Ode to the droplight: Summer evening on the West Highland Line, Caledonian Sleeper
No longer will there be the chance to take in the sight and sound of the train snaking its way along the track, the smell of the air on the moorlands, the periods of stillness at signal stops. Hillsides lit up just before dawn or in the fading twilight will be invisible behind window reflections, which will also frustrate photographers in daylight.
At some point within the next year I’ll make the last northbound sleeper trip where I can open the droplight window early in the morning for a first breath of fresh Highland air. These short pieces of film are an attempt to record something of the sensory experience that will soon be put out of reach of passengers on these quite special journeys.
It reflects on the changing experience of train travel as newer carriages without opening windows are introduced, potentially limiting passengers' sensory connection to the landscape. The footage highlights the atmosphere and scenery along the route, including moments of stillness at signal stops and the natural beauty of the moorlands. The video also notes the planned end of an era with the last northbound sleeper trip where passengers can open windows for a fresh breath of Highland air.
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