Plym valley to get a Pacer

[Plymdan]

According to Wikipedia 14023 is now showing as location at Plym Valley Railway. Not sure if this is correct and it has moved. Anyone shed some light on this?

 

[Plymdan]

So yesterday I messaged the team on Plym Valley Railway's Facebook mentioning the 142 Pacer and it's arrival to the railway. Alas had no reply or mention about it coming to the railway as yet. Hoping to get a reply.

 

[Jamesrob637]

So yesterday I messaged the team on Plym Valley Railway's Facebook mentioning the 142 Pacer and it's arrival to the railway. Alas had no reply or mention about it coming to the railway as yet. Hoping to get a reply.

They might not manage the social media account on weekends. Hopefully you'll have a reply quicker than it's taking TOCs to refund my tickets!

 

[Plymdan]

Haha your probably right. I was surprised they were taking it as there ain't much space there.It might be they could be selling the other DMU on as it needs a fair bit of work done to it to get it up and running

 

[xotGD]

Haha your probably right. I was surprised they were taking it as there ain't much space there.It might be they could be selling the other DMU on as it needs a fair bit of work done to it to get it up and running

If any railways are looking to get rid of proper DMUs and replace them with Pacers that is bad news.

 

[Plymdan]

Agree. Ever since the 117 unit came to the railway they've had issues running it. They've only ever used it as carriage stock since it's been there. Could be why they are going with the 142 as its ready to run and its not a long length line

 

[AnthonyRail]

Will it arrive by rail?

 

[Ash Bridge]

Will it arrive by rail?

Dosen't look likely, as although the line still appears to be connected to the national network I'm assuming it hasn't seen any traffic for a good few years and appears somewhat overgrown in places, unless anyone knows different?

 

[Alfonso]

Agree. Ever since the 117 unit came to the railway they've had issues running it. They've only ever used it as carriage stock since it's been there. Could be why they are going with the 142 as its ready to run and its not a long length line

This is not true. While in Summer it only goes from the outskirts of Plymouth to the outskirts of Plymouth, in December they operate a seasonal extension all the way to the North Pole, which has a station identical to that at Plymbridge bar the fairy lights.

 

[AnthonyRail]

Dosen't look likely, as although the line still appears to be connected to the national network I'm assuming it hasn't seen any traffic for a good few years and appears somewhat overgrown in places, unless anyone knows different?

Oh yeah I was thinking the SDR.

 

[devonexpress]

Strange why PVR is getting 023 when it could have 001-006 which where based in the South West 10 years ago. The problem with the 117 is that the PVR doesn't have a proper workshop, hence why in the end they sold 75014, and why No.2 Bygall is still in bits after 10 years. It's only a small railway with limited cash.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Is 142023 an ex Skipper ?

 

[fgwrich]

Agree. Ever since the 117 unit came to the railway they've had issues running it. They've only ever used it as carriage stock since it's been there. Could be why they are going with the 142 as its ready to run and its not a long length line

Are you sure they have issues with the 117, or just prefer to haul it? It has run before, as I've had it when they loaned it out to the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway after the 'Chicken Curve' collapse.

Is 142023 an ex Skipper ?

It certainly was, The first of the batch were allocated to the Greater Manchester area, while the second (015-027) were West Country "Skippers".

Skipping Towards Mytholmroyd (Michael McNicholas)

142023 slows for the Mytholmroyd stop while forming 1M40 16:48 Leeds to Manchester Victoria. 19/7/89. Although the sun was too far round to be ideal when Michael took the photo, I couldn't resist it as the light was "wanging" and the 142 is a former Cornwall-based "Skipper", which didn't last...

www.flickr.com

 

[Cowley]

Strange why PVR is getting 023 when it could have 001-006 which where based in the South West 10 years ago. The problem with the 117 is that the PVR doesn't have a proper workshop, hence why in the end they sold 75014, and why No.2 Bygall is still in bits after 10 years. It's only a small railway with limited cash.

As mentioned above 142023 is every bit an original west country unit, I remember it when it was brand new down here.

 

[Ash Bridge]

As mentioned above 142023 is every bit an original west country unit, I remember it when it was brand new down here.

Steady on Mr Cowley, you're giving your age away!

 

[Cowley]

Steady on Mr Cowley, you're giving your age away!

I was 2...

 

[Ash Bridge]

I was 2...

Haha....well I guess that kinda puts me in my place then

Edit: Err now just hang on a minute!

 

[Plymdan]

Has this Pacer arrived at the railway yet?

 

[Plymdan]

The 142 pacer for Plym Valley has not arrived at the site.

 

[507021]

As much as I don't like them I think it's good Pacers are being preserved, but I can't help but feel it's a case of quantity over quality, and further down the line some of them will end up being scrapped as the spare parts start to run out.

 

[xotGD]

As much as I don't like them I think it's good Pacers are being preserved, but I can't help but feel it's a case of quantity over quality, and further down the line some of them will end up being scrapped as the spare parts start to run out.

I think that is right. I don't see them being Preserved so much as being Acquired to provide a cheap to run train to operate services in quiet periods by several railways. I don't think there will be much hesitation to scrap them if and when it becomes too much effort to keep them running.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Thats quite often the case when too many of one thing is preserved. Why preserve yet another Pacer when the money could be used on the 140?
At least the PVR 142 is a set with a west county history rather than some random unit.

 

[Plymdan]

Thats quite often the case when too many of one thing is preserved. Why preserve yet another Pacer when the money could be used on the 140?
At least the PVR 142 is a set with a west county history rather than some random unit.

Yes it's nice that it has a west country history. I did ask for more information about this set from the railway as they did post recently but they would not comment. Wondering now if it is a private owner that has bought it to the railway.

 

[Cowley]

I agree too.
Unfortunately multiple units haven’t fared too well in preservation at times.

 

[37114]

A similar thing happened with first gen stock, take the WSR for example, they bought 2 x class 100s and 2 x class 103s but scrapped 1 of each when they became too costly to maintain and repair and then got rid of the other units when newer 1st gen stock became available

 

[JonathanH]

However, I think it would be a shame to see loads of 14x units saved and none of the 15x (or later) units when their time comes.

Is it better to have one good example of each type of DMU or many uncared for examples of the same class?

Part of the reason for the demise of the early preserved units appears to be asbestos related but also clearly it is difficult to maintain units that were removed from the mainline railway early for being less reliable than the ones which had a longer life.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Pacers are probably (in railway terms) fairly cheap as they have no viable use on the "big railway". As Sprinters become available (probably not long to wait for most 153s) there may be a similar "fire sale" situation and some of the bigger or more ambitious railways are possibly being smart in waiting for a 150 or 156.

However the PRM'ed stock will incur some of the costs that 144012 involves- tank emptying and treatment equipment required... though the volunteers that work on those lines will be pleased!

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Pacers are probably (in railway terms) fairly cheap as they have no viable use on the "big railway". As Sprinters become available (probably not long to wait for most 153s) there may be a similar "fire sale" situation and some of the bigger or more ambitious railways are possibly being smart in waiting for a 150 or 156.

However the PRM'ed stock will incur some of the costs that 144012 involves- tank emptying and treatment equipment required... though the volunteers that work on those lines will be pleased!

It wouldn't suprise me at all if 144012 ends up being preserved and used by some charter firm to cover certain events e.g. Weston Airshow, Southport Airshow, Lincoln Christmas Market, Bath and Bristol Christmas Markets, Great Yorkshire Show, etc. As its more than likely that the charter firm may have access to the required tanking and treating facilities that a preserved railway currently doesn't have the funds for.

 

[JonathanH]

It wouldn't suprise me at all if 144012 ends up being preserved and used by some charter firm to cover certain events e.g. Weston Airshow, Southport Airshow, Lincoln Christmas Market, Bath and Bristol Christmas Markets, Great Yorkshire Show, etc. As its more than likely that the charter firm may have access to the required tanking and treating facilities that a preserved railway currently doesn't have the funds for.

Huh? It has less than 100 seats - what use would it be for major events - and who would want to arrive on 144012 rather than a normal service train?

 

[pdeaves]

However the PRM'ed stock will incur some of the costs that 144012 involves- tank emptying and treatment equipment required

Unless the loos are removed.