Last run of Class 303's on 30th December 2002. Also including the scrap move to Immingham on 27th January 2003. Preserved Class 303 Blue Train at Bo'ness: • Class 303 Preserved.dv
You've caught a great piece of history there. I remember bouncing about on the brown striped seats when they were fitted with springs, ashtrays under the windows of the smoking cars, wooden fit and finish on the partitions beside the doors. Travelled on these up to 6 times a week then. There were two that got the orange paint job but not the windows, can't remember which running no's they were.
Well preserved and high quality footage here despite the year of it being filmed - not all pixelated. I never was able to ride in one of these, and If I did I was probably too young to remember. But these are an interesting piece of history that are now gone, safe for the preserved unit at Bo'ness. They looked like they had quite more character compared to the modern 334 "Junipers"...
Living in the east end of Glasgow as a child I seen them pass threw cambuslang all the time . that train should have gone into the transport museum in partick
Good to have the memories of the Blue Trains. I recall them in the early 1960s. Not only the superb saltire blue livery (no yellow panels) and the forward view but also the curved front windows. The 303s as they became were a world first - the first 25kV AC electric multiple units designed from the start for the new voltage, and by an industrial designer. The British Rail Design Panel took a special interest in them as did the Chairman of the BTC Sir Brian Robertson. The very first 25kV AC suburban emus in France and Britain [the two countries that inaugurated the new voltage] that were in use from the mid-1950s were adapted versions of the earlier 1500v DC suburban trains, so the Blue Trains were the first emus in the world designed specially for the efficient high-voltage ac system that has spread everywhere. Restoring a unit to its original 1960 look, design and character would be a great achievement if it were also able to operate specials on the now much more extensive electrified network of Central Scotland. So far the SRPS has not completed a full restoration of a unit to its early 1960s look and able to run on the main line.
Hated these after the revamp with formica, the new seats and the removal of the curved wind screens. Prior to that they were comfortable and a pleasant run.
Some of these "303s" were sent to work lines in the North-West of England in the '80s: they still carried "Trans-Clyde" maps and transfers for a time. They often broke down because of their condition, they were pretty tatty inside (low-backed seats with woid-effect formica) and had been built without toilets (that were probably unnecessary back in the pre-Beeching era when there were proper railway-stations instead of bus-shelter facilities.
As I grew up in Hertfordshire and had never been to Glasgow before 2002, I never made a journey on one of these trains as much as I like them and it's worse to hear that only a small number were preserved. They look quite comfortable and I think they were quite safe to ride on aswell. Scottish electric trains of today are good like the 320's, 318's and 334's but they're never going to be as good as these
Hi "RoanokeAEnthusiast1995" I have very happy memories of the very first electric trains on the Glasgow North Line, it was 6th November 1959 or was it 1960 that I first travelled on a Class 303 from Westerton to Helensburgh Central and enjoyed the journey very much, there were no problems with the trains whatsoever, it was a Sunday but they were on a weekday timetable to test the trains out. However, the next day, 7th November, a Monday I understand there were a lot of delays and unfortunately those delays mounted up so much that after only 6 weeks the Class 303's were withdrawn from service for about 6 months or more due to 'mechanical' problems, it was back to the steam trains. After they returned there were no more problems by which time I had left school and travelled on them to work which was always a joy as the Class 303's were very reliable and seldom late, even during the severe winter of 1961 they ran on time, unlike now when in severe weather trains tend to be late or cancelled, yes I have very many happy memories of Class 303's. They were fully replaced in 2002 by Class 334's which I like as well
I lived in Milngavie as a kid. I remember when the Blue Trains first arrived there, brand new. A friend and I hopped aboard one day, while one was sat there empty.. We were only on for a minute before the station master spotted us, and chased us off.
I liked those trains having travelled on them around Glasgow. Also the original 300's (was it?) I liked the sounds they made, and being able to see the track ahead through the driver's cab. Likewise the original slam door diesels on the Shotts line!
I went on these trains to go to school Pollokshields East to Crosshill and back for many years. Miss these trains even though they were manky most of the time it loved the look of them.
A batch of run-down "303s" replaced the eight "506" D.C.- powered units on my local line at the end of 1984: it was rumoured that they had been diverted from a scrapline to the North-West of England because of their 3-car/power-doored layout, but they broke down a lot, being replaced themselves by "304" and "305" units ( the latter from the L.T. & S. route). Does anyone know why it wasn't possible to retain a "complete" three-car "303" in preservation, instead of two-thirds of a unit plus another car salvaged from a different one ?
Yes I remember riding them around Manchester as a small child. Always wondered why you always get bagpipe music in 303 videos; Manchester's more a brass band place:-)
A sad day i remember getting them from shettleston to airdrie most weekends in the late 60s and early 70s before we moved away from glasgow in 1973. 5*
For some reason the 303's always smelled like it was about to catch fire....any one know why? I'd guess it was something to do with the heating system but can't be sure.
Dale Sanders they weren't designed for 25kv ac overhead I believe originally and became dual voltage. Some of the transformers in them exploded as a result.
When they were first introduced on the Glasgow North line some of them did catch fire. Nobody was hurt and none of the trains were destroyed but the entire class had to be taken out of service and replaced by steam until a fix for their serious transformer problems was found.
As Graham Pearson has intimated, the class 303 was Mark 1 stock which became unlawful to use without modification (or an derogation being issued) after the end of 2002 due to the poor collision resistance compared to later designs. With these units being elderly, it is no surprise they were replaced.
@@DavidWood2 they were Good units but your right about safety, my uncle Arthur was killed in the Wemyss bay crash after vandalism on the line. He was the driver only 35 yo at the time, a passenger who had sat directly behind the drivers cab was also killed. My aunt mags and cousin still haven't got over it despite it happening in 94. That crash hit the staff at Glasgow Central hard as my mum, dad and uncles all worked there in various roles. I suppose there was nothing wrong with the train, the problem was with the vandals who placed concrete on the track causing the derailment.
I will do the car tomorrow morning if you have any time thanks brother thanks 🙏 is your day and how are things tomorrow morning thanks brother thanks 🙏 was a time of fun night and we had some great news on
You've caught a great piece of history there. I remember bouncing about on the brown striped seats when they were fitted with springs, ashtrays under the windows of the smoking cars, wooden fit and finish on the partitions beside the doors. Travelled on these up to 6 times a week then. There were two that got the orange paint job but not the windows, can't remember which running no's they were.
Well preserved and high quality footage here despite the year of it being filmed - not all pixelated. I never was able to ride in one of these, and If I did I was probably too young to remember. But these are an interesting piece of history that are now gone, safe for the preserved unit at Bo'ness. They looked like they had quite more character compared to the modern 334 "Junipers"...
The 303 was the first train I really got used to riding on as a kid, then came the 318s, 320s and finally the 334s which are most common now.
Soon we will be saying ferewell to the last 314s 😭
NOOOO NOT THE 314'S
@@mrlegoboeingfan6749 they are shit
@@trainlover1052 so are you
Living in the east end of Glasgow as a child I seen them pass threw cambuslang all the time . that train should have gone into the transport museum in partick
Thank you for your video. Class 303's were and still are my favourite locomotive ❤
I love the sound of old 1960s emu's we used to have these in Manchester on the Glossop line happy days I miss 😢
The 303 at Bo'ness has had some restoration work carried out over the last three months, photos at:
realrail.smugmug.com/Trains
I remember these around Manchester as a small child, I always thought they looked more modern than the 304s they ran alongside...
Good to have the memories of the Blue Trains. I recall them in the early 1960s. Not only the superb saltire blue livery (no yellow panels) and the forward view but also the curved front windows. The 303s as they became were a world first - the first 25kV AC electric multiple units designed from the start for the new voltage, and by an industrial designer. The British Rail Design Panel took a special interest in them as did the Chairman of the BTC Sir Brian Robertson.
The very first 25kV AC suburban emus in France and Britain [the two countries that inaugurated the new voltage] that were in use from the mid-1950s were adapted versions of the earlier 1500v DC suburban trains, so the Blue Trains were the first emus in the world designed specially for the efficient high-voltage ac system that has spread everywhere.
Restoring a unit to its original 1960 look, design and character would be a great achievement if it were also able to operate specials on the now much more extensive electrified network of Central Scotland. So far the SRPS has not completed a full restoration of a unit to its early 1960s look and able to run on the main line.
blimey they had a long life... i remember getting on these in the 70's for a day trip to helensburgh
the 303 actually looks more modern than any american commuter / intercity train in operation right now...... yet , it's been retired 19 years ago!
Yes when they ran around Manchester they looked more modern than the 304s they worked alongside and the 305s that replaced them!
Hated these after the revamp with formica, the new seats and the removal of the curved wind screens. Prior to that they were comfortable and a pleasant run.
Some of these "303s" were sent to work lines in the North-West of England in the '80s: they still carried "Trans-Clyde" maps and transfers for a time. They often broke down because of their condition, they were pretty tatty inside (low-backed seats with woid-effect formica) and had been built without toilets (that were probably unnecessary back in the pre-Beeching era when there were proper railway-stations instead of bus-shelter facilities.
As I grew up in Hertfordshire and had never been to Glasgow before 2002, I never made a journey on one of these trains as much as I like them and it's worse to hear that only a small number were preserved. They look quite comfortable and I think they were quite safe to ride on aswell. Scottish electric trains of today are good like the 320's, 318's and 334's but they're never going to be as good as these
If you go to Bo'ness they have preserved 303s if you'd like to look at them
Hi "RoanokeAEnthusiast1995" I have very happy memories of the very first electric trains on the Glasgow North Line, it was 6th November 1959 or was it 1960 that I first travelled on a Class 303 from Westerton to Helensburgh Central and enjoyed the journey very much, there were no problems with the trains whatsoever, it was a Sunday but they were on a weekday timetable to test the trains out. However, the next day, 7th November, a Monday I understand there were a lot of delays and unfortunately those delays mounted up so much that after only 6 weeks the Class 303's were withdrawn from service for about 6 months or more due to 'mechanical' problems, it was back to the steam trains.
After they returned there were no more problems by which time I had left school and travelled on them to work which was always a joy as the Class 303's were very reliable and seldom late, even during the severe winter of 1961 they ran on time, unlike now when in severe weather trains tend to be late or cancelled, yes I have very many happy memories of Class 303's. They were fully replaced in 2002 by Class 334's which I like as well
RoanokeEnthusiast1995 they were superb units and sadly missed
03:35 No hi viz and yet those guys miraculously, somehow managed to survive these daring exploits. A tougher breed back then eh?
Or is the world now treating us all as total fools.
I used to work train From Edinburgh Waverley we had class 305s. The only time I travelled on the 303s was to Rutherglen Guard School.
I lived in Milngavie as a kid. I remember when the Blue Trains first arrived there, brand new. A friend and I hopped aboard one day, while one was sat there empty.. We were only on for a minute before the station master spotted us, and chased us off.
If I remember rightly, they parked one inside a blocked area and set fire to the insides when at Immingham
such a shame, really handsome looking units
I Agree but time moves on.
The original interiors were far superior to todays tin cans
I liked those trains having travelled on them around Glasgow. Also the original 300's (was it?) I liked the sounds they made, and being able to see the track ahead through the driver's cab. Likewise the original slam door diesels on the Shotts line!
I miss these trains so much
Great vid
I went on these trains to go to school Pollokshields East to Crosshill and back for many years.
Miss these trains even though they were manky most of the time it loved the look of them.
Thanks for commenting.
There is one at Bo'ness steam rail way
only reason the trains and other trains for over 20 years ago are gone. is due to them not being unsafe and unsuitable for network rail.
A batch of run-down "303s" replaced the eight "506" D.C.- powered units on my local line at the end of 1984: it was rumoured that they had been diverted from a scrapline to the North-West of England because of their 3-car/power-doored layout, but they broke down a lot, being replaced themselves by "304" and "305" units ( the latter from the L.T. & S. route).
Does anyone know why it wasn't possible to retain a "complete" three-car "303" in preservation, instead of two-thirds of a unit plus another car salvaged from a different one ?
Yes I remember riding them around Manchester as a small child. Always wondered why you always get bagpipe music in 303 videos; Manchester's more a brass band place:-)
I think the clean 37 with original EW&S livery and light boxes might have stolen the show for me.. lovely
Rich Quality......!
A sad day i remember getting them from shettleston to airdrie most weekends in the late 60s and early 70s before we moved away from glasgow in 1973.
5*
What class unit passes at 3:49? It looks like another 303, but for all I know it's a 314.
a 318
Stephen McLaughlin Pretty sure that's a 320.
still_guns It's a 320
320
@@BBC.Radio1 The 320s replaced the unrefurbished 303/311 units and were the first nail in the coffin for the 303s...
The only thing I hate about trains is the brakes AAAAGGGGGGHHHHH
I'll say they lasted long enough.
For some reason the 303's always smelled like it was about to catch fire....any one know why? I'd guess it was something to do with the heating system but can't be sure.
Dale Sanders they weren't designed for 25kv ac overhead I believe originally and became dual voltage. Some of the transformers in them exploded as a result.
Dale Sanders either that or brake dust
When they were first introduced on the Glasgow North line some of them did catch fire. Nobody was hurt and none of the trains were destroyed but the entire class had to be taken out of service and replaced by steam until a fix for their serious transformer problems was found.
Send them to India. They'll make good use of them :-)
@AJ's Railway Productions There’s the remains of one at Summerlee Heritage centre. It’s got both heads but no middle carriage
Rip 303 any one know why they where scapped
I think they were just getting old and spare parts would harder to acquire because they were built between 1959 - 1961
The Class 303 electric multiple unit trains were life expired and didn't comply with new health and safety regulations.
As Graham Pearson has intimated, the class 303 was Mark 1 stock which became unlawful to use without modification (or an derogation being issued) after the end of 2002 due to the poor collision resistance compared to later designs. With these units being elderly, it is no surprise they were replaced.
@@DavidWood2 they were Good units but your right about safety, my uncle Arthur was killed in the Wemyss bay crash after vandalism on the line. He was the driver only 35 yo at the time, a passenger who had sat directly behind the drivers cab was also killed. My aunt mags and cousin still haven't got over it despite it happening in 94. That crash hit the staff at Glasgow Central hard as my mum, dad and uncles all worked there in various roles. I suppose there was nothing wrong with the train, the problem was with the vandals who placed concrete on the track causing the derailment.
@@garyrea2320 I just read about this event the other day on Wikipedia whilst reading about these units. I am sorry for your family's loss.
So if BBC covered the retirement of the 303's where is the film?
This was only for the BBC Scotland national news.
Thanks for your comment.
@@BONESS27001 oh. I take it the film was never preserved
@@Coloribus2004
This will be in the BBC archive but not on TH-cam.
I dare not hit like. It has 303.....
Go on, hit Like .
It has 334 now. Oh dear.
I will do the car tomorrow morning if you have any time thanks brother thanks 🙏 is your day and how are things tomorrow morning thanks brother thanks 🙏 was a time of fun night and we had some great news on