Pacers: The End

Having suffered the indignity of yet another cancelled Northern Rail service, I eventually got to my local last night to find they'd run out of Cask. Any more settling? I asked, to be told 'No, thats it till Tuesday'... Hobbled home and had a coffee instead. Couldn't even get a pint!

 

There is a thread running on Rail UK Forums
Best routes to find Pacers?
So some must love them!

 

Well, they must still have their uses... One was coupled to a 2-car Sprinter as it arrived in Halifax yesterday at 06.10, and the consist duly departed for Brighouse with one power unit of the Sprinter set dead. Good job it was descending the bank from Dryclough Junction, as I don't think it'd have the guts to drag it up there!

Richard.

 

There's a 2 car 142 set regularly parked in Huddersfied station, all it's doing is growing rust, if anybody on Rail UK want it................take it...........FOC.........it's a gift........we'll even gift wrap the b loody thing.

 

They are common on the working through Handforth to Wigan North Western, I've been using them quite a bit between Handforth and Stockport. Usually with a 150

 

A re-furbed 150 will do fine, more axles, a bit of air suspension and some doors that fit. 140/142 however the doors only bear a passing resemblance to doors and the Romans had better suspension on their chariots.

 

Victor, You should come to Gavin and Stacey land. 150,s are the best we get and most trains are Pacers still!!
They come singly or in mixed pairs and as I stated upstream their tortured flanges on the curve to/from Barry Island can be heard for miles! You would be in your element!

 

I would encourage anyone reading this at a railway/community group/charity in the relevant region to consider an interesting, and indeed sustainable, static use for one of the 3 Pacer carriages being donated by Porterbrook in the DfT competition.

They have potential for some interesting uses as long as they're considered carefully - and there's likely to be a good deal of publicity surrounding them.

Apply here by 30th Sept; please spread the word to others. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pacer-competition-application-form-and-guidelines
Disclaimer: I am on the judging panel of entries.

 

It's like a dinosaurs graveyard in the sidings at Huddersfield station, some rascal is fly tipping Pacer sets there, more and more are arriving.
There was one set yesterday sporting 'Porterbrook Leasing' logos. People say there's no such thing as bad publicity but if I was Mr Porterbrook the last thing I'd do is advertise being associated with the heaps of misery.
AND.........the rubbish being spouted by government ministers......"all Pacers will be gone by the end of the year"..........forget it. On TV again last evening....."Pacers will still be running well into 2020.

 

Government ministers strangers to the truth at the best of times Victor.....

 

I keep hearing 143603 is going to the Swindon and Cricklade RLY, dunno why 603 is quoted but I've heard it from different people, the WSR should apply for a 142 even if they just keep it temp so the 115 can be taken out for a (at least) internal referb it really needs it

 

A trip today on a future NRM exhibit, yes, I got 142001 as far as Stockport, it was on a Southport working, with a 150.

 

Well, I had the misfortune to use one of these 'things' yesterday (Dewsbury - Leeds), but this one had special features, #1 it was a 4 car unit, #2 an attempt had been made to refurb the 'seats',(the Pacers will still be with us after Dec 31st) and best of all #3..................it had square wheels. This meant that the natural suspension bounce was enhanced by the wheel flats. Running down into Leeds from Morley I thought we were going to finish up in the ballast.

 

I assume that it was only the gentleman passengers that were inconvenienced

 

It's The Bentham Line that attracts the wimmin, around West and South Yorkshire everybody just hangs on and pray that they survive.

 

Pacers seem to have an affinity for Yorkshire. In recent times (i.e. within the current timetable) I have noted them working Leeds - Lancaster; Leeds - Sheffield ; Sheffield - Huddersfield; Doncaster - Scunthorpe; Sheffield - York; Sheffield - Hull; Sheffield - Adwick. Are they attracted to you or Mrs V by any chance ?

 

Either you have the powers of a soothsayer or a keen eye for the bleedin' obvious.

https://www.manchestereveningnews.c...cers-wont-leaving-greater-manchester-17064009

 

I don't think so Fred, it's an infestation, I've seen a 2 car job today with the branding painted over, It looked as though somebody had got 25 litres of paint and used a sweeping brush.
And the Northern franchise could certainly do with a bit of scrutiny because the rubbish equipment that they put out to work every day is unacceptable, folk pay a lot of money for season tickets to ride on c rap equipment.

 

Myself and my good lady will be experiencing that tomorrow from Carnforth to Leeds, I cannot wait! Think we are TPE from Leeds to York so no idea what wonder that will bring.

 

I'd rather go on a Pacer than have the train cancelled