309 Clacton Units

[Dave R]

The 309s were built in three batches, batch 1 were 2 car sets, batch 2 were 4 car sets containing a griddle car and batch 3 were 4 car sets without a griddle car.

I have a couple of questions

1) were the pantographs mounted on a driving car on all batches or just the 2 car sets?

2)what is a griddle car?

thanks for any answers

 

[Helvellyn]

Only the two car units had the pantograph on one of the driving cars. This was a DMBSK (Driving Motor Brake Standard Corridor), with the brake and pantograph located immediately behind the driving cab.

A griddle car was a refreshment vehicle. Hot food could be provided by being cooked on a griddle. I believe griddle cars were intended to fill a gap between a buffet car and a restaurant car by providing light cooked snacks, e.g. steaks, etc, that could be quickly cooked on the griddle.

The griddle cars were replaced by converted Mark 1 TSOs in the 1980s, though I believe four may have been replaced by concerted SKs in the 1970s (when some of the two car units were made up to three cars).

One griddle car was fire damaged and replaced by a rebuilt DMU buffet vehicle as well!

I'm sure someone else can provide a more detailed history of these units, and their varying formations prior to refurbishment.

I always thought it was a shame the Clactons were not replaced by an AC version of the 442s, e.g. an Essex Electric (which I know the Clactons carried as branding in Jaffa Cake livery).

 

[90019]

AFAIK, the pantographs were on an intermediate car on the 4 car sets. Could be wrong though, as I don't know much about them.

 

[sheff'd victoria]

Im I right in saying some of them were moved into the Manchester area before they were withdrawn and then stored at the sidings at Blackpool North ??

 

[O L Leigh]

I don't normally recommend Wikipedia, but in this instance it seems to be very informative and has some interesting looking links. Click.

However, what has been said by Helvellyn is effectively correct. The only thing I should like to pick up is that the branding these units carried with the "Jaffa Cake" livery was "Essex Express" rather than "Essex Electrics".

O L Leigh

 

[Helvellyn]

The only thing I should like to pick up is that the branding these units carried with the "Jaffa Cake" livery was "Essex Express" rather than "Essex Electrics".

Very true. I think it was the 321/3s that were branded Essex Electrics, but that was changed to Anglia Electrics IIRC.

 

[Matt Taylor]

Im I right in saying some of them were moved into the Manchester area before they were withdrawn and then stored at the sidings at Blackpool North ??

They certainly did:

http://matthew-taylor.fotopic.net/p51941419.html

 

[Juniper Driver]

Im I right in saying some of them were moved into the Manchester area before they were withdrawn and then stored at the sidings at Blackpool North ??

I remember seeing them in the Blackpool sidings and I can definitely say that was in 1995.The last time I visited Blackpool.

During my driver training I never got to drive one of these units unfortunately.

 

[Kneedown]

They certainly did:

http://matthew-taylor.fotopic.net/p51941419.html

I remember a cab ride on one years ago when i was learning Notts to Liverpool. I justified it by spending a day shuttling between Stockport and Man Pic, trying to get to grips with the complicated signalling. It was the sky blue painted one i think, advertising Manchester Airport Skylink IIRR.
My memories are of a small cab with small windows. Still, made a nice change from 158's and 323's!

 

[25322]

Im I right in saying some of them were moved into the Manchester area before they were withdrawn and then stored at the sidings at Blackpool North ??

They worked brum -man pic services and were absolutely superb for that corridor. Not sure where they ended up stored but one certainly was at Old Dalby when they were testing the first Pendo's something to do with TCS level 3 testing

 

[323235]

all seven units were withdrawn in late 2000, and sent for storage at MoD Pig's Bay near Shoeburyness. Two of the units later saw further use as 3 car class 960s, whilst the remaining five were scrapped in 2004.

at least one of the 3 car units was preserved earlier this year

 

[delt1c]

The 309 design was intended as an EMU inter city for the then being electrified WCML, however the plan was changed to loco hauled for the WCML (hence the 100mph capability)and the units were confined to the GE

 

[theblackwatch]

all seven units were withdrawn in late 2000, and sent for storage at MoD Pig's Bay near Shoeburyness. Two of the units later saw further use as 3 car class 960s, whilst the remaining five were scrapped in 2004.

at least one of the 3 car units was preserved earlier this year

Both the 960 sets were saved and are now at Coventry Railway Centre.

 

[Drsatan]

On
I always thought it was a shame the Clactons were not replaced by an AC version of the 442s, e.g. an Essex Electric (which I know the Clactons carried as branding in Jaffa Cake livery).

I presume NSE decided it had enough 321s for the Clacton/Walton-on-the-Naze services, and that a buffet wouldn't be required. Seems strange given that the 442s were built with a buffet car which would be used on Waterloo - Bournemouth/Weymouth trains and the 321s weren't even though Liverpool Street-Clacton takes the same time as a Waterloo - Bournemouth train...

 

[Turbostar]

The 309 design was intended as an EMU inter city for the then being electrified WCML, however the plan was changed to loco hauled for the WCML (hence the 100mph capability)and the units were confined to the GE

The units were built for the London to Clacton/Walton services on the GE main line, not for the WCML. Built at York works in 1962/3, specifically for Liverpool St - Clacton/Walton express services. All allocated to Clacton depot from new. Entered service on 7 January 1963.

 

[delt1c]

The units were built for the London to Clacton/Walton services on the GE main line, not for the WCML. Built at York works in 1962/3, specifically for Liverpool St - Clacton/Walton express services. All allocated to Clacton depot from new. Entered service on 7 January 1963.

Correct but the thinking was for a larger build and allocate a number to the LM for WCML services, this didnt happen and therfore left the GE allocated units as the sole AM9 build. BR had some grand plans then which never came to frutation

 

[Helvellyn]

Well BR decided to go for brand new Mark 2 stock in the main for the West Coast electrification, complemented by the AM10 EMUs using Mark 2 style bodies for suburban services out of Euston.

As the AM4s were essentially the LM version of the AM5s and AM8s on the GE, I guess there could have been a use for AM9s on the LM. Perhaps operating Birmingham-Liverpool/Manchester trains.

If an AC version of the 442s had been built, I wonder if InterCity would have been interested in them for West Coast workings from Birmingham to Liverpool/Manchester and Glasgow/Edinburgh? if such a unit had been built, and was designed to be also loco-hauled and heated like the 442s could originally, then they could also have been used on Manchester-Glasgow/Edinburgh services, diesel hauled between Preston and Manchester.

The AM9s were essentially a GE (and a.c.) version of the BEPs/CEPs on the Southern, but with a much tidier front end. No more long distance a.c. EMUs were built by BR (excluding the APT), whereas the Southern went with a more functional design on the BIGs/CIGs/VEPs/REPs/TCs, and kept the Mark 1 design going into the 1970s too!

A long distance version of an AM10 - Mark 2 long distance style coach bodies, compartment seating in First Class and those large curved windscreens and end gangways. Would have looked quite smart I'd imagine.