British Rail Class 141
Encyclopedia
The British Rail
Class 141 was the first production model of the Pacer
diesel multiple units.
lines. Financial pressures precluded them ordering more heavyweight second generation units (the business case could not be made to balance)
so were looking for a cheaper alternative.
British Rail engineers looked at the Leyland National bus, then in widespread usage, with its modular design as a basis for the design.
Several single and two car prototypes were built before an order was placed with Leyland Bus for 20 class 141 two car units in 1984.
The units were notoriously unreliable, but reliability improved when the units were modified by Hunslet-Barclay between 1988 and 1989.
The driving axles (one per coach at the inner end) were fitted directly to the chassis rather than being mounted on bogies, leading to a rather rough ride especially over pointwork, and because of this the units were generally less popular with passengers.
The trains were based mainly in and across West Yorkshire
on routes radiating from Leeds
, where they worked up until 1997 when they were replaced by Class 142
. They were sponsored by West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive
, and were initially painted in the PTE's Verona green and buttermilk livery with "MetroTrain" branding, later receiving the red and cream "METRO-TRAIN" livery.
The units were numbered from 141001 to 141020. After modification they became 141101 to 141120, although not in order, since the opportunity was taken to match the final digits of the unit numbers with those of the vehicle numbers.
Most members of the class were sold to Islamic Republic of Iran Railways
. Two units are also thought to have been exported to Holland but they are not currently being used. However, some trains did remain in Britain
. Three units are operational in preservation, 141113 and 141103 at the Weardale Railway
, and 141108 at the Colne Valley Railway
. 141110 was also at the Weardale Railway, but was not in operational condition (spares donor) and one vehicle is now scrapped.
As of 30 August 2011, at least 8 units are known to have survived in Iran whilst another 2 have known to have survived in Holland.
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
Class 141 was the first production model of the Pacer
Pacer (train)
Pacer is the operational name of the British Rail Classes 140, 141, 142, 143 and 144 diesel multiple unit railbuses, built between 1984 and 1987...
diesel multiple units.
Description
In the early 1980s British Rail were looking to replace the remaining 1950s first generation Diesel Multiple Units on lightly used branchlines. Financial pressures precluded them ordering more heavyweight second generation units (the business case could not be made to balance)
so were looking for a cheaper alternative.
British Rail engineers looked at the Leyland National bus, then in widespread usage, with its modular design as a basis for the design.
Several single and two car prototypes were built before an order was placed with Leyland Bus for 20 class 141 two car units in 1984.
The units were notoriously unreliable, but reliability improved when the units were modified by Hunslet-Barclay between 1988 and 1989.
The driving axles (one per coach at the inner end) were fitted directly to the chassis rather than being mounted on bogies, leading to a rather rough ride especially over pointwork, and because of this the units were generally less popular with passengers.
The trains were based mainly in and across West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
on routes radiating from Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
, where they worked up until 1997 when they were replaced by Class 142
British Rail Class 142
The British Rail Class 142 is a class of Pacer diesel multiple units used in the United Kingdom. 96 units were built by BREL in Derby between 1985 and 1987. They were a development of the earlier Class 141 which were introduced in 1984....
. They were sponsored by West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive
West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive
The West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive is the Passenger Transport Executive for the county of West Yorkshire, England. It is the executive arm of the West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority and was originally formed on 1 April 1974 as the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport...
, and were initially painted in the PTE's Verona green and buttermilk livery with "MetroTrain" branding, later receiving the red and cream "METRO-TRAIN" livery.
The units were numbered from 141001 to 141020. After modification they became 141101 to 141120, although not in order, since the opportunity was taken to match the final digits of the unit numbers with those of the vehicle numbers.
Overseas
In 1984, a unit of Class 141 was converted to metre gauge and shipped to Thailand and Malaysia for trial running. However, the trial running wasn't successful. The vehicle was different to the twenty British trains having only longitudinal seating for 120 passengers and space for another 140 standing. Only 1 car was powered with the other being a trailer vehicle. After the unsuccessful trial in Thailand the Pacer went to Malaysia and then to Indonesia for further evaluation. Its current location is unknown.Most members of the class were sold to Islamic Republic of Iran Railways
Islamic Republic of Iran Railways
The Islamic Republic of Iran Railways is the national state-owned railway system of Iran. is an associate of the IR and manages its passenger trains including international trains between Tehran and Istanbul and Tehran and Damascus...
. Two units are also thought to have been exported to Holland but they are not currently being used. However, some trains did remain in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Three units are operational in preservation, 141113 and 141103 at the Weardale Railway
Weardale Railway
The Weardale Railway is a British single-track branch line railway providing regular daily passenger service between Bishop Auckland , Wolsingham, Frosterley and Stanhope. Services began on 23 May 2010 after a lapse of almost sixty years. The railway originally ran from Bishop Auckland to...
, and 141108 at the Colne Valley Railway
Colne Valley Railway
The Colne Valley Railway is a heritage railway based at Castle Hedingham Station, near Halstead in Essex, England. The railway consists of a mile-long running line, with a fully reconstructed station, signal box and railway yard...
. 141110 was also at the Weardale Railway, but was not in operational condition (spares donor) and one vehicle is now scrapped.
Unit details
| Set Number (as built) | Set Number (following modifications) | Vehicle Number(1) | Vehicle Number(2) | Status | Current location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 141 020 | 141 101 | 55521 | 55541 | Exported | unknown | unknown |
| 141 001 | 141 102 | 55502 | 55522 | Exported | unknown | unknown |
| 141 002 | 141 103 | 55503 | 55523 | Preserved | Weardale Railway Weardale Railway The Weardale Railway is a British single-track branch line railway providing regular daily passenger service between Bishop Auckland , Wolsingham, Frosterley and Stanhope. Services began on 23 May 2010 after a lapse of almost sixty years. The railway originally ran from Bishop Auckland to... |
- |
| 141 003 | 141 104 | 55504 | 55524 | Scrapped? | Scrapped? | 141104 was involved in a head-on collision with a Class 156 Sprinter (156476) at Huddersfield at around 10pm on 6 November 1989. 33 people were injured, 3 seriously. The railbus was withdrawn, probably being stripped for spare parts for the rest of the fleet. 156476 was returned to service after repairs that lasted until March 1990. It was repaired at BRML Doncaster and was transferred to Haymarket upon release. |
| 141 004 | 141 105 | 55505 | 55525 | Exported | unknown | unknown |
| 141 005 | 141 106 | 55506 | 55526 | Exported | unknown | unknown |
| 141 006 | 141 107 | 55507 | 55527 | Exported | unknown | unknown |
| 141 007 | 141 108 | 55508 | 55528 | Preserved | Colne Valley Railway Colne Valley Railway The Colne Valley Railway is a heritage railway based at Castle Hedingham Station, near Halstead in Essex, England. The railway consists of a mile-long running line, with a fully reconstructed station, signal box and railway yard... |
- |
| 141 008 | 141 109 | 55509 | 55529 | Exported | unknown | unknown |
| 141 009 | 141 110 | 55510 | 55530 | stored | Weardale Railway Weardale Railway The Weardale Railway is a British single-track branch line railway providing regular daily passenger service between Bishop Auckland , Wolsingham, Frosterley and Stanhope. Services began on 23 May 2010 after a lapse of almost sixty years. The railway originally ran from Bishop Auckland to... |
- |
| 141 010 | 141 111 | 55511 | 55531 | Exported | unknown | unknown |
| 141 011 | 141 112 | 55512 | 55532 | Exported | unknown | unknown |
| 141 012 | 141 113 | 55513 | 55533 | Preserved | Weardale Railway Weardale Railway The Weardale Railway is a British single-track branch line railway providing regular daily passenger service between Bishop Auckland , Wolsingham, Frosterley and Stanhope. Services began on 23 May 2010 after a lapse of almost sixty years. The railway originally ran from Bishop Auckland to... |
unit fitted with Cummins L10 engines and Voith hydraulic transmission |
| 141 013 | 141 114 | 55514 | 55534 | Exported | unknown | unknown |
| 141 014 | 141115 | 55515 | 55535 | Exported | unknown | unknown |
| 141 015 | 141116 | 55516 | 55536 | Exported | unknown | unknown |
| 141 016 | 141117 | 55517 | 55537 | Exported | unknown | unknown |
| 141 017 | 141118 | 55518 | 55538 | Exported | Iran | was named 'FLOWER' when owned by SERCO was the weedkiller unit |
| 141 018 | 141119 | 55519 | 55539 | Exported | unknown | unknown |
| 141 019 | 141120 | 55520 | 55540 | Exported | unknown | unknown |
As of 30 August 2011, at least 8 units are known to have survived in Iran whilst another 2 have known to have survived in Holland.