142041 - 55582 & 55632 - Class 142 Driving Motor Second & Driving Motor Second Lavatory

Home Railway

Wensleydale Railway

Location History

Wensleydale Railway Jun 20-Present

Current Location

Wensleydale Railway

Current Status

Stored

Current Livery

Northern Rail

TRA Designation

4

Owner

North Yorkshire Pacer Group

Website

Record Last Updated

1 September 2022

Preservation Modifications
None

Preservation Information
142041 was the 14th Class 142 to be preserved (in 2020). It was purchased privately for use on the Wensleydale Railway who had been struggling with keeping enough first generation railcars in operating condition to serve their off peak needs. Its last home was at Newton Heath (Manchester) under Northern Rail before preservation and movement to the Wensleydale Railway in June 2020. 142041 became the first of the "Merseyrail" Class 142 varients to be saved: these sets were modified with high capacity 3+2 seating and "dot matrix" destination indicators. This was a surprising move, as spectators predicted the Merseyrail sets were not likely to be preserved, given their reputation for being the least attractive 142's due to the cramped seats. Indeed, they had gained the nickname "Miseryrail" sets during their mainline careers! 142041 entered preservation under its own power, driven in multiple with 142035 to their new home utilising their active mainline connection. Their arrival brought the number of operational Class 142's on the line to four.

In April 2021, 142041 was included in an umbrella organisation named "Wensleydale Pacer Preservation" which brought together the seven Pacer sets owned by various parties but based on the railway.

During the summer of 2021 142041, still in "as withdrawn" condition, was cleaned for use on the railway, seeing successful test runs in August. It is not known if the set did any passenger turns for the remainder of the season, but it was withdrawn in November for a more thorough deep clean of the interior. The set had its high density Merseyrail seats removed which allowed full access to the passenger saloons to remove years of accumulated grime. Various mechanical and electrical faults on the unit were also attended to during this period.

Work on other vehicles led to 142041 being paused in 2022, and it currently remains stored awaiting further backdating works.

Future Plans
The owning group wish to see 142041 returned to its mid 1990's condition. A repaint into North West Regional Railways is planned along with the removal of several of the "Merseyrail refit" features such as the dot-matrix destination displays and the reinstatement of original bench seating.

142041 seen at Scruton on test runs, 9/8/21.Jason Rogers

A cab view of 142041 which has recently had its GSMR equipment removed, 9/8/21.Jason Rogers