End of the line for Pacers...

I bet they'd be withdrawn within the month if they were the usual suburban traction out of Waterloo

God bless the man who got the things banned in the West Midlands area.

 

I was thinking of a branch line down south, , with very restricted clearances, purchased at scrap prices, they should last another what 50 years

 

None of em much use to a preserved railway.

 

Depends on your stock really, I've seen a few 56's at places like the GCRN and Battlefield with either a translator loco or air brake rake, brakes apart they are no worse than any other no heat diesel.

 

Wrong TOC - all the SWT stuff I travel on is very nice. The FGW stuff used on the Portsmouth to Cardiff line on the other hand ... A Pacer would be an improvement.

Tom

 

What use is a diesel if it needs a box on the back to make it work ?

 

I commuted daily from Keighley - Leeds... 1989 till the wires went up in the Aire Valley. Got used to them, though the luxury of the occasional 156 allowed more kip!

 

He surely deserves a knighthood! I know the 150's weren't the best but I know what I've preferred. I do hope one is preserved just so the next gen of train designers are given a ride in one then threatened that they'll spend the rest of eternity damned to ride one if they f**k it up.

 

I'm sure the locals would be hoping for a tragic unloading accident, like the Class 70 that got dropped in Newport docks.

 

I'm always amazed they went to the bother of dropping that Class 70, given that it probably would have self-combusted if left to its own devices anyway ...

Tom

 

Some person took off the handbrake gov, wheres it now, in the solent Pacers chosen for Isle of wight line, residents petition MP, can we have the 38 stock back

 

I wonder which heritage line will be the first to purchase a Pacer??

 

KESR for when Robertsbridge opens

 

Our Class 141 mentioned above was withdrawn from the main line 15 years ago and it's now 32 years old - put into context that's the same age as 'Evening Star' was in 1992. When we bought it we received a lot of criticism of the 'why have you bought that heap of junk' type. Now people recognise it for what it is - a valuable part of the history of the railways.
As to public reaction, well you'd be surprised to learn that the 141 has been very popular with 'ordinaries', particularly as it can accommodate the disabled and also prams very easily. It also offers a good view all round.
Ride quality is not as bad as you might expect, the problem with the 14XXs was when they were used on duties for which they were not designed. At 25mph on heritage infrastructure they work well at 70mph they do not!
You would also be amazed how many people say "This is what trains were like when I was a kid" , because the 141 still has the original factory-fitted seats and interior decor.
Of course we should save a 142/143 and 144 if we are going to tell the complete story of the railways.
If you want to try the 141 it is next running at the Midland Railway, where it is usually based, on Easter Saturday.

 

They will be replaced by existing DMUs freed up by electrification and 120+ brand new vehicles, though it's possible bidders for the next franchise might suggest using those 'D Stock' conversions as well.

 

An original thought amongst all the criticism heaped on the poor beasts. Why hasn't some engineering genius with a degree in frugality found a way of slipping second-hand bogies under them to create articulation at the vehicle connections? Four bogies for a three-car unit might ride very well.

 

Class 142's can and do currently work in multi with many of the other sprinters with higher max speeds. The differences in speeds is not an issue for multi working, in the same way that blue star BR diesel locos with different speeds work in multi. A trip to Manchester Victoria will usually treat the visitor to 142's working with other units.

 

As for preservation, there is a slight conflict for Pacers. One has to ask, is their railway preserving the story of UK rail, or is it preserving the rail era that ended in 1968?

If it is the latter, then second generation DMU's have no place in the collection. If its the former, then they are an important part of the rail story, and need yo be represented. They are certainly synonymous with my generation of rail travel.

My personal view is that most heritage railways rely on representing the mid 20th century when steam and early diesels coexisted. For this reason, 1980's era vehicles shouldn't be considered for preservation in large numbers to fill our heritage lines.

HOWEVER I also believe "we" have a wider duty to remember and tell the whole story from start to finish. Therefore I would argue that a sensible number (2 or 3) of each class of pacer should be saved for historical reasons and at least one kept operational for preserved use. The Class 141's are a perfect example of this, with three sets saved and one working regularly.

 

From a selfish point of view, I think it would be a shame if all of the 142's went, as they were what I remember on my first local rail trips!