British Rail Class 141

Infobox DMU
name = British Rail Class 141 "Pacer"

---

imagesize = 300px
background = #AB273A
caption = 141108 at the Colne Valley Railway
Manufacturer = Leyland
Family = Pacer
Operator = British Rail
Formation = 2 car
Year Built = 1984 [citeweb|url=http://www.llangollenrailcars.com/55513.htm|title=Llangollen Railcar Group - Class 141]
LinesServed = West Yorkshire
InService = 1984 - 1997
Refurbishment = 1988 - 1989
CarLength =
CarWidth =
CarHeight =
Weight =
Capacity =
MaxSpeed = 75mph
Gauge = 1435 mm (4 ft 8½ in)
Traction =
Engine = Leyland TL11
SafetySystem = AWS

The British Rail Class 141 was the first production model of the Pacer diesel multiple units.

Description

Twenty units were built by Leyland, constructed mainly from Leyland National bus parts, in 1984. The units were notoriously unreliable, but reliability improved when the units were modified by Hunslet-Barclay between 1988 and 1989.

The driving axles (one 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, and because of this the units were generally less popular with passengers.

The trains 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 142s. 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.

After BR Service

Most members of the class were sold to Islamic Republic of Iran Railways. [citeweb|url=http://www.msedv.at/rai/rolling.html|title=Rolling Stock of Iranian Railways] However, some trains did remain in the United Kingdom. Two units are operational in preservation, 141113 at the Midland Railway Butterley which has recently been refurbished and painted into an authentic red and cream WYPTE livery, and 141103 at the Weardale Railway. 141110 is also at the Weardale Railway, but is not in operational condition. 141108 is preserved on the Colne Valley Railway.

Non-passenger use

Unit number 141118 was modified for use as a weedkilling unit by Serco. It was among the units later exported to Iran.

References

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWDuyw2YivM You Tube video of a preserved class 141-103 on the Weardale railway]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1clzpgi-YA You Tube video of a preserved class 141-113 at the Midland Railway Centre, Butterley]