Derby LtWt dmu cab windows

[stewartingram]

Whilst building my latest purchase of a DC Kits M79900 single railcar, I have been searching through photos of the Lightweights. It seems that originally the cab windows were full height glass panes, but most photos show these as being 2-piece panes with a horizontal bar across at about 2/3 height. I assumethat this was a mod done, probably to reduce breakages perhaps due to vibration or similar, but nowhere can I find any reference to the reason or a dateline for it. Does anyone know? Incidentally to the best of my knowledge, the single units always had the 2-piece panes?

[eastwestdivide]

Whilst building my latest purchase of a DC Kits M79900 single railcar, I have been searching through photos of the Lightweights. It seems that originally the cab windows were full height glass panes, but most photos show these as being 2-piece panes with a horizontal bar across at about 2/3 height. I assumethat this was a mod done, probably to reduce breakages perhaps due to vibration or similar, but nowhere can I find any reference to the reason or a dateline for it. Does anyone know? Incidentally to the best of my knowledge, the single units always had the 2-piece panes?

railcar.co.uk has a pic of a 2-car unit (the ultrasonic train, quite late) with full 1-piece windows at http://www.railcar.co.uk/DLight/DL/79018.htm, so were they all converted?

But they have no details of the windscreen mods elsewhere, at least that I could find.

There's a photo of E79139, part of a twin, with two-piece windscreens in 1959, in Diesel Cavalcade (Bradford Barton book)

[eastwestdivide]

Tell a lie, railcar.co.uk does have more info: t http://www.railcar.co.uk/DLight/DLdesc.htm

"This first prototype batch could be distinguished by the lack of a centre marker light and by the large front windows, without any dividers"

 

while http://www.dlpg.org.uk/history/description.htm

has

"These first West Riding cars could be distinguished by the lack of a centre marker light and the different jumper arrangement on the front. The cab windows were one piece (with side mounted wipers), but an internal strengthening bar was soon added."

 

those two pieces look like they're from the same source, but edited.

 

the dplg site goes on

"After the West Riding / West Cumberland batch the cab windows were split into smaller sections, giving six panes on each cab. These could easliy be idendified by the wiped motor mounted on the dividing beam, with a blade top and bottom"

 

Hope that helps rather than hinders.

[stewartingram]

Tell a lie, railcar.co.uk does have more info: t http://www.railcar.co.uk/DLight/DLdesc.htm

"This first prototype batch could be distinguished by the lack of a centre marker light and by the large front windows, without any dividers"

 

while http://www.dlpg.org.uk/history/description.htm

has

"These first West Riding cars could be distinguished by the lack of a centre marker light and the different jumper arrangement on the front. The cab windows were one piece (with side mounted wipers), but an internal strengthening bar was soon added."

 

those two pieces look like they're from the same source, but edited.

 

the dplg site goes on

"After the West Riding / West Cumberland batch the cab windows were split into smaller sections, giving six panes on each cab. These could easliy be idendified by the wiped motor mounted on the dividing beam, with a blade top and bottom"

 

Hope that helps rather than hinders.

Thanks for that! Was just curious really, as M79900 and my East Anglia twin both have the divided panes; it was just a 'pain' that was bugging me (I'll get my coat....)