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The main build of Class 309's was in 1962 at York, 76 vehicles of new build split into 3 sub-classes. Units 601-608 were two car second-class only units to strengthen peak services and increase acceleration on 10 car trains. Units 611-618 were four car one of which was a Griddle Car providing the 1962 version of fast food. Finally units 621-627 were the straightforward four car design. Standard hauled Mark1 vehicles were converted in three batches to become additional trailer vehicles for the Class 309 units. Initially these made up some the two car units to four, then replaced the griddle cars and finally to make all units four cars at the same time as a major refurbishment.

309621 at Liverpool Street
Photo: Bill Wilson

For almost all of their working lives the class were confined to the London - Colchester main line and the branches to Clacton and Walton-on-Naze. The basic off peak hourly service was formed of a griddle and a standard 4 car set and split at Thorpe-le-Soken with one unit proceeding to Walton. From 1982 the Walton portion working ceased and most trains ran to Clacton. One through Walton service remained for commuters right through to 1994.

With the spread of electrification in the 1980's the class reached further into East Anglia, first on Harwich boat trains as well as commuter trains from Stowmarket. This also gave the class a named train, the 'Essex Continental' which was shown in some European timetables as through train D344 from Berlin/Kobenhavn/Bad Harzburg. In 1987 and 1988 with power extended to Norwich they worked a number of Saturday services to Norwich . Portion working returned in May 1990 when Clacton and Harwich were served by a common train to & from London. From May 1991 Ipswich was served instead of Harwich. From May 1993 the class became confined to peak hour workings until the GE era came to an end 31 years and 14 days after it started on the 22nd January 1994.

Seven units survived the end of operations in Essex to work in the Manchester area for a few years longer. Plans to use them for regular Manchester - Birmingham services and also a Manchester - Crewe - Carlisle came to nothing. They did see some use outside the normal turns appearing on Manchester - London NWT services and also to cater for diverted aircraft passengers on Manchester Airport - London specials. They also worked on the Preston - Carlisle line during engineering diversions providing the Preston - Penrith rail service while through trains ran via Settle. Final withdrawl of the surviving 6 units was on 27 May 2000, moving to storage at Shoeburyness with a 7th already withdrawn.

Two of the stored units were taken in to departmental service in 2001 to allow testing of advanced signalling systems in the planned WCML upgrades. At this stage the trailer vehicles were removed and 309616 became 960101 and 309624 became 960102. They, however, saw no use outside of the Old Dalby test track and were later stored at MOD Shoeburyness.

309624 at Manchester Piccadilly when working in the northwest
Photo: Rob Davidson

309616 at Liverpool Street on a railtour from Manchester to Clacton 13 May 2000
Photo: Rob Davidson

The two test units were purchased by Electric Railway Museum Limited in January 2009.



Electric Railway Museum Limited wish to thank Bill Wilson for his generous help in compiling this history.

Preserved DT from 960102 (309624) on delivery
Photo: by John Collins