Class 144 Manchester Victoria

[Leyland155]

At Manchester Vic today, I noticed a Northern class 144 in Platform 1. I have never seen a 144 anywhere near Manchester, or as a matter of fact, outside Yorkshire. This got me wondering, how rare an occurrence is this and does anyone know what it was doing here? I couldn't get the unit number unfortunately, but I think it may have been coupled to 158903 as that unit was also in Platform 1. The photo was taken from a moving tram, so isn't the best quality, and I wasn't able to rotate it for some reason but you get the gist.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Iskra]

At Manchester Vic today, I noticed a Northern class 144 in Platform 1. I have never seen a 144 anywhere near Manchester, or as a matter of fact, outside Yorkshire. This got me wondering, how rare an occurrence is this and does anyone know what it was doing here? I couldn't get the unit number unfortunately, but I think it may have been coupled to 158903 as that unit was also in Platform 1. The photo was taken from a moving tram, so isn't the best quality, and I wasn't able to rotate it for some reason but you get the gist.

Thanks in advance.

I've never seen one at Victoria before.

They cross into Lancashire on a daily basis though, but usually on the stretch between Hellifield and Lancaster/Morecambe/Heysham. At one point they used to produce on the Settle-Carlisle fairly frequently too, but not so much these days.

 

[Thomas6187]

They don't come over as often as they used too. Before the timetable change allowing 5 TPE trains an hour to run, the Class 144 regularly worked the Manchester Victoria-Leeds via Brighouse services. There used to be 5 diagram per day split between 4x3car and 1x2car into Manchester Victoria

 

[507021]

I've never seen one at Victoria before.

Me neither, whenever I've headed over to Yorkshire from Manchester Victoria it's been either a 155, 158 or 158 with a 153.

 

[Bevan Price]

Unless things have changed in the last few weeks, Class 144 are quite common visitors to Manchester Victoria on Calder Valley services. The Leeds - Dewsbury - Hebden Bridge - Manchester Victoria service was often a Pacer (142 or 144).


(Edit - Posted before I saw the post by Thomas6187)

 

[Leyland155]

Many thanks for the quick replies.

They cross into Lancashire on a daily basis though, but usually on the stretch between Hellifield and Lancaster/Morecambe/Heysham.

I wasn't aware that they were used on that route, but I imagine it's an interesting journey from Hellifield to Morecambe on a pacer!

They don't come over as often as they used too. Before the timetable change allowing 5 TPE trains an hour to run, the Class 144 regularly worked the Manchester Victoria-Leeds via Brighouse services. There used to be 5 diagram per day split between 4x3car and 1x2car into Manchester Victoria

I didn't regularly travel from Victoria back then, so that possibly explains why I never noticed any 144's. Still, it was nice to catch a glimpse of one there today

Is there any particular reason why 142's are generally used in place of 144's nowadays on the Calder Valley Line, or is it simply because there are a greater number of 142's than 144's in service?

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

144's were at one time a regular sight on Calder Valley route services. After the Smithy Bridge fire there was a definite reluctance to continue diagramming them on services through Summit Tunnel.

Over the years 144s have in fact operated over many different routes and I don't think anywhere could be called their main home other than being based at Neville Hill. At one time the 3-car sets were diagrammed on the Esk Valley route to provide the required capacity for local schools traffic. The Harrogate line was once dominated by them. After WYMetro was forced to relinquish ownership of the centre cars they financed for the 3-car sets there was even talk of them being used on the Chat Moss route!

 

[Starmill]

I have ridden a 144 from Manchester to Hebden Bridge before. I thought it was a little odd. Perhaps more odd I once had a 156 for Leeds to Hebden Bridge

 

[Bungle965]

Class 144s are extremely rare on the Calder Valley route in recent years. They did however used to be the common staple on that line but as Shaw S Hunter has explained there are reasons behind their decline. It is not the first time that something has caught fire at Smithy Bridge after the 144 a 155 had to have attention after igniting itself. Since then, thankfully there has been no other incidents and the traction on that line is now 3 or 2 car 158s with a couple of exceptions.
Sam

 

[lejog]

Class 144s are extremely rare on the Calder Valley route in recent years. They did however used to be the common staple on that line but as Shaw S Hunter has explained there are reasons behind their decline. It is not the first time that something has caught fire at Smithy Bridge after the 144 a 155 had to have attention after igniting itself. Since then, thankfully there has been no other incidents and the traction on that line is now 3 or 2 car 158s with a couple of exceptions.
Sam

As as been posted 144s were common pre May 2014 on the via Brighouse services, which IIRC ran separate diagrams to the via Bradford services (mostly 158s and 155s). These had a very low turnround time at Victoria, it would have been negative if they had stopped at Ravensthorpe and Cottingley and were somewhat unreliable. In May 2014 the diagrams were merged to provide a more reliable service and the pacers mostly replaced by Class 155/158s at least on through services. I was never sure where the extra Sprinters came from or where the 144s went.

In the last six months with the Calder Valley line being two 3 car 158s down due to refurbishment, a motley collection of trains have been turning up, including on one rush hour service into Victoria I unfortunately travelled on where a 3 car 144 rather unsatisfactorily replaced a 3 car 158.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Perhaps more odd I once had a 156 for Leeds to Hebden Bridge

Was that recent? I did wonder if with the refurbishment programme due to be complete by 2019 and the consequent stock shortages whether 156s might be seen again.

 

[Bungle965]

144s were common in recent years on the via Brighouse services, which IIRC ran separate diagrams to the via Bradford services. These had a very low turnround time at Victoria (it would have been negative if they had stopped at Ravensthorpe and Cottingley) and were somewhat unreliable. In May 2014 the diagrams were merged to provide a more reliable service and the pacers mostly replaced by Class 155/158s at least on through services.

In the last six months with the Calder Valley line being two 3 car 158s down due to refurbishment, a motley collection of trains have been turning up, including on one rush hour service into Victoria I unfortunately travelled on where a 3 car 144 rather unsatisfactorily replaced a 3 car 158.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Was that recent? I did wonder if with the refurbishment programme due to be complete by 2019 and the consequent stock shortages whether 156s might be seen again.

Thanks for this information, I admit it did seem a bit weird that they would still be sending down 142s and yet not 144s. Talking of which the 142s seem to be making a appearance more often, the worst one has to be the 0608 Leeds to Manchester Victoria. Which is exceptionally busy anyway. But when is a 142 must leave people behind it is that busy.
Sam

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[Potato185]

Weirdly, the first time I'd seen a 144 was at Victoria!

144013 by Jack Bowley, on Flickr

 

[ashworth]

At Manchester Vic today, I noticed a Northern class 144 in Platform 1. I have never seen a 144 anywhere near Manchester, or as a matter of fact, outside Yorkshire.

Are 144's still regularly used on the line between Sheffield and Lincoln? They certainly were when I last used it about 6 months ago. That journey is almost completely outside Yorkshire running mainly through Nottinghamshire and on into Lincolnshire.

 

[Eboordna]

Thanks for this information, I admit it did seem a bit weird that they would still be sending down 142s and yet not 144s. Talking of which the 142s seem to be making a appearance more often, the worst one has to be the 0608 Leeds to Manchester Victoria. Which is exceptionally busy anyway. But when is a 142 must leave people behind it is that busy.
Sam

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

06:08 LDS-MCV was always a 155 until this July, it's now diagrammed to be a 150, but usually only manages it about 3 days per week - it's then usually replaced with a 142, or the occasional 158 (but always a 2 car!). Frequently leaves people behind at Rochdale but Northern still keep sending a 142.

 

[Bevan Price]

144's were at one time a regular sight on Calder Valley route services. After the Smithy Bridge fire there was a definite reluctance to continue diagramming them on services through Summit Tunnel.

Over the years 144s have in fact operated over many different routes and I don't think anywhere could be called their main home other than being based at Neville Hill. At one time the 3-car sets were diagrammed on the Esk Valley route to provide the required capacity for local schools traffic. The Harrogate line was once dominated by them. After WYMetro was forced to relinquish ownership of the centre cars they financed for the 3-car sets there was even talk of them being used on the Chat Moss route!

Back in BR days, when some of the Calder Valley services ran through to Liverpool, at least one Class 144 reached Liverpool Lime St - and Class 155 also reached Liverpool, one of which was also used on Liverpool - St. Helens (Central) sunday services.

 

[Starmill]

Was that recent? I did wonder if with the refurbishment programme due to be complete by 2019 and the consequent stock shortages whether 156s might be seen again.

It was also in 2014.

 

[Y961 XBU]

I have used this route a number of times and once managed a 144 once

 

[507 001]

Weirdly, the first time I'd seen a 144 was at Victoria!

144013 by Jack Bowley, on Flickr

It's only reading this thread that's made me realise how long it is since I've seen a 144! In fact, one of the last ones I saw was sat in Newton Heath having been dumped there after spontaneously combusting.

Back in BR days, when some of the Calder Valley services ran through to Liverpool, at least one Class 144 reached Liverpool Lime St - and Class 155 also reached Liverpool, one of which was also used on Liverpool - St. Helens (Central) sunday services.

I've seen a pair of 153s on a late night service to LIV from MCV. That would have been around 2007.

 

[najaB]

I've seen a pair of 153s on a late night service to LIV from MCV. That would have been around 2007.

I saw a 142-156-142 sandwich arrive ECS at LIV on Saturday. The rearmost 142 then worked to Blackpool North, I was on it as far as Preston.

 

[randyrippley]

Many thanks for the quick replies.



I wasn't aware that they were used on that route, but I imagine it's an interesting journey from Hellifield to Morecambe on a pacer!

Hellifield to Morecambe is an interesting journey on any train

 

[Wolf]

144's were at one time a regular sight on Calder Valley route services. After the Smithy Bridge fire there was a definite reluctance to continue diagramming them on services through Summit Tunnel.

Over the years 144s have in fact operated over many different routes and I don't think anywhere could be called their main home other than being based at Neville Hill. At one time the 3-car sets were diagrammed on the Esk Valley route to provide the required capacity for local schools traffic. The Harrogate line was once dominated by them. After WYMetro was forced to relinquish ownership of the centre cars they financed for the 3-car sets there was even talk of them being used on the Chat Moss route!

144s stopped being diagrammed on the Calder valley after the smithy bridge fire yes. The fire on 144023 was caused by a build up of crap on the top of the fuel tanks over a period of time which eventually ignited. There were a number of failings on the day of the fire, one of which was issues with fitters based at Manchester who didn't sign 144s. The main reason for 144s being withdrawn from working in and out of man vic is down to the rediagrammimg of units on the Calder valley and the replacement of most 142/144 diagrams with 15x diagrams. The re-diagrammimg combined with the fact fitters on the west side don't have extensive knowledge of 144s I believe is the reason they generally arnt sent over to Manchester if possible. Drivers based at Manchester Victoria are also no longer signing 144s, although some may still have them on their traction cards from a few years ago.

 

[Loop & Link]

144s stopped being diagrammed on the Calder valley after the smithy bridge fire yes. The fire on 144023 was caused by a build up of crap on the top of the fuel tanks over a period of time which eventually ignited. There were a number of failings on the day of the fire, one of which was issues with fitters based at Manchester who didn't sign 144s. The main reason for 144s being withdrawn from working in and out of man vic is down to the rediagrammimg of units on the Calder valley and the replacement of most 142/144 diagrams with 15x diagrams. The re-diagrammimg combined with the fact fitters on the west side don't have extensive knowledge of 144s I believe is the reason they generally arnt sent over to Manchester if possible. Drivers based at Manchester Victoria are also no longer signing 144s, although some may still have them on their traction cards from a few years ago.

The furthest they are booked to go now is Hebden Bridge.

 

[Bungle965]

144022 made a surprise appearance today on the 0748 Manchester Victoria to Leeds. Certainly made a change compared to the usual 150.
Sam

 

[Tim R-T-C]

They cross into Lancashire on a daily basis though, but usually on the stretch between Hellifield and Lancaster/Morecambe/Heysham. At one point they used to produce on the Settle-Carlisle fairly frequently too, but not so much these days.

Interestingly I saw the Porterbrook demonstrator 144012 at Keighley on an ex-Lancaster service last Thursday.

Even that route is sometimes worked by 153s now.

Can't recall the last time I saw a pacer on the S&C, its a solid 158 turn now, occasionally with 153 attached.

 

[DarloRich]

Interestingly I saw the Porterbrook demonstrator 144012 at Keighley on an ex-Lancaster service last Thursday.

Even that route is sometimes worked by 153s now.

Can't recall the last time I saw a pacer on the S&C, its a solid 158 turn now, occasionally with 153 attached.

I have been up there on a pacer but many years ago - it was a very interesting run. I think it was a service that did not run through to Carlisle and was late in the evening as i was off to a youth hostel somewhere in the wilds of Yorkshire.

 

[Tim R-T-C]

I have been up there on a pacer but many years ago - it was a very interesting run. I think it was a service that did not run through to Carlisle and was late in the evening as i was off to a youth hostel somewhere in the wilds of Yorkshire.

The last service beyond Skipton on an evening runs to Ribblehead (at least it has since I regularly caught it on an evening in 2007, not sure before that).

Nothing like getting off on a remote S&C station on a dark, lonely night...

 

[DarloRich]

The last service beyond Skipton on an evening runs to Ribblehead (at least it has since I regularly caught it on an evening in 2007, not sure before that).

Nothing like getting off on a remote S&C station on a dark, lonely night...

It was a late summer evening so it was quite nice really I ma sure the late train has always turned back somewhere short of Appleby

Actually looking at the YHA map it cant have been a Youth Hostel as the closest is Malham. I wonder where I went?

 

[lejog]

Actually looking at the YHA map it cant have been a Youth Hostel as the closest is Malham. I wonder where I went?

Rural Youth Hostels have been closing faster than rural pubs - there used to be one a couple of miles from Dent Station (away from the village) and one at Stainforth between Settle and Horton.

I stayed at the Dent Hostel a number of times - arriving on the early evening train, a pint and dinner in The Sportsmans en route to the hostel, then a weekends walking.

 

[DarloRich]

Rural Youth Hostels have been closing faster than rural pubs - there used to be one a couple of miles from Dent Station (away from the village) and one at Stainforth between Settle and Horton.

I stayed at the Dent Hostel a number of times - arriving on the early evening train, a pint and dinner in The Sportsmans en route to the hostel, then a weekends walking.

thanks - it could have been that one then. It was years ago.

 

[jshaw]

Interestingly I saw the Porterbrook demonstrator 144012 at Keighley on an ex-Lancaster service last Thursday.

Even that route is sometimes worked by 153s now.

Can't recall the last time I saw a pacer on the S&C, its a solid 158 turn now, occasionally with 153 attached.

144s are the most common on the Lancaster-Leeds line, often with a 153 attached. 142/150 also seen sometimes.