Need some help! I'm hoping to get a few last rides on Pacers whilst I still can. No comments on sanity please! Problem is I'm south-east based and can only manage a day trip, so wondering where the best place to go would be to ensure I can get a few rides. It will be a weekday in early September. Ideally I'd like to do the Sheffield - Pontefract Baghill - York and York - Harrogate - Leeds routes. Do these still use Pacers? Any suggestions on best routes to find them gratefully received. Thanks.
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Best routes to find Pacers?
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duffield
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Not sure when the York-Harrogate-Leeds route loses all its pacers but it's highly recommended if you enjoy semaphore signals, manual gated level crossings etc. (on the York-Harrogate section). I did it on a pacer fairly recently and it was a real 'rock and roll' experience! (And yes, I'm sure it's not nearly so much 'fun' for regular users!). You might enjoy it even if the pacers have gone. The best I can come up with is that as of now there is a mixture of pacers and other units (sprinters and maybe class 170 turbostars?) on this line.
Anyhow, hopefully someone will provide you with the likely allocated units for these routes.
Pacers are pretty much guaranteed on Sheffield to Huddersfield (144s), Sheffield to Leeds via Castleford, or the route via Rotherham Central. There's also Sheffield to Adwick and Doncaster to Scunthorpe, or the all-stops Sheffield to Hull. Sheffield to Manchester Piccadilly Hope Valley stoppers are a mix between Pacers and Sprinters now.
Over in West Yorkshire, the Leeds to Knottingley runs are often Pacers. Leeds to Southport can sometimes throw up a Pacer/150 combo too.
Over in West Yorkshire, the Leeds to Knottingley runs are often Pacers. Leeds to Southport can sometimes throw up a Pacer/150 combo too.
If you want the full authentic pacer experience, I.e a 142 with bus seats, you’d be best heading to Manchester. You won’t have to wait long before one appears. Otherwise Leeds or Sheffield would be best bets for a 144 or a ‘Northern Spirit’ refurbished 142.
tbtc
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If you want lots of different "haulage" then you could rack up quite a few between Meadowhall and Sheffield - stand on either southbound platform at Meadowhall for a relatively frequent number of departures into the city - the majority of Pacers back to Meadowhall depart from the "bay" platforms at the northern end of Sheffield Station (3/4) - an SYPTE ticket should be inexpensive - plenty 142/144s to shuttle between the two stations on. You could extend it to Rotherham - Sheffield and still have a good chance of Pacers in each direction (plus the Tram-Train from Rotherham to Sheffield Cathederal, if you want a modern contrast to Pacers).
Last time I saw the Pontefract service was at York a couple of weeks ago - it was a 142 heading back to Sheffield - but it's an infrequent route if you don't get the traction that you want (and have to change plans).
For scenery, I'd recommend the Penistone line - esp Penistone to Huddersfield - the Hope Valley line is lovely on a Pacer with its big windows (though Sprinters are becoming more common on that route) but usual disclaimers about "random unit generators" etc etc!
Last time I saw the Pontefract service was at York a couple of weeks ago - it was a 142 heading back to Sheffield - but it's an infrequent route if you don't get the traction that you want (and have to change plans).
For scenery, I'd recommend the Penistone line - esp Penistone to Huddersfield - the Hope Valley line is lovely on a Pacer with its big windows (though Sprinters are becoming more common on that route) but usual disclaimers about "random unit generators" etc etc!
darloscott
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Only Pacers on Harrogate line these days are on the 1749 Leeds to York only, as this then runs empty to Heaton Depot in Newcastle.
TrainTube
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Having gone to that area in the end of may, Im pretty sure only 4 units are diagrammed for the line, 2 155s and probably pacers. The Pacers tend to leave Leeds on the xx:28 services, the 155s on the xx:58 services.
TrainTube
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Pacers are extremely common in the Manchester area, the low numbered platforms at Piccadilly often have pacers, these are usually Buxton, Sheffield and Rose Hill services. Of course, these could be coupled to anything with Northerns Random Unit Generator.
Pacers don't run Buxton services but any other Northern DMU service out of Manchester could be a pacer. There was a 142 on a Chester to Leeds yesterday!
Unfortunately they still appear on the Liverpool -Warrington - Manchester Oxford Rd services, despite more 150's and 156's being freed up since the introduction of the 195's on the Liverpool - Manchester Airport services!
It's bizarre (well, normal for Northern!) how they think that a 156 on a rush hour service with just enough seats, maybe with a couple of passengers standing, is fine one day, then the next day they'll stick on a Pacer where everyone ends up packed in like sardines and standing with their noses stuck under other peoples armpits!
It's bizarre (well, normal for Northern!) how they think that a 156 on a rush hour service with just enough seats, maybe with a couple of passengers standing, is fine one day, then the next day they'll stick on a Pacer where everyone ends up packed in like sardines and standing with their noses stuck under other peoples armpits!
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onlinespotting
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Is a 153 better or worse than a pacer? Do many northern routes have 153’s on them
Mark Carter
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I caught the 22.27 Swansea to Milford Haven last night. Got off the London train to find a 150 / 142 combo in platform 3. Got on the Sprinter only to be told that at Carmarthen, I needed to get on the Pacer for a midnight trip to Milford Haven. Even the crew apologised!!
They are still currently used by Northern. But because of that infamous Random Unit Generator, I can only say that they appear on various services including the Hull to Scarborough line. I travelled back in one from Scarborough to Beverley the other week, and despite the hot weather, the heating was full on!
They give a better ride than a Pacer, but they are not referred to as Dog Boxes without good reason.
So catch one whilst you can, along with the Pacers, the end is that bit nearer.
Bishop Auckland / Darlington to Saltburn for plenty of 142's. Thoroughly recommend the route all the way to Saltburn as you skirt round the old British Steel site. I took this picture from the Darlington bay's waiting to depart to Saltburn.
The ride very bumpy, and flange squeal a plenty as you go through Thornaby, Eaglescliffe and beyond. - Recommended.
The ride very bumpy, and flange squeal a plenty as you go through Thornaby, Eaglescliffe and beyond. - Recommended.
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As far as I'm concerned a pacer is significantly better than a 153. Not many people agree with me, however.
FrodshamJnct
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Manchester definitely a good shout - Piccadilly or Oxford Road. You won’t have to wait long for a 142 to show up.
bramling
Veteran Member
It’s certainly not unknown for them to appear on the Fishguard boat train. A 142 showed up last month when I was there, although I didn’t travel on it.
Possibly a good run for Pacer fans if they can get it - a good length of non-stop running, and some jointed track on the Fishguard branch too, plus of course an unusual route or two in the process.
PHILIPE
Veteran Member
It's booked for a Pacer at the moment
TT-ONR-NRN
Established Member
Literally, just stand at Salford Crescent and you’ll see hundreds. And on the Piccadilly - Rose Hill/New Mills services. I went to Manchester for a week in July and three days last week. When I went up on my first day in July I had six Northern 142s in the book for haulage (from Leeds), I now have fifty five. That’s how many there are in that area.
darloscott
Member
That's not quite true, the Knottingley services all interwork on a 90 minute round trip. There are therefore three diagrams, a 142, 144 that both have a 153 which switches diagrams during the day (lunchtime) and then the third is a 144+142 together.
The 155s are almost entirely on Scarborough-Hull and Hull-York now I believe.
tomwills98
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Pacers appear anywhere in South Wales, but get a Cardiff and Valleys rover for £13.00 (£8.60 with railcard) and you can have a whole day of them. It also includes Ebbw Vale and Maesteg via the mainline and VoG.
I’ve done Westbury to Taunton on a GWR Pacer a couple of years ago, that was an experience.
In relation to Pacers on unusual routes, the GWR ones have worked to Penzance, Plymouth, Westbury, Bristol and Cardiff Central in recent years (away from their booked work on the Devon Metro)
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