British Rail Class 141

British Rail Class 141
Pacer
Class 141 at Pontefract Tanshelf in 1996
Interior of a Class 141
In service1984–2005
Manufacturer
Order no.
  • 30977 (DMS vehicles)
  • 30978 (DMSL vehicles)[2]
Built atDerby Litchurch Lane Works
Family namePacer
Constructed1984[3]
Refurbished1988–1989
Number built20
Number preserved2
Number scrapped4
Formation2 vehicles: DMS-DMSL
Diagram
  • DMS vehicles: DP228
  • DMSL vehicles: DP229[2]
Fleet numbers
  • Units:
  • 141001–141020 (later 141101–141120)[4]
  • Vehicles:
  • DMS: 55502–55521
  • DMSL: 55522–55541[5]
Capacity94 seats[1]
Operators
DepotsNeville Hill (Leeds)[2]
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel[1]
Car length15.123 m (49 ft 7.4 in)[1]
Width
  • Over body:
    2.500 m (8 ft 2.4 in)
  • Over treadplates:
    2.744 m (9 ft 0 in)[1]
Height3.906 m (12 ft 9.8 in)[1]
DoorsDouble-leaf folding (one per side per car)
Wheelbase9.000 m (29 ft 6.3 in)[1]
Maximum speed75 mph (121 km/h)
Weight
  • DMS vehicles: 26 t (26 long tons; 29 short tons)
  • DMSL vehicles: 26.5 t (26.1 long tons; 29.2 short tons)[5]
Prime mover(s)2 × Leyland TL11 (one per vehicle)[1]
Engine typeInline-6 4-stroke turbo-diesel[6]
Displacement11.1 L (680 cu in) per engine[6]
Power output149 kW (200 hp) per engine[7]
TransmissionSCG RRE5 (4-sp. epicyclic)[7]
Minimum turning radius70 m (230 ft)[1]
Braking system(s)Electro-pneumatic (tread)
('Westcode')
Safety system(s)AWS
Coupling system
Multiple workingAs built: Not fitted[1]
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The British Rail Class 141 is the first production model of the Pacer diesel multiple unit (DMU) railbus.

During the 1980s, British Rail (BR) was interested in replacing its first generation diesel multiple units, particularly in the use of railbuses to service its lightly used branch lines. It was decided to develop such a vehicle with a high level of commonality with the widely used Leyland National bus, leading to its modular design serving as the basis for the design. Several single and two-car prototypes were constructed and evaluated, before an order was placed with British Leyland for 20 two-car Class 141 units during 1984. During their operating lives, the units were tasked with various passenger services across the UK for 13 years. Following withdrawal, a large proportion of the units were exported to Iran where they operated for a further eight years, giving the Class 141 a total lifespan of 21 years.

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Vehicle Diagram Book No. 220 for Diesel Multiple Unit Trains (Railcars) (PDF). Derby: British Railways Board. 1982. DP228 & DP229. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2016 – via Barrowmore MRG.
  2. ^ a b c Fox, Peter; Hughes, Barry (1994). British Railways Pocket Book No. 3: DMUs & Channel Tunnel Stock (7th ed.). Sheffield: Platform 5 Publishing. p. 15. ISBN 9781872524597.
  3. ^ "Class 141 Railbus Built 1984". Llangollen Railcar Group. Archived from the original on 27 August 2008.
  4. ^ "Class 141". The Railway Centre. Archived from the original on 9 March 2005.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  5. ^ a b Fox, Peter (1987). British Railways Pocket Book No. 2: Multiple Units (Summer–Autumn 1987 ed.). Sheffield: Platform 5 Publishing. p. 40. ISBN 0906579740. OCLC 613347580.
  6. ^ a b Leyland Titan Technical Data (PDF). Southall: British Leyland UK. June 1978. Lit. No. 1683. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 January 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  7. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference shore was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ System Data for Mechanical and Electrical Coupling of Rail Vehicles in support of GM/RT2190 (PDF). London: Rail Safety and Standards Board. 22 June 2011. p. 4. SD001. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2012. Retrieved 22 November 2022.