Class 144 ‘Pacer’ no. 144 011 is heading to the KWVR on withdrawing

The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway is pleased to announce that following 34 years of service on the local railway lines of West Yorkshire, Class 144 ‘Pacer’ Diesel Unit number 144011 will be transferred to us from Porterbrook Leasing Company, current owners of the Class 144 units.

The Class 144 ‘Pacer’ unit will move to our base in Haworth following its retirement from an operation on the national rail network with Northern, currently expected to be in late May.

“Offering a Pacer a home on a West Yorkshire heritage railway is very fitting, because these units have been the mainstay of operation in the area for over three decades. We are very grateful to Porterbrook Leasing for giving us this opportunity.”

Dr. Matthew Stroh, Chairman KWVRPS

“We believe that the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway is an ideal home for a Class 144. We appreciate that our wide variety of steam locomotives hauling period carriages will continue to be the main attraction for many visitors, but we also recognise that preservation and history does not standstill or stop at a set point in time. What is considered modern and maybe unloved today is tomorrow’s history and heritage.”

“With only 23 Class 144s ever being built, and having worked in West Yorkshire their entire lives, they are an important part of the story of rail travel in our local area and we believe that with suitable interpretation it will become an interesting and valuable asset which visitors, young and old can continue to ride on and experience, now and in the future. The Class 144 will further the objectives of the Society and I believe will attract new visitors in the future, especially younger generations, which is vitally important for working museums such as ours”.

Tim Moody, Director KWVR

“We are delighted to be able to support the KWVR by donating a Class 144 Pacer to their operational fleet. These trains were in many ways the saviour of the social railway, so it is fitting that one of these multiple units will continue to serve Keighley, as well as communities along the Worth Valley and visitors to its world famous railway.”

Rupert Brennan Brown, Porterbrook’s Head of Communications and Engagement