Class 321 storage/scrapping

[DBS92042]

Realtime Trains | 5Q76 1005 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Newport Docks (Simsgroup) | 18/12/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q76 1005 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Newport Docks (Simsgroup) on 18/12/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

37884 + 321303 321304

 

[Jamesrob637]

37884 + 321303 321304

It's on its way

 

[Southern Dvr]

37884 + 321303 321304

These are presumably ex Wembley storage?

 

[DBS92042]

These are presumably ex Wembley storage?

Yep, moved from Wembley to Wolverton last week

 

[Tourveg]

Quick video of the movement here.

 

[Jturner98]

According to Wikipedia 2 vehicles from 321332 are in use with Network Rail. Does anyone know anything about this?

 

[DBS92042]

According to Wikipedia 2 vehicles from 321332 are in use with Network Rail. Does anyone know anything about this?

Specifically 71911 and 77884 from 321332. Mentioned elsewhere they'll likely be used for training (like the Mk4s at York and 153 at Swindon). The other two coaches from 321332 went for scrapping at Newport Docks.

That should leave only one 321 at Wolverton Works now: 321338



Speaking of 338, it has been collected today (23/12), making it Varamis Rail's 10th (and final?) unit: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:42582/2024-12-23/detailed

 

[Defiance149]

Specifically 71911 and 77884 from 321332. Mentioned elsewhere they'll likely be used for training (like the Mk4s at York and 153 at Swindon).

They left Wolverton last week by road, reportedly to a Network Rail training centre at Witton, Birmingham. The only one I can find in the area using Google is at 30 The Hub, Nobel Way.

 

[D7672]

321303 and 321304 driving cars waiting in turn for room to be broken up,other trailers in the processing stage.
Unimetals newport
24th December 2024

 

[Ewan M]

321303 and 321304 driving cars waiting in turn for room to be broken up,other trailers in the processing stage.
Unimetals newport
24th December 2024

It certainly must take a bit of effort to get the doomed carriages off the rails and into the processing area

 

[physics34]

Sad to see these go. Shocking amounts of money wasted in the past decade. No rolling stock strategy.

 

[D365]

It certainly must take a bit of effort to get the doomed carriages off the rails and into the processing area

They just pull the carriages around with a digger.

 

[Wivenswold]

Sad to see these go. Shocking amounts of money wasted in the past decade. No rolling stock strategy.

I think many at Greater Anglia would disagree with you. The late arrivals of Aventras meant that having 30 compliant units stopped there being a severe lack of available units when the peaks started to ramp-up post-lockdowns.

I agree generally with your point about a lack of strategy and money being wasted because of it. They could have gone for a more subtle rebuild like the Northern units and kept costs down. But in this one specific case it meant that many of us commuters weren't packed into 5 car 720s or worse, having a very sparse timetable in 2022 and early 2023.

 

[Bikeman78]

I think many at Greater Anglia would disagree with you. The late arrivals of Aventras meant that having 30 compliant units stopped there being a severe lack of available units when the peaks started to ramp-up post-lockdowns.

I agree generally with your point about a lack of strategy and money being wasted because of it. They could have gone for a more subtle rebuild like the Northern units and kept costs down. But in this one specific case it meant that many of us commuters weren't packed into 5 car 720s or worse, having a very sparse timetable in 2022 and early 2023.

They could have kept class 317s or 379s a bit longer.

 

[Ash Bridge]

It certainly must take a bit of effort to get the doomed carriages off the rails and into the processing area

Before the scrapping process begins it seems that they first remove the vehicle bodies from the bogies, the then grounded coach minus its running gear has its weight reduced to only around 20 or so tonnes so as @D365 said fairly easy to be slid into position for final cutting using a tracked machine or two. Perhaps the removed bogie frames and wheels are then dealt with separately using gas axes?

 

[Wivenswold]

They could have kept class 317s or 379s a bit longer.

They did. 317s went 2 years later than planned and the 379s at least a year later both bowed out in 2022. Then the 720s started to replace the Renatus/ex-Northern units.

The stock shortages were affecting West and East side services but this is with the benefit of hindsight too. One contingency plan was to use the 379s on Norwich services if the Stadlers weren't ready for service in time to replace the Class 90 sets. In the end Covid-19 hit, the service was reduced and there were enough Stadlers to cover the whole service.

 

[D7672]

All recycled materials are removed,certain under frame equipment and then lifted of their wheelsets and the bodies are toppled,pushed with a large bucket loader,then the splicer cuts it apart,gas axe the wheelsets into smaller components for lifting weight capacity/load weight.
Rest is shredded with separater of metals and plastics etal

 

[The_Train]

Speaking of 338, it has been collected today (23/12), making it Varamis Rail's 10th (and final?) unit: https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:42582/2024-12-23/detailed

Do we know if this completed its conversion to a parcels unit whilst at Wolverton?

 

[DBS92042]

Do we know if this completed its conversion to a parcels unit whilst at Wolverton?

Unfortunately I didn't see inside the unit to confirm when it passed me en route to Northampton and AFAIK it hasn't left Northampton Up TC Sdgs since

 

[Masteryates]

I saw 2 No. 321's going south on the slow lines at Watford Junction at roughly 6:25 on Wednesday, both pan up moving on there own power. Didn't manage to catch there numbers but one was all white and the other blue with swift on the sides.

 

[swidnod]

I saw 2 No. 321's going south on the slow lines at Watford Junction at roughly 6:25 on Wednesday, both pan up moving on there own power. Didn't manage to catch there numbers but one was all white and the other blue with swift on the sides.

321332 is blue with Swift branding
321341 is all over white
321428 is ex Nat Ex Silver/White

So probably was the first 2 units..
Unfortunately there is no info on the box...

 

[DarloRich]

I saw 2 No. 321's going south on the slow lines at Watford Junction at roughly 6:25 on Wednesday, both pan up moving on there own power. Didn't manage to catch there numbers but one was all white and the other blue with swift on the sides.

321332 is blue with Swift branding
321341 is all over white
321428 is ex Nat Ex Silver/White

So probably was the first 2 units..
Unfortunately there is no info on the box...

I saw them through Beltchley running under a "5" head code from Northampton to Willesden PRDC

 

[swidnod]

I saw them through Beltchley running under a "5" head code from Northampton to Willesden PRDC

yes, a heavily delayed 5Z02

 

[Masteryates]

yes, a heavily delayed 5Z02

Good info from yourself and Darlo.

Any idea if they were heading for scrap or to join the others at Wembley?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Good info from yourself and Darlo.

Any idea if they were heading for scrap or to join the others at Wembley?

They were in the throat of the PRDC at Wembley yesterday ( Thursday ), 321 332 seemed to have been unofficially re-liveried in part as well...

 

[Merle Haggard]

As an aside, now they're gone from Noarthampton Up Sidings the flood damaged 350s will no longer be hidden...

 

[fadster]

Post 2407 above has 321332 being split with 2 coaches scrapped and the other two going somewhere in Birmingham for training and now there are reports of it being out and about under its own power. Post 2425 suggests part of the it may have re-liveried as well.
Might this be a case of 321332 being reformed from other units hence the different livery. Is anyone able to clarify what is going on please.
Thanks, Fadster.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Post 2407 above has 321332 being split with 2 coaches scrapped and the other two going somewhere in Birmingham for training and now there are reports of it being out and about under its own power. Post 2425 suggests part of the it may have re-liveried as well.
Might this be a case of 321332 being reformed from other units hence the different livery. Is anyone able to clarify what is going on please.
Thanks, Fadster.

I was reacting to the earlier post suggesting 321 332 was in blue with Swift branding - is there another unit thus?

The one I saw on Thursday was definitely with a white unit - fitting the same earlier post - and both were the full four cars; the unofficial re-livery was on at least two carriages - I think the centre pair.



To clarify: By "unofficial re-livery" I mean it's been vandalised but I was trying to avoid giving the cretins any of the publicity they thrive on.

 

[DBS92042]

I was reacting to the earlier post suggesting 321 332 was in blue with Swift branding - is there another unit thus?

The one I saw on Thursday was definitely with a white unit - fitting the same earlier post - and both were the full four cars; the unofficial re-livery was on at least two carriages - I think the centre pair.



To clarify: By "unofficial re-livery" I mean it's been vandalised but I was trying to avoid giving the cretins any of the publicity they thrive on.

321334 is the Swift branded unit

As for the white unit, 321338/339/341/440 were all at Northampton recently so could've been any one of those. 342 (the other white unit) was working between Birmingham and Mossend recently. 428/429 are the ex-NatEx GA liveried units and 407/419 ex-FCC liveried units.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

321334 is the Swift branded unit

As for the white unit, 321338/339/341/440 were all at Northampton recently so could've been any one of those. 342 (the other white unit) was working between Birmingham and Mossend recently. 428/429 are the ex-NatEx GA liveried units and 407/419 ex-FCC liveried units.

Thank you; so it's 321 334 + one other that I noticed on Thursday, then?