This weekend marked a day in history as the first preserved Class 142 pacer trains operated in passenger service at the Wensleydale Railway.
Ex-Arriva Rail North Class 142 units 142028 and 142060 operated together working the ‘Yellow' timetable on the Wensleydale Railway, consisting of two round trips.
The pacers worked the 1030 & 1430 from Leeming Bar to Redmire and the 1200 & 1600 from Redmire to Leeming Bar running virtually on time throughout the day.
The weather for the first departure was dismal; however, as the day progressed, the sun fought its way out of the clouds to allow some fantastic picture opportunities to mark the occasion.
At the end of the day, both pacers were withdrawn from service until further notice so the Wensleydale Railway can progress with work on them fixing the issues caused by its neglect during their final months on the mainline and returning the interior & exterior to original condition.
It is hoped the first of the two units will return in the summer. It is not known at this point which of the original liveries the units will return in. However, it is assumed that each unit will be put back into its ‘as-built' livery.
Article and photos supplied by Anthony Ward Photography – see their Facebook page by clicking here.
Did you go to see the Pacer trains at the Wensleydale Railway? Let us know in the comments below, or share your pictures on our community page.
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Several lines simply would not have survived to the present day were it not for these no-frills little units. It’s really nice to see preservationists preserving things beyond the “glamourous” main line trains. In a decade or two, these will be just as popular as “heritage” DMUs.
It’s where they belong and it’s taken far too long!
Hopefully they’ll give some pleasure to people on preserved railways and not the misery they’ve bought to passengers and the train crews that have had to work on them over the years.
Wonderful to see the former Northern Class 142 Pacers now being used on the Wensleydale Railway. Instead of sending them for scrap.
I may not of been up there ‘in-person’ … But am glad these 2 Preserved ex-Northern Pacers proved so far successful in Roaming the Rails of the Wonderful Wensleydale Railway, carrying passengers for a ride within the UK Preservation Movement.
These 2 Pacers won’t be the only pair to be preserved as part of UK Railway Heritage, As more are likely to follow thereafter.
Furthermore, Some other fellow Preserved Heritage Railways are also taking on Potentially Preserved Pacer units in-between.
also, When I do travel over to and visit for a ride along the Wensleydale Railway,
I do hope on seeing either one of these Pacer 142 units ‘in-person’ let alone in a possible classic original ‘when-first-built’ sought of livery.