Question?? 304/305/307 or 308

[ObservationCar]

Have a look at this photo

Just looking into the some of the testing for the 91's etc... But have a look at the left hand side of the photo. There is what looks like a class 304/305/307 or 308 in Intercity/Mainline livery. I didn't think any Multiple units carried this livery. Does anyone know why such a unit was painted like this? Was it for a special service they ran? or was it for advertising? Plus what class of train is it?

 

[87015]

Departmental 305/302 hybrid, 305935. Part of the ECML Electrification setup I presume.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chris_adams/3233069513/
http://carls1980s.fotopic.net/p42646692.html

 

[90019]

Don't know the details, but I think it was a hybrid unit. IIRC it was made up of a 302 DTSO, a 305 MBSO and a 305 BDTSO.

 

[driver9000]

It was operated by Intercity at the time of the ECML electrification and was used as a mobile training school for Eastern region staff who would be working on and operating the newly electrified line. The unit was given set number 935 and was stabled at several stations on the ECML to enable staff training. The unit was a 3 car set, one end was a class 302 driving car, the other end was a class 305 driving car. I'm not sure what the centre car was. I don't know if it ran under it's own power between locations, I have a feeling it was hauled though.

 

[W-on-Sea]

It's definitely not a 307 - wrong shape front.
This photo (although of a unit fronted by a converted 307) might provide a clue, however
http://www.flickr.com/photos/216110...s/21611052@N02/3624908340/in/pool-939174@N23/
As the photographer notes "In the late 1980s as the East Coast Main Line was electrified an ''I nstruction Unit '' was formed by B R 's Eastern Region.
It was converted from 305 & 307 stock"

If the photo you link to IS of the same unit, the unit visible is the 305, whereas that at the front of the photo on flickr is the 307.

(Although, seeing what others have posted here....maybe that should be "302" rather than "307"?)

 

[driver9000]

I think the caption on the flickr photograph is wrong. The vehicle is not a class 307 car - the windscreens are too wide, they were quite narrow on the 307s as seen in this image.

http://www.dmuemu.photos.gb.net/p63759027.html

 

[W-on-Sea]

Yes, I agree. Looks more like a 302 to me

 

[theblackwatch]

As several have stated it was a 302/305 hybrid, used as a training unit. I remember it spent several months parked in platform 1 at Leeds. I was quite amused the time I head an old dear asking a member of staff if it was the Harrogate train!