144001 - 55801 & 55824 Class 144 Driving Motor Second & Driving Motor Second Lavatory

Home Railway	Airedale General Hospital (55801)	Location History (55801)	Airedale General Hospital Sep 21-Present
	Huddersfield Station (55824)
Current Location	Airedale General Hospital (55801)	Location History (55824)	Huddersfield Station Jul 21-Present
	Huddersfield Station (55824)
Current Status	Static Use
Current Livery	Northern Rail (55801)
	Non Standard Black/Grey (55824)
TRA Designation	5
Owner	Airedale General Hospital (55801)
	Platform 1 (55824)
Website	platform-1.co.uk
Record Last Updated	1 October 2023
Preservation Modifications The set was never to be preserved as a traditional railway vehicle, split over two locations with mechanical equipment removed (55801) and grounded as a body only (55824) with both interiors stripped out for further community use. Many of the mechanical components went to other working 144 projects, for example 144001's wheelsets went as spares to the Wensleydale Railway.
Preservation Information 144001 was one of the later Class 144 units to be "preserved" after being split up and all mechanical components removed by the Harry Needle Railway Company. They were then repurposed for static community use, it never being the intention to ever operate the vehicles as a train again. DMSL 55824 was the first of the two cars to emerge, becoming the 15th Class 144 to arrive at its preserved home. It had been repainted in a smart Black/Grey colour scheme and was located behind the platforms at Huddersfield station, a regular haunt for 144001 when operating on the mainline. It was donated to become a space for "Platform 1", a local mental health support group for men unable to connect with other services. Only the body survived, being removed from the chassis entirely. A few months later DMS 55801, still in Northern colours, was moved to the Airedale General Hospital for static use as non-clinical support space.
Future Plans Airedale General Hospital intends to transform 55801 and use it as a mixed-use, non-clinical space to offer support and respite site for families visiting the hospital. The facility will focus on helping children and families and people suffering with dementia and will bring an unusual communal space for patients to use whilst staying at the hospital. 55824 is permenently grounded and it is intended that it will see many years use ahead helping men in Huddersfield as part of the Platform 1 scheme. It is thought that the vehicle will become a kitchen for their cafe.

	55824 in use at Huddersfield station, 21/6/23. Ken Jones

	55801 (144001) being craned into its final position at Airedale General Hospital, 5/9/21. Stuart Cutmore

	55801 (144001) arriving at its new home, Airedale General Hospital, 5/9/21. Bob Smith

	55824 (144001) in place at its new home for Platform 1, Huddersfield station, 17/7/21. Andy Jackson

	The new owners of 55824 (144001) are clear in this bodyside view, 17/7/21. Andy Jackson

	55824 (144001) being transported into position, 10/7/21. Harry Smith

Interior

	The cab of 55824 (144001), 20/7/21. John Wardale

	The stripped out passenger saloon of 55824 (144001), 20/7/21. John Wardale