British Rail Class 141

The British Rail Class 141 was the first production model of the Pacer diesel multiple units. Its lifespan in the UK was 13 years: some units were exported to Iran operating for 8 years, for a total lifespan of 21 years.

British Rail Class 141 Pacer
141 113 at Pontefract Tanshelf in 1996
Interior of a Class 141.
In service1984 - 2005
ManufacturerBritish Leyland
Order no.
  • 30977 (DMS)
  • 30978 (DMSL)[1]
Family namePacer
Constructed1984 [2]
Refurbished1988 - 1989
Number built20 units
Number in service14 units (exported)
Number preserved2 units
Number scrapped4 units
Formation
  • 2 car
  • DMS+DMSL[3]
Diagram
  • DP228 (DMS)
  • DP229 (DMSL)[1]
Fleet numbers
  • 141001-141020 (sets, as built)
  • 141101-141120 (sets, from 1988-9)[3]
  • 55502-55521 (DMS)
  • 55522-55541 (DMSL)[4]
Capacity
  • 94 (total)
  • 50 (DMS)
  • 44 (DMSL)[3]
Operator(s)
Depot(s)Neville Hill[1]
Line(s) servedWest Yorkshire
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel[5]
Car length15.45 m (50 ft 8 1⁄4 in)[4]
Width2.5 m (8 ft 2 3⁄8 in)[4]
Height3.906 m (12 ft 9 3⁄4 in)[5]
Articulated sections2
Wheelbase9 m (29 ft 6 3⁄8 in)[5]
Maximum speed75 mph (121 km/h)[3]
Weight
  • 26 t (26 long tons; 29 short tons) (DMS)
  • 26.5 t (26.1 long tons; 29.2 short tons) (DMSL)[4]
Prime mover(s)1 × Leyland TL11[3]
Power output205 hp (153 kW)[4]
TransmissionSCGR500 4-speed[3]
Train heating
  • Engine waste heat
  • Ducted warm air[5]
BogiesAX1[5]
Braking system(s)Air[5]
Safety system(s)AWS
Coupling system
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge

Description

In the early 1980s British Rail were looking to replace the remaining 1950s first generation diesel multiple units on lightly used branch lines. Financial pressures precluded them ordering more heavyweight second generation units (the business case could not be made to balance) so were looking for a cheaper alternative.

British Rail engineers looked at the Leyland National bus, then in widespread usage, with its modular design as a basis for the design. Several single and two car prototypes were built before an order was placed with Leyland Bus for twenty class 141 two car units in 1984.

The units were notoriously unreliable, but reliability improved when the units were modified by Hunslet-Barclay between 1988 and 1989. At the same time the buckeye couplings were replaced with the BSI type fitted to the later Class 142, for more flexible working.

Both axles (one driving per coach at the inner end) were fitted directly to the chassis rather than being mounted on bogies, leading to a rather rough ride especially over pointwork. Because of this, the units were generally less popular with passengers.

The units were based mainly in and across West Yorkshire on routes radiating from Leeds, where they worked up until 1997 when they were replaced by Class 142. They were sponsored by West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, and were initially painted in the PTE's Verona green and buttermilk livery with "MetroTrain" branding, later receiving the red and cream "Metro-Train" livery.

The units were numbered from 141001 to 141020. After modification they became 141101 to 141120, although not in order, since the opportunity was taken to match the final digits of the unit numbers with those of the vehicle numbers.

Overseas

In 1984, a Class 141 unit was built for trial running in Malaysia and Thailand. The unit was re-gauged to metre gauge. The trial running wasn't successful.[6] The vehicle was different from the twenty British trains having only longitudinal seating for 120 passengers and space for another 140 standing. Only 1 car was powered with the other being a trailer vehicle. After the unsuccessful trial in Thailand the Pacer went to Malaysia and then to Indonesia for further evaluation. It was last seen outside the Ulu Yam station, on a railway siding, in Malaysia in fairly derelict condition in 2000.

At the end of their career with British Rail, 12 units were sold to Islamic Republic of Iran Railways and were exported during 2001/2002.[7][8] with two spotted in service in 2005,[9] All units have since been withdrawn and replaced by new DMUs. Two units (106 & 112) were exported to the Netherlands, but they were scrapped in 2005. Some units remain in the United Kingdom with two units in preservation: 141108 at the Colne Valley Railway, and 141113 at the Midland Railway – Butterley. Two units (141103 and 141110) were formerly preserved at the Weardale Railway, of which 141103 and the one remaining car from 141110 were scrapped in March 2018.[10]

Unit details
Key: Preserved Exported Scrapped
Set Number (as built)Set Number (following modifications)Vehicle Number (1)Vehicle Number (2)StatusCurrent locationComments
141 001141 1025550255522ExportedIran-
141 002141 1035550355523ScrappedScrappedFormerly preserved on Weardale Railway. Scrapped in 2018.
141 003141 1045550455524ScrappedScrapped141104 was involved in a head-on collision with a Class 156 Sprinter (156476) at Huddersfield at around 10pm on 6 November 1989. 33 people were injured, 3 seriously. The railbus was withdrawn and scrapped in 1989. 156476 was returned to service after repairs that lasted until March 1990. It was repaired at BRML Doncaster and was transferred to Haymarket upon release.
141 004141 1055550555525ExportedIran-
141 005141 1065550655526ExportedNetherlandsLast known whereabouts were at Moerdijk in August 2005, along with 141112.[11]
141 006141 1075550755527ExportedIran-
141 007141 1085550855528PreservedEastleigh TMD Stored following sale of unit
141 008141 1095550955529ExportedIran-
141 009141 1105551055530ScrappedWeardale Railway
141 010141 1115551155531ExportedIran-
141 011141 1125551255532ExportedNetherlandsLast known whereabouts were at Moerdijk in August 2005, along with 141106.[11]
141 012141 1135551355533PreservedMidland Railway – ButterleyUnit fitted with Cummins L10 engines and Voith hydraulic transmission.

Owned by the Llangollen Railcar Group, though usually based at the Midland Railway – Butterley.
Loaned to the Weardale Railway between June 2010 - May 2012.

141 013141 1145551455534ExportedIran-
141 0141411155551555535ExportedIran-
141 0151411165551655536ExportedIran-
141 0161411175551755537ExportedIran-
141 0171411185551855538ExportedIranWas named Flower when owned by SERCO as the weedkiller unit.
141 0181411195551955539ExportedIran-
141 0191411205552055540ExportedIran-
141 020141 1015552155541ScrappedScrappedScrapped in 2004.

Non-passenger use

Unit number 141118 was modified for use as a weedkilling unit by Serco. It gained a grey and red livery and black wrap-around window surrounds. It was among the units later exported to Iran. A photograph of this unit, in SERCO livery, at Huddersfield is shown on page 36 of Modern Locomotives Illustrated - August/September 2012.

Images
  • 141113 standing at Swanwick shed, Midland Railway - Butterley
  • 141103 standing at Stanhope station, Weardale Railway
  • Driver's cab of unit 141103
  • 141108 at the Colne Valley Railway
  • Unidentified class 141 unit in original West Yorkshire PTE Verona green and buttermilk livery

References
  1. Fox & Hughes 1994, p. 15
  2. "Class 141 Railbus Built 1984". Llangollen Railcar Group. Archived from the original on 27 August 2008.
  3. "Class 141". The Railway Centre. Archived from the original on 9 March 2005.
  4. Fox 1987, p. 40
  5. Vehicle Diagram Book No. 220 for Diesel Multiple Unit Trains (Railcars) (PDF). Barrowmore MRG. Derby: British Railways Board. 1982. DP228, DP229.
  6. "The Leyland Experimental Vehicle". Traintesting.com. Retrieved 2 December 2015.
  7. "Rolling Stock of Iranian Railways". Rah Ahan Iran. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011.
  8. "Rolling Stock of Iranian Railways". Rah Ahan Iran. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011.
  9. http://www.phantasrail.com/Iran/130%202005.10.09%20Teheranu.jpg
  10. Railway Magazine May 2018 p. 90
  11. Railways Illustrated: 34. November 2005. Missing or empty |title= (help)

Sources
  • Fox, Peter (1987). Multiple Unit Pocket Book. British Railways Pocket Book No.2 (Summer/Autumn 1987 ed.). Platform 5 Publishing Ltd. ISBN 0906579740. OCLC 613347580.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Fox, Peter; Hughes, Barry (1994). DMUs & Channel Tunnel Stock. British Railways Pocket Book No.3 (7th ed.). Platform 5. ISBN 9781872524597.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

Further reading
  • "New era dawns for W. Yorks commuters". Rail Enthusiast. EMAP National Publications. May 1984. p. 15. ISSN 0262-561X. OCLC 49957965.
  • "Class 141 'Pacer' DMU to become weedkilling train". RAIL. No. 332. EMAP Apex Publications. 3–16 June 1998. p. 7. ISSN 0953-4563. OCLC 49953699.
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