"Window may spring upward unexpectedly"

[Egg Centric]

On at least some 153s there's a warning in the cab that the window may spring upward unexpectedly and the driver/guard should keep their hand on the window when leaning out.

What would cause this? How do those windows work? Are they assisted in some way?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

That sounds like they are sprung and that the catch grooves - or whatever they are called - are either worn or just unreliable for holding the window down in position in the first place.

 

[Pyewipecarshed]

There is a "scissors" mechanism underneath the window which stops it from just dropping into the bodyside and also makes it easier to push the window back up- useful for the driver sitting in the seat.
However if the mechanism is not adjusted correctly the window can spring up, I've known a few guards suffer cut chins as a result!
It's not unique to 153s; classes 150, 155, 156 and 185 have similar windows, and probably other classes too.
Some units simply have "chin chopper" or similar written near the window in marker pen, presumably by previous crews who have fallen foul of the window in question.
On the other hand I've known windows to drop down like a stone when the mechanism is too weak.

 

[Egg Centric]

Some units simply have "chin chopper" or similar written near the window in marker pen, presumably by previous crews who have fallen foul of the window in question.

Hah now there's some proper "insider info" I bet hasn't been on the web before, thanks

 

[dodger]

Hi

We had the same problem on the Western Regain Mk2f coaches in the mid-1970’s.

The Passengers were not amused.

Dodger

 

[Kneedown]

Not restricted to units either. I've had a split lip from a 31 window shooting up suddenly back in the day.

 

[D6130]

When we had 156s on the Settle-Carlisle back in the 1990s and early 2000s I had a bruised jaw - but luckily no broken teeth - from a cab side window shooting-up without warning.

On another occasion - on a Sunday evening in November - we had Single Line Working over the Down (Northbound) line between Howe & Co's Sidings and Culgaith. On arrival at the latter, I dropped the pilotman off opposite the signalbox and while the handsignalman was securing the crossover points for us to return to the Up Line, I went to open the cabside window to talk to the signaller, who was standing on the steps outside the box. Unfortunately it descended rapidly and shattered with a deafening crash.

I then had to travel rather slowly with the wind and rain howling through the gap where the window had been. We arrived at Skipton - where another unit was waiting to couple onto the front - well over an hour late

 

[fgwrich]

Hi

We had the same problem on the Western Regain Mk2f coaches in the mid-1970’s.

The Passengers were not amused.

Dodger

Some Mk3s had a tendency to do this too, particularly if the scissors mechanism had just been replaced. Some were quite springy!

Not restricted to units either. I've had a split lip from a 31 window shooting up suddenly back in the day.

I’m not surprised at that - I once got stuck in the cab of a 31 on a rather warm day after the woodwork around the cab door buckled a bit. Queue a message to a mate to give the door a good boot!