144011 - 55811 & 55834 - Class 144 Driving Motor Second & Driving Motor Second Lavatory

Home Railway

Keighley & Worth Valley Railway

Location History

Keighley & Worth Valley Railway Jun 20-Present

Current Location

Keighley & Worth Valley Railway

Current Status

Operational

Current Livery

Metrotrain Red

TRA Designation

4

Owner

Website

Record Last Updated

9 April 2023

Preservation Modifications
None

Preservation Information
144011 became the third Class 144 to be preserved when it was officially presented to the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway from owners Porterbrook. The set was in fact already on the railway. This was due to an unusual arrangement during the Covid-19 pandemic, where the majority of the Class 144 sets were being stored on the heritage line after being removed from mainline service earlier than planned due to fallen passenger numbers. The set was a targetted addition to the railway's fleet who wished to showcase a train of the type that operated in the local area from the 1980's-2000's era.

One of the first uses for 144011 was moving 144010 in multiple to Ingrow for onward road movement into preservation. Around the same time, the first restoration/investment was made in the set when the railway had new destination blinds produced with Worth Valley destinations amongst some BR favourites! Further use in 2020 was limited due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

In March 2021, 144011 was out and about on the line operating driver training runs and competency refreshers.

The summer/autumn of 2021 saw 144011 moved into the workshops at Haworth for a repaint into a more heritage colour scheme, which was a secret for the duration of the works. The two vehicles were quickly stripped of handrails and fittings before having the bodysides and roof rubbed down. The roof was then treated to a coat of grey. The repaint was then fully undertaken, the result being that in October 2021 the set became the first Class 144 set in preservation to be restored to a heritage livery: Metro Red. It was unveiled to much acclaim, with many previously sceptical observers responding favourably to seeing the pacer in its 1990's guise.

After more than a year of preparing paperwork and operating systems to allow the use of second generation DMU's on the railway, 144011 finally entered passenger service in August 2022.

144011 continues to operate selected off-peak duties on the line sharing with first generation stock.

Future Plans
To maintain in service.

144011 in rural surroundings between Haworth and Oxenhope, 21/8/22. Robert Batty

A detail side view of 144011 showing the clean lines of the Metro livery, 18/8/22. Phil Wallis

144011 posed at haworth following its repaint, 30/10/21. KWVR Diesel Railcar Group

144011 freshly outshopped at Haworth, becoming the first Class 144 set in preservation to be restored to a heritage livery: Metro Red. It was unveiled to much acclaim, with many previously sceptical observers responding favourably to seeing the pacer in its 1990's guise, 30/10/21. Robert Batty

The roof of 144011 prepared for repainting inside Haworth sheds, 28/8/21. KWVR Railcar Group

144011 rubbed down inside Haworth shed during its repaint, 21/8/21. KWVR Railcar Group

144011 arriving into Keighley running driver familiarisation runs during the Covid-19 pandemic, 27/3/21. KWVR Railcar Group

144011 moving 144010 in multiple to Ingrow for onward road movement into preservation, 2/8/20.KWVR Railcar Group

A view of 55834's cab and driving position, shortly after entering preservation, 9/7/20. KWVR Railcar Group

A view of 144011's passenger saloon, shortly after entering preservation, 6/7/20. KWVR Railcar Group