British Rail Classes 316 and 457
Class 316 and Class 457 were TOPS classifications assigned to a single electric multiple unit at different stages of its use as a prototype for the Networker series.
Project
In the late 1980s, the Network SouthEast division of British Rail, which operated the railway network in South East England, started to develop a new standard train, known as the Networker. To test out the technical arrangements for the Networker, a test train was used, converted from former Class 210 (the prototype 'Second Generation' Diesel Electric Multiple Units) carriages.
Class 457
Initially the test unit was formed for trials on the 750V DC third rail system of the Southern Region, and was numbered 457001 (as with all Southern Region electric multiple units only the last four digits of the unit number were actually carried). The unit formation was:
Unit No. DMSO TSO TSO DMSO 7001 67300 + 67400 + 67401 + 67301
Class 316
Later, the unit was altered to undertake trials on the 25kV AC overhead system used on electrified lines north of the River Thames. The unit was renumbered as a Class 316 unit, number 316999. To enable it to work on the AC electrification, a pantograph trailer from a Class 313 unit was inserted into the set, replacing one of the intermediate trailers. This spare vehicle (no. 67400) has since been incorporated into a Class 455/9 DC suburban unit, replacing a damaged TSO vehicle. The unit formation was:
Unit No. - 316999 DMSO - 67300 TSO - 67401 TSO - 71246 DMSO - 67301
Note: Class 316 was also used for a three car Class 307 EMU used as a testbed for new AC traction equipment.
Preservation
After the AC trials were complete, the set was returned to the Southern Region for storage, minus the Class 313 trailer, which returned to its previous formation. One of the two driving cars have now been preserved at the Coventry Railway Centre, the other is a spare body shell stored for HSBC Rail while the remaining intermediate trailer has been scrapped.
Vehicle details are shown below:
| Vehicle Number | Vehicle Type | Former Number | Disposal Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| 67300 | DMSO | 60300 | Preserved at Coventry Railway Centre |
| 67400 | TSO | 60400 | Reformed into Class 455/9 unit 5912 |
| 67401 | TSO | 60401 | Scrapped |
| 67301 | DMSO | 60301 | Stored for HSBC Rail |