Re the now-closed thread - "EMU Page" in the "Suggestion Box and discussion about the Forums" Forum ;
To answer the query from "Deepol", posted: Wed Oct 19 2011, 08:40 am :
Deepol wrote:I think there would be LNER origins in this unit at Stratford in 1979 on a Gidea Park run. They became 302s?
Attachments:
Unit016-Stratford.jpg
Not a 302 I think. The train looks to be on the Down Electric line in Stratford station, and I'm almost certain is one of the (probably LNER-designed) 'Shenfield' units for the 1949 Liverpool Street - Shenfield electrification, which ended up as Class 306, and would have routinely formed the Gidea Park and Shenfield services.
One of these, 306017, ended up 'preserved' by BR/NSE and ran out of Ilford Car Sheds, on occasional specials, even lasting in that role long enough to be fitted with Cab Secure Radio (formerly known as D.O.O. radio) in around 1991/2.
(Without doing any sort of check/research) Not sure where it is now though.
I was always a DMU man over an EMU man but I did use to like the B.R.(E.R.) 305 class EMUs that use to work the LIVERPOOL STREET-HERTFORD EAST services during the 1960s, 70s & 80s
The 305 EMUs were made up of fairly solid looking slam door stock and looked rather good in there British Rail 'blue' livery with full yellow front ends, i believe that they were originally painted in British Railways green livery i seem to recall?
Of all the EMU's on British Rail, the Clacton units had to be the best, they ever built, so many memories of them clattering across the junctions at Stratford, or being overtaken on Brentwood bank, so easy,..........for them
Of all the EMU's on British Rail, the Clacton units had to be the best, they ever built, so many memories of them clattering across the junctions at Stratford, or being overtaken on Brentwood bank, so easy,..........for them
manna
and a genuine 100mph EMU, too - they would have been very useful on Euston-Birmingham-Wolverhampton services.
Although a confirmed steam man I have to admit I enjoyed commuting on the Clacton 309s in the 1960s. The were fast, acceleration was good and they had some compartment coaches as well as a buffet. On a busy one if you couldn't find a seat you could stand by the intermediate driving cab and watch the speedo though the window in the door.
Fond memories of the Griddle Bar ... Much better than a B.g M.c
and 0 to 104 mph and back to 0 - between Kelvedon and Marks Tey, but I think the eight-car units had about 3200 bhp so I suppose not a real surprise. Rather impressed at the time, though.
If I remember rightly the 309s were to be the standard express EMU, which was why they were in lined maroon, but the decision was then taken it would be better to use electric locos which could work express passenger by day and freight by night giving a much higher utilisation. So the 309s for the Clactons were the only ones built. Now the wheel has turned full circle with very few loco hauled passenger trains!
My memories of the 309s were Liverpool Street to Witham and once they left Chelmsford they really went for it out alongside the A12 to Witham streaking past the road traffic.
