Dapol Class 323 in OO

[AY Mod]

OO Gauge Class 323 EMU

 

 

The British Rail Class 323 is a class of electric multiple unit (EMU) passenger train built by Hunslet Transportation Projects and Holec. All 43 units were built from 1992 through to 1995 for British Rail’s Provincial Sector.

Entering service in 1994, the 323s were among the last trains to enter service with British Rail before its privatisation in the mid-1990s. The units were designed to operate on inner-suburban commuter lines in and around Birmingham and Manchester with swift acceleration and high reliability. Of the 43 units built, 26 are in operation with West Midlands Railway and 17 with Northern Trains.

From 2018, the units received new, accessible toilets and upgrades to their internal Passenger Information Display Systems.

With the introduction of new Class 730 units, the West Midlands Trains Class 323s will transfer to Northern, joining the existing fleet in the Manchester Area.
The units are known for the distinctive sounds that can be heard during acceleration or deceleration. These sounds are generated by the traction electronics and we are working on reproducing this for our DCC sound fitted models.

 

 

Model Specification

Dapol are excited to announce the development of the British Rail Class 323 Electric Multiple Unit in OO Gauge. We are very grateful to everyone at WMT and Soho LMD for their assistance with this project.
• Available in DC, DCC and DCC Sound Versions
• Plux-22 DCC Socket
• 14-Pin Electrical Connection between cars – just one DCC Chip needed.
• Speaker fitted in each driving car as standard.
• Low profile motor in centre car driving all wheels.
• DCC Controllable lighting, including Door Open lights when in stations.
• DC switchable tail-lights as standard
• Bespoke DCC Sound scheme.
• Bodyside display indicators on 4D-323-001 and 4D-323-002
• Close-coupling mechanism within set.
• Accurate livery reproduction.
• Alternative destination labels.

• Interior and cab lighting.
• Working BSI coupling on front ends to allow 6 or 9-car operation.
• Correct bodyside and headlight arrangements for all versions.
• Original and refurbished internal layout in centre car.
• Correct toilet modules for original and refurbished units”
• Fully painted interior, with correct colour schemes for each version.
• Poseable dummy pantograph and full roof detail.

 

 

4D-323-001 Class 323 323203 Regional Railways Centro

 

 

4D-323-002 Class 323 323227 Regional Railways Greater Manchester PTE

 

 

4D-323-003 Class 323 323213 London Midland

 

 

4D-323-004 Class 323 First North Western “Barbie” with Northern branding

 

 

4D-323-005 Class 323 323241 West Midlands Trains

 

 

4D-323-006 Class 323 323225 Northern New – White / Blue

 

 

4D-323-007 Class 323 323221 Regional Railways Centro Heritage Repaint

 

 

 

[Flying Pig]

You know you're getting old when someone describes Centro as "heritage".

[Erixtar1992]

What a great announcement! We need more modern image EMU’s for sure!

[bmthtrains - David]

A surprising move from Dapol. If this were to shrink to N it would be a definite purchase from me!

 

David

[Benjamin Brady]

🤤 well I know I'll be ordering at least one or two of these. 

[Benjamin Brady]

I have to agree though I really did not see this coming from Dapol. They are skimping on the liveries also

[franciswilliamwebb]

Wow!  Wasn't expecting that! 😎

[Markwj]

Wasn’t expecting but very welcome will be sorting my pre order after the weekend!

[AY Mod]

2 minutes ago, franciswilliamwebb said:

Wow!  Wasn't expecting that! 😎

 

Not from Chirk, certainly.

[JackB95]

My wallet has just died and legged it. I've been after one of these having signed them as a guard, and absolutely love them. I got a 3D printed kit a few years ago and still not started it. Won't be now! 

 

Thank you Dapol 👏🏻 Will they be doing the Northern blue/purple livery too? 

[Legend]

Nice one . An AC electric multiple unit at last . Not quite on target for me . I’m still after that elusive 313/314/315 that someone is allegedly making , but I hope it goes well for Dapol . I think people are shying clear of making multiple units , so this is an important model to be successful . 

[Oldddudders]

I think colleagues managed Cross-City Electrification, and these were the units that did it. Always seemed a really good scheme and then units should be popular. I note DC, DCC and DCC Sound options - all too often we get the first and last, seldom all three. Full marks for that. 

[TomScrut]

Good announcement. Unfortunately the wrong side of the Pennine for me but I am pleased somebody is doing a new MU.

[GMKAT7]

Good morning folks,

 

Having been involved with the 323s from Reggie Railways service introduction up to 2006 this is a fantastic surprise and will be one for the collection.

 

Just got to work out when the Centro one arrives and how much?

 

Cheers, Nigel.

[Dunsignalling]

Not my area of interest, but it's high time somebody stuck their heads over the parapet with (a) a fairly "mainstream" modern(ish) EMU and (b) a 3-car unit. 

 

Hopefully it will be a great success for Dapol and encourage the production in model form of more MU prototypes new and old.

 

John

 

 

[TomScrut]

2 minutes ago, GMKAT7 said:

Just got to work out when the Centro one arrives and how much?

 

Rails have them listed at just under £300 for DCC ready. Which isn't bad at all for a 3 car unit I don't think.

[njee20]

That is interesting! Hope it sells well for them. 

[Roy Langridge]

16 minutes ago, AY Mod said:

 

Not from Chirk, certainly.

Is that a hint that you were expecting one elsewhere Andy? Slightly worried that may mean duplication. Hoping not. 

 

Roy

[GMKAT7]

Hello Tom,

 

Thanks for the information about price at Rails, will be putting in a pre-order.

Edit: Pre-order now placed with Rails for a RR/Centro original DC-ready version. Free P&P too :)

 

2024/25 is looking busy/expensive now 😅

 

Cheers, Nigel.

Edited November 25, 2023 by GMKAT7
Added/updated info.

[NBL]

Brilliant announcement, too modern for my interests but will surely be popular!

 

I hope other manufacturers take note!

 

Love the sound the units make when accelerating, right up there with the Siemens Taurus and Amtrak's Siemens ACS-64.

[letterspider]

Q2 2025 - rathr brave of Dapol to announce this so early - unless they are offering early bird prices, there will be risks of price rises, delays and ....duplication? Hopefully not. A great announcement and I am saving up for this

[Amnesiac]

Will be getting the 2 WMT variants at the very least, excellent news!! Funnily, had both 241/221 as a 6 car set earlier this year on a Redditch - Four Oaks - Redditch!

Edited November 25, 2023 by Amnesiac

[Benjamin Brady]

34 minutes ago, AY Mod said:

 

Not from Chirk, certainly.

Is this the reason the announcement is so early as there is a duplication on the way

[Fair Oak Junction]

Oh bother! I've wanted one of these for years, and now it comes when there is already SO much coming from other manufacturers.

I need to rob a bank.....😭

Edited November 25, 2023 by Fair Oak Junction

[wombatofludham]

Absolutely fantastic news!  I was working at Centro when these were in development and accompanied a party of management to the mock-up at Tickfords, and along with most of the office evacuated to Aston station on their first day in service to try them out.  As an ex Cross City regular I have always liked these units, so I think Wednesford 1992 will now be Wednesford 1994, especially as the GMPTE units were also regularly seen in the West Midlands on semi fasts from Manchester.

Surprised though it's coming from the Marches and not the Fox County, but who cares - a 323!!!