29th March 2003

c2c
Class 312 Farewell

Route:
1Z30 : Fenchurch Street to Southend Central
1Z31 : Southend Central to Fenchurch Street
1Z32 : Fenchurch Street to Shoeburyness

Source : Stephen Parascandolo (on the train throughout)

Tour Review
(by Stephen Parascandolo)

End of another era (photo: Stephen Parascandolo)

c2c put on a good show for the Class 312 Farewell tour on Saturday. A large crowd had paid £5 for the tour plus rover on c2c for the day and gathered at Fenchurch St about 1020 to watch the arrival of 312781 (Country End) and 312792 (London End). Both ends had a "Class 312 Farewell" headboard fixed to the handrails.

The 1032 to Southend Central, calling at Ockendon only was on the boards accompanied by many confusing announcements that it was not for public use. Departure was almost on time and we ran non stop to Ockendon where there was a 6 min pathing stop to allow an Up service train to pass on the single line. Unusually, the tour was routed DOWN the UP platform which is bi directionally signalled.

On arrival at Southend Central, we were routed into the North bay and photos were taken by all. The excellent station cafe doing a good train but they were very, very slow. I was quoted a week on asking how long the advertised sandwiches would take and they were not joking (No Bread)!

Departure back to London was delayed by Upminster IECC forgetting to route us out in front of the service train before ARS grabbed the route so there was a slight delay while the route was put back on the service train and reset for us. We departed about 4 down and this time were routed via Tilbury and Dagenham where much activity on the CTRL Section 2 was noted, to Barking. As we crawled through the platform, the signal cleared, but Upminster had cocked it up again and given use the route to Fenchurch St. We came to a stop while the route was reset to the Flyover and we duly took it and crossed over and up to Woodgrange Park, passing a CTRL Ventilation Shaft and taking the GE Up Slow down to Stratford. We turned off as scheduled at Bow Junction and took the rare route through to Gas Factory Junction before taking the even more unusual route through the Gas Factory loop on our way into Fenchurch Street.

Fenchurch Street staff gave an excellent PA about this being the last ever slam door train from the station before departure at 1328 Fast to Shoeburyness via the main. We just managed to keep moving despite catching up the stopper at Pitsea. Approaching Southend Central, the train ahead was seen in the station and we were routed unusually DOWN the UP platform which did at least keep us moving. There was speculation that this was booked to overtake the stopper but it had the road out and even though it looked just about possible for us to stay on the move and go out behind it, the signallers were too slow and we stopped for a minute before departure.

Arrival at Shoeburyness resulted in a mad rush for photos and the 2 Essex Yobs who started giving abuse as we got off soon shut up and disappeared when someone pointed out there were 200 of us and 2 of them! After  about 30 min, the 312s finally set off into the sidings.

Great day out on c2c, covering all the c2c routes and some rare track
and all for £5 - Can't be Bad. Lets hope fGE do the same.

Stephen Parascandolo

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford)

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