Interesting 'Pacer' feature on BBC Magazine

[PaxVobiscum]

'Video feature' on Pacers in the BBC MGreater Angliazine:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35725020

Commuters have been promised that by 2020 they will no longer be travelling on trains built from the body of a bus.

But how did Britain's railways come to rely on the Pacer?

Don't think this has ever been discussed here before.

 

[ExRes]

If it's on the BBC then it must be a quiet day ......

Expect an order from Crossrail for a new build Pacer fleet

 

[chubs]

Anybody know what happened to the one that was sent to Thailand then Indonesia?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Anybody know what happened to the one that was sent to Thailand then Indonesia?

Apparently it was used for a few years then abandoned in a siding somewhere. It's whereabouts are currently unknown. In any case it wasn't an ex-BR unit, it was ordered for Thailand. It was basically a 141 but with only one powered car unlike the UK sets.

 

[47802]

Hopefully the scrap yards are being lined up for them, I will hire a hit man for anybody that wants to attempt to preserve them

 

[thenorthern]

I agree with the RMT that Pacers will probably survive until 2032 and that Portbrook will refurbish them so they can stay in service beyond 2020. I am not saying I agree with this but I think it will happen.

 

[headshot119]

Hopefully the scrap yards are being lined up for them, I will hire a hit man for anybody that wants to attempt to preserve them

Shall I send you my name and address now then?

There's already a couple of pacers in preservation, at least one of each needs to be preserved for future generations, and love them or hate them, they play an important part in the history of the UK railways.

 

[gimmea50anyday]

Yeah, theres a 141 on the mid norfolk and on the weardale railways (weardale had two but one was scrapped for parts) the prototypes are also kicking about as is the "pacer bodied" intercity coach but these need significant restoration which is under progress

It is also rumoured that some of the 141's are still in port in the netherlands having never made it to iran!

 

[Mikey C]

Yeah, theres a 141 on the mid norfolk and on the weardale railways (weardale had two but one was scrapped for parts) the prototypes are also kicking about as is the "pacer bodied" intercity coach but these need significant restoration which is under progress

It is also rumoured that some of the 141's are still in port in the netherlands having never made it to iran!

The Iranian nuclear programme was a way of destroying the 141s once and for all

 

[Howardh]

Anybody know what happened to the one that was sent to Thailand then Indonesia?

Apparently it was used for a few years then abandoned in a siding somewhere. It's whereabouts are currently unknown. In any case it wasn't an ex-BR unit, it was ordered for Thailand. It was basically a 141 but with only one powered car unlike the UK sets.

Abandoned in a siding? It's rusty, no windows and a dozen workable seats. It's clearly operating on the Wigan-Bolton-Manchester route then, and being pulled by half a dozen donkeys.

One of our better stock....

 

[DarloRich]

Yeah, theres a 141 on the mid norfolk and on the weardale railways (weardale had two but one was scrapped for parts) the prototypes are also kicking about as is the "pacer bodied" intercity coach but these need significant restoration which is under progress

It is also rumoured that some of the 141's are still in port in the netherlands having never made it to iran!

we best get them back. Cant have decent extra capacity like that going unused. Northern (ers) would love them

 

[Requeststop]

Never seen one out here. The rail system here is metre gauge (3ft 3 3/8 inch). Just wonder what the ride would be like as track condition on the State Railways is not the very best compared to the 3 newish Bangkok lines.

The article doesn't say what it's like to drive the bloody things. I'd be interested in hearing what the drivers who are in them day in and out think of them.

 

[northwichcat]

If it's on the BBC then it must be a quiet day ......

Looks like a report for the South West version of Inside Out.

 

[iantherev]

Looks like a report for the South West version of Inside Out.

That means that it will also take up most of Spotlight tonight and the response to the report will crop up time and time again this week. Good job I've got a hospital visit to do.....

 

[physics34]

Can't believe they couldn't source a picture oR a video of a Leyland national bus to go with this story!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Never seen one out here. The rail system here is metre gauge (3ft 3 3/8 inch). Just wonder what the ride would be like as track condition on the State Railways is not the very best compared to the 3 newish Bangkok lines.

The article doesn't say what it's like to drive the bloody things. I'd be interested in hearing what the drivers who are in them day in and out think of them.

As I said, the one sent to Thailand wasn't one of ours, it was built to metre-gauge, as an attempt to secure further orders.

Can't believe they couldn't source a picture of a video of a Leyland national bus to go with this story!

They couldn't even find a Leyland Pacer, only 143s. You'd have thought with the BBC now based in Salford they'd have filmed in the North.

The Dutch 141s were a separate sale to the Iranian one, I'm not sure if they ever saw service there though. At one time they could be seen on Google Earth, abandoned in a dockyard somewhere.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

Thanks, Mods for sorting the Thread title

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I agree with the RMT that Pacers will probably survive until 2032 and that Portbrook will refurbish them so they can stay in service beyond 2020. I am not saying I agree with this but I think it will happen.

Porterbrook are only responsible for "posh Pacers" of the Class 143/144 variety.

Angel Trains are responsible for the "real horrors" that are the Class 142 Pacers. Have they made a sudden about-turn on all their previous statements concerning the Class 142 units?

 

[Pugland53]

Never seen one out here. The rail system here is metre gauge (3ft 3 3/8 inch). Just wonder what the ride would be like as track condition on the State Railways is not the very best compared to the 3 newish Bangkok lines.

The article doesn't say what it's like to drive the bloody things. I'd be interested in hearing what the drivers who are in them day in and out think of them.

I used to drive them, they were not a nice place to spend over 4 hours. I always used to moan when I was booked a 150 and a Pacer pulled in. They were also a pain to drive during leaf fall.

 

[Rapidash]

I did, somewhat sadly, hear from a guard a few weeks back that our precious batch of Pacers would be remaining at Exeter well past next year, or so the messroom guff goes (his words, not mine)

Still think we should palm the things off on Cornwall, and nab the Sprinters in return. Don;t give me the line about being too noisy, they probably squeal past more houses going through South Devon than the Cornish branches combined

Certainly going to be cosy for us if the Turbos don't get to Bristol on time!

 

[yorksrob]

Another short formed Pacer on the rush hour Hallam line today.

We had a double 153 this morning, so I'd hoped we would get away with it, but no.

 

[Kite159]

I agree with the RMT, the pacers will live beyond 2020 with the requirement quietly dropped from the franchise after the number people work out the new leasing costs for the new stock will be a lot higher than expected meaning some are diverted elsewhere to avoid the subsidy for the franchise sky rocketing.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I agree with the RMT, the pacers will live beyond 2020 with the requirement quietly dropped from the franchise after the number people work out the new leasing costs for the new stock will be a lot higher than expected meaning some are diverted elsewhere to avoid the subsidy for the franchise sky rocketing.

This might be controversial, but would that be such a bad thing? (the first part, not the last!)... I'd rather a seat on a long Pacer formation than crush-loading on a 150.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

This might be controversial, but would that be such a bad thing? (the first part, not the last!)... I'd rather a seat on a long Pacer formation than crush-loading on a 150.

Come on, young sir. Let us keep a level playing field and a sense of proportion in comparisons. I could say that I would rather wait in a short queue at Lidl than wait in a long queue at Waitrose, if you see what I mean.

 

[kevconnor]

Anybody know what happened to the one that was sent to Thailand then Indonesia?

It has been stored as part of an updated addition to the strategic rail researve ready for use in any future emergency.

 

[Class 170101]

'Video feature' on Pacers in the BBC MGreater Angliazine:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/mGreater Angliazine-35725020



Don't think this has ever been discussed here before.

Pacers

The link in the previous post has either changed or was faulty.

 

[Andrew1395]

Something not often mentioned is that the Pacer was the Trojan a Horse that BR was able to place inside the Treasury to get authority to invest in new trains for what was then the Provincial Business Sector. The fleets allowed BR to show how investment in rolling stock could save operating costs and allow increase in service frequencies and growth in revenue. It literally set the pace for the sprinter investments that followed and also the NSE investment in new rolling stock too. An important little train that in the era of a very anti railway Treasury was a game changer.

 

[Dr_Paul]

Living in London, I have never had the dubious pleasure of travelling on a Pacer. How would travelling on one be best described?

As my local preserved line is the Bluebell, it's very unlikely that one will appear there, despite the appearance of the odd diesel over the past few years.

 

[Elecman]

Nothing wrong with pacers (even the 142s) on the right service , branch line feeder service but not main commuter services. They have done the job they were designed for. Saving the Provincial Service basket case lines.

 

[TH172341]

On branch lines they're fine - I've used them a fair bit down in Devon and never any problems. The large windows and low seats of the 142s were great for sightseeing and quite pleasant at quieter times with the bench seats. Was even lucky enough a few years ago to have a ride in the rear cab of 142001 on the Exmouth branch which was good!