British Rail Class 307
| British Rail Class 307 | |
|---|---|
Class 307 at Wakefield Westgate in 1991
|
|
| In service | 1956 - 1993 |
| Manufacturer | BR |
| Order number |
|
| Built at | Ashford Works/Eastleigh Works |
| Constructed | 1954 - 1956 |
| Entered service | 1956 |
| Refurbishment |
|
| Number built | 32 trainsets |
| Formation | 4 cars per trainset:
|
| Diagram |
|
| Design code | AM7 |
| Fleet numbers |
|
| Capacity |
|
| Operator(s) | British Rail |
| Depot(s) | |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Steel |
| Train length | 265 ft 8 1⁄2 in (80.988 m) |
| Car length |
|
| Width | 9 ft 3 in (2.824 m) |
| Height | 13 ft 0 1⁄2 in (3.975 m) |
| Doors | Slam |
| Articulated sections | 4 |
| Wheelbase | 46 ft 6 in (14.173 m) |
| Maximum speed | 75 mph (121 km/h) |
| Weight |
|
| Traction motors | 4 × GEC WT344 of 170 hp (130 kW) |
| Power output | 700 hp (520 kW) |
| Train heating | Electric |
| Electric system(s) | |
| Current collection method | Pantograph |
| UIC classification | 2'2'+Bo'Bo'+2'2'+2'2' |
| Bogies |
|
| Braking system(s) | Air (Auto/EP) |
| Safety system(s) | AWS |
| Coupling system | Buckeye |
| Multiple working | Within ER fleet |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) Standard gauge |
| Notes | |
| 42 × DTs converted 1994-96 to PCV for RES | |
The British Rail Class 307 electric multiple units were built by BR at Eastleigh Works from 1954 to 1956. They were initially classified as AM7 before the introduction of TOPS.
Thirty-two of these 4-car units were built for services on the Great Eastern Main Line. The units were constructed to a similar design to the third-rail Class 415 (4EPB) units introduced by the Southern Region a few years earlier. However, there were several differences, most notably a slightly different front cab and a different seating arrangement.
All units were formed of four cars. When originally built, units were numbered in the range 01s-32s, and were composed of two outer driving trailers, an intermediate trailer composite (i.e. with some first-class seating), and an intermediate motor brake. The units were constructed to operate off the 1,500 V direct current (DC) overhead power system used on Eastern Region suburban lines. However, in the late 1950s and early 1960s, these lines were converted to the 6.25 kV/25 kV alternating current (AC) overhead system, which was adopted as standard, and coincided with the introduction of new Class 302 (AM2) units. Therefore, from 1960-1962 the entire AM7 fleet was extensively rebuilt at Eastleigh Works to allow units to operate from the new voltage system. The work including moving the guard's compartment from the motor coach to one of the driving trailers. At the same time, units were renumbered into the range 101-132.
From 1983-1984 the fleet was refurbished. Work involved replacing all compartments with open saloons, and the fitting of gangways between vehicles within a unit. The first-class seating was also moved from the trailer to the non-brake driving trailer. During this period, units were renumbered under the TOPS system to 307101-307132.
Details of the vehicle designations are shown below.
When new, these trains were used on the newly electrified Great Eastern Main Line, running between Liverpool Street and Southend Victoria on semi-fast services. In 1960 the electrification system on this route was converted from 1,500 V DC to 25 kV AC overhead, necessitating the rebuild of the fleet.
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