Class 306 Profile and Models

Class 306

306043. Unknown location and date. ©Public Domain

The British Rail Class 306 was a type of electric multiple unit (EMU) introduced in 1949. It consisted of 92 three-car trains which were used on the Great Eastern Main Line between Shenfield and London Liverpool Street. Class 306 trains were built to a pre-World War II design by Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company (Driving Trailer) and Metro Cammell (Driving Motor Brake and Trailer) and were equipped with Metrovick traction equipment Crompton Parkinson traction motors. When built the trains were energised at 1,500 V direct current (DC) which was collected from overhead wires by a diamond pantograph located above the cab on the Motor Brake Second Open (MBSO) vehicle. From 1959 to 1961 the overhead wires were re-energised at 25 kV alternating current (ac) (and 6.25 kV ac in the inner London areas where headroom for the overhead wires was reduced) and the trains were rebuilt to use this different electrical system. The Class 306 trains were withdrawn in the early 1980s, with 306017 preserved at Ilford depot.  In the early 2000s, it was restored to operational condition by First Great Eastern.

(Information provided via Wikipedia)

Type of Unit

Electric Multiple Unit

Builder

Metro-Cammell & BRCW

Build Dates

1949

Total Built

92 sets

Coaches Per Unit

3-car

Capacity

170 seats

Power Output

628hp

Top Speed

75 mph

Operated By

British Rail

Main Duties

Local Passenger

In Service Until

1981

Surviving Examples

1 set