Pacer to be preserved
 

Great news! All the passengers missing the Pacers as they are withdrawn from service, will soon be able to travel on a Pacer in preservation!
Class 144 No.144003 will be moving to the GCR(N) during early 2020 and should be operational when it arrives.
https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2019/12...ottingham.html
Any thoughts?:)

Tony

All well and good if it's just used on a Diesel gala or even a DMU gala. Can't see the average visitor who'd spent years commuting on one of these things being filled with joy if he turns up with his family to find it at the platform on a general running day at the GCR (north)

It seems I'm a bit behind the times and there's more preserved than I realised! (although the unit going to the GCR(N) is the first class 144 to be preserved).
140001 is at the Keith & Dufftown Railway
141108 is already preserved and in traffic at the Colne Valley Railway
141113 is owned by Llangollen Railcar Group, but is currently based at Midland Railway, Buttlerley
142001 is now part of the National Collection, initially going to Shildon
142029 is at Chasewater

Tony

And there's more!

142017 is at the East Kent Railway, where driver training is taking place. The EKR is also raising funds to hopefully purchase 142036 when it comes out of main line service with Northern in May 2020.
142019 & 142020 are preserved with the Waverley Heritage Route Association.
142023 is set to move to the Plym Valley Railway when withdrawn from main line service with Northern in May 2020.
142028 & 142060 are now at the Weardale Railway and have started operating services.
142030 has joined 142029 at Chasewater.
142038 has been purchased privately, to be used on the Mid Norfolk Railway
142084 & 142091 are preserved by the Rushden Historical Transport Society, arriving at Wellingborough in late January
143603 is scheduled to move to Swindon & Cricklade Railway when it comes out of service with Great Western Railway.
144004 is due to move to the Aln Valley Railway when it comes out of main line service with Northern
144011 is earmarked for the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway when it comes out of main line service with Northern, expected to be in May this year.

I make this Twenty units preserved (or due to be)!

Tony

When do we get a Pacer gala somewhere?

Interestingly, the Spa Valley Railway posted a statement on their facebook page only 2 days ago, specifically denying rumours that they are going to acquire a Pacer. They say they haven't got space for much more at the moment, and they want to concentrate on stock appropriate for the line, or at least the South East, wherever possible.
And besides, the East Kent Railway has already acquired a Pacer (and may get a second), so South East England's Pacer fans are already being catered for!

Tony

Are these antiquated sheds on wheels being donated free of charge to those who desire them?
Stuart

Mostly being paid for Stuart! I think the heritage railways are buying them not for their looks, comfort or any sort of nostalgia, but as (relatively) modern, economical units which should prove useful for off peak services.

However, another three units have been donated to community groups across the North of England, via a competition for the most innovative re-use after withdrawal. The competition was run by Porterbrook Leasing and the Department of Transport. These units have gone to (or are going to) a mental health charity on Huddersfield Platform 1, Airedale NHS Trust to help improve non-clinical services and to Fagley Primary school (near Bradford) for use as a new science lab.

http://www.railtechnologymagazine.co...ers-announced-

Additionally, unit No.142033 has been acquired by South Wales Police for use in training exercises at Bridgend.

Tony

Thanks Tony.
Stuart

142038 arrived at the Mid Norfolk Railway in early March.

Tony

Two more Pacers have now entered preservation with the Cambrian Heritage Railway at Oswestry. Nos.144006 & 144007 arrived by rail under their own power on 22nd May following withdrawal by Northern Rail.

Tony

The Telford Steam Railway has just taken delivery of Pacer unit No.144013, seen as the ideal unit to use for non-steam services on the railway. 144013 arrived at the railway over 1st/2nd July and apart from needing a clean, the unit is ready for service although the Telford Steam Railway is currently closed with no date set for reopening.

https://telfordsteamrailway.co.uk/ne...steam-railway/

Tony

The Mid Norfolk Railway has just taken delivery of a second Pacer unit - 142061 has now joined 142038 at Dereham. Both units should enter traffic at the MNR in 2021 and one of the pair (not specified) is to be restored to it's original Regional Railways livery.

Tony

Incidentally, the last run of a Pacer on the main line network has now taken place, with Northern No.142004 working from Kirkby to Manchester Victoria on Friday 27th November.

Tony

The Mid Norfolk Railway has taken delivery of it's THIRD Pacer - 3-car class 144 No.144018 is joining 2-car class 142s Nos.142038 & 142061.
https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2020/12...cer-train.html

Tony

Vintage Trains at Tyseley have taken delivery of three 3-car class 144 Pacer units, with the aim of running main line trips across the West Midlands - further details of the trips will be announced at a later date.
The three units are 144014, 144019, 144023 and route clearance is now being requested from Network Rail for the routes that could potentially be used.

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2020/12...s-planned.html

Tony