144017 - 55817, 55853 & 55840 - Class 144 Driving Motor Second, Motor Second & Driving Motor Second Lavatory

Home Railway

Private Site: BSC Scunthorpe

Location History

Private Site: BSC Scunthorpe Aug 20-Present

Current Location

Private Site: BSC Scunthorpe

Current Status

Under Restoration

Current Livery

Northern Rail

TRA Designation

4

Owner

Scunthorpe Industrial Heritage Railway Ltd

Website

Record Last Updated

24 May 2025

Preservation Modifications
None

Preservation Information
144017 became the first 3-car Class 144 to be preserved when it was moved from storage at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway by rail to the Appleby Frodingham section of the Scunthorpe Steel site in August 2020. In doing so it secured an important part of second generation preservation as the Class 144 3-car sets were unique in containing Pacer centre cars. The set was secured by the Woodhead Line Group but with no fixed premesis agreement was made to store the set at Scunthorpe.

The Woodhead Rail Group went beyond simply storage and 144017 was used for limited runs around the site at Scunthorpe. The following year the unit was sold to Scunthorpe Industrial Heritage Railway Ltd, making Scunthorpe 144017's permanent home.

Between 2021 & 2025 144017 was used successfully on driver experiences and passenger tours around the site.

In February 2025, 144017 was withdrawn from service for overhaul, which is now in progress.

Future Plans
To complete the overhaul and return to traffic.

144017 working after dark tours of the steelworks complex, shortly before withdrawal for overhaul, 14/2/25. AFRPS

144017 passing Bentley, probably for the final time, on its way to Scunthorpe for further storage but this time in preservation under the care of the Appleby Frodingham Railway Preservation Society, 27/8/20.Darren JB