Greater Anglia Class 321/4 Refresh

[jon0844]

So far, but ROSCOs may do these major upgrades to make more money. It's not something they could do with the old stock they had at privatisation.

 

[SprinterMan]

How many 321/4s now have the new interior?

321421
321422
321423
321424
321425
321426
321427
321428
321429
321430
321431
321432
321433
321434
321435
321436
321437

Please add any unit numbers with the new black interior so they can go on the list.

 

[ginger]

How many 321/4s now have the new interior?

321421
321422
321423
321424
321425
321426
321427
321428
321429
321430
321431
321432
321433
321434
321435
321436
321437

Please add any unit numbers with the new black interior so they can go on the list.

seen 437 done at Liverpool St this morning

 

[SprinterMan]

seen 437 done at Liverpool St this morning

Thanks
Added to the list :P

 

[david_VI]

I'm on one of the muckiest 321's I've ever seen and it's packed. How long have they been going to Norwich? I swear they never used to.

 

[SprinterMan]

I'm on one of the muckiest 321's I've ever seen and it's packed. How long have they been going to Norwich? I swear they never used to.

They have run to Norwich since December 2010. They run the 1702 to Norwich and the 1930 return. This is done so they don't have to stable an extra loco-hauled set in London. From December 2011 to February 2012 this service was worked by 317/7s, which despite my loathings for their internal doors and lack of standard class seats were far more suited to the job, but alas GA withdrew them in favour of fixing up all the dead units at Ilford. In an ideal world, this service would be 317/6, 317/8, 360 or 379 worked but alas the dogs of the fleet work it.

They changed the timetable to be like this so they could disband a loco hauled set to make other loco hauled sets longer. The 1700 to Norwich is still loco hauled, but only calls at Ipswich and Diss. It is a good job they disbanded a loco hauled set, as they needed part of it to form the T&T DRS 47 hauled rake that stands in for unavailable Super Sprinters.

Out of interest, does your 321 have blue or green seats? If it has blue seats it will be refurbished.

http://www.railmagazine.com/archive/#/2010/39/13

http://www.opentraintimes.com/schedule/L04287/2012/5/14

Adam

 

[david_VI]

Think they were green... The doors outside were definitely green, a dirty green around the edges, ugh!

Makes sense I never knew they went to norwich as its only one a day! Seems even more odd 317 did it for a while as i've never seen them past Shenfield

 

[SprinterMan]

Think they were green... The doors outside were definitely green, a dirty green around the edges, ugh!

Makes sense I never knew they went to norwich as its only one a day! Seems even more odd 317 did it for a while as i've never seen them past Shenfield

I think you had one of the old FGE 321/3s. Did it look like this?
http://www.offshed.com/mainline/images/QS04A-W.jpg

These are all going for a deep internal clean and a repaint, it seems you had one of the remaining few unrepainted ones.

Adam

 

[david_VI]

Ah yeah, I should have mentioned it was an old FGE one. Come to think of it I haven't seen them in a while, I swear most were in ONE or NXEA before.. I'm not a regular train traveller though.

 

[ginger]

Thanks
Added to the list :P

the inside was clean but the outside was a strange white/brown mixture! so much for clean trains!

 

[david_VI]

Do they have a lot more 321's than they need then? Like how many do they have 'spare' during a normal day? I ask because I don't remember seeing FGE livered ones often and I saw at least 3 yesterday!

 

[SprinterMan]

the inside was clean but the outside was a strange white/brown mixture! so much for clean trains!

Ah yes, the irony of the situation is that GA aren't doing exterior cleans and fitting the new interior at the same time. :P

Do they have a lot more 321's than they need then? Like how many do they have 'spare' during a normal day? I ask because I don't remember seeing FGE livered ones often and I saw at least 3 yesterday!

They don't have that many spare, they have 94 and I think 90 are required at peak hours, 92% fleet utilisation is needed since the 317/7s were stored.

Ah yeah, I should have mentioned it was an old FGE one. Come to think of it I haven't seen them in a while, I swear most were in ONE or NXEA before.. I'm not a regular train traveller though.

Most were/are in NXEA colours, only one was painted into "one" colours, 321446, but that is now in GA colours, thank god. I mean look at it. Super job they did. :P

http://railwayherald.com/imagingcentre/view/212614/LC

Adam :P

 

[NXEA!]

10 sets left in FGE livery if anyone's interested. 321365/366/438-443/447/448. 321363/364 are at Doncaster, and if anyone's interested 321359/361/362 and all subsequent repaints will emerge in the white GA with *Red* doors, not dark blue as applied previously.

 

[387star]

Am I correct the only internal work done on the 321/3 and 321/4 (ex FGE) units was replacement vestibule flooring?

The side panels and seats and grab handles etc are all still green?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---



Regarding the white livery is the idea the new operator can eventually stick vinyls over it?

 

[SprinterMan]

Am I correct the only internal work done on the 321/3 and 321/4 (ex FGE) units was replacement vestibule flooring?

The side panels and seats and grab handles etc are all still green?

Correct
Deep clean of seat cover and I think new floors.

Regarding the white livery is the idea the new operator can eventually stick vinyls over it?

Yes, thats the plan :P

10 sets left in FGE livery if anyone's interested. 321365/366/438-443/447/448. 321363/364 are at Doncaster, and if anyone's interested 321359/361/362 and all subsequent repaints will emerge in the white GA with *Red* doors, not dark blue as applied previously.

Thanks

 

[387star]

Anyone seen these Greater Anglia 153s together may be the first time two GA liveried units have been coupled. Photo not mine. http://www.flickr.com/photos/elettra1143/7182005700/in/photostream

 

[david_VI]

Anyone seen these Greater Anglia 153s together may be the first time two GA liveried units have been coupled. Photo not mine. http://www.flickr.com/photos/elettra1143/7182005700/in/photostream

Aw don't they look cute together? Something is really pleasing to the eye about that photo.

 

[NXEA!]

I'm pretty sure that is the first time. I had them on the 16.26 to Marks Tey and 23.01 back to Sudbury that day, they looked very smart together.

 

[SprinterMan]

Anyone seen these Greater Anglia 153s together may be the first time two GA liveried units have been coupled. Photo not mine. http://www.flickr.com/photos/elettra1143/7182005700/in/photostream

Wow, really great find!

Aw don't they look cute together? Something is really pleasing to the eye about that photo.

I agree, it's a lovely photo.

Adam

 

[CDM]

Correct
Deep clean of seat cover and I think new floors.

There is no deep cleaning of seat covers or replacement of floors carried out while the units are at Doncaster on C6.

The vestibule carpet coir matting is replaced with new carpet.

 

[SprinterMan]

There is no deep cleaning of seat covers or replacement of floors carried out while the units are at Doncaster on C6.

The vestibule carpet coir matting is replaced with new carpet.

Oh right, they are cleaned at the depot then I think.

Adam

 

[ginger]

according to the latest Rail mag where the "minor interior refresh" is discussed, the next unit out will be 321 421.......but I haven't had the mispleasure of seeing or travelling on it yet

 

[ChiefPlanner]

according to the latest Rail mag where the "minor interior refresh" is discussed, the next unit out will be 321 421.......but I haven't had the mispleasure of seeing or travelling on it yet

The interior looks very decent though in "Rail" - as delivered today.

 

[ginger]

according to the rail magazine article on this very subject 321 421 is next....probably out and about but not seen it yet....

 

[jon0844]

the next unit out will be 321 421.......but I haven't had the mispleasure of seeing or travelling on it yet

But you'd hate it whatever it looked like. We get it already!!

 

[ginger]

But you'd hate it whatever it looked like. We get it already!!

it is a small improvement but as someone said on the Not So Greater thread....tinkering around the edges....nd if it was a hot day, no I wouldn't like it! they are roasting ovens!

 

[Skimble19]

So? What exactly did you do before trains had air-conditioning?! Open a window - yes, it can be a bit unpleasant but you'll get over it!! Travelling on hot 317/3's isn't exactly fun either, but you don't see people constantly moaning about them!

 

[zn1]

as i recall the only 321 to have full passenger air con was 321425, done in the early 1990's when it was it was fitted experimentally and done at fratton depot.

i stand to be corrected again - if it was taken out of the unit during one of its refits

the major mod was the cabs having air con fitted...

317 hadforced air ventilation fitted if i remember rightly !!

 

[CDM]

as i recall the only 321 to have full passenger air con was 321425, done in the early 1990's when it was it was fitted experimentally and done at fratton depot.

i stand to be corrected again - if it was taken out of the unit during one of its refits

317 hadforced air ventilation fitted if i remember rightly !!

Correct (though I'd be surprised if fratton was involved at all, as that's SWT?!)

425 had all the trial air-con removed ages ago.

There was also a GE 321 that had a trial of a different air-con system in first class only. Can't recall the number (that equipment also long since removed).

 

[zn1]

as i recall - 425 wasnt even a year old when she was sent down to fratton from Bletchley a 321 ATS was also pulled out of a set and sent down to borehamwood for a commercial to filmed in it...that unit number precludes me...I do remember it happening though.


this all happened in the heady days of NSE -

..incidently a rumour was going around at the time when 321 was being developed that they were to be originally built with "442" cabs....

sideline....

Bletchley was going through hell at the time....they had just been forced to get rid of their beloved 310 fleet , were getting to grips with 317, then they left and 321 came to them once again a brand new fleet ...in between that they also had 313,323 and the 115,117 and 121 maintenance to deal with..

then that winter came and the 321 doors froze up on that vile thursday, and the next day on my trek to mkc I FOUND no trains running.....availability went downhill....motor flashovers etc

i dont care what anyone says 319,320,321,322,456 are some of the best things that BREL york built....it was some of their last work....with NONE SCRAPPED to date.......wonderful simple kit !!