Eastern Region Class 308 EMUs

AM8 units as they were originally known, became classified under TOPS as Class 308 EMUs. Similar in appearance to the AM4s the units were built to operate commuter services on the Great Eastern Main Line (GEML) from London Liverpool Street to Shenfield, Witham, Colchester, Walton-on-the-Naze and Clacton. The majority of their working lives were spent doing this however by the early 1990s some units were transferred to the London, Tilbury and Southend line (LTS), whilst others were transferred to the West Midlands to work Cross-City Line services pending the introduction of new Class 323s. In 1994–95, electrification spread north from Leeds to Bradford, Skipton and Ilkley. As no new stock had been ordered, Regional Railways overhauled Class 308 units for use on these services. The work was carried out at Doncaster Works and involved reducing the unit length to three carriages, with the removal of the intermediate trailers, which were scrapped. The trains were also painted in West Yorkshire Metro crimson and cream livery. Seen here are some examples both at work on services around the London area before moving north to Keighley showing their later work in Yorkshire.