Ex WM 323s at Northern

[Liam L]

Thank God it's only January and not Blackpool tourism season

Still, those trains are also popular with Manchester commuters, especially Tuesday to Thursday.

I'd imagine the allocations and train lengths would be increase in May TT change to accommodate the tourism into Blackpool?

 

[LRV3004]

Seems to be marginally better today; two pairs of 323s on the Airport to Blackpool route. Departures from the Airport currently showing as:
323219 - 0617
323229+323235 - 0748, 1148, 1548, 1948.
323242+323219 - 1017, 1417, 1817, 2217.
Given the way the repaints are going, the combination of 323219+323242 is certainly interesting!

 

[p1ash]

So, 218 seems to have failed today, and has been dragged back to Allerton with 232 out on test (which failed over the weekend?).
Northern have around 20 323s diagrammed, and following Dec timetable change had 21 323s out.
Today, again only 15 out? I wonder if the lack of a central overnight depot (like Soho) is affecting performance?
The pattern is that a unit breaks, and then spends a few weeks out of service... so perhaps spare parts are an issue on what is now an elderly fleet?
Maybe Hunslet Bear needs to move to Allerton!?

 

[LRV3004]

323212 is out today according to RTT. Paired with 323235 on the following:
1N60 1017 MIA-BPN
1Y65 1225 BPN-MIA
1N68 1417 MIA-BPN
1Y53 1622 BPN-MIA
1N56 1817 MIA-BPN
1Y61 2022 BPN-MIA
1N64 2217 MIA-BPN

 

[Liam L]

Time to give this list a update:

323202: In Service | WMT Livery
323203: Not Worked Since WMT | Northern Livery
323205: In Service | Northern Livery
323206: In Service | WMT Livery
323207: In Service | Northern Livery
323208: In Service | Northern Livery
323209: Not Worked Since WMT | WMT Livery
323210: In Service | Northern Livery
323212: In Service | Northern Livery
323213: In Service | Northern Livery | Northern seat cushions (To allow spares for other WMT ones)
323217: In Service | Northern Livery
323218: In Service | WMT Livery
323219: In Service | WMT Livery
323220: In Service | Northern Livery
323241: Not Worked Since WMT| WMT Livery
323242: In Service | WMT Livery
323243: Not Worked Since WMT| WMT Livery
Updates since the last list:

323212 entered traffic
323207 has gone into repaint and 323203 & 323212 has returned.

We down to 4 units which haven't seen service since WMT | 203, 209 , 241 , 243

 

[thealexweb]

So, 218 seems to have failed today, and has been dragged back to Allerton with 232 out on test (which failed over the weekend?).
Northern have around 20 323s diagrammed, and following Dec timetable change had 21 323s out.
Today, again only 15 out? I wonder if the lack of a central overnight depot (like Soho) is affecting performance?
The pattern is that a unit breaks, and then spends a few weeks out of service... so perhaps spare parts are an issue on what is now an elderly fleet?
Maybe Hunslet Bear needs to move to Allerton!?

Could a 323 only be recovered by another 323? Could any other Northern stock be compatible?

 

[43096]

Could a 323 only be recovered by another 323? Could any other Northern stock be compatible?

Not easily. Northern don't have any other units that have Tightlock couplers.

 

[diligentdave]

Could a 323 only be recovered by another 323? Could any other Northern stock be compatible?

A 323 can be recovered using a 769.

 

[crosscity]

The next WM 323 is scheduled to go to Wolverton for painting on Saturday.

Realtime Trains | 5H70 1040 Allerton Depot to Wolverton Centre Sidings | 25/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 5H70 1040 departure from Allerton Depot to Wolverton Centre Sidings on 25/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Anyone know which one is next?

Realtime Trains | 5N36 1533 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Allerton Depot | 25/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 5N36 1533 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Allerton Depot on 25/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

… should be 323210 returning in Northern livery

 

[diligentdave]

The next WM 323 is scheduled to go to Wolverton for painting on Saturday.

Realtime Trains | 5H70 1040 Allerton Depot to Wolverton Centre Sidings | 25/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 5H70 1040 departure from Allerton Depot to Wolverton Centre Sidings on 25/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Anyone know which one is next?

Realtime Trains | 5N36 1533 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Allerton Depot | 25/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 5N36 1533 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Allerton Depot on 25/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

… should be 323210 returning in Northern livery

Should be 323219 but depends on this storm if it runs.

 

[The_Train]

The next WM 323 is scheduled to go to Wolverton for painting on Saturday.

Realtime Trains | 5H70 1040 Allerton Depot to Wolverton Centre Sidings | 25/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 5H70 1040 departure from Allerton Depot to Wolverton Centre Sidings on 25/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Anyone know which one is next?

Realtime Trains | 5N36 1533 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Allerton Depot | 25/01/2025

Real-time train running information for 5N36 1533 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Allerton Depot on 25/01/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

… should be 323210 returning in Northern livery

Do we know which units ended up on these workings?

 

[Rhysdabeast]

Do we know which units ended up on these workings?

5H70 323219
5N36 323210

Both Mk1 eyeball sightings by myself

 

[The_Train]

5H70 323219
5N36 323210

Both Mk1 eyeball sightings by myself

The best sort of sighting

Cheers mate

 

[Geeves]

Here's 210 all ready for the off the other day at Wolverton. All credit Alan the driver for the picture

 

[Potteries 323]

323203 out on Crewe-Manchester diagram today.

 

[Liam L]

323202: In Service | WMT Livery
323203: In Service | Northern Livery
323205: In Service | Northern Livery
323206: In Service | WMT Livery
323207: In Service | Northern Livery
323208: In Service | Northern Livery
323209: Not Worked Since WMT | WMT Livery
323210: In Service | Northern Livery
323212: In Service | Northern Livery
323213: In Service | Northern Livery | Northern seat cushions (To allow spares for other WMT ones)
323217: In Service | Northern Livery
323218: In Service | WMT Livery
323219: In Service | Northern Livery
323220: In Service | Northern Livery
323241: Not Worked Since WMT| WMT Livery
323242: In Service | WMT Livery
323243:Not Worked Since WMT | WMT Livery

Updates since the last list:
323203 into service - 01/02/2025
323219 in for repaint replacing 323210.

 

[Geeves]

I cant remember if I posted but about a week ago 323243 was out on a test run 5Z85, two trips to Wigan and back. I am assuming we will see it back in service soon!

 

[Liam L]

I cant remember if I posted but about a week ago 323243 was out on a test run 5Z85, two trips to Wigan and back. I am assuming we will see it back in service soon!

Must be the first time it's been out since it arrived at Allerton last May. There been no another sightings of it.

 

[Geeves]

Must be the first time it's been out since it arrived at Allerton last May. There been no another sightings of it.

I think it's been to the wheel lathe at Longsight too Liam, totally under the radar in the dead of night

 

[LRV3004]

323203 out again today, paired with 323205 on the Blackpool to Manchester Airport route.

 

[The_Train]

323207: In Service | Northern Livery

When did this come out of Wolverton and when did it enter service with Northern mate?

 

[Liam L]

When did this come out of Wolverton and when did it enter service with Northern mate?

Out Of Wolverton, 25th Jan 2025
In service, 21st July 2024

Looks like the 323s will be making a return to Birmingham this Saturday, albeit on their way for repaint at wolverton

323207 returning

Realtime Trains | 5N36 0904 Wolverton Centre Sidings to Allerton Depot | 08/02/2025

Real-time train running information for 5N36 0904 departure from Wolverton Centre Sidings to Allerton Depot on 08/02/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

Unit going in

Realtime Trains | 5H70 1340 Allerton Depot to Wolverton Centre Sidings | 08/02/2025

Real-time train running information for 5H70 1340 departure from Allerton Depot to Wolverton Centre Sidings on 08/02/2025. From Realtime Trains, an independent source of train running info for Great Britain.

www.realtimetrains.co.uk

 

[crosscity]

Looks like the 323s will be making a return to Birmingham this Saturday, albeit on their way for repaint at wolverton

Sat 8 Feb 2025 at 16:09. Ex-Soho EMU 323242 is going to receive its new Northern livery at Wolverton Works, and forms [5H70] the 13:40 from Allerton Depot.
It is on Birmingham's Aston-Stechford line, and came this way because the WCML route via the Trent Valley was closed for engineering works.
[Note1: No stranger to Birmingham, 323242, along with twenty-five others, spent 30-years working the Crosscity line. In Jun2024 it was transferred to Allerton as new Aventra 730/0 EMU's were introduced on the Crosscity line].
[Note2: The steel bridge was commissioned in 2022 and spans the existing line to New St from Washwood Heath as well as the new HS2 track-bed into Birmingham Curzon St].
My photo [P1210599] by Ray Honke, on Flickr

 

[Liam L]

List: 10/02/25

323202: In Service | WMT Livery
323203: In Service | Northern Livery
323205: In Service | Northern Livery
323206: In Service | WMT Livery
323207: In Service | Northern Livery
323208: In Service | Northern Livery
323209: Not Worked Since WMT | WMT Livery
323210: In Service | Northern Livery
323212: In Service | Northern Livery
323213: In Service | Northern Livery | Northern seat cushions (To allow spares for other WMT ones)
323217:In Service | Northern Livery
323218: In Service | WMT Livery
323219: In Service| WMT Livery
323220: In Service | Northern Livery
323241: Not Worked Since WMT | WMT Livery
323242: In Service | Northern Livery
323243: Not Worked Since WMT | WMT Livery

Updates since last list:
323207 returned from repaint with 323242 going in

No new entries into service, Apparently 323243 is currently a "Christmas Tree" so might end up being last into traffic

 

[BPN2022]

List: 10/02/25

323202: In Service | WMT Livery
323203: In Service | Northern Livery
323205: In Service | Northern Livery
323206: In Service | WMT Livery
323207: In Service | Northern Livery
323208: In Service | Northern Livery
323209: Not Worked Since WMT | WMT Livery
323210: In Service | Northern Livery
323212: In Service | Northern Livery
323213: In Service | Northern Livery | Northern seat cushions (To allow spares for other WMT ones)
323217:In Service | Northern Livery
323218: In Service | WMT Livery
323219: In Service| WMT Livery
323220: In Service | Northern Livery
323241: Not Worked Since WMT | WMT Livery
323242: In Service | Northern Livery
323243: Not Worked Since WMT | WMT Livery

Updates since last list:
323207 returned from repaint with 323242 going in

No new entries into service, Apparently 323243 is currently a "Christmas Tree" so might end up being last into traffic

Why have 209/241 not worked - does anyone know?

 

[Liam L]

Why have 209/241 not worked - does anyone know?

They been used as training sets

 

[RailKnight786]

For anyone who wanted to see 323213 with the Northern Seat Covers, with the WMR interior contrast. This is how it looks.

Also to note, 323213 doesn't have the USB charging configuration and even the modern 360° Panasonic CCTV. Still uses traditional cameras. Was this supposed to be transferred to northern or is it more of a running spare parts train in service?

 

[The_Train]

For anyone who wanted to see 323213 with the Northern Seat Covers, with the WMR interior contrast. This is how it looks.

Also to note, 323213 doesn't have the USB charging configuration and even the modern 360° Panasonic CCTV. Still uses traditional cameras. Was this supposed to be transferred to northern or is it more of a running spare parts train in service?

The blue seats and orange grab handles actually work together quite well

 

[Liam L]

The blue seats and orange grab handles actually work together quite well

It's a shame the rest of the interior looks dated, hopefully a refurb will happen eventually..

 

[skyhigh]

Was this supposed to be transferred to northern

Yes, it's just awaiting the work being done.