Class 303 EMU Blue Trains

Just been having a chat with a friend and it came to us that 10 Years ago this month , the Famous Glasgow Blue Trains , AM3 later Class 303 units were withdrawn from Service.

I still remember that day they bowed out , It was a nice send off for the units. I know its happened over the last 10 years but do any of the Scottish members on here have any memories etc of them? I'd be interested in those stories of the good days

I am just 2 years younger than the class 320s, so growing up in Helensburgh back then we used to see them occasionally (not all that often though by then), and I managed to get a couple of rides on them. Alas, my family had moved to the Middle East at the time of the farewell day so I missed all of that, and I didn't get the significance of the Blue Trains at all until they had long since retired...

I remember sitting at the front of them where the driver had left the privacy screens open.

As a primary school child with an interest in machinery watching a train being driven was the highlight of the day.

I do remember I failed to work out the real purpose of the AWS signals and assumed that it was the driver and guard signalling each other in response to signals.

I supect it was the root cause of my lifelong interest in trains and railways.

The Blue Trains are what started my passion for Railways. Apparently when I was still in a baby buggy (late 60's) I would be kicking and jumping with joy whenever one was seen. As a schoolboy spent a lot of time in the recreation ground at Queens Park playing football etc but that was forgotten whenever a blue train went by. As a student used to get them daily into the city as I did when I was eventually working! The best days were when the driver didn't have his shade down and you could look out the front! I have a great fondness for the old 303, my favourite EMU of all time. I only wish Hornby or Bachmann would create a RTR set in 00!

I remember being very impressed with them during a holiday in Scotland when they first appeared.

Then they started going "bang" and were hastily replaced with steam trains!

Yes Welshman , thats correct. Roundabout 1960/61 when they were introduced there was major issues with them. I believe a member of traincrew was either seriously injured or killed when something located in the Guards Van overheated and exploded leaving a rather large hole within the van. There's a website explaining their history , the name of which escapes me.

They did however become very reliable at least from my point of view I certainly had more luck getting from A-B on my journeys on a 303 than in the 314's which ultimately replaced them on my line!

Shortly after introduction the transformers on several sets exploded or caught fire, forcing their withdrawl untill modifications were made.

Although I live in Edinburgh now, I got dragged on holiday in the early 60's to a static caravan at Skelmorlie or Wemyss Bay. My parents were more interested in scenery and the like, so trains were thin on the ground. Then my dad got taken ill and had to stay in bed all day, so I and my mum took the train (an AM11 as I knew it in those days - the term 'Blue Trains' was unknown to me) from Wemyss Bay to Glasgow Central. After lunch in a cafe, she went off shopping. I hung around the station taking numbers. I didn't know there was a lower station (was there one in the 1960's???). I remember them sounding smooth. I also remember a Stanier or Fairburn 2-6-4T I spotted - 42277! That's sad, isn't it? I've got an old railway magazine that gave a spread about the 303's at the time they were all withdrawn. It mentions the initial problems they suffered. It also mentioned that at least one set was transferred to the Manchester area for further service. I'll see if I can find it and put a bit of flesh on the bones.

It also mentioned that at least one set was transferred to the Manchester area for further service. I'll see if I can find it and put a bit of flesh on the bones.

Click to expand...

Some did indeed go to Manchester, I vaguely remember seeing them and going for a couple of journeys on them. What stood out about them for me was despite being similar to our beloved 305s (in my very young mind that is) is that they had sliding doors...

Here is a photo of one found online,
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dwbphotos/6679435647/

I'm actually still compiling a database of all of my numbers and haven't got around to the classic EMU's yet, when I do I will post what (if any) Manchester ones I have.

Phil