DTG class 303 EMU

[NiallGray]

Where between Liverpool & Manchester would you have seen any of these units in 1983/4?

In terms of the LivMan route, at the Manchester end, you would have seen them between the erstwhile Cornbrook Jn. and Piccadilly, working services to/from Altrincham (and perhaps match days services to/from the MUFC halt). At the Liverpool end, I am pretty sure when the units were transferred down from the ScR, they were initially used on Liverpool Crewe trains, and I have in the past seen them myself at Lime Street on such workings.

As well as Liverpool-Crewe, I also caught one once from Crewe to Piccadilly.

If you have any routes that cover Birmingham New Street, they worked there occasionally and I even saw them at Rugby.

As an aside, when I was collecting pics of 303s for my MSTS re-skins, the other destinations I saw in pictures included Birmingham International, Nuneaton, Stafford, Macclesfield, Alderley Edge, and Wilmslow.

Niall

[749006]

[As well as Liverpool-Crewe, I also caught one once from Crewe to Piccadilly.

If you have any routes that cover Birmingham New Street, they worked there occasionally and I even saw them at Rugby.

As an aside, when I was collecting pics of 303s for my MSTS re-skins, the other destinations I saw in pictures included Birmingham International, Nuneaton, Stafford, Macclesfield, Alderley Edge, and Wilmslow.

Niall

Rugby and Birmingham International ?
I did not think they had been that far south.

[NiallGray]

Rugby, 1985.

[hokitika67]

That's a nice image above from 1985, thankyou for posting this. The Cab fronts with the 'Rap' around window design is much more attractive than then one modelled in TS2015 I think.

[PaulH2]

That's a nice image above from 1985, thankyou for posting this. The Cab fronts with the 'Rap' around window design is much more attractive than then one modelled in TS2015 I think.

I believe the units with wrap-around windscreens are Class 310, the unit modelling is a Class 303.

[gptech]

Aren't those with the wrap around windows in that photo 310's though? ... but yes, the un-rebuilt versions of the early EMU's looked a lot nicer.

[NiallGray]

The 303s lost their wraparound windows in the early 70s, to better protect drivers after acts of vandalism.

[hokitika67]

That's a nice image above from 1985, thankyou for posting this. The Cab fronts with the 'Rap' around window design is much more attractive than then one modelled in TS2015 I think.

I believe the units with wrap-around windscreens are Class 310, the unit modelling is a Class 303.

Yes, on closer inspection I think you're all correct. Well it does seem the 303s when in their initial Glasgow blue train variant had the wrap ( I've managed to spell correctly this time) around windows and a number code window lower on the yellow panel. Hopefully these maybe developed at sometime. Its a depressing matter the vandalism....I remember London Transports various Aluminium tube and surface stocks being in still very attractive condition untill the mid 1980s when graffiti suddenly appeared ultimately sadly leading to unattractive paint schemes.

[749006]

That's a nice image above from 1985, thankyou for posting this. The Cab fronts with the 'Rap' around window design is much more attractive than then one modelled in TS2015 I think.

I believe the units with wrap-around windscreens are Class 310, the unit modelling is a Class 303.

Yes, on closer inspection I think you're all correct. Well it does seem the 303s when in their initial Glasgow blue train variant had the wrap ( I've managed to spell correctly this time) around windows and a number code window lower on the yellow panel. Hopefully these maybe developed at sometime. Its a depressing matter the vandalism....I remember London Transports various Aluminium tube and surface stocks being in still very attractive condition untill the mid 1980s when graffiti suddenly appeared ultimately sadly leading to unattractive paint schemes.

With wrapped round windows - http://peter749.piwigo.com/picture?/102 ... y/92-emu_s
And with flat windows http://peter749.piwigo.com/picture?/102 ... y/92-emu_s whilst the 310 retained the curved windows

[NiallGray]

With wrapped round windows - http://peter749.piwigo.com/picture?/102 ... y/92-emu_s

Good old Gourock! Looks nothing like it these days, but I still visit a few times a year.

[hokitika67]

]
With wrapped round windows - http://peter749.piwigo.com/picture?/102 ... y/92-emu_s
And with flat windows http://peter749.piwigo.com/picture?/102 ... y/92-emu_s whilst the 310 retained the curved windows[/quote]


Thanks for these nice images, this type of variation detail is an important factor of interest...they may not appear in the game of course, but theres still a possibility they may oneday.

[electraE27000]

And with flat windows http://peter749.piwigo.com/picture?/102 ... y/92-emu_s whilst the 310 retained the curved windows

Strange seeing a class 310 at Altrincham!

Being a preserved line is no barrier to putting in 3rd rail or OHLE - remember, the Volks Railway uses 3rd Rail and various tram preservation groups use OHLE - albeit, using DC rather than AC. The limitation is one of money, to ensure the same safety measures are in place as national rail and those private railways/tramways.

[stuart666]

Re 303 curved windows, I read somewhere a train had a brick thrown through the front window and the driver unfortunately killed when they were used in Glasgow, and it was belatedly decided the curved windows on them didnt give the driver very good protection. They were then removed and replaced, although I cant explain why they didnt do the same thing with the 310s. Different region of BR perhaps.

[deltic009]

Re 303 curved windows, I read somewhere a train had a brick thrown through the front window and the driver unfortunately killed when they were used in Glasgow, and it was belatedly decided the curved windows on them didnt give the driver very good protection. They were then removed and replaced, although I cant explain why they didnt do the same thing with the 310s. Different region of BR perhaps.

The story I'd heard was that when the windows got bricked, they were very expensive to replace instead of one flat pane of glass and the wraparound windows would have been weaker too I think.

Classes 303, 309, 310 and 312 had wraparound cab windows to my knowledge, there's probably more but I'm not that old.

[gptech]

Classes 303, 309, 310 and 312 had wraparound cab windows to my knowledge, there's probably more but I'm not that old.

Let's not leave out an old favourite of mine, the class 124 "Trans-Pennine" DMU, and the 123's that were transferred from the Western Region to Hull in the late 70's (?)........yes, I am that old