British Rail Class 308

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British Rail Class 308
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A Class 308 in West Yorkshire PTE livery at Keighley, 1996
In service1959–2001
ManufacturerTemplate:Pluralize from textBritish Railways
Order Template:Pluralize from textPage Template:Plainlist/styles.css has no content.
  • 30652 (BDTCOL, 308/1)
  • 30653 (MBSO, 308/1)
  • 30654 (TCsoL, 308/1)
  • 30655 (DTSO, 308/1)
  • 30656 (BDTCOL, 308/1)
  • 30657 (MBSO, 308/1)
  • 30658 (TCsoL, 308/1)
  • 30659 (DTSO, 308/1)
  • 30694 (BDTSO, 308/3)
  • 30695 (MBSO)
  • 30696 (DTSO, 308/3)
  • 30701 (MLV)[1]
Built atHolgate Road, York
Family name1959 EMU
ReplacedSteam locomotives and carriages
RefurbishedPage Template:Plainlist/styles.css has no content.
  • 1981–1983
  • 1994
Number built45
Number preserved1 (driving trailer only)
Number scrapped44
SuccessorPage Template:Plainlist/styles.css has no content.
Formation3 or 4 cars per trainset:Page Template:Plainlist/styles.css has no content.
  • BDTS+MBS+TC+DTS (308/1)
  • BDTCOL+MBSO+TSOL+DTSO (308/1, refurbished)
  • BDTS+MLV+TC+DTS (308/2)
  • BDTSOL+MLV+DTLV (308/2, refurbished)
  • BDTS+MBS+DTS (308/3)[2][3]
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  • ED207 (MBSO)
  • ED216 (MBSO, 308/1)
  • EE209 (DTSO, 308/3)
  • EE220 (DTSO, 308/1)
  • EF205 (BDTSO, 308/3)
  • EF208 (BDTSOL, 308/1 as built)
  • EF302 (BDTC)
  • EF304 (BDTCOL, 308/1 refurbished)
  • EH223 (TSOL, 308/1 refurbished)
  • EH305 (TCsoL, 308/1 as built)
  • EW501 (DTLV, 308/1)
  • EY501 (MLV)[1][4]
Design codeAM8
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  • 133-165 (308/1, sets)
  • 75878-75886, 75896-75919 (BDTS, 308/1)
  • 61883-61915 (MBS, 308/1)
  • 70611-70643 (TS, 308/1)
  • 75887-75895, 75929-75952 (DTS, 308/1)
  • 313-321 (308/2, sets)
  • 75920-75928 (BDTS, 308/2)
  • 68011-68019 (MLV, 308/2)
  • 70644-70652 (TC, 308/2)
  • 75953-75961 (DTS, 308/2)
  • 453-455 (308/3, sets)
  • 75741-75743 (BDTS, 308/3)
  • 61689-61691 (MBS, 308/3)
  • 75992-75994 (DTS, 308/3)[2]
CapacityPage Template:Plainlist/styles.css has no content.
  • 19F/344S (308/1, as built)
  • 19F/248S (308/2)
  • 272S (308/3)
  • 24F/302S (308/1, refurbished)[2]
OperatorTemplate:Pluralize from textBritish Rail
DepotTemplate:Pluralize from textPage Template:Plainlist/styles.css has no content.
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel[4]
Train lengthPage Template:Plainlist/styles.css has no content.
Car lengthPage Template:Plainlist/styles.css has no content.
Width9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)[2]
Height12 ft 7 in (3.835 m)[4]
DoorsSlam[2]
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  • 4 (308/1, 308/2 as built)
  • 3 (308/2 refurbished, 308/3)
Wheelbase46 ft 6 in (14.17 m) (bogie centres)[4]
Maximum speed75 mph (121 km/h)[4]
WeightPage Template:Plainlist/styles.css has no content.
  • 153 long tons (155 t) (308/1)
  • 150 long tons 12 cwt (153.0 t) (308/2)
  • 119 long tons (121 t) (308/3)[2]
Traction motors4 × EE 56A of 143.5 kW (192.4 hp)[3]
Power output574 kW (770 hp)
HVACElectric[4]
[[Railway electrification|Electric systemTemplate:Pluralize from text]]Page Template:Plainlist/styles.css has no content.
Current collectionPantograph
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  • 3-car: 2′2′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′
  • 4-car: 2′2′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+2′2′
BogiesPage Template:Plainlist/styles.css has no content.
  • Gresley ED5
  • Gresley ED8
  • Gresley ET5
  • Gresley ET8[4]
[[Railway brake|Braking systemTemplate:Pluralize from text]]Air (EP/Auto)[2]
Safety systemTemplate:Pluralize from textAWS[4]
Coupling systemPage Template:Plainlist/styles.css has no content.
Multiple workingWithin ER EMU stock, later within class[2]
Track gauge1,435 mm (Page Template:Fraction/styles.css has no content.4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

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The British Rail Class 308 alternating current (AC) electric multiple units were built by British Railways' Holgate Road carriage works in three batches between 1959 and 1961. They were initially classified as AM8 units before the introduction of TOPS.

Description

Class 308/1

The first batch of 33 units were built in 1959, classified as AM8 and numbered 133–165. This was later changed to Class 308/1 under TOPS and units were renumbered 308133–165. These units were built to operate commuter services on the Great Eastern Main Line (GEML) from London Liverpool Street to Shenfield, Witham, Colchester, Walton-on-the-Naze and Clacton. Each unit was formed of four carriages: two outer driving trailers, an intermediate trailer and a motor coach.

Electrically, the Class 308 has the same equipment as the Class 302 units with a few modifications; some of these are the types of overload, the use of fan-cooled rectifier continued until the rectifiers were modified to eight-diode type from 1982. This modified main rectifier was also used on the Class 309 stock, due to the problems of fan-cooled types suffering from blocked filters causing failures in traffic. The braking system is basically the same as the Class 302 units, with the exception of the motor coach retaining the 16 in (406.4 mm) cylinder rather than the 12 in (304.8 mm), after replacing the cast-iron brake blocks with composite Ferodo type.

From 1981 to 1983, the units were refurbished, which included opening out compartments, fitting of gangways between carriages, and moving first class seating from the intermediate trailer to one of the driving trailers. It had the same problems as the Class 302s of having first class passengers sitting above the Westinghouse CM38 compressor; however, the Gresley bogies were retained. In this modified form, the technical description of the formation was BDTCOL+MBSO+TSOL+DTSO. Individual carriages were numbered as follows:

  • 75878-75886 and 75896-75919 - BDTCOL
  • 61883-61915 - MBSO
  • 70611-70643 - TSOL
  • 75887-75895 and 75929-75952 - DTSO.

Class 308/2

A second batch of nine units, numbered 313–321, were built for boat train services on the London, Tilbury and Southend line in 1959–60, from London Fenchurch Street to Tilbury Riverside. These units were later reclassified as Class 308/2 under TOPS. Each unit was formed of four carriages: two outer driving trailers, an intermediate trailer and a motor luggage van; with the reduction in luggage space, some MLVs were converted at Swindon Works with a different seating arrangement to the original passenger vehicles. The technical description of the formation was BDTS+MLV+TC+DTS. Individual carriages were numbered as follows:

  • 75920-75928 - BDTS
  • 68011-68019 - MLV (68011 - 68014 from units 313-316 converted to MBSO in 1971 and renumbered 62431–62434. Units reclassified as Class 308/4)[5][6]
  • 70644-70652 - TC
  • 75953-75961 - DTS.

When Tilbury Docks closed as a cruise liner terminal, these units were made redundant and withdrawn from service in 1983. Three units were subsequently rebuilt as Class 308/4 parcels units for Rail Express Systems.

Class 308/3

Finally, a third batch of three-car units were built in 1961 for suburban services from London Liverpool Street to Chingford and Enfield Town. They were numbered 453–455, following on from the Class 305/1 units, which also operated these services and were numbered in the range 401–452.

These units were later reclassified as Class 308/3, and renumbered 308453–455 under TOPS. Unlike the first batch, these units contained no first-class seating. Each unit was formed of three carriages: two outer driving trailers and an intermediate motor coach. The technical description of the unit formation was BDTS+MBS+DTS. Individual carriages numbers were as follows:

  • 75741-75743 - BDTS
  • 61689-61691 - MBS
  • 75992-75994 - DTS.

These units were withdrawn in the late 1980s.

Converted postal units

In 1983, three former Class 308/2 units (nos. 314/319/321) were converted into Class 308/4 postal units by the Parcels sector; the intermediate trailers were removed and renumbered 308991–993. These units were replaced by three converted Class 302/9 parcels units in 1992.

Operations

By the early 1990s, only the Class 308/1 units were still in service. These were gradually replaced on GEML services by the new Class 321s. Some of the displaced units were transferred to the LTS, whilst others were transferred to the West Midlands to work Cross-City Line services pending the introduction of new Class 323s.[7] The LTS units were later displaced by Class 312s, but two were retained and converted to Class 937 sandite units. These sandite units were originally fitted with a small cement mixer that was used to mix the sandite and then loaded into the hoppers whilst the vehicle was in motion. Later, premixed sandite was loaded prior to use with the easing of the physical work by the staff.

In 1994–95, electrification spread north from Leeds to Bradford Forster Square, Skipton and Ilkley. As no new stock had been ordered, Regional Railways overhauled Class 308 units for use on these services. The work was carried out at Doncaster Works and involved reducing the unit length to three carriages, with the removal of the intermediate trailers, which were scrapped. The trains were also painted in West Yorkshire Metro crimson and cream livery.

In 1996, with the privatisation of British Rail, the Class 308 fleet passed into the ownership of Angel Trains and were leased to the Regional Railways North East franchise. This was originally operated as Northern Spirit, but the franchise was later taken over by Arriva and operated as Arriva Trains Northern.

By the late 1990s, it was clear that the elderly Class 308 units needed replacing. Due to their age, they were increasingly unreliable and expensive to maintain. They were replaced by sixteen new three-car Class 333 units,[8] which were introduced from 12 January 2001,[9] all 16 units were later lengthened to four-car sets.[10]

The Class 308 units were withdrawn and sent for storage at MoD Shoeburyness, in Essex. The final three units, nos. 308138/157/158, were withdrawn in late 2001, and were sent for scrap at Immingham, in Lincolnshire. Since then, the stored units were slowly scrapped at various locations, with the final vehicles disposed of in 2004. Only one carriage was saved for preservation.

Accidents and incidents

  • On 14 February 1990, an empty stock train formed of a Classes 305 and 308 units was derailed at East Ham.[11]

Preservation

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File:Hugh llewelyn 308 136 (6251059138).jpg
308 136 at the Electric Railway Museum in Coventry, its previous home

One driving trailer from unit 308136 has been saved for preservation: 75881. It is stored at the Colne Valley Railway, in Essex;[12] restoration ongoing.

The carriage has been stripped of asbestos. The planned full internal rebuild was abandoned in favour of housing the salvaged parts of the London Underground Victoria Line's Cobourg Street signalling centre, and much of the former Brixton interlocking machine room equipment. The Cobourg Street equipment is now partially working, with work ongoing to allow simulated train movements to be displayed.

Fleet details

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Class Route No. built Year built Cars per set Unit nos. Withdrawn
Original Later
Class 308/1 Great Eastern 33 1959 4 133–165 308133–165 2001
Class 308/2 LTS 9 1959-60 4 313–321 — 1983
Class 308/3 Great Eastern 3 1961 3 453–455 308453–455 late-1980s
Class 308/4 Postal units (ex-Class 308/2) 3 Rebuilt 1983 3 (ex-314/319/321) 308991–993 1992

References

Citations

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  1. ^ a b Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Footnotes/anchor_id_list' not found.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Class 308". The Railway Centre. Archived from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'Module:Footnotes/anchor_id_list' not found.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Vehicle Diagram Book No.210 for Electrical Multiple Units (including APT)" (PDF). Barrowmore MRG. BRB Residuary Ltd. ED216, EE209, EE220, EF205, EF208, EF302, EF304, EH223, EW501, EY501. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.
  5. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Motive power miscellany". Railway World. Vol. 32, no. 376. Shepperton: Ian Allan. September 1971. p. 417.
  6. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Mallaband, P; Bowles, L.J. (1976). the coaching stock of British Railways 1976. Oxford: RCTS/OPC. p. 115. ISBN 0-901115-39-8.
  7. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Intelligence". Railway Gazette International. August 1993. p. 528.
  8. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Electric Multiple Unit Class 333, UK". Siemens. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015.
  9. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Class 333s in service at last". The Railway Magazine. No. 1199. March 2001. p. 11.
  10. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."First 333 trailer arrives as SRA confirms eight more". RAIL. No. 426. 9 January 2002. p. 54.
  11. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.McCrickard, John P. (6 October 2016). "January 1990 to December 1990". Network South East Railway Society. Archived from the original on 26 June 2018. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  12. ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."BR 75881 Class 308 25kV EMU Battery Driving TrailerComposite built 1961". Railway Heritage Register. 16 June 2018. Archived from the original on 5 January 2025. Retrieved 5 January 2025.

Sources

Further reading

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