AC EMU Group
Front Page | Class 308 history | Class 309 history | Links

Class 309
309 by Charlie Hulme Copyright 1999
by Charlie Hulme

Description
Built at York works, 1962/3, specifically for Liverpool St - Clacton/Walton express services.  All allocated to Clacton depot from new. Entered service on 7 January 1963. As built the units were for operation on 6.25/25kV AC, the lower voltage was used due to (assumed) insufficient clearance near London for the full 25kV.  Changed practices enabled this to be discontinued from the 1980's. Built with wraparound cab windows (as per classes 303/310) but progressively altered to flat glass although still had the originals up to 1980. From 31st October 1980 the buffet facility withdrawn and the griddle cars were removed leaving units in the 61x series as 3-car. A few hauled coaches were however converted to go into the 60x series units making them up to 4-car with some first class accomodation. Some of these coaches were later switched to the 61x units making them 4-car when the 60x units went for refurbishment and. Refurbishments began in 1985, after which all 309's became 4 car. The refurbishments also saw the demise of 2nd class compartments, while hopper windows were fitted, new PA system and new seats (said by some to be less comfortable seats then before!)
by Charlie Hulme Copyright 1999 Post - refurbishment class 309 interior.
Image by Charlie Hulme
Top

Technical
Designed: BR Design Panel
Built at: York 1961
Power: Four EE 1128hp traction motors
Voltage Initially dual 6.25 kV / 25kV AC overhead, later just 25kV
Maximum Speed 100 mph (160 kmph)
Bogie type Commonwealth
Gear Ratio 59:21
Coupling Buck-eye
Brake Type Automatic Air & Electro-Pneumatic
Depots of allocation CC – Clacton
LO - Longsight (Manchester)
Top

Services Operated
The initial service pattern was for 10 car trains which split at Thorpe-le-Soken, from where 4 cars went to Walton-on-Naze and 6 cars went to Clacton. Destination boards were provided on the sides of the coaches showing which to travel in depending on your destination. However by the 1982/3 timetable they no longer split trains at Thorpe; Walton passengers had to change. One through trip per day continued giving commuters a direct 309 to London.
They also began to share principal services with Class 312 after 1978, the working timetable simply specified 'AT' allowing services be worked by either 309's or the 90mph 312's. After electrification to Ipswich and Harwich, the 309's were used on the faster London - Ipswich/Harwich services as well, and portion working returned with Clacton / Ipswich being the standard off peak pattern.
After the full electrification to Norwich they were used for two summer Saturday extras, thus 309's could be sampled non stop between London and Colchester on Class 86 timings, and thence on to Norwich.
Previously 309's had seen occasional use beyond Colchester even pre - electrification, after running from London under their own power, and then be hauled "dead" to Harwich by a 47 or 37. They have been progressively withdrawn from service in the 90's on arrival of the 321's (last day in service on GE was 22/1/94 on the 1800 ex Liverpool St). After this a few found use in the North West area allocated to Longsight TMD covering peak workings around Manchester, a round trip to Birmingham and the occasional additional working to Euston or Carlisle.
Top

Liveries Carried
  The units were delivered in maroon, to which yellow warning panels and then full ends were added
by Chris Luff Copyright 1999  By the 1970's the units had been repainted into corporate blue/grey livery
309623 in Blue Grey By Chris Luff Copyright 1999
309604 by David Hart Upon refurbishment units were painted in the Express livery dubbed 'Jaffa Cake'
309604 in 'Jaffa Cake' by David Hart Copyright 1999
by Chris Luff Copyright 1999 With the establishment of Network Southeast repaints into the red/white/blue scheme followed eventually
309616 in NSE livery by Chris Luff Copyright 1999
309 by Charlie Hulme Copyright 1999 North West Express Livery by Charlie Hulme Copyright 1999
309 Air Blue by Charlie Hulme Copyright 1999 Air Express Blue Livery by Charlie Hulme Copyright 1999
Top

Departmental Use
After the end of use in the Manchester area two units were converted for use testing cab signalling and TPWS for the WCML upgrade. They were however only used on the Old Dalby Test Track.
309616 became 960101 and the vehicles were renumbered as below
  • DTC 75642 - 977962
  • MBS 61937 - 977963
  • DTS 75981 - 977964

309624 became 960102 and the vehicles were renumbered as below
  • DTC 75965 - 977965
  • MBS 61928 - 977966
  • DTS 75972 - 977967
Top

Preservation
960101 and 960102 by Electric Railway Museum Limited

As noted above these vehicles are each 3 cars from 309616 and 309624

DT from 960102 being moved from Shoeburyness, by John Collins
Top

Numbering
Formation and Unit Numbers
309/1 (601-608) BDTSK-DMBSO later BDTSK-TCK-TSO-DMBSO and then BDTSO-TCO-TSO-DMBSO when refurbished
308/2 (611-618) BDTC-MBSK-TRB-DTC later BDTC-MBSO-TSO-DTSO when refurbished
308/3 (621-627) BDTC-MBSK-TSO-DTCso later BDTC-MBSO-TSO-DTSO when refurbished

Type Number range Built / Year
Four Car Units 611-627
DTCsoL 75637-644 and 75962-968 York 1962/3
MBSK 61925-939 York 1962/3
TRB 69100-107 Also former Class 123 DMU 59831 was converted to spare TRB 69108 York 1962/3
DTCso 75969-75975 York 1962/3
DTCOL 75976-983 York 1962/3
Two Car Units 601-608
DMBSK 61940-947 York 1962/3
DTSOL 75984-991 York 1962/3
First batch of TSK conversions for 60x units 71107 converted from 26203
71108 converted from 26189
71109 converted from 26196
71110 converted from 26204		 1973
First batch of TCK conversions for 60x units 71111 converted from 16246
71112 converted from 16249
71113 converted from 16244
71114 converted from 16252		 1973
Second batch of TSO conversions for 60x units 71569 converted from 5047
71570 converted from 5050
71571 converted from 5059
71572 converted from 5061		 1980
Second batch of TCso conversions for 60x units 71573 converted from 16264
71574 converted from 16257
71575 converted from 16242
71576 converted from 16259		 1980
Third batch of TSO conversions at refurbishment for 60x units replacing the TSO's moved to 61x units 71754 converted from 5065
71755 converted from 5051
71756 converted from 5068
71757 converted from 5069
71758 converted from 5058
71759 converted from 5062
71760 converted from 5056
71761 converted from 5066		 1987
   
Top
Thanks to Chris Luff for original page text