Looking through the front cab window

[driver9000]

What about 150 units?

No forward view from the saloon on a 150. There is a corridor between the saloon and the cab so you aren't directly behind the Driver anyway.

 

[DownSouth]

Yes of course it has. I was just trying to illustrate the skills a train driver has

Distinguishing between current and superseded regulations? Useful skill


The 2000/2100 Class DMU and 3000/3100 Class DEMU fleets which service Adelaide's suburban network have a clear view through the right side at the front, the driver's cab occupying the left side only with an out of use gangway in the centre. It's not a case of looking over the driver's shoulder though, the cab door getting in the way on a 3000/3100 and the driver being in an elevated pod with his head above the normal roofline on a 2000/2100.
The view to the front is something I'll miss when the new Bombardiér EMUs arrive next year, but I will appreciate full-width gangway connections instead of the locked doors we have currently.

The Bombardiér Flexity Classic and Alstom Citadis trams on our light rail line have just a tinted glass partition with a door. The novelty wears off after a little while because modern trams are so automatic.

 

[BestWestern]

No forward view from the saloon on a 150. There is a corridor between the saloon and the cab so you aren't directly behind the Driver anyway.

There is very occasionally a forward view when the Driver leaves the inner cab door swinging free on a 150/1, and the whole coach can see through the glass panel in the locking saloon-vestibule door and straight out of the centre windscreen
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Blackpool Trams also have this feature, particularly on their Balloon, Brush and Twin Cars.

Not any more Sad, sad times.

I have no idea whether the new Europlastic rubbish has a forward view, and frankly absolutely no interest whatsoever in finding out

 

[notadriver]

I think trams always have a forward view even when the blinds are down.

 

[ValleyLines142]

Not any more Sad, sad times.

Why? It's when you sit behind the driver, like on the Metrolink?

 

[fairysdad]

The DLR is always good fun for admiring the front facing view.

And yes, all us be-suited 40 something business type folk do rush to get the best seats!

I remember being with a group of friends at Bank station, seeing a DLR train in its platform and rushing on it to get the front seats.

Only to then 'reverse' out of the station... we'd ended up at the back of the train instead of the front still good views though!

 

[150222]

I remember being with a group of friends at Bank station, seeing a DLR train in its platform and rushing on it to get the front seats.

Only to then 'reverse' out of the station... we'd ended up at the back of the train instead of the front still good views though!

I've done that more than once.

 

[The Decapod]

Being able to see the line ahead was one of the joys of riding on a 1st generation DMU. It's a pity that feature was lost on the newer types.

I can understand that a driver might not like people directly behind them looking over their shoulder, but even if there's a blank panel behind the driver, glazing could still be fitted to about two-thirds of the width of the partition, at least on DMUs or EMUs that aren't corridor-cab types.

Of course, on modern trains, a video camera could be fitted to the front and the view of the line ahead shown on screens in the coaches - I expect this has been done somewhere.

 

[ValleyLines142]

I've done that more than once.

Ah its annoying when you reverse unexpectedly! I was on 220016 from Cardiff-Birmingham via Bristol and we changed direction at Temple Meads and I hate going backwards, it makes me sick!!

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Why? It's when you sit behind the driver, like on the Metrolink?

I believe he was referring to the end of traditional trams in Blackpool.

 

[GB]

Of course, on modern trains, a video camera could be fitted to the front and the view of the line ahead shown on screens in the coaches - I expect this has been done somewhere.

The trouble is in the event of a fatality things could get a little messy if you pardon the pun.

 

[150222]

Many modern trains do have cameras on the front (172's being one). But as GB said they can't put it on a screen as someone may jump in-front of the train.

 

[Crossover]

Very quick reply as I am on my mobile but the PPM offers a drivers eye view...though probably not the most interesting ones. I also have a pic from an ICE3 in Germany looking forward through the cab...I'll post one later

 

[TDK]

Being able to see the line ahead was one of the joys of riding on a 1st generation DMU. It's a pity that feature was lost on the newer types.

I can understand that a driver might not like people directly behind them looking over their shoulder, but even if there's a blank panel behind the driver, glazing could still be fitted to about two-thirds of the width of the partition, at least on DMUs or EMUs that aren't corridor-cab types.

Of course, on modern trains, a video camera could be fitted to the front and the view of the line ahead shown on screens in the coaches - I expect this has been done somewhere.

The EWS company train has this facility

 

[ValleyLines142]

I believe he was referring to the end of traditional trams in Blackpool.

It's not the end as such, the main stock is now the new Flexity Swift but the traditional ones are still going to be in service.

 

[martin2345uk]

I think trams always have a forward view even when the blinds are down.

Sadly not our original Metrolink T68/T68a trams :cry:

 

[150222]

Sadly not our original Metrolink T68/T68a trams :cry:

T68's Definately have a front view in the daytime! At night a blind is pulled down however you can still make it out.

 

[martin2345uk]

T68's Definately have a front view in the daytime! At night a blind is pulled down however you can still make it out.

Yes, but the quote I replied to said they have a front view even when the blinds are down, which they don't...
EDIT just read your post more carefully I've been on a few with blinds down the daytime... I find it hard to make out the view ahead! Haven't really tried at night!

 

[notadriver]

Yes but the blind is not solid. It's sort of see through isn't it ?

 

[phil8715]

I remember having front seat with blind up on the old met cam 101 in the declassified 1st seats on the Preston to Colne line.

I have had some cracking real cab rides too from Watford Junction to Wigan North Western and another from Motherwell to Lancaster both on class 87's.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[DownSouth]

The way that technology has developed for filming action sports like snowboarding has gone, setting up the facility for a live stream in high definition would be child's play. The only complex thing would be the need to safely route data and power cables.

Whether a live streaming feed would be desirable on regular passenger trains is a completely different issue, for which my answer is no. However, technology like this would be excellent for use as a recording device linked in with 'black box' recorders and/or for training purposes.

If you saw the excellent Top Gear episode with Tornado a couple of years ago, you would have noticed that there were angles provided from different mounting points all over the loco, using little cameras that you would barely notice from the outside without specifically looking for them. The good news is that the technology for that is now capable of high definition recording and is constantly coming down in price, and can be mounted safely in external positions at up to 200 km/h - as fast as would ever be needed on any railways in Britain apart from the CTRL. This could be used to take the 'cab ride' videos to an all new level, you could have a Blu-Ray disc where the viewer has the option to switch at will to any one of the different camera angles, all in full 1080p high definition - and all without the recording needing any interference with the train's crew once the cameras are started by remote control.

 

[Hydro]

The way that technology has developed for filming action sports like snowboarding has gone, setting up the facility for a live stream in high definition would be child's play. The only complex thing would be the need to safely route data and power cables.

Whether a live streaming feed would be desirable on regular passenger trains is a completely different issue, for which my answer is no. However, technology like this would be excellent for use as a recording device linked in with 'black box' recorders and/or for training purposes.

If you saw the excellent Top Gear episode with Tornado a couple of years ago, you would have noticed that there were angles provided from different mounting points all over the loco, using little cameras that you would barely notice from the outside without specifically looking for them. The good news is that the technology for that is now capable of high definition recording and is constantly coming down in price, and can be mounted safely in external positions at up to 200 km/h - as fast as would ever be needed on any railways in Britain apart from the CTRL. This could be used to take the 'cab ride' videos to an all new level, you could have a Blu-Ray disc where the viewer has the option to switch at will to any one of the different camera angles, all in full 1080p high definition - and all without the recording needing any interference with the train's crew once the cameras are started by remote control.

Track Recording Coach 999550 has just come out of refurbishment, and has bullet cameras mounted underneath and on the sides of the coaches. This provides a real time view of the underside equipment and outside of the train - so we can check both the physical state of the equipment and keep an eye on the outside of the train when at stations without leaving the instrumentation area. They're supposed to be really good.

 

[Phil6219]

While I can't speak for other members of the Pacer family the 142 has a blind on the cab door, this used to pretty much always be up allowing a view of the cab and the track ahead. I have not seen one open in years now...

Phil

 

[JoeGJ1984]

Class 121s on the Bay line in Cardiff, that's if the blinds aren't drawn.

And also the other class 121 on the Aylesbury to Princes Risborough branch.

 

[Crossover]

With the 150's, I have seen out the back on the odd occasion. The one I can recall being on the SNow Hill lines where the conductor left the door open between the cab and the corridor so I was able to look out of the back for a while.

I tend to have a nosey in the cab on the likes of 185's when the conductor enters or exits.

Have also seen (from afar mindst) into the front cab of a moving Pendo as I think the driver wanted a coffee so the guard went in. That was a couple of years or so since though

 

[Crossover]

Also, here is the picture I said about - I estimate we were doing around 240-250km/h at this point - great experience (and very unexpected too as I didn't know about the forward view)

 

[ValleyLines142]

Sometimes when I am on the train from Cardiff to Penarth, I stand up ready to get off at Penarth and the conductor will exit the rear cab leaving the door open, and I can see out of the window backwards, that's not looking forwards though of course :P

 

[JoeGJ1984]

I've been on one of the Llangollen Railway DMUs sitting at the front behind the driver and getting a near driver's eye view of the track ahead. I found that the centre seat in the row of 3 in the second row back (the front row had no centre seat) gave the best view - ath the sides you would just see the driver's or secondman's back.

 

[Minilad]

I fly (these days) small aeroplanes, sometimes only 2 seats. Not only can the other person see everything that's going on, they have a set of flight controls and instruments and WILL be ecouraged to 'have a go' (what a lost opportunity if they don't!).

This is perfectly legal on non-commercial flights.

Fancy giving me a lift one day then

 

[CosherB]

Fancy giving me a lift one day then

Swap you cab rides! Chipmunk (see avatar) for Voyager?