‘Pacers’ stored at Worth Valley Railway

THE downturn in passengers stemming from the need for essential travel during the coronavirus pandemic has seen the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway used to store Class 144 ‘Pacer’ units.

The heritage line is housing 18 of the 23-strong fleet for Northern, and in the process providing a vital income stream when it cannot run passenger services.

The only ‘Pacers’ not at the railway are Nos. 144008, 144015, 144018, 144021 and 144023, which are in warm storage at Heaton depot. Two Class 170s were temporarily stored at the line in mid-April.

Pictured at Keighley,

No. 144017 heads a line of units, with a second line just visible.

More units are being stored on the station run round loop.

Set No. 144011 has been donated to the railway by Porterbrook and might remain at Worth Valley.