Bletchley 321s out East in 2021
During 2009-2014 the majority of the Bletchley based 321 fleet (321402-438) were transfered to Ilford or Bounds Green depots for new careers on GN and GE services. In 2017 the GN based 321s were then transferred to Ilford so for a few years the following worked GE services from Liverpool St to Southend, Southminster, Braintree, Colcester, Harwich, Ipswich and Norwich..
321402, 321405, 321406, 321407, 321408, 321409, 321410, 321418, 321419, 321420, 321421, 321422, 321423, 321424, 321425, 321426, 321427, 321428, 321429, 321430, 321431, 321432, 321433, 321434, 321435, 321436, 321437
Sadly these fine units era of screaming the length of the GE are drawing to a close as the protracted introduction of new class 720 units continues albeit slowly. They are expected to be phased out by the end of the year so get over to the GE now. Sit in the power car, open the windows and enjoy the howling motors screaming across Anglia….
Current status..(Aug 2021)
Scrapped ….321422, 321425, 321437, (3)
Stored….321402, 321405, 321407, 321408, 321418, 321428, 321429, 321431, 321432..(9)
In Service….321406, 321409, 321410, 321419, 321420, 321421, 321423, 321424, 321426, 321427, 321430, 321433, 321434, 321435, 321436, …(15)
ex Bletchley Class 321’4 Phot spot 2021
On transfer to the GN First refreshed the 321’s interiors big time and reliveried them too. Former GN 321406 and 321432 at Colchester Town prior to returning with the 1200 to Colchester North on April 13th 2021
Former GN 321407 a few weeks prior to storage at Colchester stabled spare on May 24th 2021
Looking very smart former GN 321409 and 322484 at Liverpool St with the 1147 Braintree on May 24th 2021. The Braintrees usually use platform 8/9 which being under the main glass roof is much better for phots
On a warm June 14th 2021 former GN 321410 and 321315 arrive at Wivinhoe with the 1505 Clacton – Liverpool St “fast”.
Under the concrete roof platforms used by East end services, 321419 and 322484 at Liverpool St on April 27th 2021
Plain National Express white liveried 321421 stabled on the spare road at Colchester on April 20th 2021
321423 with 321308 out of sight scream out of Stratford with the 1102 Liverpool St – Ipswich on August 28th 2021
In the smarter grey and white National Express livery 321424 and 321421 at Liverpool St with the 1047 Braintree on May 12th 2021
321426 and a Renatus 321(now the booked formation) at Shenfield with an afternoon Braintree on June 29th 2021
321427 and 321310 leave Colchester with the 1402 Liverpool St – Ipswich on August 26th 2021. 321427 was famously a rogue unit in Silverlink days for 15 brake block bolts on 2 wheelsets were found to be loose during an exam at Bletchley in Sep 2003. This caused the entre Silverlink 321’4 fleet to be grounded for 2-3 days….
Not looking like a set bound for imminent withdrawl, heres 321430 and 322485 at the blocks on August 26th 2021 with the 1147 Liverpool St – Braintree
more to follow – end
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