Same could be said about them now in all honesty…
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Class 321 storage/scrapping
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Not sure how stained they were as the covers were so threadbare.
Nicholas Lewis
Established Member
Guess there is a potential for 720 driver training and deliveries to become disrupted for some weeks whilst the Omicron wave is in play so may get a few more weeks but the tide has turned here. Bought up the Southern but always liked the way the original 321's just got on with the job on the GE with a nice bit of transformer hum up and motor noise on the run upto Shenfield.
Shunter_69
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720 driver training is pretty much done.
mtmikethom
Member
I do indeed and agree with later comments
Islineclear3_1
Established Member
Looks like a few paths in on the Southend line tomorrow...
The 321's were extremely reliable workhorses for many years until I returned to GA and saw what a mess they were in. Same for the 360s now gone to EMR - lovely when new and run-in for a few years
Nicholas Lewis
Established Member
Mechanically and Electrically they were reliable although i get your point about how tatty the interiors have got especially when your contrast to how well Ilford turn out the 315's.
Isn’t maintenance split between Ilford and Clacton though? I can imagine the latter would have slacked a bit due to the 720 introduction
Islineclear3_1
Established Member
Presumably, all the non-PRM Class 321's are languishing at Colchester and Clacton?
bramling
Veteran Member
Yes another fleet, like the Southeastern Networkers, which has been rather unloved. The GE 321s have been a mess more or less since First Great Eastern days, IME.
TT-ONR-NRN
Veteran Member
The remaining 317s are no better so let’s hope these 321 withdrawals commence of the PRM fleet promptly and then they can move onto those.
Wivenswold
Established Member
GA did a pretty good job of keeping the older 321s looking smart, refreshing each of the NXEA units they inherited with 30 getting a full refurb. Many questioned why they were putting new seat covers, flooring and grab handles in trains that were then due to be off-lease in a couple of years. So no, the 321s have not been a mess since FGE days, NXEA let them go a bit, GA revived them but it doesn't help that the 317s and 321s feel so dated now.
The PRM 321s and 322s will be around for a bit. While there are significant cuts due to the current Covid situation, GA will be well aware that they will need to run a full service again in a month or two.
720 deliveries did seem to be ramping up before Christmas. I've read on another thread that 720 diagrams on the West Side are about to be ramped-up. If true then those Renatus units are going nowhere for a long time.
The PRM 321s and 322s will be around for a bit. While there are significant cuts due to the current Covid situation, GA will be well aware that they will need to run a full service again in a month or two.
720 deliveries did seem to be ramping up before Christmas. I've read on another thread that 720 diagrams on the West Side are about to be ramped-up. If true then those Renatus units are going nowhere for a long time.
samuelmorris
Established Member
To be fair, the early GA days in the temporary franchises were a bit grim for rolling stock upkeep across the board, 321s no exception. They spun doing long overdue routine maintenance as some major investment scheme. Not entirely sure it fooled anyone. I don't think what I've seen on the Renatus seating picture was anything like as bad as things used to be. The legacy stock still seems in reasonable condition now compared to those days...
Islineclear3_1
Established Member
Looks like 331, 333, 409 and another UID 321 Colchester C.S.D and 427 with 341 opp P5
And at Clacton are 336, 339 and 343
And at Clacton are 336, 339 and 343
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anglian bloke
Member
So what’s going to happen to the 321Rs because there owned by eversholt rail and are just leased to GA
Islineclear3_1
Established Member
I'm guessing nothing until the timetable picks up and enough 720's are in service
I saw at least 3 pairs out today on the GE main line
Shunter_69
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Timetable is being reduced further from 10/1 at the request of the DFT
Wivenswold
Established Member
Assuming the various Government departments are talking to each other (and I really shouldn't assume it) then it would suggest the DfT are expecting the work from home mandate to stay for at least a few more weeks.
My company is moving to a smaller office later this month with "hot-desking" and most working from home. Many friends at other companies in the City are seeing the same thing.
anglian bloke
Member
Anyone know the status of 321365
samuelmorris
Established Member
According to the class wiki article, it was scrapped.
ScotRail158725
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scrapped long ago
Nicholas Lewis
Established Member
Further reductions on top of the ones already published for next week?
I get running a reliable service is key requirement whilst train crew and support staff will undoubtedly be in short supply but i fear this will run on for a lot longer this time unless DofT get extra funding from treasury as they will be short of cash having only been given an additional £2.1B to support TOCs. As a reminder they burnt through 9B in 2020/21 year albeit this year had been better until last month.
DofT will look at what they can hack back so could rapidly see anything on easily terminable leases just stopped.
4-SUB 4732
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Anybody able to provide a definitive list of what’s left on GA?
Islineclear3_1
Established Member
321 wise: all the Renatus units 321.301-330, 321.901-903 and 322.481-485
Redundant and stored: 321.331, 333, 336, 339, 340 341 342, 343, 409, 427
Can't remember off hand if 335, 338, 423, 424 and 430 are still with GA
4-SUB 4732
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Most obliged. Might take a stroll out to the region next week and go for a few rides and a few beers.
Is there a particular set of routes to avoid if anyone knows? E.g. good chance of one on the Waltons and Braintrees and hopeless on Southend? Or whatever the mix is?
warwickshire
On Moderation
Yes also have had further information from a very reliable source off mine that 321338 321430 arrived on 23rd December 2021 on the 1420 5g42 ilford E.M.U.D Depot to southend Victoria Carriage sidings move.
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Before xmas and last week again from a very reliable source who I know lives and well in the know from December 2021 timetable change braintree is very hit and miss during the day turn up lucky, land lucky, southend Victoria trying to find a retanus one during the day is like winning a millionaires lottery. Some around but mainly peak.
However Waltons are really good so is harwich international from manningtree and so is southminster from wickford.
Also mainly from clacton on sea afternoon departures are 321 as well.
One does come empty from colchester though.
However after doing am Waltons then best bet is to do pm clactons because majority off PMS from clacton ie early pm to evening are retanus 321s.
However even off peak retanus 321 aren't that many though.
Good guide to work the pm clactons out or any branch line workings is via the live rail website for vehicle formation ie 4 or 8 coaches.
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Ie lives in the area.
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Islineclear3_1
Established Member
Yesterday, Renatus 321s worked some AM diagrams to Clacton interworked with 720s. From some of the workings I've seen, they alternate between Clacton/London/Ipswich. A few Colchester Town diagrams are worked by 321's which alternate between Colchester and London. The Walton-Colchester shuttles are generally Class 321's.
However, with a further reduction in the coming timetable, anything might turn up, or not - except of course a non-PRM 321 which are all in store
If you don't know Colchester, loads of pubs provided you go to Colchester Town, rather than Colchester (Main/North) unless you feel like a long walk up the hill... Better than Clacton/Walton/Harwich
Of course, the 321/9s and the 322's still have their classic traction motors and compressors...
However, with a further reduction in the coming timetable, anything might turn up, or not - except of course a non-PRM 321 which are all in store
If you don't know Colchester, loads of pubs provided you go to Colchester Town, rather than Colchester (Main/North) unless you feel like a long walk up the hill... Better than Clacton/Walton/Harwich
Of course, the 321/9s and the 322's still have their classic traction motors and compressors...
warwickshire
On Moderation
Yes hopefully they hang around a little longer before being withdrawn and commonwealth games brings early visitors to southend and clacton to keep them going.
True good motor wide Stratford to colchester on the main line.
Even near North Station you've still got two good pubs - the Magnet and the Bricklayers. And if you do walk to
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