NORTHERN has continued to run down its Class 319 fleet with all but two sets being stopped during December.
Although there were no booked diagrams for the fleet after the timetable change on December 10, several units continued to see use beyond this date as the transfer of the four-car ‘331/1’ sets from Yorkshire to the North West had not been completed; the last set was moved on December 28.
During the week leading up to Christmas (December 18-22), Nos. 319368/369/372/381/385 all saw use. No. 319369 subsequently reappeared in traffic on January 1, with No. 319368 doing so on January 2. With London Northwestern Railway having retired its fleet in November (RE332), it means this pair were the last ‘319s’ in passenger service, although Northern still operates its eight Class 769 ‘Flex’ sets which were converted from Class 319s.
Rail Operations Group also has its Orion parcels conversion, No. 319373, although it is presently out of use at Castle Donington.
Following on from the disposal of No. 319375 (RE332), No. 319378 was hauled from Allerton to Sims, Newport for scrapping on November 29, with Nos. 319367/384 following on December 13, and then Nos. 319366/383 (December 20) and 319361/370 (December 22). All the movements used ROG No. 37800 as traction.
