Class 308 (BR York ER London Suburban Services AM8)

The original batch of 4-car units, originally known as the Southend Augmentation Stock, the AM8 (later Class 308/1) was built for commuter services out of London Liverpool Street to Colchester, Clacton and Walton [1]. Later on they were joined by a second batch (308/2) for boat train services out to Tilbury from London Fenchurch Street. One car was dedicated as a luggage van (though could also stow cycles and other items - it even included a fish stowage area!) [2] Finally a batch of 3-car units (308/2) was built for services from Liverpool Street to Chingford and Enfield Town.

Information
Number built:	177 (45 3 and 4-car sets)
Built:	1959-61
Builder:	BR York
Engine:	4 EE 536A traction motors per set (25kV AC OHLE)
Power:	770 hp (574 kW)
Formation:	308/1 : Battery Driving Trailer Composite Open Lavatory (BDTCOL) +Motor Brake Standard Open (MBSO)+Trailer Standard Open Lavatory (TSOL)+Driving Trailer Standard Open (DTSO) 308/2 : Battery Driving Trailer Standard (BDTS)+Motor Luggage Van (MLV)+Trailer Composite (TC)+Driving Trailer Standard (DTS) 308/3 : BDTS+Motor Brake Standard (MBS)+DTS 308/4 : BDTS+MLV+DTS

Externally the Class 308 looked similar to the likes of the Class 305 and 504 EMUs and had similiar equipment to the Class 302.

In the early 1980s the Tilbury boat trains ceased after Tilbury closed as a cruiser liner terminal. Three Class 308/2s were rebuilt as 308/4 postal trains, the non-motorised trailer being removed to make them 3-car units. Withdrawals of the 308 began in earnest in the late 1980s with the 308/2s and 308/3s being withdrawn. The 308/1s survived into the privatised era however and in their final years spread further afield. They could be found in the West Midlands and North East as a stop-gap stock pending new build EMUs [3]. They were finally withdrawn from service in 2001. One 308/1 DTSO has been preserved at the Electric Railway Museum.

Two views of the preserved 75881

[1] Colin J. Marsden, Motive Power Recognition 2: EMUs (Ian Allan, 1982) p. 28
[2] Alec Swain, Overhead Line Electric Multiple Units (Ian Allan, 1990) p. 44
[3] Colin J. Marsden, DMU and EMU Recognition Guide (Ian Allan, 2013) p. 225

Class 501 (BR Eastleigh LMR London Area Suburban Services 3-car)

As well as the extensive network on Southern Railway the London Midland & Scottish Railway also had a number of third rail electrified lines including from Watford to London Euston. The Class 501 was built for this route and London Broad Street-Richmond.

Information
Number built:	171 (57 3-car sets)
Built:	1957-58
Builder:	BR Eastleigh
Engine:	4 GEC traction motors (660v DC third rail)
Power:	740 hp (550 kW)
Formation:	Driving Motor Brake Second (DMBS)+Trailer Second (TS)+ Driving Trailer Brake Second (DTBS)

The Class 501 was built at BR Eastleigh to a fairly standard (of the time) EMU design based on the shorter Mark 1 coach underframe. They were built with a LMR specified front end including a headcode panel and a destination blind [1]. The units were built without gangway connections and with some seating in compartments though this was later removed because of vanadalism and concerns for passenger safety [2].

Although not the best riding units ever built they soldered on until the mid-1980s. Some passed through into departmental use serving as battery locomotives and sandite trains. Two cars also served with the MOD. A DMBS and a DTBS have been preserved and are now at the Electric Railway Museum.

Preserved cars at the Electric Railway Museum

This car carried the departmental TOPS number 977 349 when serving as a battery locomotive

Both cars are undergoing restoration

[1] Brian Haresnape & Alec Swain, Third Rail DC Electric Multiple Units (Ian Allan, 1989) p. 41
[2] Colin J Marsden, DMU and EMU Recognition Guide (Ian Allan, 2013) p. 376

Class 11 (LMSR/English Electric 0-6-0 Diesel-Electric)

The LMS were the pioneers of diesel shunter developments pre-war and the Class 11 can be seen as the final result of all that hard work [1]. Built by the LMS/British Railways at Derby between 1945 and 1952, 106 of these shunters were built, plus some for the War Department and it was also exported to the Netherlands and Australia. The Class 11, also known at various times as the LMSR Class 0F, BR Class DEJ3, D3/8 and 3/8A, looks very similar to the Class 08 and this later (and of course standard) shunter was based heavily on it [2], using much of the same equipment [3] - the main differences being the size of the wheels and body dimensions.

Information
Number built:	106 (plus 14 for the War Dept.)
Built:	1944-52
Builder:	LMS / BR Derby
Engine:	English Electric 6KT diesel
Power:	350 hp (261 kW)
Wheel arrangement:	0-6-0

Withdrawals began in the late 1960s due to a surplus of shunters and the non-standard nature of the Class 11 compared to the 08, and all were gone by 1971. Eight have been preserved.

Preserved 12099 at Bridgnorth on the Seven Valley Railway

12099 at Kidderminster

12049 at Ropley on the Mid-Hants Railway

Another view of 12049

[1] Brian Haresnape, Diesel Shunters (Ian Allan, 1984) p. 29
[2] Colin J. Marsden (ed.), Modern Locomotives Illustrated No 217 February-March 2016 (SR, GW, LNER, LMS & Trial Shunters & Class 03) p. 11
[3] Haresnape p. 28

Class 313 (BR York Suburban Services 3-car)

The Class 313 was the first production EMUs derived from the early 1970s Class 445 4-PEP prototypes [1]. They were built for Greater Northern services out of Kings Cross and Moorgate, the latter taken over from the London Underground Northern Line in 1975. Because of this the Class 313s are dual voltage stock due to the limited clearance in the tunnels - there not being enough space for overhead wires DC third rail collection being used instead, the changeover being at Drayton Park [2].

Information
Number built:	192 (64 3-car sets)
Built:	1976-77
Builder:	BREL York
Engine:	8 GEC G310AZ traction motors (25kV AC OHLE and 750v DC third rail)
Power:	880 hp (656 kW)
Formation:	Driving Motor Standard Open (DMSO)+Pantograph Trailer Standard Open (PTSO)+DMSO

The introduction into service was not smooth with numerous problems with the doors. Initially they had bi-parting sliding doors where the passengers could give a slight pull on the handle once the train had stopped and the doors would open automatically. Unfortunately passengers could find they could open the doors with sufficient force even while the train was moving. After 1977 the doors reverted to guard control. Some 313s were later reallocated to Great Eastern routes, being only under the wires they had their third rail collection equipment isolated [3].

After privatisation the Class 313s were operated by Silverlink and West Anglia Great Northern. In recent years they have been operated also by Southern on routes around Brighton [4]. As they only operate in third rail territory they have had their pantographs removed. Apart from the former tube stock on the Isle of Wight the Class 313s are the oldest EMUs on the network. The Greater Northern 313s are due to be replaced by new Class 717s in 2018.

Great Northern 313 038 at Finsbury Park

Interior view

At Moorgate terminus

[1] Brian Haresnape & Alec Swain, Third Rail DC Electric Multiple-Units (Ian Allan, 1989) p, 82
[2] Chris Heaps, BR Diary 1968-1977 (Ian Allan, 1988) p. 100
[3] Colin J Marsden, Motive Power Recognition 2: EMUs (Ian Allan, 1982) p. 47
[4] Colin J Marsden, DMU and EMU Recognition Guide (Ian Allan, 2013) p. 237

Class 58

Following the conventional Class 56 heavy freight locomotive British Rail went much more radical for the next design. The Class 58 dispensed with a lot of traditional British monocoque locomotive building practice with the aim of producing a highly exportable locomotive. It had a modular design with the main structural load bearer being the underframe with major components fitted to the frame[1]. The design made the Class 58 around 14% cheaper to build than the 56 [2].

Information
Number built:	50
Built:	1983-87
Builder:	BREL Doncaster
Engine:	Ruston Paxman 12RK3ACT diesel
Power:	3, 300 hp (2, 460 kW)
Wheel arrangement:	Co-Co

The Class 58 also followed common US style in that it dispensed with a walkway through the locomotive, the body being narrower than the cabs. This was done because of the space problems with the Class 56 trying to fit a larger engine into what was essentially a Class 47 shell. The bonnet design has access doors all along the side[3]. In the event no export orders were received and only 50 were built (as opposed to 135 Class 56s), the last Class 58 was also the last diesel locomotive to be built at BREL Doncaster.

The Class 58 was built for heavy coal trains though also could be seen on other freight types. Most Class 58s were withdrawn at the turn of the millennium, surplus to requirements as the Class 66 began to arrive in numbers. While a small number have been scrapped most of the class has seen further use in the 2000s on the continent especially in France working on TGV construction though some of these have now returned home or been put into storage both home and abroad [4].

One Class 58 (58 022) will be used to help create a replica of the pioneer LMS diesel locomotive 10000.

58 007 at Bescot 1985, photographer unknown

58 022 at Rowsley South

58 022 will be used to build a replica LMS 10000 class diesel locomotive

[1] Colin J Marsden, Motive Power Recognition: Locomotives (3rd Edition) (Ian Allan, 1988) p. 92
[2] Brian Harsenape, Production Diesel Electrics Types 4 and 5 (Ian Allan, 1984) p. 80
[3] Barry Edwards, Class 58s: Their Development and Introduction (Link Rail, 1984) p. 6
[4] Colin J Marsden, Traction Recognition (Ian Allan, 2011) p. 58

Plasser and Theurer 08 Series Tamper

A good number of tampers are used by Network Rail and various contracted companies to "tamp down" or pack the ballast under the tracks to maintain a stable bed, and of course help keep the rails where they are supposed to be [1]. Plasser & Theurer make many of the tampers in service today. The 08 series being the successor to the 07 series which were used in large numbers across the UK.

Information for 08-16/4x4 C100 RT
Number built:	14
Builder:	Plasser & Theurer
Power:	496 hp (390 kW)

The 08-16/4x4 C100 RT is a familiar type on British rails, the 16 in the name stands for 16 tamping tools which are arranged in 4 units of 4 tools each[2]. The C100 stands for its top speed in km/h and that it is a compact machine without a trailer. A number of other tampers are also used for switches and crossings such as the 08-4x4/4S.

Colas DR 73922 (08-16/4x4C80 RT) at Crewe

Colas DR 73908 (08-4x4/4S RT) at Derby

[1] "How is tamping performed?" <https://www.plassertheurer.com/en/machines-systems/tamping.html>
[2] "08-16 4x4 C100-RT" <http://www.plasser.co.uk/en/machines/08164x4c100rt.htm>