Class 307 AM7 / PCV

The Class 307 EMU, originally known as the AM7, was built for London Liverpool Street-Southend Victoria services. Originally they operated off 1500V DC overhead supply but in the early 1960s were converted to AC electric, first at 6.25kV and later the standard 25kV [1]. They were built to the then-standard EPB style of Southern Region though operated on Eastern Region rails.

Preserved DTBS 75023

Information
Number built:	128 (32 4-car sets)
Built:	1954-56 (PCV conversion) 1994-96
Builder:	BR Ashford/Eastleigh (PCV conversion) Hunslet-Barclay
Engine:	4 GEC WT44 traction motors (1500V DC OLHE later 6.25/25kV AC OLHE)
Power:	700 hp (520 kW)
Formation:	(original) Driving Trailer Standard Open (DTSO)+ Motor Brake Standard (MBS)+Trailer Composite (TC)+ Driving Trailer Standard (DTS) (AC conversion) Driving Trailer Brake Standard (DTBS)+ Motor Standard (MS)+TC+DTS (refurbished) DTBS+MS+Trailer Standard (TS)+ Driving Trailer Composite (DTC)

The Class 307s were refurbished in the 1980s, which introduced gangways between the vehicles, improved interiors and new bogies. They continued to be used on Great Eastern routes throughout the 1980s, some also working on the Wakefield Line for a time. All were withdrawn from passenger service in the early 1990s.

Originally it was planned to rebuild the Class 307s for parcel traffic as the Class 300 but the Class 325 was built instead for this work. However forty-two were rebuilt as Propelling Control Vehicles (PCV) for use on the end of locomotive hauled mail trains (the other end from the locomotive obviously) with the cab allowing for the train to be controlled at slow speeds [2], the PCV itself is unpowered. All but two were withdrawn from use in the early 2000s and many scrapped though some remain in storage. One PCV has also been preserved as well as an unconverted driving trailer as shown below.

Front view of the preserved car

Another view, at the time the car was at the Electric Railway Museum (now closed)

[1] Alec Swain, Overhead Line Electric Multiple Units (Ian Allan, 1990) p. 28
[2] Colin J Marsden, DMU and EMU Recognition Guide (Ian Allan, 2013) p. 221

Class 153 (British Leyland Provincial Sector 1-car)

Forty-two 2-car Class 155 DMUs were built in the late 1980s by British Leyland for cross-country routes but at the same time British Rail saw a need for a new generation of single "bubble" car DMUs to replace ageing first generation stock like the Class 121 [1] and conversions of some of the new 155s fitted the bill.

EMT 153 302 at Ambergate

Thirty-five of the Class 155s were hence converted to 70 single car DMUs by being split up and by adding a second cab to each car. Adding the extra cab was not a simple process due to the lack of available space as the existing door pocket could not be moved and the extra cab is rather compact [2].

Information
Number built:	70
Built:	1987-88 (as Class 155) Converted to single cars 1991-92
Builder:	British Leyland Conversions by Hunslet-Barclay
Engine:	Cummins NT855R5 diesel
Power:	285 hp (213 kW)
Formation:	Driving Motor Standard Lavatory (DMSL)

The Class 153s (as they became) quickly proved themselves to be very flexible and versatile units able to run on lightly-loaded branch lines such as the Stourbridge Town branch and the line to Cardiff Bay. They also provide a capacity boost to other routes where needed as they are able to work in multiple with other members of the "Sprinter" DMU family.


They are in service with a number of Train Operating Companies including Transport for Wales, Scotrail, Northern, East Midlands Railway and West Midland Railway.

WMR 153 354 at Ridgmont

EMT 153 310 and friend at Attenborough

EMT 153 382 at Duffield

TfW 153 303 at Cardiff Bay

EMT 153 326 at Belper

[1] Colin J. Marsden, DMU and EMU Recognition Guide (Ian Allan, 2013) p. 134
[2] Colin J. Marsden (ed.), Modern Locomotives Illustrated No. 211 February-March 2015 (Classes 150-156 Second Generation DMUs) p. 52