Of course the FRA might have a problem with that these days. But CAF new cars are still using the same small windows.
How do you define a big window?? The windows on the gallery coaches I ride to and from work each day are rather large.
These little windows we put up with today in transportation vehicles are for several reasons. First, the out of work space and air engineers were enrolled to design the Metroliners which resulted in the airplane fuselage on wheels with smaller windows than what rail passenger cars were known for. Second, air conditioning and temperature control is supposed to need as little light as possible to keep outside temperatures and sunlight from being a problem. And third, with TV and all we have today, how many people are really interested and curious enough to want to see scenery, especially kids, and especially when they are used to airline travel (or is it the engineers and not the travelers?) where movies are shown.
No need top see out because our attention is monopolized by modern gadgets? Did you ever see THE MAGIC CHRISTIAN with Peter Sellers & Ringo Starr?
Well my two cents on this topic is the larger the window, the less sound the car shell is structurally in a crash…so there are limits on how large they can go I would think.
I think the Superliner Windows are large enough for me. I agree the Amfleet are small but that shell was built for high speed passbys with other passenger trains…probably with debris flying in the air.
Gallery cars? Meh, you won’t see them doing better than 75 mph in this country.
NC owned cars on the Piedmonts. Perfect size windows.
The RTL Turboliner Trains had “Picture” windows that made them very popular with the passengers. In almost 25 years of service, I’m not aware of breakage being any more of problem than on the Metroliners.
They were a European design. Most HSR and other coaching stock in Europe has large windows.