British Rail Class 309
| British Railways AM9 British Rail Class 309 Clacton Express |
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309 625 leading the usual 10-car set (two 4-car sets – one with a buffet car – and one 2-car set) at London Liverpool Street on 21 March 1981
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| In service | 1962–2000 |
| Manufacturer | BR |
| Order no. |
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| Built at | |
| Constructed | 1962–1963, 1973-1974, 1980-1981, 1987 |
| Entered service | 1962 |
| Refurbishment | 1985–1987 |
| Number built | 76 cars |
| Formation | 2, 3 or 4 cars per trainset:
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| Diagram |
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| Fleet numbers |
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| Capacity |
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| Operator(s) | Eastern Region of British Rail |
| Depot(s) | Clacton |
| Line(s) served | Sunshine Coast Line |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Steel |
| Train length |
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| Car length | 64 ft 6 in (19.66 m) (over body) |
| Width | 9 ft 3 in (2.819 m) (overall) |
| Height | 12 ft 9.5 in (3.899 m) (overall) |
| Doors | Slam |
| Wheelbase | 46 ft 6 in (14.173 m) (bogie centres) |
| Maximum speed | 100 mph (161 km/h) |
| Weight |
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| Traction motors | 4 × GEC WT401 of 210 kW (280 hp) |
| Power output | 1,128 hp (841 kW) |
| Train heating | Electric |
| Electric system(s) | 25 kV AC OHLE |
| Current collection method | Pantograph |
| UIC classification |
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| Bogies | Commonwealth |
| Braking system(s) | Air (EP/Auto) |
| Coupling system |
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| Multiple working | Classes 302–312 |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
The British Rail Class 309 electric multiple units (EMUs) were built by British Rail (BR) York Carriage Works from 1962–1963. They were initially classified as Class AM9 before the introduction of TOPS. These units were the first express 25 kV alternating current (AC) units to be built by British Rail, and British Rail's first EMUs to be capable of 100 mph.
Twenty-three units were built in three different configurations:
Each unit had identical electrical equipment. The original concept called for increasing the power-to-weight ratio when strengthening trains from eight to ten cars in peak periods using the 2-car units, in order to make the peak timetable more resilient.
When built, units were used exclusively on Great Eastern Main Line (GEML) express services from London Liverpool Street to Clacton-on-Sea and Walton-on-the-Naze (also marketed as the Sunshine Coast Line). Trains would be formed of three units in a ten-car formation (i.e. one two car unit, and two four car units). The train would divide at Thorpe-le-Soken, with one of the 4-cars units used on the Walton section, and the remaining six cars continuing to Clacton. The Clacton portion usually included the griddle car unit, and was always the second to leave Thorpe-le-Soken, being the rear (London end) portion of the coastbound train.
In the 1970s many of the units were reformed. The two-car units were augmented to four-car units. In 1973-74 units 605-608 with the addition of TSK with TCK converted former Mk1 SK and CK coaches which formed in to 4 car sets. In 1978 units 601-604 with the addition of TCK and TSOL converted former Mk1 CK and TSO coaches which formed in to 4 car sets. In the early 1980s units 611-618 had the griddle cars were taken out of use and replaced by TSOL from 601-604 and TSK from 605-608. 601-608 where augmented to 3-car units until refurbishment work in 1985-86 In 1986-87 refurbishment work required the addition of 8 Mk1 TSO coaches to be converted to TSO trailers for units 611-618 with the borrowed TSOL and TSK trailers all being converted to TSOL trailers and reformed back into 601-608.
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