Scrap!

Many of the unrefurbished 321/3 and 321/4 units were initially moved for further storage pending further uses, with only the worst condition units seeing condemnation and scrapping upon withdrawal during 2021. Initially some moved to Wolverton works, where thanks to the electrification of the North London and West Coast Main Lines meant they could travel to the under their own power rather than needing to be ‘dragged’ by a diesel locomotive. Other units travelled further afield to places such as Worksop and Gascoigne Wood, where diesel locomotives assisted on the long journeys to these locations from Ilford Car Sheds. Scrapping went much the same way, with diesel locomotives taking the few condemned units to scrapyards such as Newport Sims Metals in South Wales, a popular location for the scrapping of the many different fleets over the years.

Failed proposals of further use have meant that many of the unrefurbished units in storage have been sent for scrapping since 2021. This began as many of the locations in which Class 321s were stored needed the space for other units, and without any potential futures it was seen as uneconomical to maintain the high cost of unit storage in these locations. Gascoigne Wood’s last unit (321443) scrapped on site during May 2024, Worksop’s last scrap unit (321337) leaving in March 2024. Of the initial fleet of 84 unrefurbished 321/3 and 321/4 units only 11 complete units remain. At this stage many were saved by freight operator Varamis Rail, for example unit 321440 departed Worksop with 321337, with 321440 retained for further use with 321337 scrapped. Many Varamis Rail units moved during this time for short term storage making use of available sidings across the network, Crewe and Rugby were used for example to store units before they could undergo the conversion process. 10 of these units were converted in total as covered in Beyond Passenger Service.

Of these two units  321305 made the journey first, making 321321 the last Class 321, and the last of the legacy Ex-British Rail fleet, to operate out of Ilford Car Sheds. 321321 was dragged by 37800 on November 11th to Newport Sims Metals scrapyard, where it was then cut up. Renatus refurbishment units based in the sidings at Wembley began to follow, as the space was needed for warm storage of other units and for use by increasing freight traffic. Eventually the other members of the fleet stored at Warrington would join them, with scrap moves happening multiple times a week from both locations starting around March 2025 to the infamous Newport Sims Metals. By May 2025 all Renatus fleet had been scrapped, with the final two Warrington units 321312 and 321319 dragged by 57303 on April 17th to Newport Sims Metals scrapyard and the final two Wembley units 321327 and 321329 following shortly after in early May, after a failed attempt at the end of April.

TOP (1) Rail Operations Group 37884 dragging Greater Anglia 321340 and 321343 at Hanwell station. (2) Greater Anglia white (Blue doors) 321340 at Hanwell station. (3) Greater Anglia white (Blue doors) 321343 at Hanwell station.

BOTTOM (1) Renatus 321321 at Stratford station. (2) Rail Operations Group 37800 dragging Renatus 321321 at Reading station. (3) Renatus 321321 at Reading station.