143603 - 55658 & 55669 Class 143 Driving Motor Second & Driving Motor Second Lavatory

Home Railway

Vale of Berkeley Railway

Location History

Chasewater Railway Jan 21-?

Current Location

Private Site: Wishaw

Current Status

Stored

Visited Railways

Private Site: Wishaw (storage) ?-Present

Current Livery

Great Western Railway

TRA Designation

4

Owner

Vale of Berkeley Railway

Website

valeofberkeleyrailway.co.uk

Record Last Updated

9 April 2023

Preservation Modifications
None

Preservation Information
143603 was the first Class 143 that was announced as set aside for preservation in late 2019, with a planned future at the Swindon & Cricklade Railway. Its last home was at Exeter under Great Western Railway. However the deal later collapsed and 143603 subsequently became the second set preserved when it was moved by road to the Chasewater Railway on behalf of its owners the Vale of Berkeley Railway. Their line was a recent start-up and the Pacers were seen as good operational units to run future services with.

143612 was kept operational at Chasewater Railway alongside the preserved Class 142 units there, and made its debut on passenger services there in May 2021.

However this was to be short lived with 143603 later being taken from the railway and sent for contract storage at RSS Wishaw, where it remains.

Future Plans
The Vale of Berkeley Railway have stated that in due course 143603 will be moved to their railway and used on passenger services on their reopened line.

143603 stored at Wishaw, 3/1/23. Ken Jones

143603 stored in a haulage yard at Wishaw, 9/8/22. Ken Jones

143603 working services on the Chasewater Railway, on its first day in traffic, 22/5/21. Alistair Grieve