only used to describe the length of a train, otherwise it's coach or carriage. Shows how sometimes it's easy to cause misunderstanding by not using precise language, but sometimes there's many ways to say the same thing. Funny old thing, the English language.
Mind,these user to be buffet CARs in the past, before their daft removal. |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
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JayMac
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« Reply #4 on: September 21, 2023, 19:51:58 » |
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these user to be buffet CARs in the past, before their daft removal.
Yup. With the announcement: "You can find the buffer car in coach F."  |
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"Good news for regular users of Euston Station in London! One day they will die. Then they won't have to go to Euston Station ever again." - David Mitchell
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eightonedee
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« Reply #5 on: September 21, 2023, 20:09:23 » |
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And often wobbled through the prism of empire and colonialism. A two-way organic process? In my only trip to India, back in 1986, I found it amusing that the term "bogie" was used to describe a coach, carriage or car. Empire and imperialism - a crucible for linguistic innovation and evolution? |
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Bmblbzzz
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« Reply #6 on: September 22, 2023, 08:25:44 » |
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these user to be buffet CARs in the past, before their daft removal.
Yup. With the announcement: "You can find the buffer car in coach F." If the buffer car doesn't stop at the end of the line, it will hit the buffets. And that would give the diners (and their dinners) a buffeting.  |
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Waiting at Pilning for the midnight sleeper to Prague.
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Clan Line
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« Reply #7 on: September 22, 2023, 11:32:10 » |
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If the buffer car doesn't stop at the end of the line, it will hit the buffets. And that would give the diners (and their dinners) a buffeting. Oh dear ! - I think you need to buff up your pronounciation !  |
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Fourbee
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« Reply #8 on: September 22, 2023, 12:04:07 » |
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It does seem that "car" is only used to describe the length of a train, otherwise it's coach or carriage. Shows how sometimes it's easy to cause misunderstanding by not using precise language, but sometimes there's many ways to say the same thing. Funny old thing, the English language.
Mind,these user to be buffet CARs in the past, before their daft removal. I would have credited that post to another member if I'd not just seen your forum name grahame The SWR» platform auto-announcers got re-recorded some time back and 'carriages' was substituted for 'coaches'. I think 'coaches' sounds more natural and is also consistent with the on-board displays. 'Carriages' reminds me of Annie & Clarabel from Thomas the Tank Engine! |
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GBM
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« Reply #9 on: September 22, 2023, 12:19:08 » |
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Coaches are vehicles that run on tarmac with rubber tyres and carry some passengers.
Annie and Clarabel are carriages!
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Personal opinion only. Writings not representative of any union, collective, management or employer. (Think that absolves me...........)  |
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didcotdean
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« Reply #10 on: September 22, 2023, 12:43:02 » |
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London Underground used to be exclusively "car", as it imported much American terminology in the early 1900s along with the electric equipment. Although "carriage" is now used on the Elizabeth line internal displays.
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Bmblbzzz
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« Reply #11 on: September 22, 2023, 18:15:00 » |
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In America, car can apply to a goods unit too, as in box car. Has that usage ever been current in British English too?
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Waiting at Pilning for the midnight sleeper to Prague.
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Red Squirrel
Administrator
Hero Member
Posts: 5528
There are some who call me... Tim
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« Reply #12 on: September 23, 2023, 07:52:45 » |
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London Underground used to be exclusively "car", as it imported much American terminology in the early 1900s along with the electric equipment. Although "carriage" is now used on the Elizabeth line internal displays.
That’s interesting… the Elizabeth line isn’t ‘Underground’ with a capital ‘U’, is it, so perhaps that’s why it uses the more usual terminology? |
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