GENSHEET logo

Back Home

The Preserved Class 309's


7 units were withdrawn from service around Manchester and taken for storage at Shoeburyness. In 2001 309616 and 309624 were overhauled to become in cab signalling test trains while the rest were scrapped in 2004. The test units were based at the Old Dalby test track and numbered as Class 960, as usual for a departmental EMU. The in-cab signalling aspect of WCML upgrade was cancelled and the units had very little use.
960101 and comprises vehicles 75642, 61937, 75981 and were from unit 309616
960102 and comprises vehicles 75965, 61928, 75972 and were from unit 309624
Following the closure of Old Dalby at the end of the class 390 testing programme, the units were moved to storage at Shoeburyness MOD.

In January 2009 the two units were purchased by Electric Railway Museum Limited with funds which included the proceeds from other class 309 preservation funds.

309616 in service

Passing Hatfield Peverel in December 1986
At Norwich Crown Point open day, 30 May 1987
Liverpool Street, ready to depart with the final run, 1800 down Clacton on 22 January 1994
Approaching Watford Junction on 13 May 2000 with the farewell tour
At Clacton on 13 May 2000 with the farewell tour
At Liverpool Street on 13 May 2000 with the farewell tour

309624 in service

Waiting time at Milton keynes Central with a special train for Crewe open day on 21 July 1990
Standing at platform 12, Manchester Piccadilly on 21 April 1996

Class 309 service history and photos page 1 and page 2




Back Home   
GENSHEET Class 309 preservation page 25 January 2009  All images © M.W.Wilson