Hail all! 
I have to confess to being prone to "peeking" out of the windows on HSTs whenever I'm using them, but admittedly I try to take a number of precautions to ensure that what I'm doing allows me to enjoy myself whilst staying completely safe...After all, I sure as hell wouldn't
ever want to put anyone through the sheer horror of having to deal with a decapitated passenger!

hock:
Basically; What I normally do is to start out literally "peeking" out of the cess-side of the train (I.E: One eye out only, head remaining within loading gauge) to inspect the line ahead and note any potential dangers - Such as bridges, signal posts, and right-hand bends. If there's a good amount of clear space ahead and visibility is sufficient to react to what can be seen at the current speed well in advance, then I'll move the head out a little more.
Even then though, I'll normally move my head out only as far as needed to get that "wind in the face" feeling and good forward vision, meaning that I can draw my head back quicker if necessary. Also, I tend to draw back well in advance (Normally at least 15 seconds before passing) of any lineside structures as - Even though they may
look like they're a couple of foot from the side of the train - I'm not taking a chance with clearances at over 120mph!

hock:8)
Personally, I cannot understand why a minority of people insist on sticking the whole upper-halves of their body outside of the train though. I've seen one or two doing this on services that I've used in the past, and one of them wasn't giving himself much time to react to oncoming dangers at all!

:roll:
Having said that, I have to confess that I
do occasionally lean my body out of the windows on HSTs whenever I'm using them...But that's
only when the train has stopped at the platform, the doors have been unlocked, and I'm leaning out to reach for and use the door handle! :razz:
Given my description of the "peeping" practice that I've outlined above though - And while we're on the subject - Could I get an HST driver's/guard's opinion on that practice? As far as I can tell, it's probabally the safest way of doing a cautious "heads out" when desired and it's probable that I'm not putting anything outside of loading guage at any time...But not having any form of track safety or gauge training, I cannot tell for certain.
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Ones actions during such "actvities" can affect a hell of alot of people, some people would do well to remember that.
I can foresee that, following a fatality caused by leanin gout of the window, heritage coaches with droplight windows will be banned unless the windows are sealed shut, and then that will be the end of it anyway!
Actually, those are both
very good points.

Although I try to gravitate more towards opening a window and standing next to it (I.E: Remaining completely inside the train)
facing forward or out wherever possible, I still find myself caught by the temptation to get that "wind in the hair" experience... :roll:
To be honest, I might make a disposable periscope out of some cardboard and a couple of cheap mirrors or aluminium foil, and use that insted for all of my forward vision needs...
Out of interest if you did lose your head at 125mph hit by a train also travelling at 125mph and the emergency cord was pulled within a few seconds what would the distance be between your head and body.
Assuming a typically Gory severing on a signal or OHLE post, the "bouncing" distance for 125mph, and what little I know of HST braking capability; I'd guess the seperation would be about two miles down the line, with the head coming to rest about 350m away from the line - Assuming there were no obstructions to it's path.
On this subject; I'll make it perfectly clear that I
don't mean to be sick or disgusting in any way when I ask the following - This question is intended to be a serious and mature one, asked for perfectly legitimate reasons - But is anyone aware of any video footage that shows such a decapitation in it's full and uncensored nature?
I'm currently in the initial stages of setting up a Gore-centric version of YouTube, and one of the features that I'd like to open up the site with would be some truly horrific and hard-hitting railway safety videos to try and successfully hit home the dangers of tresspassing, and other such sins on the railways.
Farewell...And thanks for any info on the above!
>> Death <<