The Story of the Class 321

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Unveiled during the late 1980s, the Class 321 would go on to become one of the most widespread electric multiple units ever built by BR, seeing its domain on high density commuter services range from London and the South East to Yorkshire and Scotland.

However, the days of the Class 321 have now come to an end with the last members withdrawn during 2023, but even with their retirement in the face of new models, the 321's mark on the commuter networks of the cities it had served remains today in successive forms of traction, and a revitalised passenger market.

Chapters:

0:00 - Preamble
1:15 - Replacing the Old Guard
5:03 - 321s in the East
8:41 - 321s in the West
11:07 - 321s in the North
12:27 - Class 320s
13:25 - Class 322s
14:25 - Into Privatisation
17:24 - Rearranged
20:10 - The Withdrawal Begins
21:30 - Possible Futures
22:42 - Conclusion

The views and opinions expressed in this video are my personal appraisal and are not the views and opinions of any of these individuals or bodies who have kindly supplied me with footage and images.

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References:
- Key Model World (and their respective sources)
- Clacton Express Preservation Group (and their respective sources)
- Wikipedia (and its respective references)

[johng]

Network Southeast was such a powerful idea. A single brand for the public, a focused management mindset and a clear vision meant that it delivered without to much expense.

[TheMightyJRW]

The 'Amsterdam" unit was oddly prophetic in it's way when you consider that very same unit ended up being operated by none other than NS themselves through Abellio Greater Anglia 😅

[ZLDSmogless]

The 321s and 322s may be gone, but I'm grateful as a Glasweigan that the 318 and 320 still live on

[millennialchicken]

the amount of times i took these home from college back in 2012-2014 was ludicrous, considering how class 333's were the norm on the line

[micksmithson]

I drove these, the best thing with the “Dusty bins” was their reliability. Didn’t have a particularly comfortable cab. and prior to the air cooling/conditioning in the cabs, they would be unbearable in the summer.  Leaving them stabled all day in Thornton fields or Stratford Old Yard would mean train prep in the summer was a chore, and you couldn’t help but feel sorry for the passengers, so you’d leave the doors open as long as possible on the doors test and keep your fingers crossed you got interlock a few mins before booked departure. Last drove one in late 2020 before going overseas to work. 

Back in the early 90s, some wag with a black marker pen had named them all, “Eastern Challenger, Eastern Conqueror, Eastern Chieftan” etc. and the emergency brake position having a further stamp added marked ‘oh shit!”. 

A notable difference between the 321 and 322 originally was an automatic Pa originally fitted with push buttons, (How we humble 321 drivers wished we had these fitted when DOO(p) occurred in late 1991).

[EdgyNumber]

321s were arguably one of the most important rolling stock classes to be produced.

[petes]

As far as comfort went, the 321s were dire. As a Norwich London commuter, my heart would sink if a 321 was in for an intercity set. Even a trip back to Colchester was not a good prospect especially on a hot summer’s evening with all the windows open, it was a bit loud. But as you say, a good sturdy design if lacking in comfort.

[railwayadventureswithleigh]

Another thing you forgot to mention is the Class 321's short-lived work With London Overground, a few class 321/4 were drafted in on services like the Emerson Park Shuttle service Between Romford And Upminster.

[alstorer]

oh dear oh dear oh dear you took a full swing and a miss at "Milngavie" there!

[scottturner]

Great video nice to see the 321s receiving some spotlight, only addition I would add is Varamis have taken on about 8 units now and operate regular services between Birmingham - Glasgow now with future plans to extend their network to new destinations.

[I_Am_Just_A_Technician]

We need trains built like this again. Simple, sturdy and cost effective. NSE could have and should have been the greatest railway network operation in BR history.

[caileanshields]

A few addendums/additional facts with regard to the 320s:

They were ordered to replace the last of the unrefurbished Class 303s and the remaining Class 311s on the North Clyde Line; half of the former fleet (51 out of the 91-strong fleet) had been comprehensively refurbished in the mid-80s with the rest (along with the 311s) being gradually withdrawn up until late 1990 when the 320s replaced the remainder en-masse. The refurbished 303s would last until December 2002, well into the National Express era, being gradually replaced by the much delayed 334s.

From 1990 until at least 2011, they were confined to the North Clyde Line in passenger service. The Cathcart Circle remained firmly in the grip of the 303s until 1998-1999 and driver sighting issues (or at least that's what I remember being cited as the reason) with the mirrors in the subsurface underground stations of the Argyle Line (Anderston, Glasgow Central Low Level & Argyle Street) preventing their use on that line's services.

Whatever the issue was, it was rectified at around the same time the class was fitted with yaw dampers and the 320s (both /3s & /4s) and the 318s are effectively a common fleet these days, with both types regularly seen working together on both cross-Glasgow routes. They have only started making somewhat regular appearences on the Cathcart Circle in the last 6 or so years, as the 314 fleet was being run down starting in September 2018.

[vickielawless]

I grew up with these units; cannot believe they are now mostly gone! Who remembers the NSE interior murals, signed Eddie Pond in 2nd class, Edward in 1st?! And incredibly, not a mention of the nickname "Dusty Bin!"

[freddieellis]

It’s always a good morning when I see a new upload from you! Keep up the great work! One railway enthusiast to another! 👍🏻😇

[mdhazeldine]

Being from Surrey, I never had much cause to go on these, but I vividly remember a trip with my friend to visit the newly opened Stansted airport terminal and we went on the class 322 Stansted Express in white and green. At the time it felt so futuristic and modern and Stansted was so modern, clean and quiet (unlike the battery hen farm it is now). In 2022 I went on a day trip on the GEML and had a nice (but hot) journey a Renatus unit. I'm glad I did that now that they're gone.

[andrewbeer]

I grew to love the 321 sets, having lived in Chelmsford for many years. My first full-time time job involved commuting to Colchester and back. I have to be honest, that I preferred the ride of a 312 when available. The 321 units were BREL's swansong, being UK designed and built. I liked the interior style and the artwork at the end walls of each carriage, depicting local scenes.
The downside was that thyristor speed control could in some units cause a painfully loud mains hum from the transformer under the power car during acceleration. I used to avoid sitting in the power car for that reason...

[Gideonsmythe]

A part of the 321 history that seems all but forgotten was that initially 30 were ordered for the West Anglia electrification and they initially ran alongside 310s to Cambridge before both were ousted by 317s by 1992. At first they only operated out of Ilford Depot so appearances beyond Colchester to Clacton and Ipswich were rare before 1992. The release of spare 321/4s from the WCML in 1993 saw off the last of the 309s some of which, ironically, ended up on the WCML.

I commuted on 321s for all of their lives and aside from one door interlock failure and frozen door runners during the winters of 1991 and 2010 they've been very reliable for me. But those seats were so uncomfortable on long journeys. They will be missed but the Aventras and Stadlers are far superior trains from a safety and comfort point of view.

[Titot]

I remember growing up and seeing that Travelcard advert and appreciating how awesome it was. Viewing life through a 21" CRT monitor, one fuzzy day at a time!

[Andrewjg_]

I do miss them a lot and I have been on them many times including when I was a young kid. Not to mention the refurbished Class 321 Renatus that Greater Anglia & Eversholt Rail converted 30 Class 321 units with air-conditioning and disabled toilets.

[phil]

I worked on these out of Leeds for a short time. If I got one on a full "triangle" diagram, instead of a 333, I was a happy guard 😁😊 one of the best things was being able to do doors from the cab and having a bell rather than a buzzer/beeper.

I'm kinda glad I missed out on the 331 and 195 units.... I hear very few positive things about them from former colleagues.