Class 309

Description - Technical - Service - Livery - Departmental - Preservation - Numbering

309 by Charlie Hulme Copyright 1999

Thanks to Chris Luff for compiling the information used in this section

Originally built for 6.25/25kV with the changeover at Shenfield. This due to insufficient clearance near London for the full 25kV.  Changed practises made this obsolete. Built with wraparound cab windows (as per 303/310) - progressively altered to flat glass - but some still original up to 1980.

Originally 10 car trains split at Thorpe - le - Soken,  and 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 cars 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. They also began to share principal services with Class 312 after 1978.  Working timetable specified Clacton express services be worked by either 309's or the 90mph 312's. From 31st October 1980 - buffet facility withdrawn.

Refurbishments began in 1985, after which all 309's became 4 car. Refurbishments also saw the demise of 2nd class compartments, new dropper windows, new PA system and new seats (said by some to be less comfortable seats then before!)

After electrification to Ipswich and Harwich, the 309's were used on the faster London - Ipswich/Harwich services as well. After the full electrification to Norwich was finished they were sometimes used as 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 pre - electrification. Then they would run from London under their own power, and then be hauled "dead" to Norwich 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They have been progressively withdrawn from service in the 90's on arrival of the 321's (last day in service on GE was 22/1/94 on the 1800 ex Liverpool St) after which a few found use in the North West area.

Formation DMBS - TC - BDTS/BDTS - MBS - TS - DTC

Numbering Sequences: 309/1 601-608. 309/2 611-618. 309/3 621-627

Introduced 1962-63 for the GE Main Line

Built BR York

Height 3.97m Width 2.81m

Braking Type Automatic air and Electro-pneumatic Power Supply 25kV AC Overhead

Traction Motor Type EE power 1128 hp Gear ratio 59:21 Bogie Type Commonwealth

Max Speed 100mph(160kph) Coupling Buck-eye

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After electrification to Ipswich and Harwich, the 309's were used on the faster London - Ipswich/Harwich services as well.

They then were used in the Manchester area.

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None yet!

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309616 - 960101
. DTC 75642 - 977962
. MBS 61937 - 977963
. DTS 75981 - 977964

309624 - 960102
. DTC 75965 - 977965
. MBS 61928 - 977966
. DTS 75972 - 977967

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309 have had a number of liveries, these include Maroon, Blue Grey, NSE, 'Jaffa Cake', North West Express and Air Express Blue

Blue Grey By Chris Luff Copyright 1999	'Jaffa Cake' by David Hart Copyright 1999
NSE by Chris Luff Copyright 1999	North West Express Livery by Charlie Hulme Copyright 1999
Air Express Blue Livery by Charlie Hulme Copyright 1999

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Set Numbers 309 601-608/611-627 Formation DMBS - TC - BDTS/BDTS - MBS - TS - DTC

Vehicle Numbers

Also Former Class 123 DMU 59831 was convert to a TRB 69108

All set have had the additional cars add from former loco-haul TSO stock to make up 4 car Units

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