309 624
BDTC 75965 and MBS 61928 is owned by the EARM,
DTS 75972 is owned by the RHWR,
With the ACMU Society providing support to both organisations.
Service History:
Delivered to British Rail in 1962, Class 309 No.309 624 (initially just numbered 624) was built as part of the 309/3 subclass. Delivered in BR Maroon, it was formed of the following coaches:
BDTC 75965 - MBS 61928 - TSO 70258 - DTC 75972
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In 1985, it was one of the first units to reach Ipswich under the new electrification scheme, and two years later, it helped test the wires to Norwich. It was one of the last sets to undergo the mid-life refurbishment programme at BREL Wolverton Works, emerging in May 1987. It skipped being painted in the London & SouthEast "Jaffa Cake" scheme and went straight into Network SouthEast Livery. It was part of the consist that ran the "Cheshire Cheese" tour to Crewe in 1990 and it formed part of the "Clacton Sunset" in January 1994, travelling to Ely and the newly opened Stanstead Airport branch.
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later in 1994, 624 was withdrawn from its regular services on the Great Eastern Mainline. and was one of the 7 chosen to be transferred to Manchester and pressed into service under Regional Railways NorthWest, Based at Longsight depot. While based up north the unit ventured as far south as London Euston and as far north as Carlisle, and there is a story that it once achieved 120mph+ down Shap summit, though this is unconfirmed.
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Around this time is when we believe it gained it's nickname of "Bessie" which is written in the cab of 75965.
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In 1996 it was selected to receive a special livery and was repainted at Ilford into "Manchester Airport Blue" and help open the new railway link to the Airport. It was a unique scheme and it carried this livery right up until withdrawal, so you could always tell 624 apart at a distance.
​By the turn of the century, 624 was retired from passenger service, and like its sister units, was sent to storage at MOD Pigs bay in Shoeburyness, waiting for a decision on its future.
309624 (75965,61928)
Vehicles Owned By:
The East Anglian Railway Museum
(Accredited Museum)
Located at EARM Near Colchester, Essex
ACMU Society Role:
Providing direct financial support, publicity and volunteer assistance towards the ongoing restoration
Vehicle Details:
Battery Driving Trailer Composite
BDTC No.75965
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Currently Cosmetically Externally Restored to 1987 Network SouthEast Condition
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Motor Brake Second
MBS No.61928
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Currently Under Restoration
More Infomation:
309624 (75972)
Vehicles Owned By:
The Rushden Historical Transport Society
(Accredited Museum)
Located at RHWR Near Rushden, Nottinghamshire
ACMU Society Role:
Providing direct financial support, publicity and volunteer assistance towards the ongoing restoration
Vehicle Details:
Driving Trailer Standard
DTS No.75972
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Currently Under Restoration
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More Infomation:
Testing, Testing
In 2000 Railtrack announced a multi-million pound investment in the West Coast Mainline, rolling out state of the art digital signalling system, the European Train Control System (ETCS). As part of this work, there was a requirement for a 100mph capable EMU vehicle to test the propriety technology on a test site before live testing on the West Coast Mainline itself.
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The 309s were identified as the only suitable units avaliable to carry out this work, so they were inspected later that year and 624 was selected to be part of the project.​The unit, along with sisters 616 and 617, were sent to Eastleigh for conversion work. 617 became a spares donor, and 616 and 624 had their TSO vehicles removed and scrapped. 624 was renumbered 960 102.
​309 624 and its sister unit 309 616 therefore became the first vehicles in the UK to be fitted with ECTS and GSM-R in early 2001, (although the latter was not activated at the first stage of testing). The next major successful ECTS project in the UK would not begin until 2007, making these units forgotten Pioneers in the story of the modern digital railway.
​Unfortunately the WCML upgrade was significantly scaled back due to ballooning budgets and the units never reached their full testing potential. Records no longer exist but it is estimated the units only did around 18 months of limited test work and ran just a few hundred miles up and down the Old Dalby test track in Leicestershire before the project was scrapped. They never did the planned WCML testing and ​The units were sent back to storage in 2004 and sat in MOD Pigs bay for several more years until a future was decided for the 6 vehicles.​
The First Preservation Effort:
Finally, in 2009, 616 & 624 were successfully acquired by AMPSRail Limited, a preservation group focused on saving EMU vehicles. This marked the beginning of its preservation journey. The unit was moved to the Electric Railway Museum in Warwickshire, where it was put on display next to its sister vehicle. While the latter received some cosmetic attention 624 remained largely untouched.​
The Electric Railway Museum’s eventual closure in 2017 led to the unit being sold to the Lavender Line in East Sussex. It was planned to be used as push pull stock with their 09 shunter.
Unfortunately due to changing priorities the Lavender Line put the unit up for sale in June 2021 and the set's future again looked uncertain.
The Clacton Express Preservation Group
when news of the vehicles sale was made public, the Clacton Express Preservation Group was founded, dedicated to preserving the unit intact and bringing it home to East Anglia. A benefactor was sought and in March 2022, 309624 was sold to the group. It remained in storage with only limited conservation work being able to be undertaken by the CEPG due to the location of the vehicles.
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A two year search for new homes was launched, fraught with false starts and setbacks. Most heritage railways were approached and at times a deal seemed tantalisingly close, however, it was challenging to showcase the potential of the vehicles while the vehicles were under regular attacks from vandals, smashing in total 16 windows.
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Finally, in 2024, and at the 11th hour before the storage contract with The Lavender Line expired, a positive outcome was reached in the saga and a home was found for all 3 vehicles. 75965 and 61928 were donated to East Anglian Railway Museum and 75972 was Donated to the Rushden, Higham & Wellingborough Railway.
309 BDTC
EF 305
