Электрички класса 304: История и модернизация

304/2
304/3
| family = BR First Generation EMU
| service = 1960–1996
| refurbishment = 1984–1986
| yearscrapped = 1985–1998
| numberconstruction =
| numberbuilt = 45
| numberscrapped = 45
| successor = Class 323
| formation =
| diagram = As BuiltClass 304/1408 MBS, 411 DTBSO, 434 BDTSOL, 456 TCsoLClass 304/2 & 304/3409 MBSO, 412 DTBSO, 435 BDTSOL, 457 TCsoLTOPS CodesClass 304/1ED202.0A MBS (As Built), ED205.0A MBSO (Refurbished), EF203.0A BDTSOL, EG202.0A DTBSO, EH303.0A TCsoLClass 304/2 & 304/3 ED203.0A MBSO, EF204.0A BDTSOL, EG203.0A DTBSO, EH304.0A TCsoL Refurbished 3 Car ubl|246 Standard (304/1)|236 Standard (304/2 and 304/3) as well as later batches of AM5 (Class 305) and AM8 (Class 308) units. The third and final batch of AM4 was another ten units, numbered 036 045, which were almost identical to the second batch and intended for use on the Crewe Stafford section.

The Class 304 was an interurban electric multiple unit (EMU) train. The body of the vehicle was constructed principally of welded steel. The AM4 units largely spent their whole careers operating between Crewe and Altrincham via Stockport, or Styal and Manchester, Crewe and Liverpool, Crewe and Birmingham, and Birmingham Rugby Northampton. Individual units were occasionally operated to London Euston (notably at the very beginning of electric services, before all the AM10 units were delivered) or Preston, but on rare occasions. Because of their operation on much of the West Coast main line, the units attained substantial mileage at their 75 mph maximum speed each day on their workings, unlike those employed on suburban services elsewhere.

Between 1984 and 1986 a refurbishment programme was carried out on the units. This included the removal and scrapping of the Trailer Composite vehicles, reducing the units to three car formation, and the conversion of the Motor Brake vehicles of the first batch (Class 304/1) to saloon layout, reducing seating capacity to 72. Unlike other EMU refurbishment programmes, the work carried out on Class 304 units did not include the fitting of inter vehicle gangways, or the complete replacement of internal fittings. This meant that original 1960s seats and trim remained in most vehicles, retaining something of their original character. The units were also repainted into blue and grey livery. The loss of one vehicle meant that the power to weight ratio of the units increased, thereby improving their performance.

During the 1980s, the units gradually received the Class '304' TOPS prefix to their unit numbers, and by 1992, several later series units had even received Regional Railways livery. By this time, however, more recently refurbished Class 305/2 units had become available, displaced from the London, Tilbury and Southend line by Class 310s, and with the imminent arrival of brand new Class 323 units, the Class 304s began to be withdrawn. The end came for the type in March 1996, with 304002 and 304033 running a series of farewell specials in Birmingham. Known amongst enthusiasts as "Dinosaurs", due to their advancing age, the Class 304 followed their namesakes to extinction.

304021 was purchased for preservation in 1998 and was stored in sidings in Crewe. During this time, many windows were smashed, which, as a consequence of the cost of replacing them, led to the abandonment of the project. The long period of storage was due to the difficulty in finding a home on a preserved railway for EMU coaching stock, and thus it became the last of its class to be scrapped in November 2000.

British Railways Green (1960–c.1967)
BR Blue (c.1967–c.1983), with a yellow rectangle on the cab front (Chromatic Blue), then all yellow cab front. BR Blue and Grey (c.1980–1996)
Regional Railways (c.1992–1996), "aircraft" blue over white, with a light blue stripe at waist level.