co-tr-paul
Member
Having travelled on many GWR 143, 150 , 153 and 158s, if I was on a scenic line, it would be a 143 anytime. AND you can open the windows ; clickety clack...... .
Having travelled on many GWR 143, 150 , 153 and 158s, if I was on a scenic line, it would be a 143 anytime. AND you can open the windows ; clickety clack...... .
the mountain railway in north wales is semi commuter which runs up to the base of snowdon i remember friends and their families using that as transport to porthmadogPlus the 25mph speed limit, meaning that only a short line running into a decent-sized town could even consider it. I'd have thought the KWVR was the strongest candidate, and if they don't think it can work then it seems unlikely that anywhere could make it viable.
Which railway do you mean?the mountain railway in north wales is semi commuter which runs up to the base of snowdon i remember friends and their families using that as transport to porthmadog
Darnall? That’s news to me, I live eight minutes away from Nunnery Square (on foot). Darnall would take another 30 mins... and the Supertram Depot at Darnall.
Likewise the run from Wigan to Salford Crescent in the 1990s. Crow Nest Jn is particularly memorable. Much better value than the roller coasters at Blackpool. Towards the end of 2019 I rode a 144 from Shipley to Lancaster and return. Despite the track being jointed all the way from Settle Jn to Carnforth, it must be in good order because the ride wasn't too bad. I'm hoping that the preserved Pacers won't wipe out too many of the first generation DMUs.Used to be the case that the mere suggestion of preserving one got you awarded with 'spawn of satan' status.
So being a bit of a devils advocate I'm happy to see so many getting a chance. Be interesting in a few years hopefully they will have provided a useful contribution in the various many ways that rolling stock can to a heritage railway.
Always had a soft spot for them, a run between sheffield and huddersfield was cheaper than an alton towers ticket and the bouncing about was almost equal to some of their attractions
i can't remember its name its the mountain railway from porthmadog is all i knowWhich railway do you mean?
i can't remember its name its the mountain railway from porthmadog is all i know
A run from York to Horsforth via Harrogate was very interesting. Lots of bouncy and squealy bits. Once had one from Lancaster to Shipley which was another real squeal job around Carnforth.
That's 142045 at Kirk Merrington Primary School in County Durham:I'm sure I saw a picture recently of a Pacer that has been turned into a school library.
Of the bus-seated examples:Darnall? That’s news to me, I live eight minutes away from Nunnery Square (on foot). Darnall would take another 30 mins
Sadly I don’t remember the last time I sampled a bus-seat Pacer. Will have to have a look at which bus-seat 142s have ended up in preservation, if there’s a list somewhere.
There isn't a mountain railway as such that runs from Porthmadog, however there are two narrow gauge heritage lines, of which, as Peter suggests above, the Welsh Highland Railway operates closest to Snowdon.i can't remember its name its the mountain railway from porthmadog is all i know
might be i just know its also used by localsWelsh Highland?
that'll be it then they've made it work as a form of public transport but then again suppose running between 2 towns with poor transport helpsThat's 142045 at Kirk Merrington Primary School in County Durham:
Network Rail teams help County Durham school with project to transform old train carriages into new library
Network Rail teams in the North East have volunteered their skills to help a primary school in County Durham acquire two disused railway carriages and convert them into a school library.www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk
Of the bus-seated examples:
142001 is preserved by the NRM at Locomotion at Shildon, and may be used on the demonstration line at some point.
142011 and 013 are at The Midland Railway, Butterley.
142023 was earmarked for the Plym Valley Railway, not sure what's happened with that arrangement.
142028, 035 and 060 are at the Wensleydale Railway (I think one unit is for spares?)
142029 and 030 are at The Chasewater Railway.
142036 is at the East Kent Railway.
142038 and 061 are at the Mid-Norfolk Railway.
There isn't a mountain railway as such that runs from Porthmadog, however there are two narrow gauge heritage lines, of which, as Peter suggests above, the Welsh Highland Railway operates closest to Snowdon.
honestly i can understand having them for low season and early trains but only if the price is reflected in that like previously suggestedI’m genuinely surprised that a number of folk think pacers are a good idea on a heritage line. While I can understand a couple being preserved, I just don’t think the general public would be very receptive to one if they rolled up to a railway. Back in my bashing days I didn’t mind taking in the odd diesel gala, but even back then you could see the amount of diesels being preserved was getting out of hand.
Fares on heritage lines aren’t cheap - I don’t think a family rolling up then paying good money for a trip would be too amused by a 142 rolling into the platform!
West Somerset and Swanage Railways, probably. Still, depending on how elaborate you want to be and timescales you could probably pick any combination of main line connected routes.Wild dreaming time - 144 departs Oxenhope, runs out onto the mainline, turns back and heads towards Leeds, round the Holbeck curve, through Normanton, Wakefield Kirkgate, Brighouse, Rochdale and off at Castleton and round to Bury and Rawtenstall. Back again later the same day. Nice day trip out!! Are there any other pairs of preserved lines where you could potentially operate something like this?
In my view, the old Regional Railways colours would go well (that seemed to suit anything). I also think Pacers are ideally suited to any number of faux-heritage liveries (like the Weardale one linked earlier). I personally hope we end up with a nice combination of 'genuine' and 'make believe' liveries, though I readily accept that it's not my money being spent!Do any of the railways that will be preserving them have any plans to repaint them? Serco-Abellio Northern livery makes them look incredibly tacky.
The red/ivory WYPTE livery would be a nice choice in my opinion.
Beddgelert to Porthmadog on the WHR might be used by locals, but with a maximum of 3 trains per day offering at most 3.5hr in Porthmadog, it's a stretch to call it a commuter route - even mid pandemic there are 6 buses today offering a full day in Porthmadog (and running past Tesco and along the High Street).might be i just know its also used by locals
that'll be it then they've made it work as a form of public transport but then again suppose running between 2 towns with poor transport helps
honestly i know the people i went to America used whatever train it was to get up to the village at base of snowdonBeddgelert to Porthmadog on the WHR might be used by locals, but with a maximum of 3 trains per day offering at most 3.5hr in Porthmadog, it's a stretch to call it a commuter route - even mid pandemic there are 6 buses today offering a full day in Porthmadog (and running past Tesco and along the High Street).
Llanberis? That has two railways. There's a narrow-gauge steam railway but it doesn't really go anywhere useful from a tourist's perspective; it's more there for the scenery.honestly i know the people i went to America used whatever train it was to get up to the village at base of snowdon
I think a trip from Minehead down the west Somerset line, then past the sea wall at dawlish, down to Paignton and then Dartmouth would be a hell of a good trip to market.Wild dreaming time - 144 departs Oxenhope, runs out onto the mainline, turns back and heads towards Leeds, round the Holbeck curve, through Normanton, Wakefield Kirkgate, Brighouse, Rochdale and off at Castleton and round to Bury and Rawtenstall. Back again later the same day. Nice day trip out!! Are there any other pairs of preserved lines where you could potentially operate something like this?
with the ex gwr units sounds good to meI think a trip from Minehead down the west Somerset line, then past the sea wall at dawlish, down to Paignton and then Dartmouth would be a hell of a good trip to market.
whats buckfastleigh like planning a trip thereThat's a cracking shout Crewe Exile. Maybe Kinsgwear to Buckfastleigh. Did both lines in 2019. Great days out.
Do any of the railways that will be preserving them have any plans to repaint them? Serco-Abellio Northern livery makes them look incredibly tacky.
The red/ivory WYPTE livery would be a nice choice in my opinion.