Class 312 EMUs

[AM9]

Ooops! I hope I haven't opened a can of worms with my comment about fast running in BR days.

 

[Helvellyn]

Driver managers are not 5 minute managers. They have at least 5 years experience driving trains.

Our company has Non-Technical Driver Managers who have never driven trains. Some other TOCs do as well.

 

[notadriver]

Our company has Non-Technical Driver Managers who have never driven trains. Some other TOCs do as well.

They aren't proper driver managers. They wouldn't be able to do downloads, interpret the information and act accordingly. I thought that would be obvious ?

 

[theblackwatch]

Please remember this is meant to be a T&RS thread about Class 312s. If anyone wishes to discuss drivers/driver managers etc, please do so on another thread.

 

[aylesbury]

Were the 312's used on the Euston Birmingham line if so did thy have chrome window linings?

 

[Phil.]

Do you mean to say that today's drivers have no idea what they are doing ?

No. I mean to-day's drivers are more full of book knowledge and reliance on technical equipment than yesterday's drivers were. If ever you get the chance look inside the driving cab of a SUB unit and then compare it with a 313. The SUB unit has a brake gauge and an ammeter gauge- that's it. To-day's drivers know what they're doing - otherwise they wouldn't be driving. The point I'm trying to make is that in to-day's black and white railway there is no common sense leeway.
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You're saying that there are some driver managers (who can do downloads) who've never been train drivers ? Really ?!

Well, at the risk of getting a little too off topic I personally know of a Driver Manager who was recruited straight on to the job having come from a retail background being recruited for his "management skills".
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I seem to remember the 312s on the London-Royston workings didn't allow a driver's eye view when sitting down, unlike the 101 on the Cambridge shuttle. Threre was an inward-facing bench seat the full width of the partition between the cab and the saloon (no communicating door) with a window above the seat back, and you had to either stand up or kneel on the bench to be high enough to see over.

That's quite correct.

 

[notadriver]

It's a well known fact that many railway systems are looking into ATO operation when conventional lineside signals are removed so that really will be it.

Of course I'm familiar with old train cabs (in museums) compared with modern ones. A bit similar to vintage vehicles on modern roads. A different kind of driver for a different kind of railway.

Speaking of the modern railway - something like a 312 wouldn't be able to keep up on today's intensive and tightly timed schedules.

 

[edwin_m]

Speaking of the modern railway - something like a 312 wouldn't be able to keep up on today's intensive and tightly timed schedules.

Actually I believe, a couple of years ago at least, that the c2c timetable was still based on timings for the previous generation of units - I think all of them including the 312s shared one set of sectional running times. This may be one reason why the service was so reliable, but it may have been changed with the recent timetable re-cast.

 

[notadriver]

Actually I believe, a couple of years ago at least, that the c2c timetable was still based on timings for the previous generation of units - I think all of them including the 312s shared one set of sectional running times. This may be one reason why the service was so reliable, but it may have been changed with the recent timetable re-cast.

It's not just running times. I'm thinking of the slam doors and a guard potentially have to leave the guards compartment to make sure they are all shut properly.

 

[klewer]

From my perspective as a commuter, they were brilliant things.

Always a better option than a 321 in the summer thanks to the mass of opening windows, far more comfortable thanks to the properly sprung seats and they coped well with the accelerated timetable that fGE introduced.

Was a shame to see them withdrawn from their last diagrams and replaced on the GEML by the (at the time) shoddy Cl. 322's. They probably could have done another five years if CDL had been fitted.

 

[Taunton]

Were the 312's used on the Euston Birmingham line if so did thy have chrome window linings?

Probably not commonly, as they normally seemed to turn up only around Birmingham, but the AC stock did get mixed from time to time - my first 310 journey was on Altrincham to Oxford Road, supposedly when it was only 304 operated. I seem to recall the four 312s were nominally allocated to Bletchley like the 310s.

 

[AndyW33]

Probably not commonly, as they normally seemed to turn up only around Birmingham, but the AC stock did get mixed from time to time - my first 310 journey was on Altrincham to Oxford Road, supposedly when it was only 304 operated. I seem to recall the four 312s were nominally allocated to Bletchley like the 310s.

The diagrams returned one 312 to Bletchley each weeknight. At various times this was ECS off a Birmingham-Northampton, or a Birmingham - MKC, or an actual Birmingham - Bletchley. The other three overnighted at Soho. Of course that's only what was supposed to happen and they could turn up anywhere on the LM 25kv network that drivers/guards signed both the road and the traction for. Control reliefs at weekends could produce some surprises, like 310s at Carlisle...

 

[birchesgreen]

Four 312s were used on New St - International services for awhile to supplement the 310s. They used to add a little variety when i was spotting at Stetchford when i was a kiddie.

 

[zn1]

although the 312s were based at BY - Bletchley crews didnt sign them, birmingham crews would to work them, to and from here, eventually they ended up allocated to CC

 

[Taunton]

Control reliefs at weekends could produce some surprises, like 310s at Carlisle...

If I'm not mistaken, when the 25Kv was extended northwards in 1973-74 a 304 did a morning run from Crewe to Preston, returning later. Not sure if it went north of Preston. It was the only emu this far north and the only electric service which went round through what seemed otherwise completely wasted electrification for a generation, through Earlestown and Newton-le-Willows.

 

[zn1]

an early working during 312 days was something like the 0735 Bly - stafford (brum men) all stations to BNS worked by a 312, when the 4 units moved to the GE the job was taken over by a 310 and a BY Crew. once at BNS, BY crews only worked to BNS on this job when 310 operated...

 

[Polarbear]

If I'm not mistaken, when the 25Kv was extended northwards in 1973-74 a 304 did a morning run from Crewe to Preston, returning later. Not sure if it went north of Preston. It was the only emu this far north and the only electric service which went round through what seemed otherwise completely wasted electrification for a generation, through Earlestown and Newton-le-Willows.

Yep - I remember it as well! As far as I recall it only went as far as Preston though.