Scrapping awaits redundant Anglian Mk 3s…
Greater Anglia continues to dispose of its Mk 3s, with vehicles either heading for preservation, further storage at new locations, or being sent for scrap.
The final Mk 3 coach left Norwich Crown Point on May
13, when Standard Open (TSO) 12147 was taken for storage at the Mid-Norfolk Railway (MNR).
Another former GA Mk 3 moving to a new home is Driving Van Trailer (DVT) 82121. It has been preserved at the Colne
Valley Railway and was moved from the MNR by road at the start of May.
However, five DVTs have not been so fortunate and on May 14 Direct Rail Services 37716 hauled 82102/103/105/132/152 from Norwich to Newport Docks, for scrapping by Sims. They had been moved from store at the MNR the previous day. Also making their final journey on the same trip were TSOs 12062 and 12153.
Meanwhile, 29 Mk 3s have been moved from store at the MNR to Long Marston. Porterbrook, which owns the coaches, is not prepared to send these for scrap as it is seeking opportunities for them.
The first ten to move left the MNR on May 5, with DRS 37059 and 37402 Stephen Middlemore 23.12.1954-8.6.2013 taking TSOs 12015/035/056/061/067/ 079/084, 12108/146/167 to the Warwickshire site. Two days later, 37402 and 37716 made the same trip hauling
TSOs 12034/046/049/090, 12116/118/126/137/159/164.
Finally, on May 12, 37402 took Buffet Standards (TSOB) 10406/417, Open Firsts (FO) 11088/093, 11101 and TS 12064/091, 12125/154 to Long Marston.
This leaves three TSOBs, six FOs, 14 TSOs and three DVTs stored at the MNR. All were withdrawn by GA at the end of March, following the introduction of Stadler Class 745 electric multiple units.