West Midlands Class 323 - the final countdown

[Liam L]

323222 issues with doors as advised by a Wmr member off staff .
323215 has took 323222 ecs to Soho.

Well after 12 straight days of running with no spares units, it was expected that faults would start to appear

 

[warwickshire]

Well after 12 straight days of running with no spares units, it was expected that faults would start to appear

Exactly what I thought, when I posted what might happen, up thread, and has happened, tonight, not enough units to run on, not enough spare 323, 4 units but only one spare, but ie, away for maintenance like 323221 the obvious will happen.
However the whole diagram from 1746 onwards has been cancelled no 730 either.
However maybe they should have hung on to the other 323 units now at Wolverton in Store.
Or should have just kept the one solo 323 diagram on The Bromsgrove to Lichfield, ie the one that, starts and finishes Soho, with the 3 other 323 as spares. But kept the original x2 3 car diagrams on the Redditch to Four Oaks, but used solo 730 instead, then when more 730 appeared, doubled them up to 6 cars next of all, instead of doing it already, in a situation of no spare units.
But with 5, 323 units , 3 spare, 2 in traffic,
Just ran one 323 pair on A Bromsgrove to Lichfield diagram. Until the very end, and kept it this way, on one diagramm, would have been sufficient until the final and remaining 730 arrived into service on the Crosscity line to give enough spares and full 730 coverage to complete in full the transformation from 323 to 730.

 

[Gazzab65]

323240+216 on 08.15 Four Oaks - Redditch etc today

 

[Geeves]

Just to add to Gazza's post

215 + 222 are the other sets out LTV - Bromsgrove

Here's something but maybe nothing 201 and 204 (according to the magic box) their allocated depot code has changed from 'SO' to 'LG' which is Longsight Manchester, they are the only units with that code, everything else is still 'SO' or 'AN' Soho or Allerton

201 and 204 are both currently without a home, Longsight lost its 323 allocated when they transferred all the maintenance to Allerton, interesting !

 

[185]

The romance between 228 & 219 - an ex NW and an ex Central 323 didn't go well today (Sat). Setting off from Man Piccadilly as 2K10, a 6-car to Macclesfield they seemed to have got 200 metres then had a minor disagreement.

Didn't block the entire job, but signaller was struggling to route stuff around it. Oopsy.

 

[warwickshire]

Observations Saturday 24th August 2024
Bromsgrove to Lichfield
323222 323215

Redditch to Four Oaks
323216 323240

 

[Northerngirl]

I'm planning on being in Birmingham next week, what chance is there that the old livery set will be running (I'm not of sure it's number)

 

[JW4]

I'm planning on being in Birmingham next week, what chance is there that the old livery set will be running (I'm not of sure it's number)

The centro livery one? Doesn’t seem to be in service at the moment. We’ll see what happens on Monday

 

[Northerngirl]

The centro livery one? Doesn’t seem to be in service at the moment. We’ll see what happens on Monday

Yeh that's the one, it's managed to avaide me on both of the trips I've done down there since it was painted

 

[crosscity]

I'm planning on being in Birmingham next week, what chance is there that the old livery set will be running (I'm not of sure it's number)

The green one is 323221. It was last seen running on Mon 05Aug and since then has been holed up at Soho, except for a trip to Tyseley last week-end for wheel turning. I believe it has a couple of problems to be fixed before it is allowed out.

There are only two 323 diagrams left: 1 Redditch-Four Oaks, and 1 Bromsgrove-Lichfield. These run M-S, with nothing on Sundays.

Hopefully it will be out this week for you. If it is seen, I'm sure someone will post here.

 

[Liam L]

I'm planning on being in Birmingham next week, what chance is there that the old livery set will be running (I'm not of sure it's number)

323221, depends if it's new pantograph and brake problem is sorted I think

 

[Gazzab65]

I'm planning on being in Birmingham next week, what chance is there that the old livery set will be running (I'm not of sure it's number)

The part time spotter website normally has what 221 allocated to if it’s out: https://partimespotter.wordpress.com/

 

[Northerngirl]

The part time spotter website normally has what 221 allocated to if it’s out: https://partimespotter.wordpress.com/

Thanks, I'll keep an eye out for it

 

[Johnhayworth21]

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K18237/2024-08-27/detailed Anyone have an idea what this might be on Tuesday?

 

[Liam L]

https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K18237/2024-08-27/detailed Anyone have an idea what this might be on Tuesday?

More than likely 730 related as they have been stored there previously

 

[Johnhayworth21]

More than likely 730 related as they have been stored there previously

Thought so, thank you.

 

[warwickshire]

Observations Sunday 25th August 2024.
5Q98 1601 Four Oaks to Soho lmd.
323222 323215.

Meanwhile observed at Four Oaks station in the bay around 2015 was.
323216 323240.
Which worked the earlier 5U99 1649 Soho to Four Oaks.

One thing for certain this rules out 323221 on the Four Oaks to Redditch diagram on Monday 26th August 2024.
Meaning this diagram will be or should be as booked with 323240 323216.

But will 323221 come out to play on The Bromsgrove to Lichfield circuit.

 

[Geeves]

215 + 222 - Lichfield TV - Bromsgrove
216 + 240 - Four Oaks - Redditch

In the north 207 is running with 226 on the Piccadilly to Macclesfield services
219 is also out on Lime St - Wigan NW

 

[crosscity]

I see 323216 has obtained a graffiti tag at one end, presumably acquired at Four Oaks yesterday.

 

[warwickshire]

Observations Monday 26th August 2024.
Bromsgrove to Lichfield
323215 323222
Four oaks to Redditch
323216 323240.

 

[warwickshire]

Observations Tuesday 27th August 2024.
Redditch to Four Oaks
323215 323222
Bromsgrove to Lichfield
323216 323240.

 

[Liam L]

323221 back in traffic today and has replaced 323215 which is now on Soho for maintenance

 

[Johnhayworth21]

323221 back in traffic today and has replaced 323215 which is now on Soho for maintenance

Four Oaks or Lichfield diagrams?

 

[Liam L]

Four Oaks or Lichfield diagrams?

Lichfield sorry I should I said

 

[Johnhayworth21]

Lichfield sorry I should I said

Thanks Liam.

 

[Potteries 323]

Is 323221 leading 323222 to Bromsgrove or is it at the rear?

 

[silexa]

Is 323221 leading 323222 to Bromsgrove or is it at the rear?

It was on the rear on my journey towards Bromsgrove this morning

 

[Potteries 323]

Thanks for that.

 

[warwickshire]

Observations Wednesday 28th August 2024
Bromsgrove to Lichfield
323221 323222

Four oaks to Redditch
323240 323216.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 29 Aug 2024 ==

Observations Thursday 29th August 2024.
Bromsgrove to Lichfield
323215 323240

Four oaks to Redditch
323222 3232221

 

[XCTurbostar]

Thanks Warwickshire