Retro Railways Eps 1 Southend East 13th April 1992

[@carlpollington5059]

Thanks for the upload. This was my local station throughout my childhood and I remember all these trains vividly - no car and weekly trips to chalkwell amongst others.

[@waleedarif9327]

What the heck was a Regional railways train doing at Southend East from 2:31 onwards?

[@paulconner115]

I remember this, and travelled on it a few times. it was a three car 308 that was brought down temporarily from midlands to supplement stock. At that time BR was starting to retire the eldest and most tatty 302s 305s and 308s with the 310 and 312s you see here., cascaded themselves from midlands and great eastern respectively. I can recall there were some electrical problems with the 308s at that time also so needed extra stock. It was never run by itself but as a 3 car always coupled to a 302, 305 or 308. By 1993 all the 305, 308s had gone up north to work around Manchester Leeds and Scotland and replaced by cascaded 312s to complement the 310s. Whilst 302, 305 and 308s could all couple and Work together, the 310 and 312s couldn’t as they had top speed of 75 and 90 respectively. We did also have a regional railways 3 car 310 in about 2000, again to compliment stock. It was an interesting era with at lease five different classes of train and also known as the misery and “ hand me down” line because of all the old stock from other lines Eventually the last 310s were retired from this line in 2001 and 312s in 2003, replaced by the current 357 Electrostar

[@Keithbarber]

And the 357 still going strong today