British Rail Class 302 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids British Rail Class 302
Class 302 at Barking
In service	1958 - 1999
Manufacturer	BR Doncaster/York
Refurbishment	1981 - 1982 (All) 1992 (4 mail conversions)
Number built	112 trainsets
Formation	4 Cars per Trainset
Capacity	344 seats
Specifications
Maximum speed	75 mph (121 km/h)
Weight	155 t
Electric system(s)	25 kV AC Overhead Originally = 6.25/25 KV
Track gauge	1,435 mm

The British Rail Class 302 was a special type of electric train. These trains were built between 1958 and 1960. They were used for passenger services on the London, Tilbury and Southend Railway route. This route connects London to places like Tilbury and Southend.

These trains were known as "electric multiple units" (EMUs). This means they were made of several carriages that could all move together. They got their power from overhead electric lines. The Class 302 trains were built using a common design called the British Rail Mark 1 bodyshell. They also had "slam doors," which were common on older trains.

What Was the Class 302?

The Class 302 trains were designed to carry many passengers. They were perfect for busy routes that connected cities to their suburbs. Each train was made up of four carriages. This allowed them to carry up to 344 people at once.

These trains could travel at a top speed of 75 miles per hour (121 km/h). This was quite fast for trains of their time. They were powered by 25,000 volts of electricity from overhead wires.

When Were They Used?

The first Class 302 trains started running in 1958. They served passengers for many years. Most of them were updated between 1981 and 1982 to keep them in good condition.

Some of these trains even had a second life! In 1992, four of them were changed to carry mail instead of people. They were painted in a special Royal Mail red color. The Class 302 trains finally stopped running in 1999. After over 40 years of service, they were replaced by newer trains.

Where Were They Built?

These trains were built by British Rail. The main parts were made at their factories in Doncaster and York. Later, some of them were rebuilt at another factory in Eastleigh. The special mail trains were converted at the Ilford depot.

Images for kids

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  A Class 302 train with its classic slam doors.

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  Class 302 203 at Barking in 1993, on its way to Pitsea.

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  Number 302990 in its special Royal Mail red paint at Ilford in 1989.

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  A preserved Class 302 train in 2019, kept for history.