Class 321 To be preserved

[CEPG]

Thought id share the good news here:

Good Morning to all of our supporters, today we are pleased to release the first piece of news around this new and exciting project;
The CEPG are delighted to announce that we have recently reached an agreement in principle to receive a donation of a complete 4-car "Classic" Class 321 unit for Preservation. This will be the first complete Mk3 EMU preserved in the country. A static future for the set lies ahead, at a new site in Harwich. The 4 vehicles will serve a functional use as a Community Cafe, Events Space and Museum, with all proceeds being reinvested back into the CEPG, to help fund the upkeep of our heritage vehicles. No further details can be released at this moment.
Someone might reasonably question why we are taking these vehicles on with the current situation of the 309. We are still not giving up on the "Clacton", and the 321 forms a core part of our future plans which will create a safe home and a small level of stable funding for both sets. We have been working on this proposal since January 2021, long before some of the more recent issues with the 309 have arisen, and the 321 plays a part in helping resolve some of these recent challenges.
We now need your help, we are fundraising to help with some of the initial sundry costs involved with setting up the planned site so that we are able to finalise the agreement, this includes our insurance quotes and a portion of the transport costs for the track, which has kindly been donated to us. Please consider donating to ensure everything can go smoothly with the vehicles scheduled to be delivered shortly.
Please address any media enquiries to [email protected] and we will be happy to assist.

 

[Intercity110]

Great!

 

[yorksrob]

Well done. It's a fleet worthy of having a member preserved.

I quite liked them on the local lines up here.

 

[StephenHunter]

Nice to hear it. We'll still have some in operation as parcels units too of course.

 

[Herefordian]

Fantastic news. Even if the 321 is a bit modern for me.

These were the main traction through Northampton when I was growing up there.

Well worth saving one for posterity.

 

[XCTurbostar]

I suppose this is why 37800 dragged 321434 to Yarmouth today?
EDIT: 321434 is owned by ERS (never mind)

 

[D365]

What's the identity of the 321 unit in question?

 

[XCTurbostar]

Clacton Express Preservation Group Said:

The unit number is currently still subject to our NDA.

 

[StephenHunter]

Clacton Express Preservation Group Said:

Which is why the number is missing in the photo, I guess. The 315 people didn't reveal their one for a good while either.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Well done. It's a fleet worthy of having a member preserved.

I quite liked them on the local lines up here.

A shame one of the West Yorkshire trio (or a 322) didn't survive long enough to be a possibility for this role, as they'd have been more representative of the fleet for the majority of the time they were running... although for the use outlined upthread, the sealed windows of the Renatus units will be far more practical.
At risk of getting into speculative (or even "alternative history") territory, if the old Transperience* museum at Low Moor hadn't failed miserably then perhaps a driving car from one of the 321/9s would have been a nice addition to the collection there.

*= did anyone else on here ever visit the place during the brief time it operated?

 

[micktrain]

good time to grab a 769 diesel motor trailer as traction

 

[D365]

good time to grab a 769 diesel motor trailer as traction

Not going to work - the principle of the Class 769 is that the gensets ’emulate’ a third rail supply. Other than Class 319, classes 314-323 don’t have 750V capability.

 

[yorksrob]

A shame one of the West Yorkshire trio (or a 322) didn't survive long enough to be a possibility for this role, as they'd have been more representative of the fleet for the majority of the time they were running... although for the use outlined upthread, the sealed windows of the Renatus units will be far more practical.
At risk of getting into speculative (or even "alternative history") territory, if the old Transperience* museum at Low Moor hadn't failed miserably then perhaps a driving car from one of the 321/9s would have been a nice addition to the collection there.

*= did anyone else on here ever visit the place during the brief time it operated?

Yes, would have liked to have seen a 308 preserved as well.

 

[JonathanH]

Yes, would have liked to have seen a 308 preserved as well.

So much so that you oblivious to the fact that a driving coach was preserved?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_308

One driving trailer from unit 308136 has been saved for preservation.

75881 - Colne Valley Railway . Restoration ongoing.

The carriage has been stripped of asbestos, and the full internal rebuild was abandoned in favour of housing the salvaged parts of the London Underground Victoria Line Cobourg Street signalling centre, and much of the former Brixton interlocking machine room equipment. The Cobourg Street equipment is now partially working, with work ongoing to allow simulated train movements to be displayed.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02ULygmRjKetfWXkCAPGGESyLreH41ug12p1ioWUJu96YARXo3jCXLtpG6Hp5Rnqcbl&id=128623957184572

 

[yorksrob]

So much so that you oblivious to the fact that a driving coach was preserved?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Rail_Class_308

I'm very well aware that a driving coach was preserved (thankfully) but it's not the same as a full unit.

 

[JonathanH]

I'm very well aware that a driving coach was preserved (thankfully) but it's not the same as a full unit.

OK, but it isn't clear that a full unit would have faired any better than 308136's driving coach has, or indeed the 309s have.

 

[yorksrob]

OK, but it isn't clear that a full unit would have faired any better than 308136's driving coach has, or indeed the 309s have.

I'm not criticising anyone, the Coventry Railway society did excellently to preserve the carriage.

I'm just very glad that a full bin is being preserved.

 

[StephenHunter]

OK, but it isn't clear that a full unit would have faired any better than 308136's driving coach has, or indeed the 309s have.

As I like to say, with hazardous materials, you just have to do as-best-os you can.

Anyway, we've got at least one bin still operating in the parcels sector. I must say I'll miss them though - I always preferred them to the 315s for trips from Liverpool Street to Romford.

 

[yorksrob]

As I like to say, with hazardous materials, you just have to do as-best-os you can.

B-boom - tsh

 

[theblackwatch]

Trackside magazine reports that this has fallen through, nothing on the CEPG's website or Facebook page though.

 

[StephenHunter]

Trackside magazine reports that this has fallen through, nothing on the CEPG's website or Facebook page though.

Now confirmed. It was to be 321 440.

 

[43096]

Not going to work - the principle of the Class 769 is that the gensets ’emulate’ a third rail supply. Other than Class 319, classes 314-323 don’t have 750V capability.

The best bet for a preserved EMU - or the closest you'll get that will be of use on preserved railways - will be something like a Stadler 755. Obviously a bit of a wait for that!

As I like to say, with hazardous materials, you just have to do as-best-os you can.

Anyway, we've got at least one bin still operating in the parcels sector. I must say I'll miss them though - I always preferred them to the 315s for trips from Liverpool Street to Romford.

B-boom - tsh

That stuff is not really a laughing matter.