VESTIBULE WINDOWS: SOME OF YOUR COMMENTS

“I think it is a must that one should be able to stand by an open vestibule window,” writes David Alison of Kendal, a main line steam passenger ever since King George V’s runs in 1971. “I do not condone leaning out, but for people taking sound recordings (as does my regular companion on these trips) there is far too much noise within the carriage itself. And it’s a total disaster if the train is formed of air-conditioned stock with no sliding windows in the carriage.” “I need to be able to stand by a window that opens, so I can hear the engine and see the mileposts,” adds David, and says that his sound recording friend “doesn’t need to lean out, or put anything out - but he does need to be able to put the microphone to a window.” Long-term train timer and previous major consumer of main line steam David Sprackland takes a similar line. He says “this silly business about not being able to stand by windows” is part of what’s led him to take part in a record low number of trips - just three in the 12 months before we spoke. It isn’t the only thing he cites (we’ll look at others next time), but on this David argues: “You can’t always guarantee getting a window seat; if you do, you can’t guarantee it’s on the side of the mileposts.” W.H. Chester of Feltham has ridden on tours for over 50 years but has now “almost stopped participating” - choosing to lineside and visit preservation centres instead. There are other reasons too, but “the tipping point for me was the robust policing of windows and vestibules. Being able to stand by an open vestibule window on, say, the ascent of the Lickey, was a small but important part of my day out. “While I do appreciate that the rules really must be enforced, it’s still particularly rather tough on the enthusiast who doesn’t have a window seat. Sometimes I’ve had the thought that there might as well be a diesel up front - I think most dining passengers wouldn’t care if there was!” Quentin McGuinness describes “enthusiasm for locomotive performance” as “a sport.” “It can’t be truly experienced sitting motionless in your seat.” He adds that “personally I haven’t travelled on main line steam since these new rules were imposed. I know other enthusiasts who feel the same way. “With wireless digital technology, surely it would be possible to mount cameras and recording equipment and relay the action to TV screens in the carriages? At least we would be able to see and hear what was going on at the head of the train.” z Thanks to all who wrote in highlighting both this and other points. We’ll take a look at some others next time.