• Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

Pacer spotting...

Status
Not open for further replies.

skyhigh

Established Member
Joined
14 Sep 2014
Messages
5,219
Hi guys, I've heard a lot about pacers on this forum, but despite living in Leeds for a year or so have still only managed to travel on a 144. Are there any routes out of Leeds I'd be likely to find some on, in particular 142s?

I've got a free day this week so I thought I'd take the opportunity to have a nice afternoon's jaunt out to try and get one to see if they're quite as bad as everyone makes out!
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

jshaw

Member
Joined
22 May 2016
Messages
55
Hi guys, I've heard a lot about pacers on this forum, but despite living in Leeds for a year or so have still only managed to travel on a 144. Are there any routes out of Leeds I'd be likely to find some on, in particular 142s?

I've got a free day this week so I thought I'd take the opportunity to have a nice afternoon's jaunt out to try and get one to see if they're quite as bad as everyone makes out!

144s are based at Leeds, 142s are based at Manchester and Newcastle however they are often in Leeds. The xx48 to Sheffield 2 out 3 are booked for a 142 with the other booked for a 144, don't ask me which. The 16:45 Morecambe is booked for a 142 or a 150 I am not sure which as I have seen is as both. I feel a xx29 York is booked for a 142 but again I am not sure which. On Friday the 17:35 Huddersfield or the 15:52 Selby is a double pacer and on Fridays I think a 142+144 and obviously other services do as well but I think they are your best chances. I hope this helps. But if you go to Manchester or Newcastle you see loads more. :D
 

cactustwirly

Established Member
Joined
10 Apr 2013
Messages
7,447
Location
UK
Leeds to Huddersfield stopper, or Leeds - Sheffield via Moorthorpe and occasionally Knottingley stopper, are sometimes worked by 142s.
 

61653 HTAFC

Veteran Member
Joined
18 Dec 2012
Messages
17,624
Location
Another planet...
One of either the 1723 or 1823 (can't recall which) Leeds to Manchester Victoria via Dewsbury is nearly always a 142+158. The 142 is generally in the platform early and the 158 is added at the Cross Gates end shortly before departure. Additionally the 1557 ex-Southport (Huddersfield 1801, Leeds arrive 1837) is usually either a pair of 142s or a 142+150. Occasionally it is a pair of 150s though. It then forms the 1856 to Huddersfield, still as a double unit though the rear set is sometimes locked out.
 

Freightmaster

Established Member
Joined
7 Jul 2009
Messages
3,471
I just started reading this topic when I heard a familiar sound...

...sure enough, a pacer was rattling past Freightmaster HQ, forming
the 16:05 Lancaster to Leeds, and I think most of the train on that route
are thus formed, but I don't take much notice, to be honest :|


MARK
 

skyhigh

Established Member
Joined
14 Sep 2014
Messages
5,219
Thanks for the suggestions, really helpful! RTT suggests that the Leeds to York trains via Harrogate are timed for a class 14x, I'm assuming that's normally a 144 as they're based in Leeds?

(Yes, I am fully aware I might be in need of a psychiatrist... :lol:)
 

jshaw

Member
Joined
22 May 2016
Messages
55
Thanks for the suggestions, really helpful! RTT suggests that the Leeds to York trains via Harrogate are timed for a class 14x, I'm assuming that's normally a 144 as they're based in Leeds?

(Yes, I am fully aware I might be in need of a psychiatrist... :lol:)

Well no mainly 150s actually. 10:29, 13:29,17:29 150+150
11:29, 14:29 possibly 150+150
12:29,15:29 I think this is a 142
16:29 144+155
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
thanks for the suggestions, really helpful! Rtt suggests that the leeds to york trains via harrogate are timed for a class 14x, i'm assuming that's normally a 144 as they're based in leeds?

(yes, i am fully aware i might be in need of a psychiatrist... :lol:)

10:17, 16:45 = 142
13:19 = 142
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Leeds to Huddersfield stopper, or Leeds - Sheffield via Moorthorpe and occasionally Knottingley stopper, are sometimes worked by 142s.

Leeds-Huddersfield are meant to be 144 but can be anything really
Sheffield via Moorthorpe = 2x 142 and 1x 144
Knottingley = 3x 144
 

1D53

Established Member
Joined
2 Apr 2006
Messages
2,665
142's and 144 2 cars are used fairly universally so it's not uncommon for a 144 diagram to have a 142 on. Probably the best thing is to get a day Metro ticket and wait on the platforms for one to rock in!
 

HMS Ark Royal

Established Member
Joined
2 Sep 2015
Messages
2,807
Location
Hull
I did the Horsforth shuttle yesterday and it was a 142

Also, some of the Leeds - Manchester Victoria services went out as 142s, the Leeds - York via Harrogate runs are often 142s.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20160522_114133[1].jpg
    IMG_20160522_114133[1].jpg
    112.4 KB · Views: 45
Last edited:

brompton rail

Member
Joined
28 Oct 2009
Messages
754
Location
Doncaster
South Yorkshire would be a safe bet. Most on Adwick/Scunthorpe-Doncaster - Sheffield - Lincoln are 142s, though the 0819 from Scunthorpe to Sheffield is a 153 (off the previous day's Barton on Humber diagram).
 

HMS Ark Royal

Established Member
Joined
2 Sep 2015
Messages
2,807
Location
Hull
Hi guys, I've heard a lot about pacers on this forum, but despite living in Leeds for a year or so have still only managed to travel on a 144. Are there any routes out of Leeds I'd be likely to find some on, in particular 142s?

I've got a free day this week so I thought I'd take the opportunity to have a nice afternoon's jaunt out to try and get one to see if they're quite as bad as everyone makes out!

Thought occurred to me that you could always tweet Northern - they will normally reply within a few minutes or so with the info
 

jshaw

Member
Joined
22 May 2016
Messages
55
South Yorkshire would be a safe bet. Most on Adwick/Scunthorpe-Doncaster - Sheffield - Lincoln are 142s, though the 0819 from Scunthorpe to Sheffield is a 153 (off the previous day's Barton on Humber diagram).

Yes good idea, is it 5 142s and 4 144s?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I did the Horsforth shuttle yesterday and it was a 142

Also, some of the Leeds - Manchester Victoria services went out as 142s, the Leeds - York via Harrogate runs are often 142s.

Yes however horsforth shuttle is anything spare really seen it as a 142, 144, 155 and a 158!

Leeds-Man Vic good idea at least one booked diagram!
 

Crossover

Established Member
Joined
4 Jun 2009
Messages
9,247
Location
Yorkshire
Thanks for the suggestions, really helpful! RTT suggests that the Leeds to York trains via Harrogate are timed for a class 14x, I'm assuming that's normally a 144 as they're based in Leeds?

(Yes, I am fully aware I might be in need of a psychiatrist... :lol:)

RTT only shows a timing load, not booked traction
 

cactustwirly

Established Member
Joined
10 Apr 2013
Messages
7,447
Location
UK
Well no mainly 150s actually. 10:29, 13:29,17:29 150+150
11:29, 14:29 possibly 150+150
12:29,15:29 I think this is a 142
16:29 144+155
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


10:17, 16:45 = 142
13:19 = 142
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Leeds-Huddersfield are meant to be 144 but can be anything really
Sheffield via Moorthorpe = 2x 142 and 1x 144
Knottingley = 3x 144

I've seen 2x 142 on the Knottingley a few times, as well classes 158, 150, 153 & 144
 

skyhigh

Established Member
Joined
14 Sep 2014
Messages
5,219
Thanks for the help! I indeed decided to get a day rover and see where one turned up - eventually got a 142 from Huddersfield to Wakefield. Can't say I'm in much of a rush to try one again... :lol:
 

HMS Ark Royal

Established Member
Joined
2 Sep 2015
Messages
2,807
Location
Hull
Thanks for the help! I indeed decided to get a day rover and see where one turned up - eventually got a 142 from Huddersfield to Wakefield. Can't say I'm in much of a rush to try one again... :lol:

He speaks heresy!

BURN THE HERETIC :D:D:D
 

61653 HTAFC

Veteran Member
Joined
18 Dec 2012
Messages
17,624
Location
Another planet...
Thanks for the help! I indeed decided to get a day rover and see where one turned up - eventually got a 142 from Huddersfield to Wakefield. Can't say I'm in much of a rush to try one again... :lol:

What sort did you get though? Even within the Northern Pacer fleet there's a wide variation in just how unpleasant they can be. In ascending order of horribleness I'd list them as: 144012; Northern Spirit 142; Standard 144; original 142; Merseytravel 142.
 

skyhigh

Established Member
Joined
14 Sep 2014
Messages
5,219
I believe it was a Merseytravel unit, which perhaps explains the impression I got... the wobble when a Virgin HST went past certainly didn't help either!

As an aside, I also travelled on a 155. Although the ride was better, the interior was almost worse - the wall covering by my seat had a gaping hole in it, with the material coming off. Shame really, with a decent refurb it'd be a much better train.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top