Thanks to Driver Lyn D. Brooks we have a privileged pictorial tour of the cab of one of South West Trains' Desiro units, in this case the cab of driving motor standard 63893 of 444043. Cabs of Class 450 Desiros are very similar, the chief differences being on a 444 the cab door is slightly further to the rear and the sun visor is mounted between the vertical rods instead of in front. As a time reference, these pictures were taken on 11th June 2005 whilst the unit was in the up loop at Southampton.

(left) A general view of the cab. Above the illuminated clip board for the driver's schedule is a panel of indicator lights associated with the safety system. Below the clip board is the nearside door control buttons (isolated at the time) and the green button is the signal bell.

(below right) The driver's desk. On the "dashboard" top left is the Driver's Reminder Appliance and sealed isolation switch, beneath are the windscreen wiper/washer/heater controls. To the right are the duplex brake air gauge, speedometer and braking/driving percentage indicator. Bottom left is the EP key and master switch, TPWS panel, AWS acknowledgement button, horn and AWS indicator. At the bottom are the sanding indicator/push button power reduction button, passenger alarm indicator lamp, pantograph.VCB switch and high speed circuit breaker indicator/control. On the desk proper are left to right power/brake Controller, desk illumination dimmer, desk/cab lighting switch, external lighting switch, tail lamp button, hazard warning button, safety system isolated lamp, uncouple button, low speed control, heating/ventilation/air-conditioning emergency shut-off button. Below the desk are the DSD pedal and Passcom emergency override kick button. On the right of the desk are the emergency stop button and offside door controls (isolated at the time).

(below left) The bulkhead behind the driver's position. To the left are banks of miniature circuit breakers. To the right, top are cab heating controls, various isolation switches, lamp test button, battery on and off buttons and cab light control. At the bottom are the nearside door controls.

(below right) To the right of the driver's position. At the top is the computer screen and beneath are handsets for on-train communication and cab secure radio. Then there are buttons for on-train communications and beneath is the Passenger Information System (PIS) control panel. Out of sight below is the cab secure radio.

(above left) A general view of the secondman's side. The track circuit operating clips, detonators and flag are fixed to the cab side wall. On the gangway door are the paddle and short-circuiting bar.

(above right) The bulkhead behind the secondman's position. Top left safety system isolation switches, which are operated by an EP key, and the cab lighting button. Beneath those are the offside door controls, including that for the cab door, which seen here are active. The sealed switch is for temporary isolation of TPWS. On the right are some electrical circuit breakers.

(left) The desk on the secondman's side with fewer controls. Left to right there is the horn, speedometer, door control key switch, driver's identity tag reader and emergency stop button.

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This page updated 23rd June 2007 by Colin Duff.
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