British Rail Class 144

The British Rail Class 144 Pacer diesel multiple units (DMUs) were built at British Rail Engineering Limited's Derby Litchurch Lane Works between 1986 and 1987. BR, 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.[7]

British Rail Class 144 Pacer
Arriva Rail North 144013 at Morecambe in 2019
The refurbished interior of a Northern Rail Class 144
In service1986–2020
Manufacturer
Order no.
  • 31015 (DMS)
  • 31016 (DMSL)
  • 31037 (MS)[1]
Family namePacer
Constructed1986–1987[1]
Entered service1986
Refurbished2002–2004 and 2010, 2015 (became 144e)
Number built23 trainsets
FormationDMS(+MS)+DMSL
Diagram
  • DP240 (DMS)
  • DP241 (DMSL)
  • DR205 (MS)[1][2]
Fleet numbers
  • 144001–144023 (sets)[3]
  • 55801–55823 (DMS)
  • 55850-55859 (MS)
  • 55824–55846 (DMSL)[1]
Capacity99 or 157 seats per unit[4]
Operator(s)
Depot(s)Neville Hill[1]
Line(s) served
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel underframe. Aluminium alloy body and roof.
Car length
  • 15.093 m (49 ft 6.2 in) (DMS, DMSL)
  • 15.186 m (49 ft 9.9 in) (MS)[2]
Width2.695 m (8 ft 10 1⁄8 in)[2]
Height3.725 m (12 ft 2 5⁄8 in)[2]
Floor height1.288 m (4 ft 2 3⁄4 in)[2]
DoorsTwin leaf pivot[3]
Articulated sections
  • 2 (144001–013)
  • 3 (144014–023)
Wheelbase9 m (29 ft 6 3⁄8 in)[2]
Maximum speed75 mph (121 km/h)[3]
Weight
  • 24.17 t (23.79 long tons; 26.64 short tons) (DMS)
  • 25.04 t (24.64 long tons; 27.60 short tons) (DMSL)
  • 23.5 t (23.1 long tons; 25.9 short tons) (MS)[2]
Prime mover(s)
Engine type6-cylinder 10-litre[5]
(originally 6-cylinder 11.1-litre) turbo-Diesel
Power output
  • Cummins: 225 hp (168 kW) at 2100 rpm[5]
    Originally Leyland: 205 hp (153 kW)[1] at 1950 rpm
TransmissionHydraulic, Voith (originally mechanical, SCG[1]
Train heating
  • Engine waste heat
  • Ducted warm air[2]
Braking system(s)Air[2]
Safety system(s)
Coupling system
Multiple workingClass 14x, 15x and 170[3]
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge

Background

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.[8] 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.[9]

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.[9] While the more ambitious latter requirement would ultimately lead to the development of the British Rail Class 151 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.[9]

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.[9] 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.[9]

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.[9] 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.[9] 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.[9]

Description

A total of 23 Class 144 units were constructed.[7] 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 Walter Alexander-built body. The first thirteen of the class, No. 144001-013 are two-car units.[7] The remaining ten, No. 144014-023 are all three-car units,[7] although all were originally built as two-car units with the centre vehicle being added later. These ten Pacers are the only ones to contain 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.

  • 55801-55823 - DMS
  • 55850-55859 - MS (units 144014-023 only)
  • 55824-55846 - DMSL

As originally built, the traction arrangement of the Class 142 consisted of a Leyland TL11 200 HP engine, a Self-Changing Gears mechanical automatic gearbox and a Gmeinder final drive unit on each car driving only a single axle.[12] This propulsion arrangement was in part taken from the Leyland National bus, as well as shared with the earlier Class 141.[9] Starting in the early 1990s, every member of the class was mechanically upgraded due to the original parts were 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[5][2] as well as the original mechanical transmission being substituted for a Voith hydraulic 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. As a benefit of their high levels of similarities, Class 144 units were often replaced in service by Class 142 units, and vice versa.

Operations

British Rail

The first Class 144 units were delivered during 1986.[11] They was 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. 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 Hallam Line between Leeds, Barnsley, and Sheffield; the Penistone Line between Huddersfield, Barnsley, and Sheffield; and the Pontefract Line between Wakefield and Pontefract.

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. 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.

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

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.[13] 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.[7]

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 seat 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.[14][15]

During April 2016, Norther 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.

Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Interoperable Rail System) Regulations 2008[16] 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.[17][18] 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.[19][20] However, due to the late delivery of the new trains, the 144s will continue to operate in the South Yorkshire area until the middle of 2020.[21] In 2019, Northern received a dispensation to allow some of the class to be used until 31 August 2020, with use only permitted on specified routes.[22]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many railway passenger services were curtailed with passenger numbers down by 95% in some areas.[23] Northern Trains stored 18 units on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway with the other five stored at Heaton TMD.[24][25]

Withdrawal

The Class 144 units in service with Northern Trains were due to be withdrawn by the end of 2019 as they do not meet new disability regulations.[26] Due to the late delivery of the new Class 195 and Class 331 trains, the 144s were to continue to operate in the South Yorkshire area until the middle of 2020,[21] but when services were reduced because of the coronavirus pandemic, 18 of the class 144 units were stored out of use at Keighley on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.[27]

Preservation

Fourteen Class 144 units have so far been saved for preservation, both as two car and three car sets. Three of the three car sets are also planned to be used for mainline operations with Vintage Trains

Operational
Set number Vehicle numbers Livery Preserved at Notes
DMS MS DMSL
144003 55803 — 55826 Northern Rail unbranded Great Central Railway (Nottingham) Moved to Great Central Railway (Nottingham) on 3 September 2020.[28]
144004 55804 — 55827 Aln Valley Railway Currently stored at Leeming Bar on the Wensleydale Railway and awaiting onward transport by road to the Aln Valley Railway.[29]
144006 55806 — 55829 Cambrian Heritage Railway Moved to Cambrian Heritage Railways on 22 May 2020.[30]
144007 55807 — 55830 Cambrian Heritage Railway Moved to Cambrian Heritage Railways on 22 May 2020.[31]
144010 55810 — 55833 Weardale Railway Owned by Llangollen Railcars Ltd, but delivered to Weardale Railway on 3 and 4 August 2020[32]
144011 55811 — 55834 Keighley and Worth Valley Railway Transferred into K&WVR ownership on the 26/06/20.[33]
144013 55813 — 55836 Telford Steam Railway Moved to Telford Steam Railway on 1 and 2 July 2020.[34]
144014 55814 55850 55837 Tyseley Locomotive Works For mainline use.[35]
144016 55816 55852 55839 Aln Valley Railway Currently stored at Leeming Bar on the Wensleydale Railway and awaiting onward transport by road to the Aln Valley Railway.[36]
144017 55817 55853 55840 Appleby Frodingham Railway Transferred into preservation in August 2020. Owned by The Woodhead Line.
Currently at the AFRPS Headquarters at British Steel Scunthorpe works. In use as a Driver Experience unit.[37]
144018 55818 55854 55841 Mid Norfolk Railway Delivered to Dereham late 2020. Owned by the MNRPT.[38]
144019 55829 55855 55852 Tyseley Locomotive Works For mainline use.[35]
144022 55822 55858 55845 Keith & Dufftown Railway Moved by road to Keith & Dufftown Railway on 4 September 2020[39]
144023 55823 55859 55846 Tyseley Locomotive Works For mainline use.[35]

Non railway use

Not all of the preserved Class 144s are to see operational use on heritage lines. A number of class members are intended to become a static exhibit or will see uses elsewhere as expansions for businesses or for training purposes.

A number of organisations took part in a Department for Transport competition called "Transform a Pacer" where ideas are put forward for what they wish to do with a Pacer unit. One entrant intended to keep a Pacer running and update it to meet disability regulations.[40] The three winners were later announced on the 22 January 2020 episode of The One Show.[41] The chosen Pacer units are not yet confirmed.

Set number Vehicle numbers Livery Preserved at Notes
DMS MS DMSL
144008 — — 55831 Northern Rail unbranded Corby and District Model Railway Society Used as a static exhibit, for special events and birthday parties.[42]
144009 55809 — 55832 Northern Rail unbranded Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service To be used for training purposes for the GM Fire Service. The unit has been stored at the East Lancashire Railway since September 2020 pending a move to the Fire Service training facility.[43]
144XXX 55XXX 55XXX 55XXX Northern Rail unbranded Fagley Primary School; Bradford Won from Porterbrook's "Convert a Pacer" competition. To be converted into a science lab to promote STEM learning.[44]

Class 144e

The Class 144e (Evolution) was a proposed refurbished variant of the Class 144 which would bring it up to the requirements of the Persons with reduced mobility-Technical Specifications for Interoperability accessibility regulations.[18] The demonstrator Class 144e unit (144012) featured a number of upgrades such as the addition of new 2+2 style seating, a fully accessible toilet, two wheelchair spaces and spaces for bicycles and luggage,[18][45] as well as Wi-Fi and media screens.[18] The demonstrator unit was expected to re-enter traffic in April 2015,[46] but this was delayed until later in the year.[18]

Incidents

A Northern Rail 3-car Class 144 unit caught fire near Smithy Bridge in Rochdale on 21 November 2013.[47][48]

Fleet details

Twenty-three units were built in total, originally all were formed as in 2 coach sets (144001 - 144013). In 1988, a third car was added to the last ten sets (144014 - 144023).

Operator Year Built Number Unit nos Cars per Set Notes
Preserved 1986–1987 7 144003, 144004, 144006–144007, 144010–144011, 144013 2
7 144014, 144016–144019, 144022–144023 3 144014, 144019 and 144023 for mainline use with charter operator Vintage Trains, based at Tyseley Locomotive Works.
Converted for Non-railway use 3 144001, 144008, 144009 N/A Two car Units 144001 and 144008 will be split up and will be preserved for non-railway use at different locations.
Stored 3 144002, 144005, 144012 2
3 144015, 144020–144021 3

Named Units

One unit has received a name :[49]

  • Arriva Trains Northern/WYPTE Metro refurbished Class 144 Pacer No. 144017 at York, with a service bound for Leeds via the Harrogate Line
  • A pair of Northern/WYPTE Class 144 Pacers No. 144005 and 144015 at Leeds
  • The interior of a Northern/WYPTE Metro Class 144 Pacer DMSO vehicle
  • Northern/WYPTE Metro Class 144 Pacer No. 144020 at Leeds
  • The interior of a Northern Rail refurbished Class 144 MSO centre vehicle
  • The experimental, prototype trial Northern refurbished Class 144 ePacer No. 144012 at Leeds
  • The interior of the experimental, prototype trial Northern refurbished Class 144 ePacer No. 144012
  • Arriva Rail North 144013 (DMS 55813) at Leeds

References

Citations
  1. Fox 1987, p. 42
  2. Vehicle Diagram Book No. 220 for Diesel Multiple Unit Trains (Railcars) (PDF). Barrowmore MRG. Derby: British Railways Board. 1982. DP240, DP241, DR205. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2016.
  3. "Class 144". The Railway Centre. Archived from the original on 9 March 2005.
  4. "The Northern Interim Franchise Agreement" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 January 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  5. Diesel Multiple Units 2010. Platform 5. 2010. p. 15. ISBN 978-1-902336-75-6.
  6. "System Data for Mechanical and Electrical Coupling of Rail Vehicles". Rail Safety and Standards Board. Archived from the original on 5 July 2008. Retrieved 5 January 2009.
  7. "The Junction Fleet List". Archived from the original on 26 May 2011. Retrieved 19 April 2010.
  8. St John Thomas, David; Whitehouse, Patrick (1990). BR in the Eighties. Newton Abbot: David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-9854-7.
  9. Shore, A. G. L. (1987). "British Rail diesel multiple unit replacement programme". CiteSeerX 10.1.1.1008.3291. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. Smith 2002, p. 3
  11. "Pacers: the unlikely local heroes…". railmagazine.com. 12 August 2019. Archived from the original on 21 September 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
  12. Smith 2002, p. 7
  13. 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.
  14. "Interior of refurbished Class 144 No. 144006". Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  15. "Interior of refurbished Class 144 No. 144006". Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  16. "The Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Interoperable Rail System) Regulations 2008". legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 17 September 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  17. "Class 143 & 144 Diesel Multiple Units" (PDF). Porterbrook Leasing Co. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 March 2014.
  18. "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.
  19. "Northern to replace Pacers with '21st Century' trains". Archived from the original on 13 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019.
  20. "Northern Invitation to Tender" (PDF). Department for Transport. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  21. 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.
  22. 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.
  23. Paton, Graeme (20 April 2020). "Rail passengers could be limited on return to work". The Times (73, 138). p. 2. ISSN 0140-0460.
  24. Newton, Grace (21 April 2020). "End of the line is near for fleet of disused Pacers". The Yorkshire Post. p. 11. ISSN 0963-1496.
  25. 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.
  26. Devereux, Nigel (19 April 2017). "Northern 'Pacer' withdrawals scheduled to begin in 2018". The Railway Magazine. Archived from the original on 14 February 2019. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  27. "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.
  28. Class 144 pacer heading to the Great Central Railway in Nottingham
  29. 'Pacer' train donated to Aln Valley Railway
  30. Pacers delivered to Gobowen for Cambrian Heritage Railways
  31. Pacers delivered to Gobowen for Cambrian Heritage Railways
  32. BR 55833 Class 144 BR/Alexander 4-wheel 'Pacer' DMSL built 1986
  33. Class 144 ‘Pacer’ no. 144 011 is heading to the KWVR on withdraw
  34. Telford Steam Railway welcome ‘Pacer’ No. 144013 – milestone in ambition to extend to Ironbridge
  35. "Vintage Trains welcomes 3 Pacer trains to Tyseley as 'regular' mainline use is planned". RailAdvent. 18 December 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  36. 144016 - 55816, 55852 & 55839 - Class 144 Driving Motor Second, Motor Second & Driving Motor Second Lavatory
  37. 144017 - 55817, 55853 & 55840 - Class 144 Driving Motor Second, Motor Second & Driving Motor Second Lavatory
  38. Mid Norfolk Railway receives third Pacer train
  39. BR 55822 Class 144 BR/Alexander 4-wheel 'Pacer' DMS built 1987
  40. https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2020/01/airedale-hospital-in-keighley-among-17-organisations-in-the-running-to-get-a-pacer-train.html Archived 15 January 2020 at the Wayback Machine Organisations in running to get a pacer train
  41. https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000dlwk/the-one-show-22012020 Archived 28 November 2020 at the Wayback Machine Pacer competition winners announced
  42. Full-sized fun for Corby model railway club as new attraction pulls in
  43. 144009 - 55809 & 55832 Class 144 Driving Motor Second & Driving Motor Second Lavatory
  44. A Yorkshire primary school has won a Pacer train to turn into a science lab for students
  45. "Class 144 Evolution" (PDF). Porterbrook. Porterbrook. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  46. "Porterbrook's rebuilt Pacer set to enter traffic in April". Rail Magazine. Archived from the original on 18 March 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.
  47. "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.
  48. "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.
  49. "DMU FORMATIONS". AbRail. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2015.

Sources
  • Fox, Peter (1987). Multiple Unit Pocket Book. British Railways Pocket Book No.2 (Summer/Autumn 1987 ed.). Platform 5 Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0906579740. OCLC 613347580.
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