Glasgow Blue Trains: Class 303 and Class 311 EMUs

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Then of course there was the units themselves that all had distinctive features. The ones I remember in particular are

The funding of BR was reduced so they created the cheaper Pacer trains. The British Rail Class 143 is a diesel multiple unit, part of the Pacer family of trains introduced between 1985 and 1986. They originally worked around North East England but were later transferred to Wales. [13] It was made out of bus parts put on to lorry chassis and train wheels. Earlier units proved to be unreliable, but later units were of a better design. Being a much smaller and unrefurbished fleet, the Class 311 was withdrawn much earlier than the Class 303, being replaced by the new Class 320 in 1990. [ citation needed] Wiliams, Alan; Percival, David (1974). British Railways Locomotives and other Motive Power. Shepperton: Ian Allan. p.149. ISBN 0-7110-0534-6. The British Rail Class 312 is a type of alternating current (AC) electric multiple unit (EMU) built in 1966–1974 [9] intended for use on outer-suburban passenger services. It was the last class of multiple unit to be constructed to the British Rail Mark 2 body shell, and also the last with slam doors. Their passenger seats were an improvement on former types.Langley, C.A. (17 March 1962). "Failures of Multiple-unit Electric Trains on British Railways: Final Report". Ministry of Transport. Archived from the original on 30 June 2013 . Retrieved 25 April 2019– via Railways Archive. August 2002 saw the withdrawal of 303009 after the motor coach caught fire at Springburn. It had been rumoured that motor coach

One complete unit has been saved for preservation. It is a hybrid unit consisting of the driving vehicles from set 303032 and the motor coach from set 303023, which replaced set 303032's own damaged motor coach. Unit 303023 was one of only four to carry the later SPT carmine/cream livery. The set has been modified to operate in multiple with a blue-star compatible diesel locomotive (typically a Class 27) so that it can be driven on an unelectrified heritage line. The original BEMU was a one-off unit, withdrawn before the introduction of TOPS. A new generation battery EMU (called an Independently Powered Electric Multiple Unit) was created in 2014, converted from a Class 379. [ citation needed] Class The sandite class 311's had the domino lights removed and welded over and had one marker light and a headlight fitted. The later repaint of a CL303 into Glasgow Blue Train blue appeared to have a different shade than the original - or maybe my eyes saw it as being a different shade due to age? I understand that DC kits do provide a list of required parts and do add up to a quite steep amount, but wondered if the parts listed is enough (especially the wheelsets included).Train fares cost more than under British Rail". Daily Telegraph. 1 December 2008 . Retrieved 7 July 2015. The power unit supplied, a naturally aspirated Sulzer 6LD22 developed a continuous output of 350hp at 870rpm using six 220mm by 290mm cylinders. All the usual Sulzer features were included, except the main crankcase transversals were of mild steel plate rather than steel castings. As usual the underbed supported both the engine & generator whilst tied in finely adjustable main bearings without cap studs in shear are retained. The group was mounted on rubber strips providing some resilience between the group and the locomotive frame. Sixteen of the power units were supplied from Sulzer's Winterthur factory, the two Spanish licensees each built two. Yet more stations were reopened by British Rail in Scotland, England and Wales before privatisation when the railway was run properly. from 303091 was to replace the damaged vehicle 61504 from 303009, however it was decided that there was enough sets remaining in service to cover. However 303027 was withdrawn soon after with electrical and motor faults, leaving sets 303001,3,4,11,43,45,83,88,90 in service. A further reduction in numbers took place in late October when sets 45,83 and 90 were withdrawn. In early December 303020, 027 and 045 were taken to Immingham for scrapping, leaving 303001, 3, 4, 11, 43 and 88 in service for the final few weeks of their working lives. Also in December, the last 5 334's, (334001, 002, 009, 039 and 040) came into service and this signalled the end for the 6 remaining 303's.

I think its fair to say that there will never be multiple units as good as the Class 303’s and that their modern equivalents the 318, 320’s and 334's can, and will never be a match for them and probably won’t last as long as the 303s did. Be aware that the so called 'matched colour' for Glasgow Orange of Halfords Volkeswagen Orange is not a match - It's too light. British Rail (BR) was the national railway company of Great Britain, from 1948 to 1997. It was created by nationalization under the Transport Act 1947. Britain's railways were returned to private ownership by privatization in 1997. The British Rail Class 47 (originally Brush Type 4) is a class of British railway diesel-electric locomotive that was developed in the 1960s by Brush Traction. Their reliable and trusted service lasted well in to the 2000s. Some are still working in 2018. The Transport Act 1947 set out the nationalisation of the rail network, as part of a plan by Clement Attlee's Labour Government to nationalise public transport. The London Underground, some industrial lines and some remaining light railways like Shropshire and Montgomeryshire Railway were again excluded. For a short time, during World War II, the Shropshire and Montgomeryshire Railway line was taken over by the military. After the war the line re-opened to public use in 1946. The Bicester Military Railway had been built by the government in 1941.In 2000, some of the new Class 334’s were beginning to make test runs throughout the system, however this came to an abrupt end when 334001, which was stabled at Platform 11a at Glasgow Central, rolled away and derailed on the Catch Points. When new, the units were initially numbered in the range 001-091, but were later renumbered to 303 001-091 when TOPS was introduced. Each unit consisted of three cars coupled together in a semi-permanent formation, and up to four sets could be operated in multiple to form up to a 12-car formation. Although six-car formations were frequently operated, nine-car formations were operated occasionally. 12-car formations were usually only seen as a result of train failures or ECS workings to the depots at Shields Road or Hyndland. The two outer carriages of each unit were driving trailers, with an intermediate motor coach containing the motor bogies and electrical equipment. Units operated from the standard 25 kV alternating current (AC) overhead power lines system, with power collection via a Stone Faiveley AMBR pantograph on the motor coach. The technical description of the formation is DTSO+MBSO+BDTSO. Individual vehicle numbers are shown below.

Only 303032 survives and is based at the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway where it has operated in push pull mode with a diesel loco.In practice, the Class 311 operated almost interchangeably with the Class 303 and could be found in service across the Glasgow electrified suburban network. was returned to Boness for preservation in April 2003. Both trailers (75597 and 75632) are 303032s originals whilst the motor coach 61503 came from 303023. 61512 which was 303032's original motor coach was damaged at Immingham and scrapped. Gillham, John C. (1988). The Age of the Electric Train: Electric Trains in Britain since 1883. London: Ian Allan Ltd. ISBN 0-7110-1392-6. OCLC 246818159. Ninety-one three-car units were built by Pressed Steel at Linwood near Paisley, from 1959 to 1961, and they were introduced into service in 1960. [8] A further 19 near-identical Class 311 units were built from 1966 to 1967 following the Inverclyde electrification, although these units were built by Cravens in Sheffield. [8]