British Rail Class 304

British Rail Class 304
304 006 seen at Manchester Piccadilly station
In service	1960 - 1996
Manufacturer	BR Wolverton
Order no.	30429 (BDTSOL) 30428 (MBSO) 30430 (DTBSO)
Family name	1959 EMU
Refurbishment	1980
Number built	45
Number scrapped	45
Formation	4 cars per trainset (as built) BDTS+MBS+TC+DTBS 3 cars per set (1980-) BDTSOL + MBSO + DTBSO
Diagram	EF203 (BDTSOL, 304/1) EF204 (BDTSOL, 304/2 and 304/3) ED215 (MBSO, 304/1) ED203 (MBSO, 304/2 and 304/3) EG202 (DTBSO, 304/1) EG203 (DTBSO 304/2 and 304/3)
Design code	AM4
Fleet numbers	304001-015 (304/1) 304016-035 (304/2) 304036-045 (304/3) 75045-75059 (BDTS, 304/1) 75680-75699 (BDTS, 304/2) 75868-75877 (BDTS, 304/3) 61045-61059 (MBS, 304/1) 61628-61647 (MBSO, 304/2) 61873-61882 (MBSO, 304/3) 70045-70059 (TC, 304/1) 70483-70502 (TC, 304/2) 70243-70252 (TC, 304/3) 75645-75659 (DTBS, 304/1) 75660-75679 (DTBS, 304/2) 75858-75867 (DTBS, 304/3)
Capacity	244 (304/1) 234 (304/2 and 304/3)
Operator(s)	British Rail
Depot(s)	Crewe Electric Longsight
Line(s) served	West Coast Main Line Crewe to Manchester Line Weaver Junction and Liverpool Line
Specifications
Train length	246 ft 6 1⁄2 in (75.146 m)
Car length	19.53 m (64.1 ft) (outer cars) 19.36 m (63.5 ft) (inner cars)
Width	9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)
Height	12 ft 4 1⁄2 in (3.772 m)
Articulated sections	4 (new) 3 (refurbished)
Maximum speed	75 mph (121 km/h)
Weight	Total - 151.85 long tons (154.29 t; 170.07 short tons)
Traction motors	4 × BTH 155kW
Electric system(s)	6.25 kV AC and 25 kV 50 Hz AC (OHLE)
Current collection method	Pantograph
UIC classification	2'2'+Bo'Bo'+2'2' (1980-)
Bogies	Gresley
Braking system(s)	Air (EP/Auto)
Coupling system	Buckeye
Multiple working	Within class and Class 310
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 304 electric multiple units were built for suburban use on the first phases of the West Coast Main Line electrification between Crewe and Manchester/Liverpool/Rugby. Originally classed as AM4 units, they later became Class 304 under the TOPS numbering system, and could be found in operation over most of the West Coast Main Line. The units conformed to the 1959-design for alternating current (AC) electrical multiple units, and were externally very similar to the Class 305, Class 308 and the 1,200 V direct current (DC) Class 504 units. No units survived into preservation, and all units were eventually scrapped.

The first fifteen units were delivered to Longsight Depot, Manchester from April 1960 as four-car sets, and were originally numbered 001-015. Built by British Rail's Wolverton Works, these units were an aesthetic improvement over the AM2 (Class 302) units previously built at York and Doncaster; they featured a new design cab end with a raked back upper area, following a Design Panel recommendation, and emerged in Multiple Unit Green livery, lined out with yellow. The units followed the two-car 1,200V DC Class 504 units off the production line at Wolverton, a class which shared many design features with the first AM4 units. The units were arranged into four-car sets, consisting of: a Driving Trailer Brake Open vehicle with 82 second class seats (saloon) and a Guard's compartment; a Trailer Composite with 19 first class seats (compartment) and 60 second class seats (saloon), and two toilets; a Motor Brake with 96 second class seats (compartment) and a Guard's compartment; a Driving Trailer with 82 second class seats (saloon), two toilets, and battery equipment. One result of the Motor Brake vehicle having a compartment design was that the window layout on all vehicles was designed to suit, having a narrow window either side of each door. The units were tested on the Styal line prior to the start of electric services between Crewe and Manchester.