More Class 142 DMUs head off to preservation

‘Pacers’ prove increasingly popular with heritage lines. PRESERVED CLASS 142 UNITS

THE Wensleydale Railway, Midland Railway-Butterley, and Foxfield Railway are the latest recipients of withdrawn Class 142 ‘Pacers’ from Gascoigne Wood.

For the Wensleydale Railway, it brings the number of sets on the line to four, although not all have a long-term future. Nos. 142035/41 made their final runs on the main line on June 3, when they formed the 5Z42/11.25 Gascoigne Wood-Leeming Bar. The pair have been purchased privately by three individuals, although No. 142035 is designated as a spares donor and is unlikely to operate at the Wensleydale Railway. A start has already been made on removing internal components. It is planned to keep

No. 142041 in Merseyrail condition internally, and in due course it is expected to gain that PTE’s colours of yellow/grey.

The Wensleydale is already home to Nos. 142028/60, although No. 142060 is due to leave the line at some point. Its owners, who also purchased No. 142028 for long-term use at Wensleydale, plan to convert the unit into a holiday home/accommodation once a suitable location has been found. Therefore, only Nos. 142028/41 can be regarded as permanent residents on the line. A three-car Class 144 is also expected to be added to the Wensleydale fleet in the future.

PACER GROUP SUCCESS

The Pacer Rail Group, which has been raising funds to acquire a ‘Pacer’ for the last year or so, has teamed up with the Foxfield Railway to purchase No. 142055. Currently at Gascoigne Wood, where it arrived on March 6, it will be moved to its new home by road. Once the line has reopened and training has been carried out, it is hoped to put the unit into passenger service there.

The two units now based at the Midland Railway-Butterley arrived from Gascoigne Wood on June 22 as part of a convoy that also contained No. 142051, which was en route to Sims Metals at Newport for scrapping. Of note is that No. 142013 is one of the few members of the Class to retain its original interior vestibule walls.

The table details Class 142s currently in preservation, and the number is likely to increase in the coming months – negotiations to purchase at least two more units are taking place. Not included in the list is No. 142033 which, although in private ownership for emergency services use at South Wales Police HQ in Bridgend,

Number

142001 142011 142013 142017 142019 142020 142027* 142028 142029 142030 142035* 142036^ 142038 142041 142055^ 142084 142091

Location/Destination

Locomotion, Shildon Midland Railway-Butterley Midland Railway-Butterley East Kent Railway Whitrope Heritage Centre Whitrope Heritage Centre Chasewater Railway Wensleydale Railway Chasewater Railway Chasewater Railway Wensleydale Railway

East Kent Railway

Mid Norfolk Railway Wensleydale Railway Foxfield Railway

Rushden Railway Museum Rushden Railway Museum cannot be described as preserved.

■ Another Class 144 has also entered preservation. No. 144013 ran from Keighley to Worksop on June 30 in preparation for movement by road to the Telford Steam Railway

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