Thursday last week, it was announced by Greater Anglia, that the final day of class 321 operation before moving to an ‘As required/emergency’ basis, would be Monday 3rd April 2023. The runnings would take place on the Sunshine Coast Line, to and from Colchester and Walton-on-the-Naze.
Three diagrams were in operation with diagram one being 321311, diagram 2, 321314, and diagram 3, 321326.
The ‘Dusty Bin’s’ nicknamed after the prize you used to ‘win’ after you lost to the game show ‘3-2-1’ hosted by Ted Rogers, are seen from dawn til’ dusk at Walton-on-the-Naze, Frinton-on-Sea, Kirby Cross, Great Bentley, Frating, Alresford, the Wivenhoe Trail, Colchester Town, Colchester East Gates Junction, and Colchester (where the final departure of these units from Britain's Oldest Recorded Town is seen).
Entering service in 1988, these 35 year old units have served East Anglia well throughout their life, are and the last members of the 'heritage' Greater Anglia stock to be replaced. The replacement being the new class 720s built by Bombardier in Derby. 133 of these 5 car units are produced (with around 30 left to go), numbered from 720101 to 144 and 720501 to 589.
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