[Source: Nick Catford and Darren Kitson]

A close-up of cab of driving trailer E63423E prior to working the 3.36pm to Bartlow in September 1956. The driving trailer would, of course, be at the rear of the train on the journey to Bartlow, hence the tail lamp. Looking at the above image, the driver sat on the righthand side of the cab. The two outermost windows appear to be openable and there is no obvious sign of any form of windscreen wiper, despite it being perfectly possible to have fitted an air operated wiper; air and vacuum operated wipers being once very common. Towards the top of the cab front the hooter can be seen. Technically, these were low-pitched whistles but sounded more like hooters. Many years ago Peter Handford and Transacord Records released a 45rpm 7in EP (Extended Play) record of these G5-powered push & pull trains in use on the Saffron Walden branch just before they were withdrawn in 1956. On it, the hooter can be heard in action and in conjunction with the locomotive whistle. On the left the plate bearing the wording 'Audley End Saffron Walden Bartlow' can be seen with 'P&P' painted onto the body panel below it. When previously on the Palace Gates service, there was probably a plate bearing something like 'Nth. Woolwich Palace Gates' but to date no photographs have been seen which confirm this. Pipe connections on the cab end of the driving trailers were just the standard brake and train heating fitments as locomotives would not, obviously, be coupled to this end when operating
in push & pull mode.
Copyright photo by HC Casserley