GMFRS ‘Pacer’ makes its farewell trips on the ELR
THE CLASS 144 DMU which has been stored on the East Lancashire Railway on behalf of Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service, 144009, operated on the ELR during the railways summer diesel event on July 1-3, for what is expected to be the final time before it moves on to a nearby training facility. Originally, it had been planned that the ‘144’ would have made its swansong at the ELR’S annual DMU weekend last November. However, the railway was forced to cancel the event due to local lockdowns and restrictions in place at the time, due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The unit has lost its Northern livery in favour of a mid-blue vinyl wrap, with fictitious ‘Great Midlands Trains Operating on the Robin Hood Line’ branding. This vinyl wrap was applied for a filming contract taking place using the unit.
144009 is expected to leave the ELR over the next few months, with it moving to GMFRS’S fire training and safety centre in Bury, a short distance from the railway that is currently hosting the unit.
The training centre is also home to a former Greater Anglia Mark 3 coach and DVT, along with former Manchester Metrolink T68 tram 1003. The rail vehicles will be used for training and emergency service exercises and accident scenarios.