Pacers: The End

Apparently a set or two is headed to Chasewater: https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/her...ritage-railway-to-be-preserved-1-10168000/amp

 

You do "feel the joints" on them more than, say, a mark 1, but no more so than the 4/6 wheel vintage train or the freight stock.

Speed is (obviously) much reduced to the old 25 max. I take it Pacers "eat track" uxh more readily on the mainline at higher speeds?

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Wheel diameter may have a part to play as well.

 

After seeing recent news footage of the Queen using a service train to get to Sandringham, not using the riyal train, got me thinking. Convert a pacer to royal service, for short distance use. Then, thinking it might cost a bit, to offset the expense of this, let politicians use it in place of expensing cars/taxis. Remote the toilets to remove the expense of retention tanks. We could have a fleet of them

 

Lets hope they fare better than when they had proper DMU's there...

 

The report also says "However, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway have confirmed that they investigated acquiring a Pacer but decided not to proceed with buying one".
seems the North Yorkshire Moors Railway might loan the one in the NRM occasionally. But heratige railways do not seem tobe rushing to buy them.
Was wondering if the Swanage railway might buy one as they are mainline certified and could backup the Wareham DMUs. But the ride will be inferior compared to the DMUs and they don't seem interested?

 

Anyone know if the Pacer Preservation group which has been running for a few years has got one picked out?

 

With the advertised (elsewhere) price of £5k a unit, I am surprised they are not flying off the shelf.

Can they be re gauged to fit the WHR for low season services?

 

Last update seems to be 2014?
https://web.archive.org/web/20141223104507/http://www.pacerpreservationsociety.co.uk/

 

Can see that they might be of some use somewhere (Please not KWVR i can already hear the check rails squeeling) if you can get one that isnt very tired ( and surely they are all very tired) whatever you buy will need time, money, spares over and above the purchase price so no different to any other heritage vehicle but without (for at least another decade) the Nostalgia.
You will need to buy 3-4 units ( 2 runners and a spare and a spare for spares)- so unless £15 - 20k equates to scrap value its not a bargain.

Wonder if for Max 25mph running some tinkering with the ride/ gearing might help

 

I wonder if KWVR would be looking at a 3-car 144 -representing another Yorkshire rail scene ?

 

Cough, choke, laughter, more laughter ahh good one like it.

 

KWVR is well frequented but would have to employ a few dozen extra bodies to ensure the correct sardine tin ambience was recreated...

 

It was said in 1980 that a certain WC Class Pacific wouldn't get up Keighley Bank... That it did was well-proven, but I think the same epithet may well be true if used in conjunction with said 144 units. I suggest it would make an ideal rail-grinder on the 1 in 56... And probably the south end of Damems Loop and Oakworth Level Crossing.

Richard.

 

I have heard it said, by someone who used to drive them, that one potential issue with Pacers and heritage lines is that Pacers don't like to be left 'cold' for extended periods of time. Possibly control system issues?

 

That is common with other items of rolling stock as well.
Damp and electrical items do not go well together.

 

Nothing that a can of paraffin and a box of matches wouldn’t solve ...

Tom

 

And yet they survive, despite water pouring in through the roof vents when it rains.

 

With the six in store at Barrow having popped back to Heaton looks like we are clear of them on the Furness Line, likewise I believe the Morecambe-Lids trains are mainly 158's now.

Will miss (to a small degree) that feeling of ones heart dropping when one bounced into view around the corner!

 

Just been looking at York station on Railcam and to my surprise 2 x pacer units departing south, in nice clean condition as well.