End of the line for Pacers...

In some cases, three or four years ago!

 

And hopefully they are the enthusiasts of the future!
My grand-daughter argues that Class 66s are the best thing in the world and she wants to preserve one.....................

 

Yes, in 30 years time, we'll be the old folks helping the new lot as they repaint a Networker back to NSE livery.

 

In the "wouldn't it be nice" line of thought, I have this dream of re-forming some Pacers with two centre trailers to make four-car units then mounting them on five bogies to produce an articulated train with a very low axle weight. With the right suspension and connection arrangements to the bodies it should float like a dream on any quality of track. One would need engines (assuming in the end vehicles only) in the region of 300kw to produce an acceptable performance. Are there any technical reasons (that is excluding the obvious question of funding) why it couldn't be done?

 

So, given the announcement of the 'paused' electrification schemes today , what chance a similar pause in Pacer replacement ?

Jon

 

That dosn't matter does it? It wont affect those on their way into the capital each morning. Unfortunetly if you happen to commute in the North West...

 

The Valley Lines scheme is still going ahead, right? That eliminates a large batch of them. The other two big pauses aren't major Pacer users, I believe.

 

But the cascade of diesel units will not now be possible from the paused schemes. Given the shortage of DMU's could it mean Pacers get a reprieve somewhere on the network? Either that or the D78 stock could be rolled out after all.


Jon

 

Some of those DMUs like the Express Sprinters and the Meridians aren't really suitable Pacer replacements. It's probably going to be the D78s unless someone decides it's worth building two-car DMUs.

 

There is, I think a bigger issue around the custodianship of 'non steam' stock.

I wont mention examples as I don't know enough about the individual cases but a number of DMU/EMU vehicles have been scrapped/badly deteriorated despite being in some cases interesting.

 

Try Northern Rail, have a ride downhill from Morley to Batley, ..............very scary.

 

A lot of those had asbestos in, right?

 

What? You could soon be getting the same clapped-out tube train experience which us southerners have been enjoying for years.

 

With the added bonus of a Ford Transit engine running at maximum revs underneath the floor. What's not to like?!

 

I'd be interested to hear the opinions of the staff who have to work the Pacers on a daily basis. "Well Fred lad, tha's get'n a class 142 again today, round trip Leeds to Carlisle, do thi best with it lad".................Fred replies......"Oh dear, I am a bit disappointed to hear that"

 

If you really want to know what it's like there is a youtube (London underground song lyrics) explaining what they have to put up with. Be warned if you are easily offended don't look for it as the language is...............

 

Well the Pacers might be around for a while longer if the pacer refurbishment scheme gets underway its like Marmite you either love them or hate them

http://www.railtechnologymagazine.c...k-unveils-refurbed-class-144e-evolution-pacer

 

Have never actually been on one myself; something I may get a chance to do later this year. Being a East Londoner, the only Sprinters I tended to see was the 150 that's my avatar and they've been replaced by Turbostars