My wife passed her ICA with Southern two weeks ago (a sort of final exam for train drivers after 18 months of training). According to her examiner, she was the last person to pass out on 313 stock!
As a signaller, I can confirm that the 313s overtook 442s as the class of train that has "caught fire" the most when I've been on duty. I won't be sending flowers.
I doubt the retirement of some signallers would be similarly marked! Nowadays, do you have to stop a train to tell the driver his/her "train has caught fire", or do you use GSM-R? Problem with the latter is that a known trouble-causer might never know precisely where the train would stop, wouldn't you agree?
Yup, you know you are old when you remember something super new and ultra groovy coming into service - and then, in what seems the twinkling of an eye, you learn it is being retired. Still, there are many better things to be sentimental about than machinery!
From Drayton Park to Moorgate, the trains that the 313's replaced were the 1938 Stock. It's interesting that the last few examples of those (on the Isle of Wight) made it to within 3 and a half years of the withdrawal of the 313's!!
I was involved as an engineer with the 313 on Northern City Line in mid 00’s. We were quite proud that Hornsey managed to make these some of the most reliable EMUs on the network-partly due to the dedication of the guy who overhauled the Cam changer on the units something pioneered at Hornsey.
@@derektaylor2941 the “Cam” system was a electro mechanical device for applying different steps of power. In modern electric traction this is done with electronics but on a 313 is done by physically bringing in various stages of power requirement. This device has to be set up correctly and is the heart of the control system. Hornsey was fortunate to have one individual dedicated to overhauling these units.
@@sanspareil3018 There's nothing so heroic as the person who is dedicated to maintaining something properly. They didn't build it, there's not much in the way of thanks for maintaining it, and if they stop doing it then, at least for a while, no one cares or notices. A good maintainer is always an unsung hero. That individual at Hornsey deserves a Royal Honour! If anyone wants an idea of how important maintenance is to reliability, one can look no further than the Japanese train system. An awful lot of manpower goes on maintenance, and on checking whether maintenance is needed; they don't wait for things to break, they anticipate that happening. If you do enough maintenance, you never *have* to do maintenance. I don't know how often our track measurement trains are used, but over there they're in full time use and have their own dedicated following of train spotters.
I am pleased to say that the guy concerned was recognised for an industry award. I couldnt agree with you more about maintenance activity. I spent nearly 50 years working in train maintenance at various locations throughout the UK and at various levels but the day to day stuff which the industry and in the case of railway depots the ability to absorb problems as if they never happened! Often the only measure recognised is if one of your trains failed to get off depot on a particular day. I wrote a book on these sort of experiences!
@@derektaylor2941 I guess I'm a generation (or at least a decade) earlier than you and for me it happened the other way round: destined for a career in buses (with the NBC) but that went out of the window with deregulation and privatisation - not helped by the collapse of National Welsh - and I ended up on BR instead. I definitely got the better end of it; the thought of working in management for an organisation like First Bus or Stagecoach (based on what I've seen of how they treated their railway managers, and how many left through stress, burnout, bullying or worse) means I'm more than happy to be a train driver who can book off duty and forget about work entirely until my next duty yet still have a salary that is equivalent to (or possibly better than) that I would expect as a bus industry manager.
My memories of SR EMU's goes back to the slam door variety, and I loved it when the coaches would be refurbished, a great smell an comfortable seats, those old coaches which had nets for you to put your stuff in, above the seats.
I remember being amazed when my first 313 pulled into Surbiton in '77 or so. The push button sliding doors seemed straight out of Star Trek, and the ride was smooth as silk compared to the slam-doors.
Took my son down to Seaford the other week for one last trip on the 313's, we had 313201 on the return journey so our last trip on a 313 was on the first unit. A fitting end.
As someone who grew up with stylish South Suburban class 415 (4EPB) EMUs, I frankly thought these units looked hideous. I needed to say that. I apologise for my forthrightness.
@@wraithcadmus As someone who has had to use them to travel to and from university, yes, they get old quite fast, even if you're nostalgic for them like me.
I live in Brighton and use the Coastway services where there are lot of close together small stations like Aldrington Halt and Southwick. When they were introduced what I immediately noticed was how well these trains accelerated compared to the Electrostars. Also they had brilliant cycle stowages. I often referred to them as tube trains, little did I realise how close to the truth I was !
Ahh, 4-PEPs, I remember their introduction. At the time, I hated the sliding doors that prevented me opening the door before stopping to get a run at barrier!
The original Southern Region prototypes were initially meant to be given the 4PER epithet, Prototype Electro Rheostatic, but at the behest of the marketing REMFs this was change to the "snazzier" sounding PEP.
I think you mean that the 313s were the first second generation British Rail emus , because the first generation was built to replace pre war emus on the Southern and London Midland regions. Remember seeing them on the lines out of Kings Cross and they looked futuristic. Their styling has aged well, and it's hard to believe that they are gone.
No; first generation ones replaced some (but not all) Southern and LM ones, but also included 750v DC stock for Kent Coast, Bournemouth, etc, 1500v DC for Shenfield - Southend, and all of the AC stock built before the 310s. 310s were sort of "in-betweenies" = first generation electrics with integral bodies (based no Mk IIs)
When they introduced the Electrostar on the Brighton to Seaford they encountered a slight problem. If there were two trains on the Lewes to Seaford leg, they had a tendency to draw more current that the equipment could supply...and they'd trip the electrics leaving two trains stuck...somewhere. (possibly when the tracks were wet?? Maybe need somebody with more technical knowledge). After this had happened a few times (so we were told) they decided that introducing the 313s on the line was the answer. And as you point out, Jago, people were not happy. Refurbished or not, we had seen the future, used the future and now we were being relegated to "ancient" stock. We were promised that this was only a temporary measure but its been a long time being temporary. Occassionally, usually late (or very late) services would still be run by an electrostar... I've now moved away from the area (nice to see it again in your video) but I imagine passengers may feel they are moving back into the 21st Century again. Unless they revert to steam ;-))
I think stories are getting muddied here... the 377s can't work as 8 cars to Seaford without a "notch 2 restriction", meaning they can't pull full beans. This is because of the design of electrification on the Seaford single line. Wasn't a problem until they opened the football stadium and wanted to run 8 cars to Seaford. They run them, but the drivers have to remember to drive differently!
When Seaford still had a bay and a loop there was an afternoon turn where you sat in 1 while a train came into 2 then changed ends and left again. ( 2 is the only platform left)when the other unit was accelerating away from Seaford uphill to bishopstone you could take full power with the brakes hard on and overload the branch and trip the substation. Only took a moment. The other driver would now be coasting up hill cursing you as his line flag showed OFF It was even better if you did it twice.
These temporary allocations of rolling stock can be seen as relative in a way. But baffling as it was for Southern to acquire a handful of these 313's for Coastway services, probably the most exasperating "temporary" allocation of rolling stock was the decision to allow the infamous Pacer trains on to the rail network, which were intended to be in service for at most a decade, were only finally retired in 2021. The North West of England, including where I was at University from 2017-21, Bolton, were lumbered with the largest allocation of these trains. I know some people love them, but the fact that they were a bus body fitted to a Freight Wagon chassis (which included as basic 4 wheel layout, with no articulation) meant that it produced a very lively ride and became a symbol of under investment in the North West. It was more just the ride though, in 1999, a Pacer (mercifully empty) was involved in a collision with a Virgin Trains service, headed by a Class 87. Needless to say, the Pacer didn't fare well in the collision, the displacement of the Pacer that was hit by the Class 87 was ~3M which is 3 times the displacement allowed for building new types of rolling stock
Desiro City was on the old USA Network at 1130p Eastern time. I giggled when I heard that people were upset that some trains were 30 years old. I like to watch the live cam located at the Springfield, Mass, train station. One of the services there is a train down to New Haven, Conn, where passengers can connect to trains to New York City. One of the sets that covers that service is made up of a GE Genesis Diesel-electric locomotive, an Amfleet coach, and a Metroliner cab-control coach. The locomotive was built ~30 years ago, the coach was built >40 years ago, an the cab-control coach was ordered in *1966* as part of a demonstration project (constructed some time in the following couple years years). Sure, the seats have been reupholstered and the glass replaced but ... yeah ... I giggled.
It’s not that unusual to find locomotives from the 1950s still in normal service! Via Rail has problems with even more ancient rolling stock than Amtrak, as well.
In Chicago, we have F40PHs built in the early 80s toting around Budd bilevel coaches built in the late 50s. Sure, they've been rebuilt multiple times, and they still run well enough. I giggled a bit when, during one of my weekends at the Illinois Railway Museum, I passed the diesel shop and wondered "When did we get an SD50?" It's weird to see something that's a few months younger than you as a museum piece.
@@andrewreynolds4949 This doesn't make it right. I was amazed to see that the *1955* VIA Budd stock passed whatever inspection they were put through. As bad as Amtrak is, VIA is worse.
@@SynchroScore I rode the UP-West line when I lived there. Metra is smart enough to be replacing the oldest relics with new stock. Plenty of brand new BiLevels when I was still riding before 2006 (already 17 years ago!) and they've added more since as well as more new motive power. Amtrak has at least ordered new Siemens stock but not enough sets and no plan for replacing the SuperLiners.
@@plaws0 I grew up on the Burlington with Cascade Green E9s running around. The Budd cars were built for the Burlington and a number are still in service, some with _BURLINGTON_ painted onto the old letterboards. The F40s actually date back to 1977, with some of the earliest still running.
From the 1960s, when I travelled to secondary school by train from Lancing to Durrington, the coastal line out of Brighton has relied to a large degree on elderly EMUs eking out their final years before withdrawal, from BILs and HALs then CORs, HAPs, CAPs, CIGs, VEPs and finally the 313s. As you say, the Electrostars are the only new units that I can remember being used. Thanks for a great video that brought back the memories!
Goodbye 313s! I have a very odd relationship with the PEPs. I get that for regular commuters, they are basically the bottom of the barrel. But from an enthusiast's perspective, I love their character! My personal favourite sounds of any train I've come across and they just sorta.. look nice! Gonna miss them, personally. :(
@@JagoHazzard I find it interesting that the Bakerloo Line route runs more on Network Rail owned track than TfL owned track and because of this the 1972 stock have also got the TOPS class number of 499/2.
I’m truly sad & angry that these amazing units are going as being 💀 I’m currently feeling really upset & angry because each units from the 70s & 80s are incredible for short journeys & community service. I’ve can’t understand places like Nene Valley, Mid-Norfolk and Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre can preserve a unit and I will be very happy & glad that they are saved. However I’m glad to know that one Class 315 is saved for preservation which is so incredible and this should be the same for the Class 313s too.
@@joelightrailway2362 Electric traction is not popular to preserved because it is not very useful on heritage railways since it has to be mostly loco hauled.
I like them. I first travelled on one from New Southgate to Moorgate- much better than the former disconnected Northern City service of the Underground. The fact that have lasted so long is a tribute to BREL and the fact that they are a fairly simple electric train- they weren't held up in service with software problems.
They're very reminiscent of the 314s that ran on the Glasgow commuter lines until a few years ago. That electronic clicking in the station when idling at 4:45... that's one of the sounds of my childhood.
Very fond memories of the 313 on the Northern City route. Always remember lights turning off at Drayton Park as the pantograph went up or down. Fantastic noises too as they set off!
I used to dislike Class 313s entirely until I rode one down the Northern City Line in October 2018 for the first time, then suddenly I didn't think they were that bad. Defo agree that they've lived far beyond their time, but they had that charm about them which we enthusiasts appreciate. Decent design, lovely sounding motors, and the camshaft driving system, my favourite. 😍 Great video as always 😊
I’m feeling a bit old I was 8 when the wires started to go up on the ECML suburban sections out of Kings Cross and Northern City section was being added and then the introduction of the new electric service displacing our clapped out DMU’s , we then got the 312’s going as far as Royston, loco hauling was still king for others longer suburban services mainly with class 31’s and occasional a 25. Used to love getting a 2 unit 6 car as back then the middle pair of cab doors would open and you could stand in the vestibule and watch the speed through the glass panel in the drivers door. In 1976 these a revolution for us and they really don’t owe anyone a penny with the amount of service they have performed but there time has come
I remember the 313s on the Watford DC local line. They were an improvement on the old slam-door stock, but I wasn't sorry when they were replaced by the 378s. I was amazed when they went south rather to the scrapyard.
Agreed, in the mid 80s finally having corridors and sliding doors that didn't have the cell like bars on the windows was a vast improvement on the DC lines on the 501s. Another interesting thing was they used to make use of the crossover at Watford Jn between the DC lines and the down fast. They'd arrive up from the direction of the High St on DC switch onto the WCML raise the pan and disappear off usually back south across onto the up slow. I think the crossover has gone now.
Two things I liked about the old slam doors. There was sometimes a freight carriage, with a fold down seat for the guard. People put bikes in there. Also, you could open a window and stare at life passing by. Apart from that, going from Clapham Junction to Waterloo (and thence onward to Bank) they were dreadful, packed with commuters looking glum
@@JagoHazzard you mentioned people complained about PEP style seats being uncomfortable compared to slam door seats... Now people complain about "ironing boards" being uncomfortable compared to PEP seats! How times change!
Born in 1953, in the 70's I lived in Gillingham, Kent. I loved the old non-gangway compartment EMU's that still turned up. My mates & I used to take the train to Strood & then walk 3 miles over a lock, footpaths & a beach to visit a lovely pub in Upnor.
When I got aboard a 313 on an Ore to Brighton service, I remarked to the guard, "I like these old trains". He replied, "From a railman's point of view, these are awful old trains!". I observed that the Electtrostars are stuffy and gave me a headache, whereas the 312 rattled along with plenty of ventilation! The guard said, "The Electrostar is a much better train, but sometimes the Air Conditioning doesn't work, and that's how you got a headache"". I think the 313 looks distinctive in the Southern Livery. Thanks for uploading.
I have rather a soft spot for the 313s and am disappointed I never got to see them on the south coast. The similar 507 / 8 units are still going for a little while so I feel a trip to Chester is due soon!
I never got a chance to go on one, but as a Glaswegian I was very fond of the 314s which were great for short runs like the Cathcart Circle and Paisley Canal lines.
I liked them - in their original livery they looked quite stylish, with their 'swoop' of yellow around the front end. There were a number of spin-offs - the 314s, 315s, 507s, 508s, according to whether they had 3 or 4 cars per set, and whether they took power from the overhead or the 3rd rail.
OH MY GOD I REMEMBER THESE. I was really young when they where removed from service near where I live and southern replaced them with a newer model, but Seeing the interior shots bought so much back to me
I remember these coming in when I was going to school from Richmond to Kew Gardens in the late 70s. They were so cool, you pushed a button and the doors slid open!
I'm not sure if I've ever been on a 313 but I have seen plenty. Usually from an outer suburban Stevenage to King's Cross train passing an inner suburban 313 that was probably going from Welwyn GC to Moorgate.
Hey Jago! In 2021/22 I was living in Brighton and at Weekends I’d avoid all the thousands of Day trippers in the city by taking the train to Seaford for peace and empty beaches!! I loved the journey and I knew the end was nigh on this rolling stock. I recently took a train from Aachen 🇩🇪 to Spa-Geronstere 🇧🇪, ( where Kaiser Wilhelm II was abdicated) and these trains date from 1966 and look absolutely knackered!! These alone are worth the experience!
The Belgian two car Emu sets built over a quarter century from 1950s to early 70s were ubiquitous for a long time. A small number of the later built sets were refurbished a few years ago. I travelled on one on a stopping service between Liege and Verviers last year, the conductor was surprised that I chose this train in preference to the modern fast train. Don't tell everybody about the peace in Seaford or it will be overrun also.
@@thomasburke2683 yes indeed Thomas! There was a Royal Palace you can see from Verviers towards Aachen that’s absolutely stunning but does not show up on Google maps. These Trains look so dated when they pull into Aachen Vs The Plush DB Fleets. I can’t see the day trippers in Seaford somehow!!
It’s also one of the most beautiful routes in the game. And the weird thing is that the Brighton station is better on the Brighton-Seaford branch then the London Commuter
I remember the 313 being introduced. Initially they did not have opening windows and had a system called "pressure ventilation". They were incredibly hot in the first summer and they had to modify the windows to open. The other odd feature was the doors - there were no buttons initially - you had to pull the doors apart and when you got them about 2 inches open then the power system opened them the rest. That got changed because lots of people could not manage to pull them hard enough.
Non-railway enthusiast accidentally watching this, thinking "wtf - it's a train, it looks just like all the other trains, it just hasn't got a pointy end..."
Their very close cousins, the class 507 & 508’s are slowly being withdrawn on Merseyside. Having grown up with the 507 & 508, I’ll be very sad to see them go 😢
Didn't the 313s have handle operated doors when they were first introduced? They had to be removed because impatient commuters would try to force the handle before the guard had unlocked the doors.
Yes, I was going to mention that too. I first encountered these units on the Northern City in 1978 (possibly 1979) when I was studying in London ang going to a friend's 21st celebration in Cuffley.
I remember being on one of these from Portsmouth to Brighton and needing the toilet about 1/2 through the trip. I'll never forget that, they never had toilets.
I am wanting airfix models of these new passengers with their sliding doors, fluorescent lighting and most of all their plastic seat topped with a cushion.
So were all of the EMUs built for the LT&S and Great Eastern, but they weren't classed as dual voltage; similarly, SR DC EMUs could operate on 660v and 750v, and these weren't classed as dual voltage either. These were the first trains which could work of AC and DC in the UK, hence them being seen as the first dual voltage ones to work on BR
@@A-Trainspotter-From-Berkshire Sadly they weren't able to switch between DC and AC, they were built as 1500v DC and heavily converted to run on 6.25kv/25kv AC. I believe this involved moving the drivers cab from the power car to one of the trailers so the power car was then in the middle of the train - if you look at photos of a 306 the sliding doors aren't evenly placed along the passenger saloons.
I love the 313s but I completely understand why people don't (especially on longer trips such as Brighton to Portsmouth). I definitely have an affection due to exposure, these would run behind my nursery at Bowes park and I've lived along the south coast for over a decade now so they've always been a mainstay in my life. I will miss them, especially seeing as fewer and fewer trains have the lovely escalating hum that old electrics do but it is definitely time for them to go. Great vid as always, looking forward to seeing more.
I remember their introduction on Southern. Going from relatively new Electrostars with their air conditioning to something much older without, and the lack of toilets made them especially controversial.
Ancient (especially if you still had any of the old 4-CORs?) but pretty comfortable, as were most of the Southern Region slam-door trains for longer-distance services (4-CIGs and 4-CEPs) with nice picture windows.
Nice video Jago! I first came across the 313's when trainspotting at my nearby local Finsbury Park Station. It might seem a bit "sad" trainspotting nowadays, but in those BR Blue/Grey days there were Deltics, Class 47's, 31's and the odd Class 25, (Of which I had a go driving for my 50th birthday) along with the new kids on the block, The Inter-City 125's, the new Great Northern Electrics, Classes 312 running to Royston and the 313's running out to Hertford. One thing I remember about the 313's was their air suspension which made a "farty" sound whilst standing at the platform along with a distinctive pong like a "farty smell" when new! 😁
Same for me. Never saw a 25 on the Great Northern, but certainly 40s and 46s also mixed it with the 313s. Have a strong memory of seeing a 313 at Kings Cross one afternoon filled with mailbags between the seats, so they weren't just used as passenger trains.
I'm very familiar with the class 313s having commuted for many years into both Moorgate & King's Cross from New Barnet. One thing that always made me chuckle occured regularly at Drayton Park on Moorgate-bound trains. If you were sat in the coach carrying the overhead pantographs, they made quite a noise when being lowered to switch to the 3rd rail power. Passengers who weren't used to this action would often react in shock to the noise ! 😎😱
I was glad to see the back of these on the Great Northern line from Welwyn Garden City to Finsbury Park and King's Cross. I didn't have to use them all that often, but I wasn't a happy customer when I did.
I’m getting quite nostalgic for emus for the recent past, so, talking of preservation, I’m beginning to wish there was a 3rd Rail heritage line. That might not be feasible but it would be nice. So, farewell 313s
@@CitytransportInfoplus Have you *any* idea how much ecological damage is caused by the mining needed to produce batteries on that scale?? Fossil fuels pale into insignificance. Can't believe anyone would suggest this!!
@@TomCro73 Absolute nonsense, you need to find unbiased information sources. Try understanding the truly huge damage that the extraction, refinement and burning of fossil fuel does to our planet, and then look into why people like you read and fall for the lies of the fossil fuel industry. . Soon we will have power-dense and cheap batteries using sodium as the main element - one of the most abundant elements on earth.
I was told by many people who worked for Southern Rail that they got them because all the newer trains then running on the coast line were being transferred to the London area because of the Olympics. As someone who is slightly disabled let me tell you they were totally unsuitable for use on the coastway line because of the gap between the train and platform. Brighton in places for me a no no. And who thought it a bright idea to have a train running 50 miles without a toilet. Glad to see them go. The "Blue Train" being the exception. Trains should be designed for ease of use!
I regularly had to take these trains every time I went to visit my grandparents in Worthing. I went up there again only yesterday to stay the night and felt a twinge of sadness when a more modern looking train pulled into Platform 1 at Brighton. They weren't always comfortable and sometimes rather shabby but they did have a certain charm to them.
Never was a fan of these on the Watford/Euston line. Used to take them to school and the suspension would bottom out as it travelled over the dodgy track joints and they would smell mouldy when it was damp or raining outside. The new Overground trains are much more civilised
I also took a trip on Thursday 18th, a last chance to ride three of them again and to say a nostalgic farewell. First encountered 313s looking brand new on the GN in 1977 when I was just 12, many memories since then on the Watford DC and NLL as well. The PEPs have served us well, very much a British Rail success story. And despite being a bit run down, they were comfortable to the end. RIP.
I used to travel on a 313’s from Brookmans Park to Moorgate when they were brand new. They replaced a motley collection of Class 31 hauled aging slam door suburban stock and a menagerie of DMU’s (Cravens, Derbys, 101’s etc.) which I used to enjoy travelling on. By comparison 313’s were very modern. They were comparatively quick and gave a smooth ride. If idiot passengers kept didn’t open the windows, they were also quiet and the A/C would keep them cool in summer and the heaters would warm us in the winter.
The 313s were a feature of the suburban lines from London Bridge. They were cramped, never looked or felt clean, and the gangway gave the larger persons a challenge to negotiate.
I remember them on the North London Line (or Silverlink? ) back in the 1990s they were dirty and badly maintained. On one cold, dark wintry journey the connecting door lock had failed and flapped open and shut to add to the misery.
I remember a couple of things when Southern first got 313s...my daughter, who was travelling to college form Lewes to Brighton at the time, liked being able to open the windows and a friend who lived at Rodmell sending me a text message asking "WTF are those purple things?" as some went in service still in Silverlink livery. Going back a bit further, I used the GN&C to get to a shop in Essex Road that sold MZ (East German Motorcycle) spares, I certainly took an exhaust pipe on a 313 one time!
I think this is a testament to how huge a step forward the electrostars were for Southern commuters in the 00s. It was like upgrading an old Nokia to an iPhone and then having it taken away and being given a blackberry instead!
I remember the 313s, or similar derivatives run by Silverlink on the old North London Line between North Woolwich and Richmond in the 90s. What a crush that was, but the charm of the North London Line cancelled the discomfort out. Curiously, the old South Western Trains running from Waterloo, had what looked like a class 313 carriage as either the 2nd or 3rd carriage out of four.
Ours where knackered on the Moorgate Line. Often broke at Drayton Park as they swapped from shoe to pantograph. Comfy though. I can remember when it was WAGN and the trains had a First Class booth!
Always liked the appearance of the 313 class, so modern compared to the Craven DMUs which they replaced on the inner suburban services out of King's Cross. The outer suburban services were operated by class 312, which was based on the class 310 on Euston services but without the wrap around windscreen of the 310. The 313 was designed for inner suburban locals, not for longer distances. The 314 (Glasgow) and 315 (Liverpool Street locals on Great Eastern mainline) also were Ideal for their short-haul duties. Never blame the rolling stock if management choose to use them inappropriately. They have given great service over four and a half decades.
I liked the 312s and was rather sorry when they disappeared, but the slam doors on them and the 310s were rather archaic compared to modern air door trains.
My wife has reminded me. The 40 year old trains have been replaced by new(er) ones. We now have 20 year old 377s. She enjoys the day when Brighton and Hove Albion have a mid-week home game as even newer trains run on the line. By the way, the 313s replaced the Electrostar trains as the latter kept tripping the power supplies due to excessive current draw when they accelerated
When the trains were up the swanny, as happened very frequently on the line into Kings Cross in the early 2010s the 313s had an extra capacity feature… passengers would force open the doors of the unused cabs in the middle of train and ride in the quite sizeable compartments there.
Fond(ish) memories of riding the 313s from Enfield Chase to Hertford North in the mid 80s. Even then they were a cut above the ancient stock running out of Liverpool Street.
I loved the sound of these things, especially the pop when driver came of the power but I’m glad to see them gone. No toilets, no space and horribly uncomfortable seats.
I've not ridden the 313s much, but when I did ride them in the rush hour, they were cramped, and hot. Riding them out of rush hour was better, but they still weren't the most comfortable trains. That said, I still thought they were cool, because they had sliding doors and didn't smell too bad (well, the passengers often did, but the trains didn't). At the time (this was the late 80s), my own local line still used slam door EMUs, which were cramped, uncomfortable, smelled bad and were usually either freezing or too hot. Anything better than that seemed really futuristic.
I do feel sorry for the 313's: as you mentioned, when they were introduced in the mid-70s they were the bee's knees, but now they are mostly despised and reviled. I speak with feeling, as I grew up in the area within the angle formed by the Hertford Loop and the Great Northern main line (that's the East Coast main line for any youngsters tuning in to this), so they became my local BR service (although when it came to trips into London I mostly used the Piccadilly Line, of course). I think the introduction of the Great Northern Electrics was the most exciting thing railwise in the area since the Victoria Line opened (and everyone who had had to put up with the ageing DMUs in service on the ex-GNR lines previously was very grateful for them). I must admit, though, that their olive and mustard interior décor was never to my taste (even in the 70s) and I found their rather weird seating arrangements inconvenient.
...remember watching (72/73) PEP 4001 and 4002 (brand new) hauled by a class 45 'Peak' heading south through Peterborough (ECML) on a very gloomy and overcast morning...
i liked how this train added variety to southern's fleet of trains considering there's only 2 class (not counting gx) of trains left in the 377 and the 170 now that the 313, 455 and 456 are no longer in service with southern
I know nostalgic can be a hell of a emotion, as I was one of many who wasn't too fussed when they was withdrawn from the Watford DC lines (and other over ground lines) as I mainly used the units on the small (ish) branch between the WCML and St Albans which was replaced by 321's, then 319's before finally lately with 350's. move forward to 2016/17 was able to thanks to dovetails Railsim to relive the memories I had of such units in the Silverlink era which kick started my liking for the units once more along with able to visit various points of the de-funk-ed Croxley branch which was also a stomping ground of theirs back in the BR/NSE days so once hearing they was being withdrawn I was going to come hell or high water give them one last ticket to ride before they was gone forever*. managed to get various vids and pictures of them the day before their farewell tour around Lewes. at the end of that day before coming back to Herts had a brief look back at 313209 which was the main one doing the branch that day, was able to give it one last look (and photo) which kinda felt emotional which is odd being its only a machine, but in the end they have earned their retirement
I hadn't realised it at the time, but I had my final 313 journey last year, on the short journey from Lewes to Seaford. I quite liked them, but the unit really felt its age as it wallowed around...
As a small boy in the early 80s somewhere from Egham to Waterloo were these trains. Then we left England. They have lasted a very long time, only the 70s tube stock remains from childhood. The 313s were simply known to me as 'modern trains' and I'd no idea what that really meant. Nearly my age, my being 77 stock.
Whenever trains towards Southampton (where I live) from Brighton are delayed or even cancelled I had the odd experience of riding these to Fratton, where I would get a GWR service direct to Central. I see why people dislike them, but it has an indescribable charm to them. Will miss them when they go today tbh
I used Southern's 313s in the 2010s when I found them cold and a little uncomfortable, a contrast to the comfort of the intercity from Sheffield to London but far from the horrors of whatever Great Northern were using at the time. The funny thing is I grew up in the south east and never saw 313s until the late 80s. With sliding doors and hints of streamlining, they seemed modern and progressive, and today I'm astonished to find they're almost as old as I am. But I guess there's only 10 years in it. I wonder if 313121 will get preserved at Barrow Hill Roundhouse? It's a preservation site, part of which has now been earmarked for research, neatly mirroring 313121's status.
