144009 - 55809 & 55832 Class 144 Driving Motor Second & Driving Motor Second Lavatory

Home Railway

East Lancashire Railway

Location History

East Lancashire Railway Sep 20-Present

Current Location

East Lancashire Railway

Current Status

Operational

Current Livery

Non Standard Blue

TRA Designation

4

Owner

Evan Green-Hughes

Website

Record Last Updated

9 April 2023

Preservation Modifications
None

Preservation Information
144009 became the eighth Class 144 to be preserved when it was moved from storage at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway (via a rail move to Worksop) to the East Lancashire Railway railway by road in September 2020. The arrangement was unusual in that 144009 had in fact been transferred to the Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service, where unit was intended to be used at their new training centre in Bury, Manchester. However agreement was reached for the set to temporarily be held at the East Lancashire Railway before moving to its permenent new home.

The fire service agreed for 144009 to operate a few services at the East Lancashire Railway before it was moved, which was planned for the November 2020 railcar gala. However this event was cancelled due to Covid-19 so the runs did not take place.

During the spring, 144009 was re-liveried as part of a filming contract. The set appeared during the summer Diesel Gala event in passenger service, a little later than first planned, but still a "last chance" for enthusiasts to travel on 144009 in a preserved setting. There was another "last chance" when the unit was made available for the November DMU Gala, where it was also used for driver experiences for one day only.

During 2022 the set was used again for special events and filming work. It then gained a permenant reprieve after the private owner of 144010 swapped it with the fire service for 144009 which was deemed in better condition. From this point onwards 144009 became fully available for more regular operations.

144009 continues to operate services on the East Lancashire Railway sharing duties with other first generation sets.

Future Plans
To maintain in service.

144009 in the sidings at Ramsbottom, 17/9/22. Andy Jackson

Second Gen seen from First Gen: 144009 on damp driver experiences at Ramsbottom, meeting Class 104 M50455, 12/11/21. Simon Potter

144009 in passenger service at Ramsbottom during the diesel gala event, billed as the last chance to ride 144009, 1/7/21. Shaun Whitehead

144009 in passenger service at Ramsbottom during the diesel gala event, billed as the last chance to ride 144009, 1/7/21. Shaun Whitehead

144009 in passenger service at Ramsbottom during the diesel gala event, billed as the last chance to ride 144009, 1/7/21. Shaun Whitehead

144009 on a test run between Bury and Heywood during preparations for the 2020 Railcar gala, which sadly later got cancelled, 14/10/20. Kevin Dowd

144009 on a test run between Bury and Heywood during preparations for the 2020 Railcar gala, which sadly later got cancelled, 14/10/20. Kevin Dowd

Half of 144009 being loaded for transport to the East Lancs, 3/9/20. Kieron Mark Rigby