What's this?

What's this on my journey between Euston and Lichfield on London Northwestern today?

There are 6 in my coach, 3 on each side!

Anyone help?

Cheers!

did this stock formerly have hammers to break windows?

Yeah, these are definitely former hammers. The 450s and 444s have these where hammers used to be too. There was some RSSB research that found that the risk of ejection through the weaker glass for exit windows was higher than the risk of being trapped by fire, so they were reglazed with laminated (if I remember correctly) glass and the then-redundant hammers removed.

Thanks - I'd never have thought of that!

Ejection through windows was one of the main causes of casualties at Ufton Nervet, and at the Croydon tram overturning. In both cases the vehicles concerned only had toughened (not laminated) glass.

edwin_m said:

Ejection through windows was one of the main causes of casualties at Ufton Nervet, and at the Croydon tram overturning. In both cases the vehicles concerned only had toughened (not laminated) glass.

Click to expand...

Not just Ufton, there were plenty more before with a minority of casualties Ladbrook Grove, Hatfield, Southall, Heck. From memory in one accident the throw was calculated around 80m. Lots of glazing replacement 2005-2010 era. Ditto BR fibreglass backed seats replacement from slightly earlier.
Trams are effectively built to the German tram standards (not heavy rail) and are minimalist to put it politely and are in need of a good updated for the first time since the Berlin Wall went up!