British Rail Class 308

British Rail Class 308
Class 308 in West Yorkshire PTE livery at Keighley in 1996
In service1959–2001
ManufacturerBritish Railways
Order no.
  • 30652 (BDTCOL, 308/1)
  • 30653 (MBSO, 308/1)
  • 30654 (TCsoL, 308/1)
  • 30655 (DTSO, 308/1)
  • 30656 (BDTCOL, 308/1)
  • 30657 (MBSO, 308/1)
  • 30658 (TCsoL, 308/1)
  • 30659 (DTSO, 308/1)
  • 30694 (BDTSO, 308/3)
  • 30695 (MBSO)
  • 30696 (DTSO, 308/3)
  • 30701 (MLV)[1]
Built atHolgate Road, York
Family name1959 EMU
ReplacedSteam locomotives and carriages
Refurbished
  • 1981–1983
  • 1994
Number built45
Number preserved1 (driving trailer only)
Number scrapped44
Successor
Formation3 or 4 cars per trainset:
  • BDTS+MBS+TC+DTS (308/1)
  • BDTCOL+MBSO+TSOL+DTSO (308/1, refurbished)
  • BDTS+MLV+TC+DTS (308/2)
  • BDTSOL+MLV+DTLV (308/2, refurbished)
  • BDTS+MBS+DTS (308/3)[2][3]
Diagram
  • ED207 (MBSO)
  • ED216 (MBSO, 308/1)
  • EE209 (DTSO, 308/3)
  • EE220 (DTSO, 308/1)
  • EF205 (BDTSO, 308/3)
  • EF208 (BDTSOL, 308/1 as built)
  • EF302 (BDTC)
  • EF304 (BDTCOL, 308/1 refurbished)
  • EH223 (TSOL, 308/1 refurbished)
  • EH305 (TCsoL, 308/1 as built)
  • EW501 (DTLV, 308/1)
  • EY501 (MLV)[1][4]
Design codeAM8
Fleet numbers
  • 133-165 (308/1, sets)
  • 75878-75886, 75896-75919 (BDTS, 308/1)
  • 61883-61915 (MBS, 308/1)
  • 70611-70643 (TS, 308/1)
  • 75887-75895, 75929-75952 (DTS, 308/1)
  • 313-321 (308/2, sets)
  • 75920-75928 (BDTS, 308/2)
  • 68011-68019 (MLV, 308/2)
  • 70644-70652 (TC, 308/2)
  • 75953-75961 (DTS, 308/2)
  • 453-455 (308/3, sets)
  • 75741-75743 (BDTS, 308/3)
  • 61689-61691 (MBS, 308/3)
  • 75992-75994 (DTS, 308/3)[2]
Capacity
  • 19F/344S (308/1, as built)
  • 19F/248S (308/2)
  • 272S (308/3)
  • 24F/302S (308/1, refurbished)[2]
OperatorsBritish Rail
Depots
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel[4]
Train length
  • 268 ft 8+1⁄2 in (81.902 m) (4-car)
  • 189 ft 9+1⁄2 in (57.849 m) (3-car)[2]
Car length
  • 64 ft 0+5⁄8 in (19.523 m) (driving cars, over body)[4]
  • 63 ft 6 in (19.35 m) (others)[2]
Width9 ft 3 in (2.82 m)[2]
Height12 ft 7 in (3.835 m)[4]
DoorsSlam[2]
Articulated sections
  • 4 (308/1, 308/2 as built)
  • 3 (308/2 refurbished, 308/3)
Wheelbase46 ft 6 in (14.17 m) (bogie centres)[4]
Maximum speed75 mph (121 km/h)[4]
Weight
  • 153 long tons (155 t) (308/1)
  • 150 long tons 12 cwt (153.0 t) (308/2)
  • 11 long tons (11 t) (308/3)[2]
Traction motors4 × EE 56A of 143.5 kW (192.4 hp)[3]
Power output574 kW (770 hp)
HVACElectric[4]
Electric system(s)
Current collector(s)Pantograph
UIC classification
  • 3-car: 2′2′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′
  • 4-car: 2′2′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+2′2′
Bogies
  • Gresley ED5
  • Gresley ED8
  • Gresley ET5
  • Gresley ET8[4]
Braking system(s)Air (EP/Auto)[2]
Safety system(s)AWS[4]
Coupling system
Multiple workingWithin ER EMU stock, later within class[2]
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 308 alternating current (AC) electric multiple units (EMU) were built by British Railways' Holgate Road carriage works in three batches between 1959 and 1961. They were initially classified as AM8 units before the introduction of TOPS.

  1. ^ a b Longworth 2015, pp. 23–25, 132, 134–135, 148–149, 161, 182–185, 187
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Class 308". The Railway Centre. Archived from the original on 14 October 2007. Retrieved 21 February 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ a b c Fox 1987, p. 53
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Vehicle Diagram Book No.210 for Electrical Multiple Units (including A.P.T.)" (PDF). Barrowmore MRG. BRB Residuary Ltd. ED216, EE209, EE220, EF205, EF208, EF302, EF304, EH223, EW501, EY501. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2016.