Here’s the final blog on the BR built Class 321s. I’ve lumped the final build of 3 Class 321/9s and 5 Class 322s together as they were both such small fleets.
The trio of 321/9s were built at BREL York in 1991. They were the final build of the Class 321 design. They were built for Regional Railways but paid for by for West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive who wanted them to operate local services on the newly electrified route from Doncaster to Leeds, so the units were built with all Standard Class seating. They shuttled between the two locations for several years before their sphere of operation was extended to include the Wharfdale line when the route was electrified in 1995.
Little changed for many years apart from liveries as they transferred from British Rail to Northern Spirit, then Northern Rail in all its incarnations. The units were refurbished by Hunslet-Barclay in Kilmarnock during 2006-2007 when they received an internal refit and and lost their original WYPTE livery for a derivative of the livery applied to the Class 333s with whom they shared Wharfdale services.
They remained based in West Yorkshire until they were displaced by the new CAF built Class 331s in 2020 when they were sent to Abellio Greater Anglia services to allow older (unrefurbished) Class 321s to be retired. The units hang on in service at the moment but are clearly living on borrowed time and their use could finish any time. They’ve been joined in Anglia by the Class 322s, which have had a much more varied career!
The 5 Class 322s were Class 321s in all but name. Like the rest of the fleet they were constructed at BREL York but in 1990, the year before the 321/9s. They were numbered Class 322 as they had minor detail difference to the rest of the builds and were designed for the new Stansted Express service from Liverpool St to Stansted Airport so they were fitted with a much larger 1st Class seating area and 2+2 seating in Standard Class. They were also delivered in their own ‘Stansted Express’ white livery.
The some of the units were loaned out a couple of times. in 1998 a pair were sub-leased to North-Western trains for the short-lived service from Manchester to London Euston. It folded after a year. They also appeared on Silverlink services from Euston and worked for Anglia trains from Liverpool St to Norwich.
They continued to ply their trade to Stansted airport until 2000 when they were displaced by refurbished Class 317/7 trains – after which they became ‘common-user’ and shared duties with the rest of the WAGN fleet on services to Cambridge and Peterborough. This led to their biggest move. In December 2001 all the units were transferred to Scotland to replace slam-door Class 305s on Edinburgh – North Berwick Services. They remained in Scotland until 2004 when they had a brief return to old haunts in order to cover services for the new ‘ONE’ franchise. This was short-lived, within a year they’d returned to Scotland and the North Berwick branch
Like the Class 321/9s they were refurbished in by Hunslet-Barclay in 2006-07 when the 2+2 and 1st class seating layouts where changed and Standard seating increased. The trains remained in Scotland until 2011 when they were displaced by the new Siemens Class 380s. This time they joined the Class 321/9s operating electrified services around West Yorkshire until they too were displaced by the new CAF built Class 331s by May 2020. Following the 321/9s they too were transferred back down to Anglia services which is where they remain to this day until their final withdrawal.
Here’s a selection of pictures of both classes during their time in service.
On the 1st September 2011 class leader 321901 pulls out of the bays at Doncaster en-route to Leeds.At Doncaster five years earlier on the 29th July 2006 321902 takes the same journey. It’s sporting the original WYPTE livery the units were delivered in, complete with ‘Metrotrain’ branding but with the addition of the ‘Northern’ logo.Fast forward another 15 years to the 12th June 2021 and 321902 is seen in the company of a ‘Renatus’ Class 321/3 passing Manor Park whilst bringing up the rear of a service to London Liverpool St.Here’s 312903 operating a Wharfedale service arriving at Kirkstall Forge on the 13th September 2019.A few months earlier on the 27th June 2019 322481 is pictured at Leeds before departing with a service to Ilkley. Here’s 322482 in the ‘as delivered’ Stansted Express’ livery. The driving cars carried ‘Stansted Express’ on one side of the vehicle and ‘Network SouthEast’ on the other. The unit’s seen diverted from its normal route, passing through Stratford on the 15th April 1993. Many years and many moves later, 322482 is pictured at Leeds Neville Hill on the 10th October 2011. In a revised form of its original ‘Stansted Express’ livery minus all branding bar the First group ‘Flying F’ 322483 is pictures at Edinburgh Waverley between turns to North Berwick on the 25th May 2005. Many years later after having spent time in West Yorkshire 322483 is seen eking out its last days working Anglia services. It’s pictures here pulling out of Wivenhoe on its way to Clacton on the 8th June 2021. Pictured at Liverpool St on a day in October 1996 is set 322484 showing the opposite side branding to ‘Stansted Express’. Also on display is the revised window layout for the extended 1st Class section which takes up 2/3 of the driving car. The same unit several years later in First North-Western livery with gold star on the driving car end seen passing Harringay at speed when it had been returned to WAGN and used as part of the generic fleet. It’s en-route to Peterborough, pictured on the 17th October 2000.322484 again after it has been transferred to Anglia services. It’s seen at Colchester Town on the 20th August 2004. Back in Scotland on the 9th September 2009 where 322485 in First Scotrail livery is seen arriving at Glasgow Central. Whilst the units were normally used on the Edinburgh – North Berwick services they also appeared on services to Glasgow Central via Carstairs – useful for returning them to base as the units were actually allocated to Glasgow Shields Rd depot. Fat forward to the 7th June 2021 and 433485’s seen passing Witham at speed with a service from Ipswich to Liverpool St. The interior of refurbished Driving Trailer 78163 when it was in service with Northern. This was originally a 1st Class section, the fact being given away by the large gap between the windows. It’s seen on the 10th October 2019.
It’s been a dank and dismal day here in the Calder Valley which was a shame as I’d hoped to start a new week in positive fashion. Sadly it wasn’t to be. Added to the gloom was the bounce I felt yesterday as I thought I was shaking off Covid bounced the opposite way today! This isn’t uncommon apparently. You have good days and bad days, it’s just the bad days get less bad. I’d tried to keep busy with paperwork and preparing for the week and even ventured out for a walk on my own through the local woods where I wasn’t likely to come into contact with people, but by the time I got back I was knackered! The stamina levels obviously still need a bit of tweaking. To that end I’ve loosened the reins on eating and drinking. After all, there’s got to be some pleasures left in life. Thankfully, Dawn still seems to be Covid free even though she feels that not all cylinders are firing.
Away from our own concerns there’s the tragedy of the Ukraine still unfolding. I’m resisting blogging about this (for now) as I need to be in full spleen-vent to describe my feelings about what’s going on, the atrocities occurring and the senseless waste of life on all sides. Because of this I did snap at one point earlier today when I saw a young HS2 opponent tweet about how the protesters were suffering ‘lifelong trauma’. What? from events that never happened? For years the protesters have complained about ‘brutality’ from police and security. This ‘brutality’ happens just as soon as someone says ‘no’ to them. A classic example would be a trespasser refuses to move despite several requests to do so, so the police/security use their powers and exercise reasonable force (as they’re legally entitled to do). As soon as the protester has a finger laid upon them they start screaming about being ‘assaulted’. Oh, please! Despite these protests having lasted for 5 years the only convictions for assault have been of protesters. Several charges and arrest warrants are outstanding but certain people have ‘disappeared’ in the hope of evading the police. Even though said protesters nearly all carry camera-phones to record their antics they’ve never yet managed to film a single genuine assault and the video they do produce often leads to the exact opposite result in court. Now, I’m not taking sides here (other than that of the law). If any member of HS2 security or the police does actually assault a protester they should have the book thrown at them. But that’s up to a real court to rule upon, not the court of social media. Frankly, I find it insulting that people who’ve suffered genuine traumas in their lives are being compared to a protester being told ‘no, the law applies to you too’ who them makes stuff up. It’s disappointing to see some mainstream greens supporting this position but I can see their dilemma.
The Green party began from a protest movement and it’s struggling to be a mainstream political party with aspirations of political power. It’s torn in too many directions. Because with power comes responsibility. How could you pass laws when you encourage people to break laws? It’s a question some greens would rather you don’t ask – especially coming up to the May elections. How can they reconcile support for the tactics of people allied to the Extinction Rebellion banner who routinely break the law (sometimes receiving custodial sentences) and at the same time criticise the Johnson Goverment for its law-breaking without looking like hypocrites. Clearly in ‘green’ eyes some laws are more equal than others. This leaves a huge hostage to fortune and the right-wing media an open goal.
Anyway, enough of these musings. I’m sure I’ll be revisiting them again in the future. In the meantime, here’s the picture of the day which relates to some of my earlier comments. We spotted this on out walk on Norland Moor yesterday.
The sooner this war criminal’s in the bin the better…
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After my last three days taking it easy due to contracting ‘the Rona’ today was anything but a lazy Sunday! I’d been chafing at the lack of exercise even though I knew it made sense to take it easy initially and let my system concentrate on combatting Covid. However, this morning I felt fine. The aches and fatigue had disappeared so I decided to take a Lateral Flow Test just to double-check. Bugger, the damned thing was still positive! I was hoping I might have been cleared for take-off by Monday but that isn’t going to happen now. Instead I’ll remain isolated from people until I do get the LFT all-clears.
Dee’s remained clear so the pair of us hatched a plan to get some exercise. We got in the car and drove across the valley up to Norland Moor where we could have a long walk in splendid isolation in the great outdoors. The only people we encountered was a few dog-walkers and they were easily avoided. I was putting no-one in danger and I felt so much better for being able to escape the confines of the cottage and hit the exercise targets I’ve missed. Now, back at home the pair of us are now having a quiet night in (as usual) and preparing for a busy week ahead. I may not be able to get out and about but there’s still plenty to do until I get the all-clear (whenever that is).
Tempting as it was to post today’s picture from the moor I’ve decided to opt for another archive picture with a touch of humour. In December 2010 I was staying in an old haunt – the Paharganj in Old Delhi, only the main street looked rather different and initially I couldn’t put my finger on why. Then the penny dropped. The street was wider. The authorities had made this happen by shaving a couple of feet off the front of buildings which had encroached on the original street. They’d literally demolished the frontage of each property, leaving the owners to rebuild. Well, eventually…
This led to to one hotel having a sign on the front that had left rather a hostage to fortune and one that really made me laugh. See if you can spot what I saw…
– or not, as the case may be…
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It’s April already and day 3 of my self-imposed isolation after having tested positive for Covid 19 on Thursday. Thankfully the symptoms seem mild. Apart from feeling tired and aching nothing more has manifested itself. I’m grateful that I managed to dodge the bullet until after I was triple-jabbed as it could have been an awful lot worse. Covid’s a weird virus as it’s so capricious. So far Dawn shows no sign of having been infected (thank the Gods!) despite us living cheek by jowl in a small space for so long but then we’ve heard lots of anecdotal evidence from friends that this can happen – as can the other extreme where everyone in a family contracts it. I’ve given up in trying to apply logic to Covid – it defies logic, but then so does many people’s attitudes towards it. I blogged not long ago about how so many people seemed to think it had disappeared. Now I’m reading about record infection rates and nearly 5 million Britons having it. Hardly surprising when people stop taking precautions…
My hope it that we’re now getting to the stage where it’s endemic but no worse than having mild flu. Even so, I’m staying at home and isolating until I know I’m no longer infectious purely for the sake of others. I’m chafing, admittedly. Both Dawn and I have been cooped up since I tested positive. Regular readers will know how I get stir-crazy after a few days and having that freedom to travel (even locally) taken away from me is irksome to say the least. On the bright side, I don’t feel as tired or achy as I did and Dawn’s been a star in looking after me. Everything could have been far more stressful so I’m counting my blessings. In the meantime, I’ve got enough things to keep my mind occupied even if my physical exercise levels are suffering. I’ll start making up for that now I’m rested and feel fit enough to do so without risking any recovery.
Having given a life update let’s move on to the picture of the day. I really didn’t know what to use today. There’s no new pictures as I’m stuck at home, so I’ve delved into the archives and come up with this. I was doing some research for a blog earlier which meant I was perusing pictures from a trip to India I embarked upon in 2010-11 and this one sprang out at me as it summed up the juxtaposition of old and new (spiritual and temporal) perfectly – and why Delhi was building a metro system! A version of it was used as a cover picture for the International Railway Journal too. Here’s the traffic chaos at a roundabout in Jhandewalan as a blue line metro train glides quietly (and cleanly) above the mess whilst a massive statue of Hanuman, the Hindu monkey God gazes out across the scene on the 3rd March 2011.
You can find the rest of the pictures from my travels around in India in this gallery. They include visits to Lucknow, Calcutta, Ahmedabad and the states of Gujarat and enclave of Diu.
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Here’s part 2 in the story of the Class 321 train family which were built at BREL York between 1988-91. The 321/4s were the second batch to be built, following on from the 3s in 1989-90. The only difference between the sub-classes was that the 4s had 28 1st Class seats instead of 16. Initially, all 48 four-car units were allocated to Bletchley depot to work Network SouthEast services out of Euston to Northampton and Birmingham. However, in the early 1990s 11 of the units (321438-448) were transferred to Ilford in East London for working Great Eastern services alongside the 321/3s. To standardise the FGE fleet 12 1st Class seats were declassified in the 4s and the saloon layout altered.
Unlike the earlier 321/3s, the 321/4s have had a much more nomadic life.
The units remained in service with BR until January 1997 when First Great Eastern took over the Ilford based units. The Bletchley based 321/4s were transferred to new franchise winner National Express (Trading as North London Railways) in March 1997. The franchise was rebranded ‘Silverlink’ in September 1997 and ran services until the franchise ended on the 10th November 2007, after which the 321/4s were taken over by London Midland who operated the units until 2009 when they were displaced by a new order of Siemens Class 350/2s.
13 of the Class 321s (321401-410 and 321418-20) transferred to First Capital Connect to be used on services out of London Kings Cross to Peterborough. Another 17 sets (321421-437) went to National Express East Anglia to join the 3s and the 4s transferred in the 1990s.
Initially, London Midland retained 7 sets (321411-417) for strengthening rush-hour services and also operating on the Watford Junction St Albans Abbey branch. These units were given up in 2015. After being converted to 3 cars and renumbered 320411-417 they moved to Abellio Scotrail to operate services in the Glasgow area.
More transfers followed in 2017 when the former FCC (now Great Northern) 321s were displaced. 10 (321402, 321405-410 and 321419) followed their sisters to Anglia metals whilst 5 more units (321401, 321403, 321404. 321418 and 321420) were converted to Class 320/4 for Scotland in 2018-19 bringing the Scottish total to 12 sets.
These units and the earlier Class 320/3s (320301-320322) built in 1990 will be the last of the 321 type to remain in passenger service.
The remaining Class 321/4s soldiered on in traffic on Anglia services until earlier this year when the last few units were stored. Several are earmarked to be converted to hydrogen powered Class 600s in a deal struck between owners Eversholt and Alstom. As yet, no work has taken place.
Here’s a selection of pictures looking back at the lives and times of the 321/4s. All pictures are my copyright.
The first of the sub-class, 321401 seen in unbranded Silverlink livery (London Midland had taken over the franchise the previous November) at Birmingham International with a Northbound service on the 2nd September 2008. The same unit with a different livery, operator and route. 321401 seen speeding South towards Kings Cross at Welwyn Garden City on the14th July 2014 in full First Capital Connect livery. 321404 leads a sister unit on a Silverlink service from Northampton to Euston past Roade on the 6th August 2007. Still sporting Silverlink livery but working for First Capital Connect, 321405 and 321404 stand inside the trainshed at Kings Cross on the 22nd January 2010. The end is near. Having been transferred to Anglia services but increasingly surplus to requirements as new Class 720s come into service 321407 is stabled in the sidings at Clacton on the 8th June 2021. Still working for Great Northern but with only a few months left before withdrawal at the next May timetable, 321409 is seen inside Hornsey depot on the 13th December 2016.Still sporting NSE livery but with Silverlink branding 321410 calls at Harrow and Wealdstone en-route to Euston on the 23rd June 2001.One of the sets retained by London Midland to operate rush hour services and the Abbey line, 321412 arrives into Euston on the 16th July 2010. These sets moved to Scotrail in 2015. Reduced to a 3-car, this is now numbered 320412. 321413 calls at Bricket Wood on the St Alban’s Abbey branch on the 4th November 2009. The is now another Scotrail Class 320.Silverlink’s 321415 sits in platform 8 at Rugby during the station remodelling on the 26th June 2004. Central trains leased some Silverlink 321s to operate services from Birmingham New St to Walsall. Here’s 321417 on such a run, seen at Thame Bridge Parkway on the 28th November 2007. In 2015 it became another Class 320 conversion. Fresh from transfer from London Midland to First Capital Connect and before entering service the next month 321418 is seen with newly applied FCC livery outside Doncaster works on the 30th November 2010. Here’s 321421, one of the sets transferred from West Coast to Anglia services in 2009. It’s seen at Braintree on the 4th August 2014. 321424 heads for Euston at Bushey whilst 37893 and another loco are involved in relaying the Down Fast on the 20th May 1999.After National Express had taken over the franchise but before the Silverlink livery made an appearance a couple of units appeared in white undercoat. Here’s 321428 leaving Euston on the 6th September 1997. Class 321/4s did occasionally stray. Here’s 321437 paying a visit to the Hornsey wheel lathe on the 27th April 1997. Here’s one of the first batch of eleven 321/4s that were transferred to Anglia services back in the early 1990s. Sporting FGE livery but with added National Express white stripe and branding it’s pictured descending the bank into Liverpool St station on the 21st September 2009. 321447 arrives at Coventry from the South with the 16.46 to Birmingham on the 29th March 1997The prototype ‘Renatus’ conversion, 321448 heads North from Colchester on the 25th July 2014.
Only a handful of the 321s were ever named. Here’s one (with a proper plate, although the name’s debatable). 321420 carried the name ‘Silver Service’ – although I’ve no idea from when – or why. Can anyone shed light?
You can find more pictures of the 321/4s to view or buy in the following Galleries on my Zenfolio website.
I’ve a favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this blog, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
Not a day that I was expecting at all – in more ways than one! My first surprise was on opening the bedroom blind this morning to find we’d had an inch of snow overnight which left the valley looking wonderful. There wasn’t a breath of wind so the snow had stayed on all the trees and bushes, adding to the winter wonderland effect. Flurries were still arriving but in between we had patches of blue sky which shed pools of glorious sunlight around the valley. This seemed like too good a chance to miss from a photographic perspective so I began packing the camera bag in order to head out and make the most of the opportunity for some snow shots before the scene changed and the snow melted in the sun.
Before I did I decided to err on the side of caution and take a lateral flow test as Norah, my Mother In Law had tested positive for Covid 19 at the beginning of the week and we’d seen them on Sunday. I’d taken a test on Monday which was negative so I really wasn’t expecting anything to change. Dawn had done a test yesterday which was also negative. Having done the test I went for a shave and thought no more about it until I returned to the bedroom and gave a cursory glance at the strip once more.
It was positive.
Oh, sh*t! Now I understood why I’d thought I was maybe coming down with a cold and felt achy and out of sorts. So, that was my plans for the foreseeable out of the window. Deciding that discretion was the better part of valour I cancelled my engagements and took myself off to bed whilst Dawn also re-arranged her calendar as the both of are confining ourselves to barracks until I get the all-clear. Hopefully Dawn will remain Covid-free.
Having mentioned my discovery on Twitter and Facebook I was amazed by the number of friends who’ve either only recently recovered or have also just tested positive for Covid. The pandemic hasn’t gone away in any way, shape or form – despite the fact the Government are doing their best to pretend it’s no longer an issue. It’s frustrating as the pair of us made it this far Covid free – as did Dawn’s mum and dad. The only saving grace it that I’ve presumably contracted the less damaging Omicron version and that my symptoms seem mild. Even so, I’m not going to push myself. Instead I’m going to sit this one out and give my body the chance to shake it off – and not put anyone else at risk of infection either.
If I feel up to it I may blog about a few things, but if not you’ll have to excuse my absence for a while.
As for the picture of the day, it’s the view from our bedroom window this morning when the world seemed rather a different place…
I’ve a favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this blog, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
The anti HS2 protesters may have done it their way but there was one major problem. Their way was an utter failure! Late to the party, After the abject failure of groups like ‘StopHS2’ HS2Rebellion was formed in 2019 as a banner under which a rag-bag of professional protesters who were refugees from other failed campaigns could coalesce and recruit young people and locals who lived along the route of HS2 to form a grassroots activist movement. It was a project doomed from the very start because of the tensions inherent in trying to weld together people with diametrically opposed outlooks and political sympathies. Anarchists who who had the dream of ‘smashing capitalism’ (bless! Ed) and thought laws only applied to other people were never going jell with Nimbys who owned multi-million pound homes, nor with landowners and farmers who actually knew something about the environment they stewarded. Add in the fact it was an impossible aim. A tiny handful of people that never numbered more than a few hundred to try and stop the largest construction project in Europe that was spread over hundreds of miles was only going to end one way. And so it came to pass.
At the height of their campaign (2020) there were more than a dozen ‘protection’ camps littering (literally) the phase 1 route of HS2. Gradually, these were evicted or abandoned as ‘weekend warriors’ who only turned up to party lost interest never made credible troops. Here’s a list of camps HS2Rebellion openly advertised on their website in August 2021 (with my annotations in bold).
There were several others that only lasted a few days/weeks that never even made the list. Here’s the current list that’s buried away on a back page of their website today.
– and then there was one…
Another factor in the mix is the fact some of the people attracted to these protests are ‘nere-do-wells’ or damaged people who lapse into drug-taking, theft and violence. Insiders attest to the fact the atmosphere at these camps could be quite poisonous and women often felt marginalised or even at risk. Some of the young people whose idealism attracted them to the ’cause’ were soon disillusioned by the reality. The aggression shown by some protesters towards ordinary HS2 workers wasn’t what these idealists expected – or wanted, it was all meant to be peaceful and ‘fluffy’ on the protesters part but the reality was anything but. Factionlism soon broke out as those behind HS2Rebellion turned out to be control freaks who tried to take over the campaign – and control the money. This didn’t sit well with some of the earlier activists. I documented some of the spectacular fallings out in this 2019 blog – “trouble at t’stophs2 mill”
The decline of the ‘rebellion’ was swift as it became obvious that all their stunts were almost exclusively for PR purposes. None of them stopped a thing. Many weren’t even on land needed to build HS2 although that was never, ever admitted. Neither was the weapons-grade lying! As far as those leading the campaign were concerned, lying was fine as it was all about publicity. It made a mockery of the Extinction Rebellion slogan ‘tell the truth’ but that’s always been a lie anyway. As far as XR are concerned the truth is what you make up.
Admittedly, work on some sites was delayed or disrupted temporarily and millions of pounds was wasted but there was only ever going to be one winner. Their tactics were hopeless, carbon-copies of the same stunts that failed to stop the road-building programme of the 1980s. They never twigged that people stuck up trees or squatting in tunnels were sitting targets. It was simply a question of how long it would take them to be removed. It was the same with their tactic of blocking site access or sitting atop vehicles. That got them arrested, with onerous bail conditions applied that limited what they could do, further draining their pool of activists which was rapidly turning into a puddle.
The last squatter camp on Phase 1 (at Wendover) was finally evicted without any media attention in November 2021. That left one camp remaining, at Swynnerton in Staffordshire where a pitiful handful of refugees from other camps had pitched up after everyone else had scattered to the four winds. ‘Bluebell’ camp as the squatters named it was all they had left. It was painfully obvious to anyone with half a brain that by this stage in the game they were wasting their time, but those at the camp had nowhere else to go. Plus, they were still managing to get mugs to fund their lifestyle through Crowdfunding. All they had to do was keep up the pretense that they were actually doing something…
So, every few days a video would appear of a handful of them ‘blockading’ a nearby HS2 worksite. There was only one problem – it was complete bollocks as it was purely for show. They’d reached an agreement with their police liasion so that in order they could legally exercise their right to protest they could parade outside the gate for an hour or so. Any longer and they’d fall foul of the law and be arrested. It was painfully obvious they were achieving nothing because if you look back through the video’s you can see the HS2 worksite expanding and the fences growing! But, it was enough to fool the mugs on social media and keep the money flowing. ‘Job’ done the protesters would retreat to camp to waste the rest of their time drinking, smoking and digging the odd bit of tunnel. Interestingly enough, the majority of their crowdfunding doesn’t come from individual ‘widow’s mites’ but large, regular and anonymous donations of £500 at a time. Here’s a screenshot.
Of course, there were a couple of very middle-class kids in the Euston tunnel who’s parent is a millionaire. I wonder…Looking through all the various Crowdfunders the protesters have organised (and there’s loads) there is a pattern of large anonymous donations. So much for a grassroots campaign. I sometimes wonder just how many 100s of 1000s of pounds have been raised and wasted on this futile campaign. No accounts have ever been held and none have ever been published. It’s been a financial black-hole. No-one knows where all the kit they’ve bought (solar panels, climbing gear, vehicles etc) has gone, other than most of it has ‘disappeared’ – along with some the personal and private property of a few of the camps inhabitants.
The lack of a genuine ‘grassroots’ has always been the anti HS2 campaigns weakness. Considering the fact millions of people live in the constituencies HS2 passes through the number of folks protesting has always been ridiculous in comparison. Even celebrities like Chris Packham with his dual vanity projects (a petition and a legal case, both of which failed) plus his weapons grade dishonesty couldn’t revitalise the campaign.
Another sign of their decline is that no-one seems to be directing HS2Rebellion anymore. The people who set it up appear to have either deserted it or taken a very back seat. Looking at the stuff on their social media feeds and accounts it looks like a bunch of clueless kids have been given the keys and allowed to post what they want – hence them endorsing those libertarian, climate-change denialists and smokescreen for the oil lobby – the Cato Institute! Link here.
The people behind HS2Rebellion seem to be Extinction Rebellion acolytes Larch Maxey and Samantha Smithson (aka ‘Swan’) plus a chap called Micheal Truesdale (aka ‘Miami’) who was involved in a lot of the spats over control of the money and protest camps. All are keeping a very low profile. Maxey and Smith have court cases pending due to various daft stunts whilst Truesdale has disappeared, having deleted his Facebook account. Most of the usual suspects were amongst the 63 (with aliases) named in this recent injunction for the real name of ‘Bluebell’ Woods (Cash’s Pit). The injunction’s interesting for several reasons. It exposes just how few people formed the hardcore of the protest, how many have since deserted the campaign, and also which ones are left – and their real names. I mean, seriously – a campaign where there’s less than 100 hard-core supporters to be found and named after four years of protests? That’s pathetic.
So, who’s vice ‘Miami’? real name Michael Truesdale, last seen wasting his time up a tree in Euston Sq gardens?
In February the ‘Bluebell’ camp was served with an eviction notice which expired on March 24th. There was a lot of bluster from some of the residents about how they were going to challenge this but they’ve gone very quiet after the hearing (let me guess, it failed. Ed). Now the stage is set for the eviction as all the players are in place for the showdown which will obviously take place in the next few days or weeks. The result is in no doubt. What will be interesting is to see how many people are left in the camp when the eviction takes place as more of the long term regulars who ended up at ‘Bluebell’ have already given up and moved on. Here’s two examples from recent weeks.
Ross Monaghan was a refugee from Crackley and Jones’ Hill woods camps (amongst others) and had convictions for assault. ‘Tepcat’ was an occupant of the Bluebell camp who’d previously drifted in and out of several other camps over the years.
Meanwhile, despite these desertions, the bluster from the remaining occupants goes on!
“Growing”? Bless! As for working ‘hard’, here’s a picture posted on one of their social media accounts in recent days which shows just how hard they’re ‘working’. After all, those cider flagons are had to lift don’tcha know! “working hard” at ‘Bluebell’ woods, thanks to mugs donating to Crowdfunders ‘cos they’ve been conned into thinking a tiny group of woodland wasters like this are going to stop the largest construction project in Europe. If this is ‘the resistance’ then it’s painfully obvious resistance is futile!
On the 5th April there’s a hearing in the High Court in Birmingham where HS2 Ltd are applying for a route-wide injunction to prevent any more of these incursions onto HS2 land and prevent unlawful activity such as blocking access to HS2 worksites. You can find all the court papers here. There’s a lot of them but some make interesting reading as they document protests going back to 2017 and expose the protesters claims of being ‘peaceful’ for the lies they are. If the injunction’s granted (and they have been in the past) expect the eviction of ‘Bluebell’ to happen very soon afterwards.
No doubt I’ll be blogging about the eviction as and when it happens as this is the final chapter in this useless and misguided campaign. It’s possible another pointless camp may spring up somewhere in the future but it’s patently obvious that what passed for a national campaign to stop HS2 died a death years ago.
Now the focus moves to Parliament as the consultation period on the Phase 2b route from Crewe to Manchester closes on March 31st. Soon, the Hybris Bill for the route will get its 2nd reading in Parliament. It will pass and the only question is how big the majority will be. There’s no credible political opposition to HS2, but then there’s no credible ‘grassroots’ campaign either. The mantra I’ve been repeating for years is self-evident. ‘Stop Hs2’ is dead….
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The past few days have seen lots of activity at Bigland Towers here in West Yorkshire but some of it has been mundane and hardly worth blogging about – hence my recent absence. I’m not going to bore you (more than I have to) about everyday to-ing and fro-ing but there have been some highlights.
On Friday evening a bunch of us met up for a meal and what was supposed to be a planning session for a forthcoming trip to Berlin. Originally, the trip was meant to have been another outing for our little gang known as the ‘six from the 6’ (the Big 6 being the pub where we met) in May 2020 but Covid put the mockers on that – then one of our august company – Tony Allen – succumbed to cancer before we could make it happen. Now we’re the ‘five from the 6’ and will be in Berlin in May, a trip that will no doubt involve raising a few glasses to our departed friend.
The meal was at the Cafe Thai restaurant in nearby West Vale and a lovely time was had by all. So much so we’ve had to arrange another planning meeting to talk about all the stuff we forgot to talk about. (nice excuse! Ed.)
Thoughts of travel have been boosted by the arrival of spring, lighter nights and warmer weather. I’d packed away a lot of the winter woolies and started to dig out the singlets and eye-up the shorts. That was clearly a bridge too far. The forecast for tomorrow is a couple of degrees about freezing with added sleet and snow. Bugger…
Thankfully there’s nowhere I need to be in a hurry just yet and there’s other games afoot, so let’s see what happens. In the meantime – here’s today’s picture. One of the morning’s tasks was decluttering files and ensuring all my pictures were duplicated, filed correctly and pictures were at the right resolution. In doing so I came across this. It won’t mean much to my non-railway followers, but there’s a fair bit of railway history here.
This is a ‘bubble car’ as these single vehicle trains were known. It’s seen in platform 18 at Euston station on the 3rd June 2008. Both train and platform are long gone. This side of Euston has been demolished to make way for the new HS2 platforms. But what was a ‘bubble car’ doing there?
It was there as it was carrying Virgin trains staff who were route learning the Chiltern line and complex of lines around Willesden which would allow them to operate ‘Blockade buster’ trains from Birmingham to London during a huge closure of the West Coast Main Line. I was lucky enough to be invited along on one of these training runs – hence the picture.
The idea for the ‘blockade busters’ came from Virgin Trains West Coast MD Chris Gibb. As an ex-BR management trainee and lover of the railways he had a deep knowledge of the rail lines around the capital and knew it was possible to run services from Birmingham to Euston – even if it was around the houses. Chris described having to get a rail altas out to convince some of his more skeptical colleagues.
He made it happen and arranged for the training that meant Virgin crews had the route knowledge to operate pairs of diesel Virgin Voyagers throughout the blockade and maintain a rail service rather than rely solely on ‘bustitution’. How times have changed. You won’t see this happening now as rail staff don’t have the route knowledge and no-one will pay for it.
I’ve a favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this blog, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
Another old BR built Class that’s reaching the end of the line in passenger service is the Class 321/3 fleet. 66 of these 100mph, 4-car units were ordered from BREL York by Network SouthEast in 1987 with the first unit entering service on the lines out of London Liverpool St in 1988. Like the earlier classes (317, 318 and 319) the trains were based on the MK3 coach bodyshell. The major difference was that the units weren’t fitted with front-end gangways which altered their appearance dramatically and allowed drivers far better visibility compared to earlier builds.
Their introduction allowed a lot of the old slam-door electric units to be replaced with modern sliding-door stock. They’ve remained in service on Anglia services until today, although many of the units have now been withdrawn and scrapped after being replaced by the new Class 720 trains built by Bombardier at Derby. As is often the case, the new trains have been delayed. The 321s were meant to have replaced by 2019 but a few still soldier on!
During their lives they’ve had several operators. Firstly Network SouthEast. On privatisation they were sold to Eversholt leasing and operated by ‘First Great Eastern’ who took over many of the services out of Liverpool St in January 1997. FGE lasted until 2004 when the franchise was won by National Express. Initially trading under the name ‘ONE’ the franchise was rebranded National Express East Anglia in 2008 and the livery changed to National Express corporate colours. The franchise underwent a services of extensions and lasted until 2012 when it was taken over by Dutch Company Abellio who’ve run it ever since as ‘Abellio Greater Anglia‘. When Abellio won the retendered franchise in 2016 they announced a total fleet replacement which left the 321s living on borrowed time.
Apart from livery changes the biggest alteration to the Class 321/3 fleet was the ‘Renatus’ refurbishment programme of 2018 which saw the first 30 of the units (321301-330) fitted with a new Vossloh Kiepe traction package (with regenerative braking), rebuilt interior and air conditioning to replace the forced air-ventilation through open windows.
Sadly for the 321s, the ‘Renatus’ programme did little to prolong their loves, despite the traction package being designed with a 30 year life-span. Apart from a few units that are being converted for freight traffic there are no plans for passenger service elsewhere.
Here’s a series of pictures looking back at their time in traffic, from 1990 to the present day. Please note – all these pictures are my copyright…
An everyday scene that’s now disappeared. Class leader 321301 speeds past a pair of Class 315s outside Forest Gate on the 9th June 2011. This view of ‘Renatus’ set 321306 taken at Manor Park on the 12th June 2021 shows the difference compared to the original units with opening windows. The internal ambience was much improved by fitting a/c and cutting down external noise penetrating the saloons. In original condition and only a year old, NSE liveried 321307 stands next to one of the trains it was to replace, a slam-door class 307. Seen at Southend Victoria on the 7th January 1990.On the 5th August 2019 ‘Renatus’ set 321314 and a sister unit sit at Norwich between duties. The units had a regular daily diagram which brought them to the city. ‘Renautus’ set 321316 leads an unrefurbished 321342 into Colchester from Ipswich on the 6th June 2021. In National Express livery but with Abellio branding, set 321317 crosses the River Stour viaduct at Manningtree and heads for Ipswich on the 19th May 2015. 321318 sports the revised First Great Eastern livery but with National Express branding and white stripe as it leaves Liverpool St on the 9th September 2008. Here’s 321321 with another of the old slam door units it helped to replace at Clacton on the 9th August 2003. Here’s 321324 sporting the full corporate National Express livery, seen at Bow Junction on the 27th July 2010.On the 13th March 2007 a pair of Class 321s sit inside Ilford depot in East London. On the 14th April 2015 I was working for Network Rail trackside at Wrabness on the Harwich branch. Whilst I was there we were passed by 321332 working the Manningtree – Harwich Town shuttle. For short while in 2005 three Great Eastern liveried 321s were loaned to Silverlink, operating services out of Euston. Here’s 321338 at Euston on the 24th February 2005. The 3+2 seating layout, original seats and green moquette in Standard Class aboard 321339 seen at Southend Victoria on the 24th November 2014. The end of the line (literally) for 321340! It’s seen here at the terminus of the Southminster branch on the 31st March 2015. Here’s 321343 in the original FGE livery before the stripes were extended around the base of the cab. Seen at Stratford in East London on the 9th August 2000. Here’s 321346 towards the end of its BR career, seen working the 14:30 to Liverpool St at Ipswich on the 14th June 1996. On the 4th August 2014 321353 leads a classmate through Witham at speed as it heads for London Liverpool St. Just a year old and in original condition with NSE livery 321359 and 321366 call at Stratford whilst working to Southend Victoria on the 29th June 1990.
Of course the Class 321/3s weren’t the only members of their type to work Anglia services. 16 of the later batch of 321/4s also ended up working from Liverpool and in recent years the 321/9s built for Northern services have been transferred South along with the peripatetic Class 322s originally built for Stansted Express services before heading up to Scotland – then on to Yorkshire before returning to Anglia – but I’ll be dealing with them in separate blogs.
Personally, although I’ve used these trains since they were first introduced I’ve never been a great fan of the ‘Dusty Bins’ as they were nicknamed. Like the earlier Class 317s they suffered from a lack of tables and high windows which restricted views. As 100mph units they were fast, but their acceleration didn’t match their modern replacements and the saloons were noisy due to the primitive corridor connections, opening windows and slide doors that rattled when other trains passed. The ‘Renatus’ refurbishment was a great improvement, but the lack of a rolling programme of electrification has rendered them redundant just as it has the far superior class 365s.
If you want to view (or buy) pictures of the 321s you can find shots of them in these galleries. These include all versions of the 321s (3s, 4s, 9s and 322s)
I’ve a favour to ask… If you enjoy reading this blog, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website – https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/
As threatened I’m treating myself to a day out exploring as the weather’s gorgeous today. I’m currently sitting on Halifax railway station with the sun blasting out it’s welcome warmth. It’s only early but there’s already some power in those rays. I wonder if I should have packed some suntan lotion?
A packed Leeds bound train’s just come and gone. Nice day for it…
My plan is to head West for a few hours. My day not’s not going to be a marathon as Dee and I are out for a meal with friends tonight. Even so, I’m sure I can have an adventure. Feel free to keep popping in to see what I get up to…
09:25.
When the Chester train I was waiting for arrived I was somewhat disconcerted to find it consisted of a single 2-car Class 195 which was already busy at around 75% loading. I managed to secure a seat but no table so I’m typing this with my laptop balanced atop my camera bag which is perched on my lap. My fellow passengers are a real mix of young and old. In front of me is a young couple (although I suspect they’re friends rather than partners). He’s trying to impress her with his local knowledge. Problem is, I know what he’s saying he’s made up! I’m biting my tongue and resisting the urge to interject!
09:35.
The couple turned out to be two couples and they all disembarked at Hebden Bridge. I managed to nick their table and my seats have been replaced by two local ‘characters’ inked with a right mess of neck tattoos and dodgy ear-piercings. Well, when I say ‘piercings’ they’re more like bullet holes. The younger of the pair has ears like Emmental cheese. I can see today’s going to be one of those days…
09:40.
Much to my unsurprise, the ‘characters’ who joined us at Hebden Bridge left us at Todmorden. They weren’t alone. This area’s a popular hiking destination and several people with rucsacs and walking poles detrained with them. Now the train’s quietened down. Until our next stop. Rochdale.
11:00.
I’ve had a busy hour. As expected my train refilled at Rochdale to become full and standing yet again. I wandered throgh from end to end to check. As we pulled into Victoria we passed the ‘Northern Belle’ dining train which was waiting for a platform. This was too good a chnce to miss so I hung around at Victoria to get a few pictures of the crowds joining the train which was heading for Oxenholme on the edge of the Lake district. It’s great to seee these leisure services returning and see how well patronised it was. There’s nothing better than being wined and dined on a train with magnificent scenery as a backdrop.
Red carpet treatment as passengers board the ‘Northern Belle’
Shots fired (as it were) I strolled over to Piccadilly to catch my next train and bumped into John, an old friend who’d just driven it from Euston! We had time for a chatvand catch-up before I boarded the return working for this 9-car Pendolino – the 10:55 to Euston – which is rammed!
Bar the unreserved coach (C) it’s a mass of reserved setas and people milling around swapping coaches in an effort to find a seat. I’m stood in the vestibule as I gave up after trying 3 cars. Plus, I’m only going to Crewe. Here’s how F looks – and we haven’t stopped at Stockport or Wilmslow yet!
14:00.
Homeward bound now. At Crewe I caught up with a pair of the new Class 730 electric trains which have been built for West Midlands services. They’re being tested between Crewe and Nuneaton. The pair I saw weren’t in the most photographic position and left before me, but I managed to catch them up at Stafford where they were in an ideal location (better pic later).
Heading back to Crewe which has got the decorators in giving the place a much-needed coat of paint I managed a few decent library shots before catching a Transport fo Wales service back to Manchester. Every train I’ve been on has been busy, Avanti services especially so. Here’s my train from Stafford to Crewe.
16:20.
Another day, another change of plan due to the wonders of social media and the ability of people to keep tabs on each other! Whilst making my way back North I found out that an old friend and RAIL magazine colleague was also heading from Manchester. We’ve not had chance to meet up for a while so the fact we were both in the same city at the same time (albeit briefly) made us bith change our plans to enable us to have a swift pint and swap stories outside Piccadilly station before heading off in different directions across the Pennines. Manchester was absolutely buzzing as people streamed into the city to enjoy what promises to be a warm and sunny weekend. I’d have loved to have done the same but I have other fish to fry. Right now I’m ahead of schedule having caught a Northern service to Blackburn via Todmorden where I’ll pick up another (earlier) train. At least this way I escape the Stygian gloom of Victoria’s through platforms for Pennine views.
18:30.
Home again and time for a complete change of tempo – and clothing. The camera bag’s been ditched and so have the walking boots. Now it’s time to shower, don a shirt. slip on the brogues and get ready for a night out with friends at Café Thai in nearby West Vale.
Paul Bigland 