Railcar Running Weekend - Keighley & Worth Valley Railway

The Return of the Diesels!

The event will take place on Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th October. This will give a chance to ride on the railway’s fleet of railcars across the weekend; each vehicle has its own style and unique appearance.

BOOK TICKETS

Metropolitan-Cammell Diesel Multiple Unit Class 101 is expected to return to service in its new livery.
M79964 Waggon & Maschinenbau Diesel Railbus will be in service for the first time since March
144011 will be in service in its unique WY Metro livery.
143625 will be in service; highly likely to be its only run in passenger service. 143625 will run in multi with 144011.

TIMETABLES

Timetables for the Saturday and Sunday.

	Notes:														00000
Locomotive		DRB	DRB	STE	101	STE	101	101	101	STE	14X	14X	STE	14X	–
Oxenhope	d	0900	–	1000	1100	1140	1210	1230	–	1335	1425	–	1515	1600	–
Haworth	d	0906	–	1006	1106	1146	1216	1236	–	1341	1431	–	1521	1606	–
Oakworth	d	0909	–	1009	1109	1149	–	1239	–	1344	1434	–	1524	1609	–
Damems	d	0913x	–	1013x	1113x	1153x	–	1243x	–	1348x	1438x	–	1528x	1613x	–
Ingrow West	d	0916	0940	1016	1116	1156	–	1246	1316	1351	1441	1505	1531	1616	–
Keighley	a	0925	0945	1025	1125	1205	–	1255	1325	1400	1450	1510	1540	1625	–

	Notes:	00000
Locomotive		–	DRB	DRB	STE	101	101	STE	101	101	STE	14X	14X	STE	14X
Keighley	d	–	0930	1000	1100	1140	–	1230	1305	1335	1425	1455	1515	1600	1645
Ingrow West	d	–	0935	1006	1106	1146	–	1236	1311	1341	1431	1500	1521	1606	1651
Damems	d	–	–	1010x	1110x	1150x	–	1240x	–	1345x	1435x	–	1525x	1610x	1655x
Oakworth	d	–	–	1015	1115	1155	–	1245	–	1350	1440	–	1530	1615	1700
Haworth	d	–	–	1020	1120	1200	1220	1250	–	1355	1445	–	1535	1620	1705
Oxenhope	a	–	–	1035	1125	1205	1225	1255	–	1400	1450	–	1540	1625	1710

Locomotives

DRB	M79964 Waggon & Maschinenbau Diesel Railbus
101	M51189 & Sc51803 Metropolitan-Cammell Diesel Multiple Unit Class 101
14x	144011 BR Class 144 & 143625 BR Class 143
STE	Steam hauled train

Key

a	Arrival Time
d	Departure Time
x	Request Stop. To board a train, inform the station staff. To alight from a train, inform the Train Guard before the train leaves the previous station.
	Connections with National Rail services to Leeds, Bradford, Skipton & beyond
	Alight at Ingrow for “Rail Story” museums & exhibitions.
	Real Ale Bar Car conveyed on this train serving teas, coffees, soft drinks, real ale, wine and spirits. A selection of snacks and confectionary is available too.
	Steam Train
	Diesel Train

RAILCARS

Most rural branch lines had low passenger carrying figures, and the answer seemed to come in the way of single-car diesel railbuses – effectively a bus on rails. However, these did not stem the tide of closures, and both the railbuses and the branchlines they served disappeared into history.

During the 1950s, British Railways ordered small numbers of modern traction locomotives and units for evaluation. At this time, five single-car diesel railbuses were ordered from Waggon & Maschinenbau in Donauworth, West Germany. They were numbered by British Railways E79960 – E79964, initially powered by the same type of 6-cylinder Bussing 150 hp engines.

The intended use of these railbuses, each one seating 56 passengers, was for service on lightly patronised branch lines in rural areas, which may explain why they were sent new to the Cambridge District, where lines radiated out into the East Anglia countryside. Unfortunately, their reign on these services did not last long. Many of the small lines for which they were intended were closed in 1964 when the work for these railbusses disappeared.

On arrival, M79964 was put to work alongside E79962, often working in tandem. The replacement AEC engine it received in its trials was subsequently replaced whilst at the KWVR with an identical engine, which was formally in a London Transport bus.

Built: 1958 Germany
Engine: No. E79962 Bussing engine 150 hp & no. E79964 AEC engine 150 hp
Transmission: Cardon shaft 6-speed electro-magnetic gearbox
Max Speed: 55 mph
Weight: 15 Tons
Max. Speed: 55 mph

First introduced in 1956, the last of the Class 101 multiple units was not withdrawn until 2003, 47 years after its introduction. Found almost everywhere, the use of the class was notably concentrated on services in the east of Scotland, West Midlands, North East and West Yorkshire.

These DMUs could be found in two, three and four coach sets and a small number of buffet cars were built for longer-distance services.

The British Railways Class 101 two-car (and 102, three-car) diesel multiple units (DMUs) were designed around the Mk.1 coach body and were built by Metro-Cammell at Washwood Heath in Birmingham, England between 1956 to 1959, following the introduction of a series of DMU prototype units. The Class 101 proved to be one of the most successful and longest-lived of First Generation DMUs, the last of the class being withdrawn in 2003.

Arriving in a fairly rundown state, the two vehicles that are paired together here on the Worth Valley Railway never ran together during their career for British Rail. From the rundown state that they arrived in, the Class 101 has been restored to a high standard and, on withdrawal of the Class 108, which was the first DMU to run on the KWVR, has taken over the DMU early morning turns when a 2 coach train is needed.

Built: Introduced from 1956
Engine: M51189 AEC 52, Sc51803 Leyland 680/17
Transmission: Mechanical
Max speed: 70 mph

The Class 144 Diesel Multiple Unit was built in 1986 to operate local services in West Yorkshire. It was a joint venture between British Rail (who built the underframes in Derby) and Walter Alexander & Co (who built the bodies in Falkirk). Final assembly and fitting out were done in Derby by British Rail. The unit was based at Neville Hill depot in Leeds for its whole working life before being finally withdrawn in 2020, after 34 years of service.

The Class 144, which was given the name “Pacer” by British Rail, originally had bus-style bench seating, but these were later replaced with the seats fitted to the unit today. They were introduced shortly after the abolition of the West Yorkshire County Council in March 1986, and a new logo and colour scheme was devised to coincide with their launch to show the partnership between the five new council areas in one Passenger Transport Executive and that Executive and British Rail. Our Class 144 has been repainted to show this original colour scheme from 1986, and the original stylised map logo has been reproduced. While the livery was adapted over the years and remained in some form until around 2007, the logo was short-lived and was replaced in 1988 with the “M” logo that can still be seen on stations throughout West Yorkshire today.

The Class 144, in its original 1980s appearance, makes a striking impression on the KWVR and evokes memories for a new generation of visitors, and shows – combined with all our other locos, diesel units and carriages – that we are an evolving and working museum, representing a cross-section of railway history, with memories and experiences for all generations.

The Class 143 was originally introduced between 1985-1986 to operate services in the North of England. By the end of their working life, the Class 143s had moved “down south”, finishing their working life spread out between Arriva Trains Wales and Great Western Railway.

These units were seen as a replacement for the first-generation units, which were becoming outdated. Of this class type, 25 units were built, 13 making preserved status and 12 being scrapped.

When the unit arrived at the railway, it was in withdrawn condition with Transport for Wales livery and interior. Today, the vehicles are seen externally in a fictitious livery following filming work which took place on the railway, while the interior remains the same as when it was withdrawn.

This event will likely be the only passenger use of the 143, and it is a rare opportunity to ride on the vehicles.

PLACES TO VISIT

Vintage Carriages Trust

The Carriage Works holds the Trust’s collection of nine historic railway carriages, three small industrial steam locomotives, a 1950s diesel railbus and a group of railway posters and other miscellaneous railway items.

The Museum of Rail Travel is part of Rail Story at Ingrow West and is open every day except Christmas Day. There is a small charge for entry to the museum, but it is free to passengers on the railway who hold a Day Rover ticket.

Look out for the Diesel Railbus E79962 in the workshop.

THE OLD PARCELS OFFICE

The Old Parcels Office overlooks Keighley Station from the bridge between Platforms 3 and 4, providing the perfect location to grab a bite to eat or drink between the trains.

The Old Parcels Office will serve meals all day to keep you fuelled up, from a light bite to a three-course meal, depending on how much fuel you need!

BAHAMAS LOCOMOTIVE SOCIETY

The Engine Shed is an accredited museum that houses numerous displays and artefacts from the age of Steam. Throughout the museum, you can follow a route to guide you through the exhibits and memorabilia to experience how railways used to be. The path will help you understand the history of the railways, the steam locomotive, and the lives of the people who built, operated and maintained them. There are several display cabinets for you to browse so you can take your time and gain a real insight into how things used to be.

shed tours

Across the weekend, you will encounter the excitement and nostalgia of the Locomotive works, with its exclusive sounds and smells; get close to our fleet of Steam and Diesel locomotives with knowledgeable commentary from your experienced guide.

The tour involves walking on uneven and slippery surfaces and includes steps. For this reason, it is not suitable for those with mobility problems. Regretfully, open-toed shoes are not permitted. Access to the sheds is only permitted for authorised groups who must always remain together. Please be aware that this is both a hazardous and a working environment; children under 16, therefore, MUST be accompanied by a responsible adult. Due to yard restrictions and operating requirements, tours may have to be curtailed or cancelled without notice.

Haworth Shed Tours will begin at the Booking Hall, Haworth. Times: 10.00, 10.45. 11.30, 12.15. 13.00, 13.45, 14.30 & 15.15.

Shed Tours cost £5.00 per person and could be booked on the day only at any of the stations with a limit of 12 people per tour.

ticket and EVENT INFORMATION

Day rover fares (Book your tickets online three days in advance & save 10%!)

The Railcar Gala will use our standard Day Rovers and fare pricing, so you can purchase a standard ticket and hop & off as much as you like!

BOOK TICKETS

DAY Rovers

ONE DAY ROVER TICKET	ON THE DAY	ONLINE 3 DAYS IN ADVANCE
Adult	£21.00	£18.90
Concession	£17.85	£16.07
Child	£10.50	£9.45
Child under 5	FREE	FREE
Small Family (One adult or concession plus ONE child)	£26.25	£23.63

Normal fares operate with standard discounts for local resident cardholders and members. If you live in Postcode areas BD20, BD21 or BD22, you can take advantage of special reduced fares by having a Local Residents Railcard. Find out more information about how to apply on the website.

Car parks are available at five of the KWVR stations, and for the benefit of satellite navigation system users, the KWVR station addresses & postcodes are:

KEIGHLEY – Keighley Railway Station, Station Bridge, Keighley, BD21 4HP (Limited Parking)
INGROW – Ingrow Railway Station, South Street, Ingrow, Keighley, BD21 5AX
OAKWORTH – Oakworth Railway Station, Station Road, Oakworth, Keighley, BD22 0DZ (Limited Parking)
HAWORTH – The Railway Station, Station Road, Haworth, Keighley, BD22 8NJ
OXENHOPE – Oxenhope Railway Station, Station Road, Oxenhope, Keighley, BD22 9LB

You can find more information about getting the railway in the dedicated travel section.