British Rail Class 144

The British Rail Class 144 Pacer is a diesel multiple unit (DMU) passenger train built at Derby between 1986 and 1987. British Rail, seeking to procure improved derivatives of the earlier Class 141, placed an order with the manufacturers British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) and Walter Alexander to construct their own variant, the Class 144. A total of 23 units were constructed. All units have now retired from mainline service, though the majority of the units have been acquired for preservation on heritage railways and in other uses. As of December 2022, 19 out of the 23 units have been purchased following withdrawal for this purpose, of which 14 units are in operational condition.

British Rail Class 144
Pacer
Northern Rail Class 144 at Lancaster in 2012
Northern Rail refurbished Class 144 saloon
In service1986–2020
Manufacturer
Order no.
  • 31015 (DMS vehicles)
  • 31016 (DMSL vehicles)
  • 31037 (MS vehicles)
Family namePacer
Constructed1986–1987
Refurbished
  • 2002–2004
  • 2010
Number built23
(13 × 2-car, 10 × 3-car)
Number preserved19
Number scrapped3
Formation2 or 3 cars per unit:
  • DMS-DMSL
  • DMS-MS-DMSL
Diagram
  • DMS vehicles: DP240
  • MS vehicles: DR205
  • DMSL vehicles: DP241
Fleet numbers
  • 144001–144013 (2-car units)
  • 144014–144023 (3-car units)
Capacity
  • In 2-abreast configuration:
    104 or 162 seats
  • In 3-abreast configuration:
    122 or 195 seats
OwnersPorterbrook
Operators
DepotsNeville Hill (Leeds)
Lines served
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel underframe, aluminium alloy body and roof
Car length
  • DM vehs.: 15.093 m (49 ft 6.2 in)
  • MS vehs.: 15.186 m (49 ft 9.9 in)
Width2.695 m (8 ft 10.1 in)
Height3.725 m (12 ft 2.7 in)
Floor height1.288 m (4 ft 2.7 in)
DoorsDouble-leaf folding (3 or 5 per side)
Wheelbase9.000 m (29 ft 6.3 in)
Maximum speed75 mph (121 km/h)
Weight
  • As built;
  • DMS vehs.: 24.17 t (23.79 long tons; 26.64 short tons)
  • MS vehs.: 23.50 t (23.13 long tons; 25.90 short tons)
  • DMSL vehs.:25.04 t (24.64 long tons; 27.60 short tons)
Axle loadRoute Availability 1
Prime mover(s)
  • As built:
    2 or 3 × Leyland TL11
  • After upgrade:
    2 or 3 × Cummins LTA10-R
  • (one per vehicle)
Engine typeInline-6 4-stroke turbo-diesel
Displacement
  • Leyland: 11.1 L (680 cu in)
  • Cummins: 10.0 L (610 cu in)
  • (per engine)
Power output
  • Leyland: 149 kW (200 hp)
  • Cummins: 168 kW (225 hp)
  • (per engine)
Transmission
  • As built:
    SCG RRE5 (4-sp. epicyclic)
  • After upgrade:
    Voith T211r (hydrokinetic)
Minimum turning radius70 m (230 ft)
Braking system(s)Electro-pneumatic (tread)
Safety system(s)
Coupling systemBSI
Multiple workingWithin class, and with Classes 14x, 15x, and 170
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Notes/references
Specifications as at December 1987 except where otherwise noted.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.