Midweek Pacer Day on the Aln Valley Railway

Hello folks and apologies it has been so long. I've not been able to get out as often as I'd like owing to family matters. I do hope to get out a bit more over the summer, when I plan on doing a few more village/town narrated walkabouts and some drone videos. Of course I'm sure I'll get a few more railway videos in too.

Today I visited the Aln Valley Railway for one of its midweek Pacer days. The railway has only had a couple of operational days this year, but over the summer it operates twice a week - Wednesday is Pacer day; and weekends are steam/diesel loco days.

Despite having filmed at the Aln Valley Railway on several previous occasions, this was my first visit on a Pacer day. The first train set off from Lionheart at 11 pm and over the course of the day it completed five return journeys along the 1.5 mile line to Greenrigg Halt.

Diesel multiple unit 144004 was providing the day's traction. The unit, originally built by British Rail Engineering Limited (BREL) at its Derby works, first entered service with British Rail in 1986. On privatisation ownership transferred to Porterbrook leasing company, which originally leased the vehicle to former regional operator Arriva Trains Northern. It eventually retired from mainline service in late 2020, when it was operated by Northern Trains. Many 14X class units were then scrapped, but Porterbrook saved this one from the wreckers yard and gifted it to the Aln Valley Railway.

Like its classmate 144016, also briefly seen in today's video, 144004 previously wore the former blue/white/purple livery of Northern Rail. However, the Aln Valley Railway set about giving it a complete overhaul, which included restoring its former Regional Railways (ish) livery from the days of British Rail sectorisation.

Today's video follows the progress of 144004 over a complete return journey from Lionheart to Greenrigg. The weather wasn't that great, so I hope you'll forgive me the odd wind gust and rain droplet here and there.

More information about the Aln Valley Railway on its website: https://www.alnvalleyrailway.co.uk

Filmed on 10th April 2024.

Video created by Northumberland Snapper:
https://northumberlandsnapper.blogspo...

Footage was captured using a Panasonic HC-VX1; https://amzn.to/3vJnqNJ; fitted with a Rode VideoMic Go; https://amzn.to/3rpMeIA