RMweb Premium HillsideDepot Posted October 5, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 5, 2019 Having been used to both Leyland and Alexander Pacers around Tyne & Wear in by student days, they then rather disappeared from my radar apart from a brief re-appearance during Wessex Trains days. But a small fleet of 143s is hard at work for GWR around Exeter so I thought it appropriate to have a few trips for old times sake. With my Freedom of the South West ticket at the ready I boarded 143603 at St David's with 2F29 1213 Paignton to Exmouth service. A quick turnaround at Exmouth saw me transfer to 143620 and 2B78 1353 Exmouth - Barnstaple, seen here at Topsham waiting to cross 2F31 which was also a pair of Pacers. One passenger was making his anti-Pacer views known to anyone who'd listen. This prompted the Driver to say that he'll miss them when they go as they work well, and with all those windows its like driving a conservatory, which is ideal on the Devon coastal routes and much better than being pushed into a corner as on gangway fitted units. Another Exeter Driver had tipped me off to the replaying work on the Barnstaple branch later this month and how its well worth a ride on the jointed track with a Pacer so I decided to stick with 2B78 through to the terminus where our trainee driver and his instructor change ends, having first checked that the reds lights are correctly displayed. With the rain falling I changed back to 143603 as it waited to form 2F43, the 1543 Barnstaple - Exmouth. As we bounced back across Devon to the main line I couldn't help wondering if GWR will organise a Pacer Farewell as they did for the HSTs. Pacers aren't exactly loved, but they have done their job, largely unnoticed, for longer than their designers could have envisaged. If I had to use them every day I'm sure I'd think differently, but as something to ride occasionally for their quirky-ness I'll miss 'em. 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 4630 Posted October 7, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 7, 2019 (edited) I decided to go to the Wigan show on 5th October and eschewing the car, used TransPennine Express and Northern instead in the hope of experiencing some Pacer action for part of the journey. And I was in luck. And what luck too with 142001 forming 2W02, 0749 Alderley Edge to Wigan North Western, as the lead unit for the part of my journey from Manchester Piccadilly. Here she is at Wigan NW after arrival where she would then form 2W46, 09.08 Wigan NW to Stalybridge. After the show, back at Wigan NW 142040 had arrived with 2W13, 12.31 Stalybridge to Wigan NW and would then form 2K88, 13.50 Wigan NW to Alderley Edge. My chosen train back to Manchester Victoria was 2W56, 14.08 Wigan NW to Stalybridge, with 142051. Back at Huddersfield after a quick blast over the Pennines in a TPE 185 (the Class 68s and Mark 5a diagrams didn't fit with my schedule for Saturday unfortunately), 144013 was the leading unit on 2W18, 15.53 Huddersfield to Leeds via Bradford Interchange, keeping 153363 company... ... with 142071 as the second unit. Edited October 7, 2019 by 4630 To correct a typo. 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Phil Parker Posted October 9, 2019 Administrators Share Posted October 9, 2019 I've never actually ridden on a Pacer buy find myself potentially in York on Monday afternoon. What chance would there be of getting a short trip in? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 31A Posted October 9, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 9, 2019 They can turn up at York fairly randomly; they're quite rare now on the Harrogate line and York-Leeds stoppers, occasionally on York-Hull although no longer (I believe) diagrammed on that line. From observation the most likely to produce a Pacer at York seems to be the infrequent Sheffield via Pontefract service; departures from York at 1015, 1313 and 1715. If you took say the 1313 to Church Fenton (arrive 1327) you could watch a few Trans Pennines go through and then come back from there at 1356 (arrive York 1408). Similarly at 1715. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium brushman47544 Posted October 9, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 9, 2019 3 hours ago, Phil Parker said: I've never actually ridden on a Pacer buy find myself potentially in York on Monday afternoon. What chance would there be of getting a short trip in? 3 hours ago, 31A said: They can turn up at York fairly randomly; they're quite rare now on the Harrogate line and York-Leeds stoppers, occasionally on York-Hull although no longer (I believe) diagrammed on that line. From observation the most likely to produce a Pacer at York seems to be the infrequent Sheffield via Pontefract service; departures from York at 1015, 1313 and 1715. If you took say the 1313 to Church Fenton (arrive 1327) you could watch a few Trans Pennines go through and then come back from there at 1356 (arrive York 1408). Similarly at 1715. Far more kudos in being able to say "I've never travelled on a Pacer". 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium boxbrownie Posted October 9, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 9, 2019 13 minutes ago, brushman47544 said: Far more kudos in being able to say "I've never travelled on a Pacer". Great.........I’ve never travelled on a Pacer....... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold adb968008 Posted October 9, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 9, 2019 (edited) 5 hours ago, Phil Parker said: I've never actually ridden on a Pacer buy find myself potentially in York on Monday afternoon. What chance would there be of getting a short trip in? Not sure how your getting to York, But If you get down to Doncaster, they are regular to sheffield, I saw about 6 (142/144) in a few hours last week. Plus you’ll get class 195/331 on test, views of class 765’s and 91108 dumped at the south end of the works sidings, minus many bits, inc its front end. Doncaster gives the whole pacer experience, heading southbound you’ll bounce across all the points of the 4 running lines, and the suffer death of the 90 degree screams as it curves to the sheffield line. Edited October 9, 2019 by adb968008 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastwestdivide Posted October 9, 2019 Author Share Posted October 9, 2019 29 minutes ago, adb968008 said: Doncaster gives the whole pacer experience, heading southbound you’ll bounce across all the points of the 4 running lines, and the suffer death of the 90 degree screams as it curves to the sheffield line. Only thing missing would be bowling along at 50-60 mph on jointed track! Sitting above a wheel of course. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold D9020 Nimbus Posted October 9, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 9, 2019 Go a bit further north and they're still common at Darlington. They often turn up on the Bishop Auckland–Darlington–Saltburn line, particularly on those trains which terminate at Darlington rather than continuing to Bishop Auckland, although 156s are increasingly common on trains to Bishop Auckland (approximately 50% of trains to B.A. are still Pacers). These are all 142s. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Phil Parker Posted October 9, 2019 Administrators Share Posted October 9, 2019 Sorry, I'm in York, not Darlington. Looks like the 13:13 service is worth a dabble. Thanks for the suggestions. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sir douglas Posted October 9, 2019 Share Posted October 9, 2019 still pacers everyday on Wakefield Kirkgate to Knottingley 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 31A Posted October 9, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 9, 2019 52 minutes ago, Phil Parker said: Sorry, I'm in York, not Darlington. Looks like the 13:13 service is worth a dabble. Thanks for the suggestions. Good luck! For what it's worth, tonight's 1715 York-Sheffield via Pontefract was a 142 + 144 combination. Didn't see the 1313. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
62613 Posted October 10, 2019 Share Posted October 10, 2019 The Manchester Piccadilly - Rose Hill Marple service is still largely pacer-operated. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owd Bob Posted October 11, 2019 Share Posted October 11, 2019 11-10-'19. Crow Nest Junction, Hindley. 1.50pm -2.15pm. A 25 minute session in the Sun between heavy showers and three class 142 units were seen heading to and from Wigan. 142-045 & 047. 142-032 & a class 150 ??? 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Phil Parker Posted October 14, 2019 Administrators Share Posted October 14, 2019 Well, I still haven't ridden on a Pacer, but this beauty seems to be dumped York station. 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastwestdivide Posted October 14, 2019 Author Share Posted October 14, 2019 15 minutes ago, Phil Parker said: ...this beauty seems to be dumped... They all look like they're dumped, in service or not! 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 1 hour ago, Phil Parker said: Well, I still haven't ridden on a Pacer, but this beauty seems to be dumped York station. Is that because there is no first class at seat service on a pacer 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Market65 Posted October 14, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 14, 2019 I see that’s platform one. They are actually laying over between services when there. Even loco’s lay over at the end of that platform. I recall 68’s a few years ago stood where that 142 is photographed. Better luck if you get another opportunity. Best regards, Rob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jessy1692 Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 Had a trip out on a Northern day ranger today down to Buxton and round a few other places, was amazed at the amount of pacers still bumbling and bouncing around. As they have pretty much vanished from Harrogate id assumed a lot were out of service now, clearly not! Seemed to be 100s still squealing away, any ideas how many have been withdrawn yet? Somehow i managed to avoid one but itd have been a bit if fun to experience one again! Cheers James Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Market65 Posted October 14, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 14, 2019 Sadly, no more have been withdrawn. It’s not at all clear, now, when any more might be withdrawn. Rob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted October 15, 2019 Share Posted October 15, 2019 9 hours ago, jessy1692 said: Had a trip out on a Northern day ranger today down to Buxton and round a few other places, was amazed at the amount of pacers still bumbling and bouncing around. As they have pretty much vanished from Harrogate id assumed a lot were out of service now, clearly not! Seemed to be 100s still squealing away, any ideas how many have been withdrawn yet? Somehow i managed to avoid one but itd have been a bit if fun to experience one again! Cheers James Ad therein lies the issue, there are a lot of them to replace, the public perception is a fleet renewal in a couple of weeks but the reality just like the IEPs coming on stream and the Mk5s is a period of training, and then testing each new unit so it completes the agreed mileage without fault so it is accepted. Any delays in that programme has a knock on effect in the withdrawal of the Pacers which Northern admit will not be early 2020. 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talltim Posted October 15, 2019 Share Posted October 15, 2019 It’s not like they had 20 years to plan to replace or PRM upgrade them or anything... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wheatley Posted October 15, 2019 Share Posted October 15, 2019 (edited) 1 hour ago, Talltim said: It’s not like they had 20 years to plan to replace or PRM upgrade them or anything... 17 years of which was two consecutive "no investment - no improvement - no upgrade*" franchises, so no, it's not like that. The new fleet was ordered right at the start of the current franchise, this is how long it takes to bring a new fleet into service. (* Despite which Arriva Mk1 and Serco/Abellio both managed to invest, improve and upgrade, just not to the extent of half a billion quids' worth of rolling stock). Edited October 15, 2019 by Wheatley 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talltim Posted October 15, 2019 Share Posted October 15, 2019 When I say ‘they’, I don’t just mean the current TOC incumbents, I mean the whole railway system, TOCs, Roscos and the DfT 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owd Bob Posted October 15, 2019 Share Posted October 15, 2019 2 hours ago, woodenhead said: Any delays in that programme has a knock on effect in the withdrawal of the Pacers which Northern admit will not be early 2020. Ah! Good! I won't have to rush or stand around like an idiot in the rain as much then to record their final days in this area for a good while yet. I do go and try to see the 66's passing at least once a week on the Tees Yard to Knowsley so i'll keep a camera eye on any 142's that do pass whilst i'm standing in the damp muddy field near Crow Nest Junc' ...another from last weeks efforts. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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