Class 311
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Nineteen Class 311 3-car electric multiple units were built for British Rail by Cravens of Sheffield in 1967.
The trains were ordered as part of the electrification scheme for Glasgow Central to Gourock and Wemyss Bay, and were based at the newly constructed Shields Electric Traction depot.
They were non-gangwayed between carriages, with open saloons, and twin-leaf sliding doors. The set numbers 092 to 110 continued the series used by class 303s.
The class 311s were almost identical to the class 303s, the main difference being more powerful 222hp AEI traction motors, and the ventilation grilles for these motors at window level on the centre car.
On the left side of the cab front, the multiple working jumper was subtly different, and next to it was a metal plate with the vehicle dimensions.
Internally the class 311s differed by having had fluorescent lighting, compared to the filament bulbs originally fitted to the 303s.
When built in 1967, the class 311s wore the then new plain Rail Blue BR livery, with full yellow ends, wrapped on to the cab doors. However, the doors were soon painted blue.
From the mid 1970s, the 303s and 311s had the wrap-round glass on the cab ends replaced by with flat, toughened glass to give better protection to drivers.
The late 1970s saw the units reliveried into BR Blue with light grey window bands.
Three units (sets 092/098/109) were repainted into the Strathclyde Transport livery of orange and black in 1984.
Some of the sets retaining the blue & grey livery gained black around the cab window areas by the late 1980s (sets 099/102/104/105/107/108/110).
Three of the class had been long-term stored out of service before the first official withdrawal, that of set 311100, in October 1986. 311093 and 311106 were withdrawn in 1987.
The class 311s had mainly operated on the routes out of Glasgow Central High Level, but when Driver Only Operation was introduced in 1986, the 16 remaining class 311s were moved to the North Clyde and Argyle Lines which were still operated with guards.
Ten units remained in traffic into 1990, when they were replaced by new class 320 EMUs. The last day of use in passenger service for class 311s and unrefurbished class 303s was 9th November 1990.
They were subsequently modified for use as Sandite units, to apply sandite gel to the railhead in the Autumn.
In October 1993 the two were reclassified as Class 936 units and given new vehicle numbers in the departmental series. On the cab fronts the headcode box was plated over and a headlight fitted in its place. Inside the DTS vehicles sandite tanks were fitted at the inner end.
By 1997, both 936103 & 936104 had been repainted into Railtrack's bronze, white & grey livery, and with several windows plated over.
The Class 936s were replaced on Sandite duties by newly built MPV units, and on 30-Oct-2001 both units were hauled by 31601 from Corkerhill to Derby Etches Park, pending disposal.
Unit 936103 was donated to North Lanarkshire Council, for display at the Summerlee Museum in Coatbridge. Meanwhile 936104 was scrapped at Immingham Railfreight Terminal July 2002.
Unit 103 arrived at Summerlee at the end of June 2002. Initially the 3-car unit was positioned near the entrance to the museum, and in June 2003 it was repainted blue with yellow cab ends but without any numbers or branding.
DTS vehicle 977846, which had the sandite tank fitted, was removed from Summerlee on 2nd August 2006, and taken to Booths Scrapyard in Rotherham and cut up within a few days. Its bogies had been sold to VSOE for reuse under a Pullman carriage.
The two remaining vehicles were then moved to the back of the site adjacent to the Sunnyside Junction to Whifflet railway line. The Windows were later covered over with corrugated metal sheets to prevent vandalism.
The trains were ordered as part of the electrification scheme for Glasgow Central to Gourock and Wemyss Bay, and were based at the newly constructed Shields Electric Traction depot.
They were non-gangwayed between carriages, with open saloons, and twin-leaf sliding doors. The set numbers 092 to 110 continued the series used by class 303s.
The class 311s were almost identical to the class 303s, the main difference being more powerful 222hp AEI traction motors, and the ventilation grilles for these motors at window level on the centre car.
On the left side of the cab front, the multiple working jumper was subtly different, and next to it was a metal plate with the vehicle dimensions.
Internally the class 311s differed by having had fluorescent lighting, compared to the filament bulbs originally fitted to the 303s.
When built in 1967, the class 311s wore the then new plain Rail Blue BR livery, with full yellow ends, wrapped on to the cab doors. However, the doors were soon painted blue.
From the mid 1970s, the 303s and 311s had the wrap-round glass on the cab ends replaced by with flat, toughened glass to give better protection to drivers.
The late 1970s saw the units reliveried into BR Blue with light grey window bands.
Three units (sets 092/098/109) were repainted into the Strathclyde Transport livery of orange and black in 1984.
Some of the sets retaining the blue & grey livery gained black around the cab window areas by the late 1980s (sets 099/102/104/105/107/108/110).
Decline
The units were excluded from the refurbishment program carried out on the the class 303s in the mid 1980s, and a proposal to rebuild 11 units as part of the Ayrshire electrification was shelved in preference of an all new Class 318 fleet.Three of the class had been long-term stored out of service before the first official withdrawal, that of set 311100, in October 1986. 311093 and 311106 were withdrawn in 1987.
The class 311s had mainly operated on the routes out of Glasgow Central High Level, but when Driver Only Operation was introduced in 1986, the 16 remaining class 311s were moved to the North Clyde and Argyle Lines which were still operated with guards.
Ten units remained in traffic into 1990, when they were replaced by new class 320 EMUs. The last day of use in passenger service for class 311s and unrefurbished class 303s was 9th November 1990.
Further Use
Two units, 311103 & 311104, both in blue & grey livery, were retained after this date and used for driver training. 311104 was used at Edinburgh Waverley prior to the introduction of class 305 units on the North Berwick line in 1991.They were subsequently modified for use as Sandite units, to apply sandite gel to the railhead in the Autumn.
In October 1993 the two were reclassified as Class 936 units and given new vehicle numbers in the departmental series. On the cab fronts the headcode box was plated over and a headlight fitted in its place. Inside the DTS vehicles sandite tanks were fitted at the inner end.
By 1997, both 936103 & 936104 had been repainted into Railtrack's bronze, white & grey livery, and with several windows plated over.
The Class 936s were replaced on Sandite duties by newly built MPV units, and on 30-Oct-2001 both units were hauled by 31601 from Corkerhill to Derby Etches Park, pending disposal.
Preservation?
In November 2000 the BDTS vehicle in set 936103 had been designated by the Railway Heritage Committee as being historically important.Unit 936103 was donated to North Lanarkshire Council, for display at the Summerlee Museum in Coatbridge. Meanwhile 936104 was scrapped at Immingham Railfreight Terminal July 2002.
Unit 103 arrived at Summerlee at the end of June 2002. Initially the 3-car unit was positioned near the entrance to the museum, and in June 2003 it was repainted blue with yellow cab ends but without any numbers or branding.
DTS vehicle 977846, which had the sandite tank fitted, was removed from Summerlee on 2nd August 2006, and taken to Booths Scrapyard in Rotherham and cut up within a few days. Its bogies had been sold to VSOE for reuse under a Pullman carriage.
The two remaining vehicles were then moved to the back of the site adjacent to the Sunnyside Junction to Whifflet railway line. The Windows were later covered over with corrugated metal sheets to prevent vandalism.
311103 in Summerlee ยป BDTS 76433. Photo by Liam
| Set | Original Vehicle Number | Sandite number | Vehicle Type | Location |
| 311 103 | 76433 | 977844 | BDTS (Battery Driving Trailer Second class) | Summerlee |
| 311 103 | 62174 | 977845 | MBS (Motor Brake Second Class) | Summerlee |
| 311 103 | 76414 | 977846 | DTS (Driving Trailer Second class) | Scrapped 8/06 |