307123
307123 is owned by the Colne Valley Railway
With the ACMU Society providing support to the organisation.
Unit 307123 (originally numbered 23s) was the 23rd ever Mk1-derived EMU built under BR, making it the oldest surviving Mk1 AC EMU to survive. These units were originally built in Eastleigh for 1500V DC operation, on the newly electrified London - Southend Victoria line, in 1956. visually similar to the later 302s but featured smaller front windows and traction equipment sourced from a different company. 307123 was a four-car set consisting of Battery Driving Trailer (BDTS) 76433, Motor Coach (MBS) 62174, and Driving Trailer (DTS) 76414. They were originally classified AM7s. They had 5 lamp marker lights in the lower non drivers panel, these being lit in various patterns which denoted train destinations.
307123 was outshopped in August 1956, making this year it's 70th Anniversary. It ran alongside the earlier pre-war AM6 Shenfield EMUs. These units ran under DC Overheads until the line was converted to 6.25kV/25kV AC in 1960. Each unit was sent back to Eastleigh and converted for AC. Due to weight distribution and space restrictions, the Pantograph was moved to the leading Driving vehicle with the motors remaining on the second vehicle.
When 307123 was outshopped, it wore all over unlined BR Green with no yellow warning panel. When rebuilt for AC operation it gained a yellow warning panel. It then carried BR Blue/Grey until final withdrawal.
307123
Vehicles Owned By:
Colne Valley Railway (75023)
Located at Castle Hedingham, Near Braintee, Essex
ACMU Society Role:
Providing publicity and support towards the ongoing Restoration
Unit Details:
Battery Driving Trailer Second
BDTSOL No. 75023
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Vehicles Under Cosmetic Restoration
Motor Second
MS No. 61023
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Trailer Second
TS No. 70023​
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Scrapped in 93/96, Booths/MCP Glasgow
Driving Trailer Second
DTS No. 75123 (94326)
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Vehicle converted to PCV. Now used as storage
More Information:
311103 at Helensburgh Central, Thanks to Darrel Hendrie
British Rail History:
MOD Life:
Following the formal withdrawal from passenger service in 1994, Railtrack selected units 311 103 and 311 104 for conversion into dedicated Sandite units.
Reclassified as Class 936 (specifically units 936 103 and 936 104), these trains were tasked with maintaining rail safety during the autumn months. The conversion involved stripping the passenger interiors to accommodate specialized equipment designed to apply "Sandite"—a gritty, adhesive paste—directly to the railhead. This process was critical for Combating Low Adhesion, Improving Braking Performance and Maintaining Traction.
The Class 936 units remained an essential, part of Scotland’s railway infrastructure until 1999, when they were officially withdrawn from all duties, replaced by more modern equipment. The fates of the two units diverged significantly thereafter, and Unit 936 104 was unfortunately sent for disposal and was eventually scrapped in 2002.​
70523 in storage at Long Marston on 17th March 2006, Thanks to Paul Sweetland
Preservation​:
The Railway Heritage Trust (RHT) Designated 311103 for preservation, and it arrived at the Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life in 2002. Despite its safe arrival, the preservation of unit 311 103 faced a devastating challenge in 2006. A security breach by vandals resulted in catastrophic damage to the unit; windows were shattered throughout the set, and a deliberate fire was ignited within one of the driving trailers.
The fire damage to the leading driving coach was found to be structurally terminal. After a thorough assessment, the museum was forced to make the difficult decision to scrap the vehicle, and it was sent to Booths in 2006. However, the unit’s specialized Gresley-style bogies were salvaged. These were sold to the operators of the Belmond British Pullman (the UK wing of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express)
The remaining two coaches of 311 103 were moved to an isolated section of track at the rear of the museum. For nearly a decade following the incident, they remained in a state of static storage. Their future remained uncertain until 2015, with the formation of the Blue Train Group, now referred to as the Glasgow Electric Group. This was established with a singular mission: to rescue the surviving vehicles from further decay, A goal now supported by the ACMU
