West Midlands Class 323 - the final countdown

[TheTallOne]

Couple of trains at selly oak, this lunchtime

heading south

323207 "Bournville" (didn't catch the front train)


heading north

323243 "Longbridge" + 323222 "Redditch"

 

[JW4]

Saturday 24 February
323210+323207
323219

 

[TheTallOne]

Saturday 24 February
323210+323207
323219

And I'm travelling back to Selly Oak on 323210 "Shenstone" so, with your info above, it looks like the train I saw on the other platform of Selly Oak is the train I'm now returning home on.

Doesn't take them long to get from Selly Oak to the south end of the line, then back up to the north end, then back south to New Street to take me home!

 

[JW4]

And I'm travelling back to Selly Oak on 323210 "Shenstone" so, with your info above, it looks like the train I saw on the other platform of Selly Oak is the train I'm now returning home on.

Doesn't take them long to get from Selly Oak to the south end of the line, then back up to the north end, then back south to New Street to take me home!

Yep, one of the Four Oaks-Redditch diagrams.

On 323216 now, it’s coupled to 323219.

So I ended up getting the set home that was coupled to the set I got outbound as well.

 

[wythallpaul]

Friday 23rd February 2024

323204+323206
323209+323240
323221 Alone.

 

[JW4]

Monday 26th February
323210 alone
323216+323219
323209+323240
323217+323242
323222+323243

323210 is absolutely packed working the 17:15 departure to Four Oaks from New Street

 

[wythallpaul]

Monday 26th February 2024 (Additional to JW4 Above)

323201+323203
323202+323206
323205+323241
323207+323218
323213 Alone
323222+323243
Visible on Soho Depot (12.15) - 323211 Waiting Repair & 323215 Available.
Did not see - 323204, 323212 & 323221.

I started my 323 day at New Street on the 10.23 Departure to Bromsgrove, I finished on the 323's at Lichfield TV at 14.47 having fitted in a return trip to Tipton at Noon (730015 for 350375). There were at least 3 short formed diagrams operating, I had rides on 210 & 213 and passed the other at speed - This must have been 204.

 

[JW4]

Just seen 323204 leaving Gravelly Hill

Did not see - 323204

 

[wythallpaul]

Tuesday 27th February 2024

323201+323203
323202+323206
323204+323243
323209+323240
323210 Alone
323213+323222
323215+323221
323216+323219
323217+323242
323218 Alone

Only 323211 Visible at Soho when I passed at 0945, could have been 1 or 2 Inside.

Did not see - 323205, 323207, 323212 & 323241.

 

[Liam L]

Tuesday 27th February 2024

323201+323203
323202+323206
323204+323243
323209+323240
323210 Alone
323213+323222
323215+323221
323216+323219
323217+323242
323218 Alone

Only 323211 Visible at Soho when I passed at 0945, could have been 1 or 2 Inside.

Did not see - 323205, 323207, 323212 & 323241.

323241 is in traffic, saw it heading towards Lichfield. 323212 isn't on fleet anymore and is based at Preston currently with northern

 

[shredder1]

Are there likely to be any ex WM working around Manchester tomorrow?

 

[Liam L]

Are there likely to be any ex WM working around Manchester tomorrow?

Highly unlikely. 208 and 212 are being used as trainers at Preston.

323220 is the most likely chance but it hasn't been out coming up to a few weeks now.

 

[shredder1]

Highly unlikely. 208 and 212 are being used as trainers at Preston.

323220 is the most likely chance but it hasn't been out coming up to a few weeks now.

Thank you very much

 

[childwallblues]

Highly unlikely. 208 and 212 are being used as trainers at Preston.

323220 is the most likely chance but it hasn't been out coming up to a few weeks now.

323220 was on the demic line at Allerton last Tuesday.

 

[JW4]

Wednesday 28th February
323218 + 323222
323221 + 323215
323201 alone

 

[Geeves]

220 arrived on Allerton depot on 8th of Feb and has not moved off the depot since. In the mean time there's a 150 on Blackpool to Liverpool and 2 x 156s on other electric work.

The next units coming north cannot come soon enough

Those other missing units from earlier

205 + 241 are on New St - Four Oaks
207 Soho
212 As mentioned @ Preston

 

[JW4]

211 still visible at Soho today

 

[wythallpaul]

Wednesday 28th February 2024

323202+323206
323204+323243
323205+323241
323217+323242

323211 (Awaiting Repair) & 323207 (Available) Visible at Soho Depot when I passed on 150285+158841 at 13.25 (One other Cl323 & a Cl730 inside the shed)

The 16.09 Lichfield TV - Bromsgrove was a single unit (Did not identify which one). This would have formed the 16.53 Departure from New Street - Lovely ride home for passengers finishing a hard day at work!

 

[shredder1]

323208, operating Preston towards Blackpool.

 

[jonesy3001]

When does the next lot of 323s transfer to northern?

 

[Liam L]

When does the next lot of 323s transfer to northern?

Once the 730s start on the cross city I suspect more will start moving across.

 

[JW4]

https://x.com/hunsletthebear/status/1763505651769016812?s=46&t=jQQaqwHbKOFG2nnwAsRb8A

When Hunslet heard that Reggie was in for repair, he was straight up into the cab.

221 is in for some transformer repairs with our partner Eden Oils. Hunslet decided not to venture too close as silicon oil and bear fur aren't compatible.

323221 is in at Soho for repairs

 

[crosscity]

Unit	Name/Note	Last seen in WM service	Source	Future	Date left WM or withdrawn
Report for	Fri 01Mar2024
323201	Duddeston	Wed 28Feb2024	RailUK
323202	Butlers Lane	Wed 28Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323203	Aston	Tue 27Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323204	Selly Oak	Wed 28Feb2024	RailUK
323205	Blake Street	Wed 28Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323206	Barnt Green	Wed 28Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323207	Bournville	Wed 28Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323208	Five Ways	Transferred		Northern	Sat 28Oct2023
323209	Birmingham New Street	Tue 27Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323210	Shenstone	Tue 27Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323211	Four Oaks	Wed 03Jan2024	Ray
323212	Bromsgrove	Wed 27Dec2023	RailUK	To Wolverton, then Northern Wed 10Jan2024	Thu 04Jan2024
323213	Sutton Coldfield	Tue 27Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323214	Wylde Green	Tue 26Dec2023	RailUK		At Wolverton for repairs
323215	Gravelly Hill	Wed 28Feb2024	RailUK
323216	University	Tue 27Feb2024	RailUK
323217	Chester Road	Tue 27Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323218	Lichfield City	Wed 28Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323219	Kings Norton	Tue 27Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323220	Lichfield Trent Valley	Wed 27Dec2023	RailUK	To Wolverton, then Northern Wed 10Jan2024	Sat 06Jan2024
323221	Was 'Northfield' (now in 'Centro' livery)	Wed 28Feb2024	RailUK
323222	Redditch	Wed 28Feb2024	RailUK
323240	Erdington	Tue 27Feb2024	RailUK
323241	Dave Pomroy 323 Fleet Engineer 40 Years Service.	Wed 28Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323242	Alvechurch	Wed 28Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323243	Longbridge	Wed 28Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
END

I have updated the report with 323 sightings in February in the West Midlands.
323214 looks as though it's still at Wolverton. I wonder if it will ever come back to the West Midlands.
323211 has not been seen in service since the beginning of January (but is at Soho). I wonder whether it will be shipped away to release a bit of space for more 730's.
All the remaining 21 WM units have been in service this week.
730's are now working some of the Walsall-Wolverhampton's.

 

[BPN2022]

Will the 323s be entering service on the Blackpool branch or is it purely for testing?

 

[Thomas6187]

323220 is back out in service, currently on Manchester-Crewe services

 

[childwallblues]

Will the 323s be entering service on the Blackpool branch or is it purely for testing?

There is no reason why not. Once the all the crew training has taken place.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

323320 is back out in service, currently on Manchester-Crewe services

Slight note, it's 323220.

 

[JW4]

Monday 4 March

323202 alone
323207+323222
323209+323240
323213+323201
323242+323204

At Soho
323211, 730007 also there having been operating Wolves-New Street-Aston-Walsall

Unit	Name/Note	Last seen in WM service	Source	Future	Date left WM or withdrawn
Report for	Fri 01Mar2024
323201	Duddeston	Wed 28Feb2024	RailUK
323202	Butlers Lane	Wed 28Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323203	Aston	Tue 27Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323204	Selly Oak	Wed 28Feb2024	RailUK
323205	Blake Street	Wed 28Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323206	Barnt Green	Wed 28Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323207	Bournville	Wed 28Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323208	Five Ways	Transferred		Northern	Sat 28Oct2023
323209	Birmingham New Street	Tue 27Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323210	Shenstone	Tue 27Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323211	Four Oaks	Wed 03Jan2024	Ray
323212	Bromsgrove	Wed 27Dec2023	RailUK	To Wolverton, then Northern Wed 10Jan2024	Thu 04Jan2024
323213	Sutton Coldfield	Tue 27Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323214	Wylde Green	Tue 26Dec2023	RailUK		At Wolverton for repairs
323215	Gravelly Hill	Wed 28Feb2024	RailUK
323216	University	Tue 27Feb2024	RailUK
323217	Chester Road	Tue 27Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323218	Lichfield City	Wed 28Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323219	Kings Norton	Tue 27Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323220	Lichfield Trent Valley	Wed 27Dec2023	RailUK	To Wolverton, then Northern Wed 10Jan2024	Sat 06Jan2024
323221	Was 'Northfield' (now in 'Centro' livery)	Wed 28Feb2024	RailUK
323222	Redditch	Wed 28Feb2024	RailUK
323240	Erdington	Tue 27Feb2024	RailUK
323241	Dave Pomroy 323 Fleet Engineer 40 Years Service.	Wed 28Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323242	Alvechurch	Wed 28Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
323243	Longbridge	Wed 28Feb2024	RailUK	Northern
END

All the remaining 21 WM units have been in service this week.

I love how together we were able to get every unit that’s in service from 27-28 Feb. Literally perfect.

 

[thealexweb]

Will the 323s be entering service on the Blackpool branch or is it purely for testing?

323s will become the default traction for Northern in the North West. Northern have indicated their desire to run six car 323 Blackpool-Manchester services. Hence all the platforms extensions due to lack of SDO.

 

[31160]

323s will become the default traction for Northern in the North West. Northern have indicated their desire to run six car 323 Blackpool-Manchester services. Hence all the platforms extensions due to lack of SDO.

So what's the 4 car 331s gonna do then?