July 8th 2026

8/7/2026

NINETEEN SIXTY FOUR – PART 114
Open Windows
Michael L. Roach

This instalment presented itself after coming across a series of photographs taken “out the window” when that was still possible. I started standing at the drop-down window of a railway carriage at a very tender age on my first rail trip from Plymouth to Bristol in 1953. Sixty years later in 2013, when these photos were taken, the writing was on the wall for drop-down windows and the 125 HSTs. Indeed the HST Mark 3 coaches (built 1975 to 1988) were one of the last large fleets of railway coaches with drop-down windows and external door handles. It meant that the windows were often left open with the wind gushing in rather nullifying the air conditioning in the depths of winter and the height of summer. In steam days the act of standing at the window was to watch the progress of the train. I would usually stand at the first window of the first coach to watch, and listen, to the engine and engine men; but on particularly curvaceous routes I would stand at the last window of the last coach sometimes to watch the train snaking its way around the curves.

A startling incident from around the same time when the HST coaches had been fitted with central locking (which did not last long) but still had their original Beclawat drop-down windows. The firm still exists with their principal product being windows for ships. I was sat in the last coach of an HST at Penzance Station as it was about to depart for Paddington on the platform side of Platform 1, ready to view St. Michaels Mount as the train passed. I heard the beep-beep as the conductor signalled to the driver to depart, and the train set off slowly at first before starting to accelerate. A youngish man came running up the platform carrying a holdall and tried the first door available for passengers which was locked of course and all just a couple of metres in front of me. Most of us would have given up at that point, but not this foolish character. The window was right down, so he threw his holdall through the open window while still running alongside the moving train, stepped onto the running board and proceeded to climb through the open window headfirst. Quite unbelievable to watch. The conductor was obviously watching and stopped the train with the rear power car only halfway up the platform; came through the train to find the culprit who was easily identified by his hold all; and the man was ejected from the train to await the next one. Quite right too.

Knowing that drop down windows would soon disappear for good I set out this day to take some of the more interesting features of the Cornish main line “out the window.” The date was Thursday 12 September 2013 and the train was the 16.00 Penzance to London. It was one of those trips in a short window of years when we travelled first class, which explains why I am photographing from the first carriage as First Class was normally marshalled at the London end of the HST.

Looking down the Fowey Branch at Lostwithiel. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

The connection to the goods yard at Lostwithiel. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

The goods yard was very overgrown in 2013. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

The train is about to pass the bracket signal controlling entry to the up goods loop at Lostwithiel, north of the station and level crossing. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

Looking back at the exit from the down goods loop and the signal box at Lostwithiel. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

The signal box at Liskeard which dates from 1915 and is a GW Type 27c. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

The FGW “Welcome to Cornwall” sign on the down platform at Saltash Station. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

In 2013 the Royal Albert Bridge was in the middle of a painting programme lasting several years. I do admire the scaffolders who erect and move this maze of tubes. Copyright Michael L. Roach.

Many thanks Michael - although far more contemporary than your regular articles, still so much has changed in the years since these photographs.

For more of Michaels work, click here.

Tuesdays Clay
Jon Hird

66305 crosses Prideaux Viaduct with the Goonbarrow - Fowey china clay. 07.07.2026, copyright Jon Hird.

I've wanted to do this shot for a good while, but recently the empties have been running a little bit too late in the evening to work, with the shadows on the left creeping onto the track. On Tuesday I noticed that there were only 13 wagons going to Fowey, so I was optimistic that it may be earlier returning to Goonbarrow. My optimism paid off as here is 6G05 approaching Par just before 1900. 07.07.2026, copyright Jon Hird.

A second bite of the apple and an interesting overview of Par Station as 66305 passes behind the former Par Signal Box and heads for St. Blazey and Goonbarrow. 07.07.2026, copyright Jon Hird

The Solway Firth Express
Michael Adams

What a great selection of pictures from Julian Stephens and all from one hour. Here is Michael Adam's picture of 40122 heading the 'Solway Firth Express ' on 8 September 1984. This is shown at it's Reading stop before departing for Birmingham and Carlisle. Copyright Michael Adams.

Many thanks to Michael Adams and to Michael Forward for sending this one in.