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2024-11-12T11:39:43Z

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{{Short description|Class of 19 three-car electric multiple units}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox train
| background = #012545
| name = <span style="color:white;">British Rail Class 311</span>
| image = 311092 at Glasgow Central.jpg
| imagealt =
| caption = 311092 at {{stnlnk|Glasgow Central}} in 1984
| interiorimage =
| interiorimagealt =
| interiorcaption =
| service = 1967–1990<ref name=Longworth2015>{{harvnb|Longworth|2015|pp=73, 139, 191–192}}</ref>
| manufacturer = [[Cravens]]<ref name=Longworth2015 />
| ordernumber = {{ubl|30767 ({{abbr|DTSO|Driving Trailer Second Open}})|30768 ({{abbr|MBSO|Motor Brake Second Open}})|30769 ({{abbr|BDTSO|Battery Driving Trailer Second Open}})<ref name=Longworth2015 />}}
| factory = [[Sheffield]]
| family = BR First Generation ([[British Railways Mark 1|Mark 1]])
| replaced =
| successor = [[British Rail Class 320|Class 320]]
| yearconstruction = 1966–67<ref name=Fox87-56>{{harvnb|Fox|1987|p=56}}</ref>
| yearservice = 1967
| refurbishment =
| yearscrapped =
| numberconstruction =
| numberbuilt = 19
| numberpreserved = 1
| numberscrapped = 18
| formation = {{ubl|3 cars per unit:|DTSO-MBSO-BDTSO<ref name=Fox87-56 />}}
| diagram = {{ubl|ED211 (MBS)|EE214 (DTS)|EF212 (BDTS)<ref name=BMRG1>{{cite web|url=http://www.barrowmoremrg.co.uk/BRBDocuments/Diagram_Book_210_for_Issue.pdf|title=Vehicle Diagram Book No.210 for Electrical Multiple Units (including A.P.T.)|at=ED211, EE214, EF212|work=Barrowmore MRG|publisher=BRB Residuary Ltd.|access-date=22 February 2016|archive-date=3 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303215604/http://www.barrowmoremrg.co.uk/BRBDocuments/Diagram_Book_210_for_Issue.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>}}
| code = AM11
| fleetnumbers = {{ubl|311092–311110 (units)|76403-76421 (DTSO)|62163-62181 (MBSO)|76422-76440 (BDTSO)<ref name=Longworth2015 />}}
| capacity = {{ubl|236 seats (total)|83 seats (DTSO)|70 seats (MBSO)|83 seats (BDTSO)<ref name=Fox87-56 /><ref name=TRC1 />}}
| operator = [[British Rail]]
| depots = [[Glasgow Shields Road TMD|Glasgow Shields Road]]<ref name=Fox87-56 />
| lines =
| carbody = Steel<ref name=BMRG1 />
| trainlength = {{convert|199|ft|6|in|abbr=on}}<ref name=TRC1>{{cite web|url=http://www.therailwaycentre.com/Recognition%20Tech%20Data%20EMU/EMU_311.html|title=Class 311|work=The Railway Centre|access-date=22 February 2016|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907003303/http://www.therailwaycentre.com/Recognition%20Tech%20Data%20EMU/EMU_311.html|archive-date=7 September 2008}}</ref>
| carlength = {{ubl|{{convert|63|ft|6+1/8|in|abbr=on}} (MBSO)|{{convert|19.498|m|ftin|0|order=flip|abbr=on}} (BDTSO, DTSO)<ref name=BMRG1 />}}
| width = {{convert|2.819|m|ftin|0|order=flip|abbr=on}}<ref name=BMRG1 />
| height = {{convert|3.861|m|ftin|0|order=flip|abbr=on}}<ref name=BMRG1 />
| floorheight =
| platformheight =
| entrylevelorstep =
| doors = Double sliding leaf, [[pneumatic]]
| wheeldiameter =
| wheelbase = {{convert|14.173|m|ftin|0|order=flip|abbr=on}}<ref name=BMRG1 />
| maxspeed = {{convert|75|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}<ref name=BMRG1 />
| weight = {{ubl|{{convert|129|t}} (total)|{{convert|34.4|t|abbr=on}} (DTSO)|{{convert|56.4|t|abbr=on}} (MBSO)|{{convert|38.4|t|abbr=on}} (BDTSO)<ref name=Fox87-56 />}}
| axleload =
| traction =
| traction motors = 4 × [[Associated Electrical Industries|AEI]] {{convert|165|kW|abbr=on|order=flip}}<ref name=Fox87-56 />
| poweroutput = {{convert|660|kW|abbr=on|order=flip}}
| tractiveeffort =
| transmission =
| acceleration =
| deceleration =
| aux =
| powersupply =
| hvac = Electric<ref name=BMRG1 />
| electricsystem = {{25 kV 50 Hz}} [[Overhead line|OHLE]]
| collectionmethod = [[Pantograph (transport)|Pantograph]]
| uicclass = 2′2′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′
| aarwheels =
| bogies = {{ubl|Gresley ED11 (MBSO)|Gresley ET11 (BDTSO, DTSO)<ref name=BMRG1 />}}
| brakes = [[Railway air brake|Air]] (Auto/[[Electropneumatic brake|EP]])<ref name=TRC1 />
| safety = [[Automatic warning system (railways)|AWS]]<ref name=BMRG1 />
| coupling = [[Janney coupler|Buckeye]]<ref name=TRC1 />
| multipleworking = Within class, and [[British Rail Class 303|Class 303]]<ref name=TRC1 />
| light =
| gauge = {{Track gauge|sg|allk=on}}
| notes =
}}

The [[British Rail]] '''Class 311''' [[alternating current]] (AC) [[electric multiple unit]]s (EMU) were built by [[Cravens]] at [[Sheffield]] from 1966 to 1967. They were intended for use on the line from {{stnlnk|Glasgow Central}} to {{stnlnk|Gourock}} and {{stnlnk|Wemyss Bay}}, which was electrified in 1967.

==Appearance==
Outwardly, the units were virtually identical to the earlier [[British Rail Class 303|Class 303]] units built in 1960. The interiors were also very similar, including the panoramic full forward passenger view through the glass-walled driving cabs, although the Class 311 had [[fluorescent lighting]] instead of the tungsten filament bulbs used on the Class 303. The Class 303 units had been built by the [[Pressed Steel Company]] at their factory in Linwood, Paisley, but by the time the Class 311 was required, Pressed Steel no longer built railway carriages, so Cravens of Sheffield worked from the same original drawings, updated at a few points, to build the new trains.

Along with the Class 303, the wrap-around driving cab windows were replaced with flat, toughened glass in the 1970s to give better protection to drivers in the event of attacks by stone-throwing vandals.

==Construction==
19 units were built, initially classified as AM11 units, and numbered 092-110, the numbers following on from the Class 303.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wiliams |first1=Alan |last2=Percival |first2=David |title=British Railways Locomotives and other Motive Power |date=1974 |publisher=Ian Allan |location=Shepperton |isbn=0-7110-0534-6 |page=149}}</ref> This was later changed to Class 311 under the [[TOPS]] system, and the units were renumbered 311092-110. Each unit was formed of three carriages; two outer driving trailers and an intermediate motor coach. The technical description of the formation was BDTSO+MBSO+DTSO. Individual carriages were numbered as follows:<ref>{{cite book |last1=Fox |first1=Peter |title=Locomotives and coaching stock |date=1989 |publisher=Platform 5 |location=Sheffield |isbn=0-906579-93-7 |page=237}}</ref>
*76403-76421 – DTSO
*62163-62181 – MBSO
*76422-76440 – BDTSO

==Operations==
{{Unreferenced section|date=May 2023}}

The units were built to operate services on the newly electrified routes from {{stnlnk|Glasgow Central}} to {{stnlnk|Gourock}} and to {{stnlnk|Wemyss Bay}}; now known as the [[Inverclyde Line]].

In practice, the Class 311 operated almost interchangeably with the Class 303 and could be found in service across the Glasgow electrified suburban network.

Consideration was given to upgrading 11 of the units for use on the newly electrified [[Ayrshire Coast Line]], but it was found to be cheaper to buy new units in the form of the [[British Rail Class 318|Class 318]] and the plan was cancelled.

==Withdrawal==
Being a much smaller and unrefurbished fleet, the Class 311 was withdrawn much earlier than the Class 303, being replaced by the new [[British Rail Class 320|Class 320]] in 1990.{{Cn|date=May 2023}}

After being withdrawn from normal traffic, two units, 311103/104 were transferred to departmental duties as [[British Rail Class 936|Class 936]] sandite units, numbered 936103/104. These lasted in service until 1999, when they were withdrawn. They were not immediately scrapped as [[Railtrack]] was anxious to ensure that one of the units was preserved.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}} In 2002, Railtrack donated one of the units to the [[Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life|Summerlee Heritage Park]] museum in [[Coatbridge]], and the other was scrapped in 2003.

One of the driving coaches on the unit donated to Summerlee was scrapped in 2006.

==Preservation==
[[File:311 103.summerlee.jpg|left|thumb|311103 sits at [[Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life]]]]
*311103 - 76414+62174+76433 - [[Summerlee Museum of Scottish Industrial Life]], [[Coatbridge]] (76414 since scrapped)
This unit was the former [[British Rail Class 936|Class 936]] sandite unit 936103, formed of 977844+977845+977846.

In February 2017, work finally started on restoring the unit to its original condition.{{citation needed|date=February 2017}}

{{clear left}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

===Sources===
*{{cite book|title=Multiple Unit Pocket Book|series=British Railways Pocket Book No.2|edition=Summer/Autumn 1987|year=1987|first=Peter|last=Fox|publisher=Platform 5 Publishing Ltd.|isbn=0906579740|oclc=613347580}}
*{{cite book|title=British Railways Electric Multiple Units to 1975|first=Hugh|last=Longworth|publisher=Oxford Publishing Co.|year=2015|isbn=9780860936688|oclc=923205678}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book|title=EMUs|first=Colin J.|last=Marsden|series=Motive Power Recognition|volume=2|publisher=Ian Allan|year=1982|pages=40–41|isbn=9780711011656|oclc=16537600}}

==External links==
{{commonscat-inline}}
{{British Rail EMU}}

[[Category:British Rail electric multiple units|311]]
[[Category:Train-related introductions in 1967]]
[[Category:25 kV AC multiple units]]
[[Category:Cravens multiple units]]

British Rail Class 311 - Revision history

imported>Tatiskyr: /* Construction */