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British Rail Class 144

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The British Rail Class 144 Pacer are diesel multiple unit (DMU) passenger trains built at Derby between 1986 and 1987. British Rail, seeking to procure improved derivatives of the earlier Class 141, placed an order with the manufacturers British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) and Walter Alexander to construct their own variant, the Class 144. A total of 23 units were constructed.[8] All units have now retired from mainline service, though the majority of the units have been acquired for preservation on heritage railways and in other uses. As of December 2022, 19 out of the 23 units have been purchased following withdrawal for this purpose, of which 14 units are in operational condition.

British Rail Class 144
Pacer
Northern Rail Class 144 at Lancaster in 2012
Northern Rail refurbished Class 144 saloon
In service1986–2020
Manufacturer
Order no.
  • 31015 (DMS vehicles)
  • 31016 (DMSL vehicles)
  • 31037 (MS vehicles)[1]
Family namePacer
Constructed1986–1987[1]
Refurbished
  • 2002–2004
  • 2010
Number built23
(13 × 2-car, 10 × 3-car)
Number preserved19
Number scrapped3
Formation2 or 3 cars per unit:
  • DMS-DMSL
  • DMS-MS-DMSL
Diagram
  • DMS vehicles: DP240
  • MS vehicles: DR205
  • DMSL vehicles: DP241[1]
Fleet numbers
  • 144001–144013 (2-car units)
  • 144014–144023 (3-car units)
Capacity
  • In 2-abreast configuration:
    104 or 162 seats[2]
  • In 3-abreast configuration:
    122 or 195 seats
OwnersPorterbrook
Operators
DepotsNeville Hill (Leeds)[1]
Lines served
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel underframe, aluminium alloy body and roof
Car length
  • DM vehs.: 15.093 m (49 ft 6.2 in)
  • MS vehs.: 15.186 m (49 ft 9.9 in)
Width2.695 m (8 ft 10.1 in)
Height3.725 m (12 ft 2.7 in)
Floor height1.288 m (4 ft 2.7 in)
DoorsDouble-leaf folding (3 or 5 per side)
Wheelbase9.000 m (29 ft 6.3 in)
Maximum speed75 mph (121 km/h)
Weight
  • As built;
  • DMS vehs.: 24.17 t (23.79 long tons; 26.64 short tons)
  • MS vehs.: 23.50 t (23.13 long tons; 25.90 short tons)
  • DMSL vehs.:25.04 t (24.64 long tons; 27.60 short tons)
Axle loadRoute Availability 1[2]
Prime mover(s)
  • As built:
    2 or 3 × Leyland TL11
  • After upgrade:
    2 or 3 × Cummins LTA10-R[3]
  • (one per vehicle)
Engine typeInline-6 4-stroke turbo-diesel[4][5]
Displacement
  • Leyland: 11.1 L (680 cu in)[4]
  • Cummins: 10.0 L (610 cu in)[5]
  • (per engine)
Power output
  • Leyland: 149 kW (200 hp)[6]
  • Cummins: 168 kW (225 hp)[3]
  • (per engine)
Transmission
Minimum turning radius70 m (230 ft)
Braking system(s)Electro-pneumatic (tread)[2]
Safety system(s)
Coupling systemBSI
Multiple workingWithin class, and with Classes 14x, 15x, and 170[2]
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Notes/references
Specifications as at December 1987[7] except where otherwise noted.

Background

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By the beginning of the 1980s, British Rail (BR) operated a large fleet of first generation DMUs, which had been constructed in prior decades to various designs.[9] While formulating its long-term strategy for this sector of its operations, British Rail planners recognised that there would be considerable costs incurred by undertaking refurbishment programmes necessary for the continued use of these aging multiple units, particularly due to the necessity of handling and removing hazardous materials such as asbestos. In light of the high costs involved in retention, planners examined the prospects for the development and introduction of a new generation of DMUs to succeed the first generation.[6]

In the concept stage, two separate approaches were devised, one involving a so-called railbus that prioritised the minimisation of both initial (procurement) and ongoing (maintenance & operational) costs, while the second was a more substantial DMU that could deliver superior performance than the existing fleet, particularly when it came to long-distance services.[6] While the more ambitious latter requirement would ultimately lead to the development of the British Rail Class 150 and the wider Sprinter family of DMUs, BR officials recognised that a cheaper unit was desirable for service on the smaller branch lines that would not be unduly impacted by lower performance specs or a high density configuration. As such, work to progress both approaches was undertaken by BR's research department during the early 1980s.[6]

During this period, a number of prototypes were constructed to explore different designs and approaches for implementing the railbus concept. One such vehicle was a single two-car unit, designated as the Class 140, that was constructed between 1979 and 1981.[10] This prototype was introduced with much fanfare during June 1981.[10] Initial testing with the Class 140 uncovered several issues, such as difficulty detecting the type via track circuits, this was reliably resolved by swapping the material of the brake blocks from a composite to iron.[6] Two less easily addressable drawbacks were the high level of noise generated during transit, particularly on older jointed rails, which was a consequence of the railbus's direct connection between the underframe and suspension with the body that transmitted impact forces across the body. It was also observed that the inclusion of strengthening members in the mass-produced bus body added significantly to the overall production cost, which eliminated much of the cost advantage that was the primarily goal of the type.[6]

The Class 140 was viewed to be an overall success, and thus BR issued an order for an initial production model, designated Class 141, to British Leyland during 1984 with production commencing thereafter.[6] During its early years of service, the Class 141 experienced numerous issues, particularly with the transmission and ride quality; work undertaken at BR's direct resulted in the quick development of numerous improvements to at least partially address these shortcomings. When it came to ordering more railbuses, however, it was decided that instead of placing these follow-on orders for further Class 141, it would be more desirable to procure improved derivatives of the Class 141.[6] Accordingly, BR placed orders for two new models of the Pacer family with separate manufacturers, these being the Class 142 and Class 143 respectively. Thereafter, another and final Pacer model would be ordered, this being the Class 144.[6]

Description

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A total of 23 Class 144 units were constructed.[8] The units have a maximum speed of 75 mph (121 km/h) and are externally similar to the earlier Class 143 Pacers, sharing a near-identical body built by Walter Alexander. The first thirteen of the class – numbers 144001 to 144013 – are two-car units, while the remaining ten – 144014 to 144023 – have a third vehicle that was added later.[2] These ten Pacers are the only ones to use intermediate vehicles.[11]

Units are formed of two driving motors, one of which contains a toilet. The three-car units have an additional intermediate motor. All vehicles have standard-class seating only. The technical description of the formation is DMS-(MS-)DMSL. Individual vehicles are numbered as follows:[1]

  • DMS: 55801–55823
  • MS: 55850–55859 (units 144014–144023 only)
  • DMSL: 55824–55846

As originally built, the traction arrangement of the Class 142 consisted of a 200 horsepower (150 kW) Leyland TL11 engine, a Self-Changing Gears mechanical automatic gearbox and a Gmeinder final drive unit on each car driving only a single axle.[10] This propulsion arrangement was in part taken from the Leyland National bus, as well as shared with the earlier Class 141.[6] Starting in the early 1990s, every member of the class was mechanically upgraded due to the original parts being determined to be a major source of unreliability.[11] The most substantial change was the replacement of the Leyland-built engine with a more powerful Cummins LTA10-R[3] as well as the original mechanical transmission being substituted for a Voith hydrokinetic unit.[1][11]

The Class 144 units are equipped with BSI couplers. This allows them to work in multiple with Class 142, Class 143, Class 150, Class 153, Class 155, Class 156, Class 158, Class 165, Class 166 and Class 170 units, as well as units of the same class.[2] As a benefit of their high levels of similarities, Class 144 units were often replaced in service by Class 142 units, and vice versa.[citation needed]

Operations

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British Rail

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BR Class 144 3 car unit in West Yorkshire PTE livery at Leeds in 1996

The first Class 144 units were delivered during 1986.[11] They were produced specifically to perform local services sponsored by the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (since rebranded as Metro). As such, the fleet was painted in the crimson/cream West Yorkshire Metro livery, although three units (nos. 144011–013) were later repainted into Regional Railways livery.[citation needed] During the British Rail era, the type was normally used on services such as the Harrogate Line between York, Harrogate, and Leeds, the Huddersfield Line's Wakefield section between Leeds and Huddersfield, along with the Huddersfield branch of the Calder Vale line. Class 144s were also operated on the Hallam Line between Leeds, Barnsley, and Sheffield; the Penistone Line between Huddersfield, Barnsley, and Sheffield; and the Pontefract Line between Wakefield and Pontefract.[citation needed]

The Class 144 was also tasked with additional routes, including the Leeds-Morecambe services, services between Scunthorpe and Adwick to Sheffield and Lincoln. More recently from 2008, they have been working between Manchester Victoria and Leeds (usually via Brighouse) amongst others.[citation needed] Prior to 1994, they were also used on Leeds/Bradford-Ilkley and Leeds/Bradford-Skipton services. These lines were electrified in 1994, and passenger services were operated by Class 308 electric multiple units.[citation needed]

Early operations of the type were marred by unreliability to the extent where the Class 144 was commonly substituted for at the last minute by either first generation DMUs or locomotive-hauled trains.[11] Their poor serviceability was common to all production Pacer types. According to industry periodical Rail magazine, the Class 144's mechanical transmission was frequently attributed as being the largely single cause of these issues, while undesirable instances of wheel slippage was another common occurrence.[11] As a consequence, the propulsion systems of not only the Class 144 but its Class 143 and Class 142 siblings were replaced after only a few years of service. This refit not only resolved much of the unreliability issues but also gave the Pacer greater acceleration through the installation of a more powerful engine.[11]

Privatisation era

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Refurbished Class 144 in Arriva Trains Northern/WYPTE Metro livery, at York in 2004
 
Saloon after Arriva Northern/WYPTE Metro refurbishment

Since the privatisation of British Rail, the Class 144 has been operated by several franchises. The first private operator was Northern Spirit, which was later taken over by Arriva Trains Northern; the latter opted to refurbish its fleet between 2002 and 2004 to enable its continued service.[12] Post-refurbishment, the units emerging in a new silver and red Metro livery complete with refurbished interior. In December 2004, the fleet was transferred to the then-new Northern rail franchise. Northern Rail replaced the silver and red Metro livery with Northern Purple and Blue. By April 2010, all Class 144s have been repainted into this new livery.[8]

Around 2010, Northern Rail subjected their fleet of Class 144s to another refurbishment programme. 144006 was the first unit to be refurbished, it had also the first one to be refurbished in the joint Arriva Trains Northern/WYPTE Metro programme in 2002. The refurbishment enhancements involved numerous interior changes, including the installation of 'easy to mop' flooring, an extended area for bike storage at one end of the car by removing a bulkhead wall and extending the perch seats from three to four, repainted hand grips and stanchions, new dado side panels and repainted wall ends, retrimmed seats in the purple Northern Rail moquette, a repainted ceiling, and repainted driving cab.[13][14]

During April 2016, Northern Rail's Class 144s were all transferred to the new franchisee Arriva Rail North; in turn, Northern Trains took over operations of the fleet on 1 March 2020.[citation needed]

Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Interoperable Rail System) Regulations 2008[15] and the subsequent Persons of Reduced Mobility - Technical Specification for Interoperability (PRM-TSI) require that all public passenger trains must be accessible by 1 January 2020. As originally delivered, the Class 144 does not meets this requirement and has to be withdrawn without modifications to become compliant. During the 2010s, the rolling stock leasing company Porterbrook proposed an extensive refurbishment of the Class 143 and Class 144 fleets with the purpose of satisfying the diverse needs of this requirement; it was noted that the envisioned modifications would necessitate a significant reduction in the number of seats available.[16][17] All were to be withdrawn by December 2019. Northern ordered the Class 195 and Class 331 units to replace the Pacers, as well as taking on spare stock from other operators.[18][19] However, due to the late delivery of the new trains, the 144s were to remain in service in the South Yorkshire area until the middle of 2020.[20] Northern accordingly sought and received a dispensation allowing continued use until 31 August 2020, on certain specified routes only.[21]

Withdrawal

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Class 144s stored at Bedale on the Wensleydale Railway, prior to being preserved.

Following the outbreak of COVID-19 in the UK in March 2020 and the resulting curtailment of passenger services,[22] Northern withdrew the entire fleet prematurely and by mid-April had placed all 23 units in storage; 18 units at the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway and the remaining five at Heaton Traction Maintenance Depot in Newcastle upon Tyne.[23][24][25] Three units were subsequently scrapped, while the other 20 were distributed to preservation groups and other non-railway users.

Class 144e

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Class 144e saloon

The Class 144 Evolution (or 144e) proposal was publicised by fleet owner Porterbrook in 2015, as a way of bringing the fleet into compliance with the PRM-TSI requirements and thus extending its life past the compliance deadline at the end of 2019.[17] One unit, number 144012, was refurbished to the Evolution standard and displayed as a proof-of-concept of upgrades including;[17][26]

  • installation of a universally-accessible toilet,
  • provision of two wheelchair spaces,
  • provision of a luggage rack and space for two bicycles,
  • installation of new Fainsa seats,
  • installation of passenger Wi-Fi,
  • installation of passenger information displays and automatic voice announcements,
  • installation of CCTV in the saloon, along with forward-facing cameras in the cabs, and,
  • conversion of internal lighting from fluorescent to LED.

Porterbrook stated that it had paid £800,000 to prepare the demonstrator unit, but claimed that a price of £175,000 per train carriage, totalling £350,000 per 2-car train or £525,000 per 3-car train, could be achieved in volume production.[27] It was planned that the demonstrator would enter public service in April 2015, but this was delayed until later in the year.[28][17] Following withdrawal it was sold in 2021 to Network Rail, but later scrapped.[29][30]

Incidents

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A Northern Rail 3-car Class 144 unit caught fire near Smithy Bridge in Rochdale on 21 November 2013.[31][32]

Fleet details

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A total of 23 Class 144 units were built. The first thirteen of the class – numbers 144001 to 144013 – are two-car units, while the remaining ten – 144014 to 144023 – have a third vehicle that was added later in 1987.[2]

Class Status Qty. Year built Cars per unit Unit nos.
144 Converted for non-railway use 4 1986–1987 2 144001–144002,[citation needed] 144008,[citation needed] 144010[33]
Preserved 8 144003, 144004–144007, 144009, 144011, 144013[30]
8 3 144014, 144016–144019, 144020, 144022–144023[30]
Scrapped 1 2 144012[30]
2 3 144015, 144021[30]

Named units

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Unit 144001 received the name The Penistone Line Partnership[34]

Preservation

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Fourteen Class 144 units have been preserved in operational condition.

Operational

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Unit Vehicle numbers Livery Location Notes
DMS MS DMSL
144003 55803 — 55826 Northern Rail (unbranded) Great Central Railway (Nottingham) Delivered on 3 September 2020.[35]
144004 55804 — 55827 Aln Valley Railway Delivered on 15 December 2020.[36]
144006 55806 — 55829 Cambrian Heritage Railway Delivered on 22 May 2020.[37]
144007 55807 — 55830 Cambrian Heritage Railway Delivered on 22 May 2020.[37]
144009 55809 — 55832 Great Midlands Trains (Fictitious) East Lancashire Railway Delivered in September 2020 originally for use as a fire service training rig, later purchased for preservation.[38]
144011 55811 — 55834 MetroTrain (red and white) Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Acquired on 26 June 2020.[39]
144013 55813 — 55836 Northern Rail (unbranded) Telford Steam Railway Delivered on 1–2 July 2020.[40]
144014 55814 55850 55837 Tyseley Locomotive Works For mainline use.[41]
144016 55816 55852 55839 Aln Valley Railway Delivered on 16–17 December 2020.[42]
144017 55817 55853 55840 Appleby Frodingham Railway Acquired by Scunthorpe Industrial Heritage Railways in November 2020, in use for driver experience at British Steel Scunthorpe works.[43]
144018 55818 55854 55841 Mid Norfolk Railway Delivered to Dereham in late 2020.[44]
144019 55829 55855 55852 Tyseley Locomotive Works For mainline use.[41]
144020 55830 55856 55853 Wensleydale Railway[45]
144022 55822 55858 55845 Keith & Dufftown Railway Delivered on 4 September 2020[46]
144023 55823 55859 55846 Tyseley Locomotive Works For mainline use.[41]

Non-railway use

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Five Class 144 units have been acquired by non-railway organisations. Two of them, numbers 144001 and 144008, were distributed to community organisations via the Department for Transport's "Transform a Pacer" competition.[47]

Unit Vehicle numbers Livery Location Notes
DMS MS DMSL
144001 55801 — — Northern Rail (unbranded) Airedale General Hospital "Transform a Pacer" winner, to be used as a non-clinical space for children's ward patients.[48][49]
— 55824 Grey, with Platform 1 branding Huddersfield railway station "Transform a Pacer" winner, to be used by the Platform 1 mental health charity as an educational kitchen.[50][51]
144002 55802 — 55825 TEXO Foundation (black and orange)[52] The Dales School, Blyth To be used as a classroom and library.[53][54]
144008 55808 — — Northern Rail (unbranded) Fagley Primary School, Bradford "Transform a Pacer" winner, to be converted into a science lab to promote STEM learning.[55][56][57]
— 55831 Corby and District Model Railway Society Used as a static exhibit, for special events and birthday parties.[58]
144010 55810 — 55833 East Lancashire Railway Purchased by the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service for use as a training rig, being stripped of parts prior to transfer.[59]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Fox, Peter (1987). British Railways Pocket Book No. 2: Multiple Units (Summer–Autumn 1987 ed.). Sheffield: Platform 5 Publishing. p. 42. ISBN 0906579740. OCLC 613347580.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Class 143 & 144 Diesel Multiple Units (PDF) (1A ed.). Derby: Porterbrook Leasing Company. September 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Pritchard, R. N.; Fox, Peter (2009). British Railways Pocket Book No. 3: Diesel Multiple Units 2010. Sheffield: Platform 5 Publishing. p. 15. ISBN 978-1-902336-75-6. OCLC 614300319.
  4. ^ a b Leyland Titan Technical Data (PDF). Southall: British Leyland UK. June 1978. Lit. No. 1683. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 January 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  5. ^ a b Engine Performance Curve LTA10-G2. Columbus, Indiana: Cummins Engine Company. 14 April 1997. FR-2254. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Shore, A. G. L. (1987). "British Rail Diesel Multiple Unit Replacement Programme". Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Transport Engineering. 201 (2): 115–122. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.1008.3291. doi:10.1243/PIME_PROC_1987_201_165_02. ISSN 0265-1904. S2CID 109194039.
  7. ^ Vehicle Diagram Book No. 220 for Diesel Multiple Unit Trains (Railcars) (PDF). Derby: British Railways Board. 1982. DP240–DP241 & DR205 (in work pp. 75–78 & 205–206). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2016 – via Barrowmore MRG.
  8. ^ a b c "The Junction Fleet List". Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
  9. ^ Thomas, David St John; Whitehouse, Patrick (1990). BR in the Eighties. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. ISBN 978-0-7153-9854-8. OL 11253354M. Wikidata Q112224535.
  10. ^ a b c Smith, R. I. (2002). Class 140: The Past, The Present, The Future. Keith & Dufftown Railway Association. pp. 3, 7. ISBN 0901845213.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g "Pacers: the unlikely local heroes…". railmagazine.com. 12 August 2019. Archived from the original on 21 September 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  12. ^ Boyd-Hope, Gary (December 2018). "Nodding Along - the Pacer Story Part 3". The Railway Magazine. Vol. 164, no. 1, 413. Horncastle: Mortons Media. p. 27. ISSN 0033-8923.
  13. ^ "Interior of refurbished Class 144 No. 144006". Retrieved 26 April 2010.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ "Interior of refurbished Class 144 No. 144006". Retrieved 26 April 2010.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ "The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Interoperable Rail System) Regulations 2008". legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 17 September 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  16. ^ "Class 143 & 144 Diesel Multiple Units" (PDF). Porterbrook Leasing Co. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 March 2014.
  17. ^ a b c d "Porterbrook unveils Pacer DMU life-extension demonstrator". Railway Gazette International. 29 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  18. ^ "Northern to replace Pacers with '21st Century' trains". BBC News. 5 February 2018. Archived from the original on 13 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  19. ^ "Northern Invitation to Tender" (PDF). Department for Transport. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  20. ^ Clinnick, Richard. "Pacers to continue running in South Yorkshire into next year". RAIL. Archived from the original on 29 July 2019. Retrieved 4 August 2019.
  21. ^ Wilkinson, Peter (4 December 2019). "The Railways (Interoperability) Regulations 2011 – Northern Class 144 - 2020 accessibility deadline" (PDF). DfT. Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
  22. ^ Paton, Graeme (20 April 2020). "Rail passengers could be limited on return to work". The Times. No. 73, 138. p. 2. ISSN 0140-0460.
  23. ^ Newton, Grace (21 April 2020). "End of the line is near for fleet of disused Pacers". The Yorkshire Post. p. 11. ISSN 0963-1496.
  24. ^ Milner, Chris, ed. (May 2020). "'Pacers' stored at Worth Valley". The Railway Magazine. Vol. 166, no. 1, 430. Horncastle: Morton's Media. p. 6. ISSN 0033-8923.
  25. ^ "How 23 Pacers in storage could save this Yorkshire heritage railway from collapse". The Yorkshire Post. Archived from the original on 24 April 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  26. ^ Class 144 Evolution (PDF). Derby: Porterbrook Leasing Company. February 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  27. ^ "Porterbrook unveils refurbed Class 144e Evolution Pacer". 29 June 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  28. ^ Clinnick, Richard (13 February 2015). "Porterbrook's rebuilt Pacer set to enter traffic in April". Rail Magazine. Peterborough: Bauer Consumer Media. Archived from the original on 18 March 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  29. ^ Butlin, Ashley (August 2021). "Stock Update". Track Record. The Railway Magazine. Vol. 167, no. 1445. p. 105.
  30. ^ a b c d e Russell, David (January 2023). "Last 'Pacer' is disposed of, though many 'nodding donkeys' survive". Units. Rail Express. No. 320. p. 26.
  31. ^ "Manchester to Leeds train catches fire in Rochdale". BBC News. BBC. 21 November 2013. Archived from the original on 22 November 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  32. ^ "Commuters evacuated from train after it catches fire in Rochdale". Manchester Evening News. Trinity Mirror. 21 November 2013. Archived from the original on 24 November 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  33. ^ Russell, David (February 2024). "Shed Talk". Units. Rail Express. No. 333. p. 24.
  34. ^ "The Class 144". Modern Locomotives Illustrated. No. 196. Stamford: Key Publishing. August 2012. pp. 72–80.
  35. ^ Holden, Michael (13 December 2019). "Class 144 pacer heading to the Great Central Railway in Nottingham". RailAdvent.
  36. ^ Smith, Ian (7 December 2020). "'Pacer' train donated to Aln Valley Railway". Northumberland Gazette.
  37. ^ a b Evans, Gareth (23 May 2020). "Pacers delivered to Gobowen for Cambrian Heritage Railways". The Railway Hub.
  38. ^ "ELR Diesel Group - 144009 Pacer DMU". www.elrdiesel.info. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  39. ^ "Class 144 'Pacer' for KWVR". Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. 24 February 2020.
  40. ^ Holden, Michael (9 July 2020). "Telford Steam Railway welcome 'Pacer' No. 144013 - milestone in ambition to extend to Ironbridge". RailAdvent.
  41. ^ a b c Holden, Michael (18 December 2020). "Vintage Trains welcomes 3 Pacer trains to Tyseley as 'regular' mainline use is planned". RailAdvent. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  42. ^ "144016". preserved.railcar.co.uk.
  43. ^ "144017". preserved.railcar.co.uk.
  44. ^ Holden, Michael (10 December 2020). "Mid Norfolk Railway receives third Pacer train". RailAdvent.
  45. ^ "144020 - 55820, 55856 & 55843 - Class 144 Driving Motor Second, Motor Second & Driving Motor Second Lavatory". preserved.railcar.co.uk. 1 May 2021. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  46. ^ "BR 55822 Class 144 BR/Alexander 4-wheel 'Pacer' DMS built 1987". www.cs.rhrp.org.uk.
  47. ^ Holden, Michael (15 January 2020). "Airedale Hospital in Keighley among 17 organisations in the running to get a Pacer train". Rail Advent. Archived from the original on 15 January 2020.
  48. ^ Shand, Alistair (9 September 2021). "Next stop for Pacer train is...Airedale Hospital!". Keighley News. Newsquest. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  49. ^ "Pacer train becomes family support centre for Airedale Hospital". gov.uk. Department for Transport. 6 September 2021. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  50. ^ Newton, Grace (12 July 2021). "Retired Northern Pacer arrives at Huddersfield Station to be repurposed as the home of a mental health charity". The Yorkshire Post. JPIMedia. Archived from the original on 15 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  51. ^ "New life for Platform 1's Pacer as it is lifted into Huddersfield Station". gov.uk. Department for Transport. 12 July 2021. Archived from the original on 15 July 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
  52. ^ Reader, Emily (3 April 2022). "'All aboard': Special educational needs school transforms old train into learning facility". ITV News. Archived from the original on 15 May 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  53. ^ Bullock, Rachel (20 July 2021). "Pacer train turned into library for special educational needs school". ITV News. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  54. ^ Sedgwick, David (20 July 2021). "All aboard new classroom for delighted pupils at Blyth school". News Post Leader. JPIMedia. Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
  55. ^ Parsons, Rob (23 January 2020). "A Yorkshire primary school has won a Pacer train to turn into a science lab for students". Yorkshire Post.
  56. ^ "Pacer train: 'Run-down' rolling stock to school classroom". BBC News. 30 March 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  57. ^ Arnes, Daryl (27 March 2021). "Retired train carriage arrives at Bradford primary school". Telegraph & Argus. Newsquest Media Group Ltd. Archived from the original on 3 April 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
  58. ^ Bagley, Alison (15 September 2020). "Full-sized fun for Corby model railway club as new attraction pulls in". Northamptonshire Telegraph.
  59. ^ "144009 Pacer DMU". ELR Diesel Group. Retrieved 8 November 2022.

Further reading

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