Pacers: The End

I keep in touch with a few volunteers who work on various preserved lines, talking toe of them this morning he said he had heard that the Pacer at Eastleigh was going to Swanage.

 

I think we've had this mentioned before and it was debunked!

 

My journey was Grove Park to Cannon St on 5EPBs from 1964 to 1973. The BR version were much more rough riding as I remember.

 

Were they the Eastleigh built units!

 

I’ve no idea where they were built. There were some four car units and some two car that were built when train lengths were increased from eight to ten cars

 

Sort of...... many of the underframes were constructed or reconstructed at Lancing and had the bodies fitted at Eastleigh. The underframes in many cases came from early LSWR or SR 3SUB units and the motor bogies were reused as well. More details in "Southern Electric" by David Brown published by Capital Transport.

Recycling major components carried on until recently with the SR 3rd rail fleet. All the 455's had refurbished traction motors from 4SUB and 4EPB units and the Wessex Electric had traction motors and camshaft controllers from the 4REP units.

Cheers, Neil

 

We went to the Dartmouth Steam Railway on Saturday 29th from Dawlish Warren by train.

Returning from The Land That Taste Forgot, sorry Paignton the train was a 143 + 150

Oldest son suggested we board the 143 as it might be our last chance to ride one.

Stunning it aint but it wasnt bad - and the view over the sea walls was excellent

So, farewell faithful servant, you were never the best but you kept the branch lines open for many years when bustitution beckoned and are not as bad - on CWR at least as some would have us believe

 

have any actually been purchased for preservation? whilst they are hated by some, they did at least keep some branch lines open, if any preserved railways has any ideas of a low cost, shoppers type service at quite times of the year, or to provide a service that does not cost them more than they might take in fares, early season, if they can be purchased cheaply enough, i wonder if the WSR might buy some, to tide them over whilst they rebuild their PW.

 

.............................

 

I rarely travel by train but I did have the misfortune to once have to go from Exeter to Barnstaple to pick up a car in one of these things. After that experience I sincerely hope that no proper heritage railway has acquired one. Had I know I would have used the much cheaper and no doubt more comfortable bus service

 

I have seen them rattle across the level crossing in Paignton and stood inside one when assisting a relative with luggage. I have never sought a journey in one of them. But, I guess, they served their purpose.

 

For short distances on CWR they're not bad. They did serves purpose and keep some services going

 

A 144 (003) appears to have arived at the GCR(N) at Ruddington on Thursday for preservation.....

 

And there in lies their problem. The lines they were designed for never had CWR. Last travelled on one netween Exeter SD and Barnstaple. On the section to Cowley Bridge, the ride wasn't bad. Beyond there it was bone shaking!

 

Were you on the sauce when you typed Exeter, its spelt like it would be said when a few pints have been sunk.

 

I wish! it is however how you sound when travelling in a pacer of jointed track!

 

I never rode on a Pacer, but in September 1979 I had to travel from London to Cambridge. The first part of the journey, to Bishops Stortford was by an electric MU. Now that was a bone shaker. ! The rest of the journey was by a pleasant DMU.

 

Did you mean Cowley Bridge?

 

For people in the North (and by the sounds of it the SW) this is practically unimaginable.