West Midlands Class 323 - the final countdown

[warwickshire]

Wednesday 26th June 2024.
Redditch to Four Oaks
323216 323211
323240 solo
323204 solo, failed at Birmingham New street 0n 1315 to Redditch low on power.
323218 ecs from Soho observed at Birmingham Street to form the 1445 back to Four Oaks. But 323218 solo.
Bromsgrove to Lichfield diagram was
323215 with 323222

 

[Johnhayworth21]

26th June 2024

323215 & 323222
323240
730015 & 730019
730046 & 730xxx
730017 & 730xxx

 

[778]

I must be getting old as I still think of them as being recently introduced, it honestly dosen’t feel (to me) like 30 years has elapsed since they superseded the 304/305/303s in this part of the world!

They look a lot more modern than what they are. They must have looked very futuristic when they first appeared in the 90s.

 

[Tramfan]

Have any been in service since they've transferred north, know about the ones that are stabled in wigan and preston, 202,208 and 212, 220 in regular service, might as well do something to them instead of gathering dust at Allerton.

There's a few of them in the sidings just outside Blackpool North now too

 

[crosscity]

Hi there. Collected that the following are 323 diagrams while out today:

09:39 off Lichfield Trent Valley.
09.46, 10.16 and 10.46 off Four Oaks.

That was really useful information as it's allowed me to work out when the 323's will be about anywhere on the CrossCity line.

 

[Thomas6187]

323203 and 323241 are heading North to Blackpool running via Manchester and Bolton

 

[jonesy3001]

Got cancelled between Crewe and allerton.

Realtime Trains | 5N36 1124 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Crewe | 27/06/2024

Real-time train running information for 5N36 1124 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Crewe on 27/06/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Probably more room at blackpool cs.

Realtime Trains | 5Q40 1349 Crewe to Blackpool North Car. M.D. | 27/06/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q40 1349 departure from Crewe to Blackpool North Car. M.D. on 27/06/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[Liam L]

I tried updating the Wikipedia page this afternoon with the fleet details of the recent transfers and someone has come along and claimed this thread isn't reliable source of information

Anyways, does anyone have a another source I could possibly use so I can update the page with the correct information?

 

[wickham]

Was the move to Blackpool (Post 697) 323203 & 241 or something else ?

 

[XCTurbostar]

Was the move to Blackpool (Post 697) 323203 & 241 or something else ?

It was 323203 & 323241

 

[Geeves]

I tried updating the Wikipedia page this afternoon with the fleet details of the recent transfers and someone has come along and claimed this thread isn't reliable source of information

Anyways, does anyone have a another source I could possibly use so I can update the page with the correct information?

Seems crazy that we have eyes, ears and computers monitoring every single movement, they cannot go anywhere without being noted in here. Hey ho!

Todays ever shortening list

211+216 - Lichfield TV - Bromsgrove

215+222 - Four Oaks - Redditch
218 - Four Oaks - Redditch
240 - Four Oaks - Redditch


201 - Soho
204 - Soho
221 - Soho

 

[warwickshire]

Seems crazy that we have eyes, ears and computers monitoring every single movement, they cannot go anywhere without being noted in here. Hey ho!

Todays ever shortening list

211+216 - Lichfield TV - Bromsgrove

215+222 - Four Oaks - Redditch
218 - Four Oaks - Redditch
240 - Four Oaks - Redditch


201 - Soho
204 - Soho

Reggie 323221 is at Soho also having some repairs done to it. Cannot forget the green 323221

 

[Liam L]

Got cancelled between Crewe and allerton.

Realtime Trains | 5N36 1124 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Crewe | 27/06/2024

Real-time train running information for 5N36 1124 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Crewe on 27/06/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Probably more room at blackpool cs.

Realtime Trains | 5Q40 1349 Crewe to Blackpool North Car. M.D. | 27/06/2024

Real-time train running information for 5Q40 1349 departure from Crewe to Blackpool North Car. M.D. on 27/06/2024. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Might possibly be in Blackpool this weekend, is there anywhere on public land which I can view the carriage Sidings from?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Might possibly be in Blackpool this weekend, is there anywhere on public land which I can view the carriage Sidings from?

Enfield Road looks like a pretty good bet, but depends on how the plants have grown.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

 

[jonesy3001]

Might possibly be in Blackpool this weekend, is there anywhere on public land which I can view the carriage Sidings from?

Can't tell you to be honest, only go pass on the train when going to blackpool.

 

[warwickshire]

Seems crazy that we have eyes, ears and computers monitoring every single movement, they cannot go anywhere without being noted in here. Hey ho!

Todays ever shortening list

211+216 - Lichfield TV - Bromsgrove

215+222 - Four Oaks - Redditch
218 - Four Oaks - Redditch
240 - Four Oaks - Redditch


201 - Soho
204 - Soho
221 - Soho

323215 323222 in action around 2300 to 0030, after last Booked Redditch to Four Oaks, rather than ecs to Soho from Four Oaks, they worked ecs to Aston and worked a additional special from Aston to Birmingham New Street at 2338 hours, before ecs to Soho lmd. Possibly the last working for a 323 on a Aston Special.

 

[crosscity]

Might possibly be in Blackpool this weekend, is there anywhere on public land which I can view the carriage Sidings from?

Can you see them from the top of the Tower? (It's a serious question!)

 

[61653 HTAFC]

They look a lot more modern than what they are. They must have looked very futuristic when they first appeared in the 90s.

Remember seeing them parked up in Holbeck near Leeds, fresh out of the factory. They looked like something from another world, especially in their "foreign" WMPTE colours. Definitely futuristic compared to the 141 I was on!

 

[warwickshire]

30 years ago in those those sidings at Blackpool North it was the 309s, Nse Livery, and jaffa livery, now it is the orange 323s ex Wmr, however both have worked alongside, each other and meet in passing, between Stoke on Trent and also between Crewe and Birmingham New, back in 1995 to 2002, on the First North Western days of the Birmingham New Street to Manchester Picadillly 309 services.
Dont forget parked up alongside the 309s, was Green Centro Liveried 323207 back in 1994, 1995, when at Longsight, when 323207 was used as a Regional Railways, Driver training unit for Drivers For Manchester Piccadilly depot, with Driver Instructors from Birmingham, as the 323s was in Birmingham first, before Manchester, ie before the Regional Ways Gmpte North West ones was available for use. So a bit of Nostalgia also.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Can you see them from the top of the Tower? (It's a serious question!)

Short answer: Yes, there is a direct sight line from the tower to the sidings, and the Orange of the ex-WMT sets would stand out.
However it's a bit far away and without a telescope I can't imagine the numbers being readable.

 

[warwickshire]

Friday 28th June 2024
Bromsgrove to Lichfield
323221 323215
Redditch to Lichfield
323240 solo
323218 solo
323216 323211
Observations whilst out on cross city line.

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

Saturday 29th June 2024.
Bromsgrove to Lichfield
323216 323211.
Redditch to Four Oaks
323215 323221
323240 solo
However 323222 solo after 10am.
323218 solo Failed at Longbridge. With Low Power whilst working solo, on 2R09 0716 Four Oaks to Redditch.
Hence replacement by 323222.
Second time this week a 323 has failed on Low Power.
323204 earlier on This week.
With 323218 doing it today.

 

[basfordlad]

When do the 323s work in the west Midlands until please as I want to go down there before they go.

 

[Liam L]

When do the 323s work in the west Midlands until please as I want to go down there before they go.

Still no end date however they are down to final 4 diagrams now on weekdays/saturdays. 2 sets usually out on sundays.

 

[Ash Bridge]

They look a lot more modern than what they are. They must have looked very futuristic when they first appeared in the 90s.

I certainly thought they did, also sounded like nothing before too!

 

[basfordlad]

Still no end date however they are down to final 4 diagrams now on weekdays/saturdays. 2 sets usually out on sundays.

Well I hope they will be around end of july

 

[TheTallOne]

Well I hope they will be around end of july

There might be one unit left by then, maybe. Good luck!

And if you miss them, you can always travel up north and see them in their new Northern home.

 

[Liam L]

Well I hope they will be around end of july

Will have to see what happens in the next week or so with the diagrams as they been changing on a week to week basis over the last few weeks.
However no units are due to leave next week by the looks of RTT so who knows, Usually it's been 2 323s out and are replaced by 2 730s in etc

 

[warwickshire]

Observations at Birmingham New street.
Sunday 30th June 2024
323222
323240
Both solo on Redditch to Lichfield Trent Valley.
Meanwhile ecs Four Oaks to Soho Lmd
Was 323216 323211 around 1630 pm,
Whilst on the ecs around 1645 pm, Soho lmd to Four Oaks was 323215 323221.

 

[crosscity]

At Kings Norton this morning (Mon 1st July)
11:18 2P25 323222 323240 Bromsgrove-Lichfield
11:27 2U26 323216 Redditch-Four Oaks
11:32 2R23 323221 323215 Four Oaks-Redditch ('Centro' one at Redditch end)
These were on the same diagrams as last week, so hopefully there are still four diagrams in place.

 

[Liam L]

At Kings Norton this morning (Mon 1st July)
11:18 2P25 323222 323240 Bromsgrove-Lichfield
11:27 2U26 323216 Redditch-Four Oaks
11:32 2R23 323221 323215 Four Oaks-Redditch ('Centro' one at Redditch end)
These were on the same diagrams as last week, so hopefully there are still four diagrams in place.

323211 also running solo on the other Redditch diagram so four diagrams are still in place