Trivia: Do any stations still have a flip clock?

[Confused147]

Just wondered if there is any stations left on the rail network that still have a flip clock?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

If you mean those horribly noisy Network south East clocks, yes - I saw one recently but I can't remember where it was!

 

[matt_world2004]

Im sure I saw one at Euston. Old street nse platforms too definitely.

 

[AndyPJG]

Alexandra Hotel, Derby:-

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=a...AhXiBcAKHZM_AOoQ9QEIRTAE#imgrc=eAw8FmvPEHc-oM:

 

[mallard]

The "NSE clock" is still pretty common in the former NSE area (and I seem to remember it showing up well beyond that, but I can't find any examples right now...), but that's not really a "flip clock".

Flip clocks were commonly integrated into the "flapper" departure boards at major stations (none of which are still in use), were they ever used as "stand alone" clocks on UK stations? I know they were fairly common in Germany (where I think a few survive).

 

[johnr57]

i think there is one on platform 3 at york

 

[westv]

Weren't flapper clocks used on the SE platforms at London Bridge?

 

[Alfie1014]

Plenty still in use in Greater Anglia area at the smaller stations, such as Wivenhoe, Walton, though the franchise commitment to install new info systems at many stations might bring their demise!

 

[SpacePhoenix]

afaik every station in the ex NSE area had them on at least every platform. I'm not aware of any left on the Waterloo-Weymouth route, afaik they've all been replaced with the combined next train and current time units. When it came to the start and end of BST did someone have to manually wind them forward/back an hour or did they adjust themselves?

 

[Joe Paxton]

The "NSE clock" is still pretty common in the former NSE area (and I seem to remember it showing up well beyond that, but I can't find any examples right now...), but that's not really a "flip clock".

afaik every station in the ex NSE area had them on at least every platform.

As Mallard says, the Network SouthEast clock (YouTube video) doesn't appear to be what the OP is asking about.

Rather they are talking about a flip clock (YouTube video), which is a different thing.

Nevertheless, it looks like this thread has got the wrong end of the stick and run with it!

 

[urpert]

Tons of NSE clocks at Victoria.

 

[Confused147]

There used to be a nice flappy clock on the old concourse at Birmingham New Street. Does anyone know where this one has gone? Bin perhaps?

 

[VauxhallandI]

They depress me immensely, remind me of sitting for an eternity at Marlow or Maidenhead station

 

[Carlisle]

Flip clocks were commonly integrated into the "flapper" departure boards at major stations (none of which are still in use), were they ever used as "stand alone" clocks on UK stations? I know they were fairly common in Germany (where I think a few survive).

I can’t remember many flip clocks intergrated into departure boards, most of the Solaris had analogue clocks,the odd few (Victoria) were replaced with NSE clocks before fully electronic boards were introduced firstly at the likes of Paddington and Euston

 

[Pete_uk]

I'm not sure, but Gloucester had one up till recently. It may have gone when the new LED departure boards came in.

 

[Bromley boy]

Tons of NSE clocks at Victoria.

I find there's something very soothing, almost hypnotic, about the metronomic "clack, clack, clack" of NSE clocks.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

i think there is one on platform 3 at york

nope! None at York...

 

[gimmea50anyday]

I find there's something very soothing, almost hypnotic, about the metronomic "clack, clack, clack" of NSE clocks.

clack, clack, clack, clack-clack! clack, clack, clack....

and you so wanted to be there at 09:59:59!

 

[Ianno87]

clack, clack, clack, clack-clack! clack, clack, clack....

and you so wanted to be there at 09:59:59!

One of the most satisfying noises on all the railway...

 

[JohnElliott]

clack, clack, clack, clack-clack! clack, clack, clack....

and you so wanted to be there at 09:59:59!

IIRC there were two sorts of NSE clock, the little all-yellow ones where all the digits changed at once, and the big red-and-yellow ones where they went like dominoes.

 

[Roast Veg]

Whatever happened to the pre-led departure boards at places like Charing Cross? They made a heck of a noise too.

 

[Joe Paxton]

Whatever happened to the pre-led departure boards at places like Charing Cross? They made a heck of a noise too.

Rod Stewart secretly bought all the Solari boards and they are rumoured to be in storage in one of the Woodhead Tunnels, pending an appearance on his much anticipated forthcoming rail-inspired album, A Spanner in Swindon Works. Maybe.

 

[Intercity 225]

clack, clack, clack, clack-clack! clack, clack, clack....

and you so wanted to be there at 09:59:59!

Out of interest, what happened at that time to make it so special?

 

[Joe Paxton]

Out of interest, what happened at that time to make it so special?

This kicks in

 

[Intercity 225]

This kicks in

- you can have a genuine LOL for that!!

 

[gimmea50anyday]

Lol!!! XD

Out of interest, what happened at that time to make it so special?

each digit changed individually, so on the 10 seconds you got 2 clacks, on the minute 3 clacks, 10 minutes 4 and so on. At 09:59:59, 19:59:59 and at 23:59:59 you got 7 clacks as each digit changed but it took almost a second for all 6 digits to change the next second then kicked in!

so the time board would have shown this:-
09:59:57
09:59:58
09:59:59
09:59:50
09:59:00
09:50:00
09:00:00
00:00:00
10:00:00
10:00:01
10:00:02

and so on.....

using the standard 7 segment digital number display the loudness of the clack depended on how many segments moved. 9-0 and 2-3 moved 2 segments and was relatively quiet, 0-1 and 3-4 moved 4, 5-5 and 8-9 just one being almost silent but 1-2 and 6-7 moved 5 segments and was the loudest!

made the NSE clock very distinctive sounding! Almost mesmerising...