The Horror of Pacers

Chris217 said:

Weird how Northern gets slated for Pacers
and hardly a word on GWR and TfWs ones.
Oh look what I've started now lol.

All I can add is,enjoy whilst you can.
Having a Pacer day today on the Valleys network. Will upload a vid on youtube in celebration lol.
As my next visit to Cardiff wont be until Feb 2020,and these should be retired by then.
Gracefully and with respect I applaude

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Well, GWR doesn't have any 142's, which might explain them.

Travelled Lincoln Sheffield return on Sunday, both 142 class. Outbound seats were slightly bucketed with low backs for good views out. Return again low back seats but the classic bus style with the polished metal rail at the top of the seat back.

Not only the benefit of good views out, but looking around and seeing other groups of people on the train with you, rather than seat backs, yields a pleasant atmosphere.

A nice route for Pacers as no tight track causing wheels to screech, which I am sure will not be missed by those who experience it on a regular basis.

atominside said:

Travelled Lincoln Sheffield return on Sunday, both 142 class. Outbound seats were slightly bucketed with low backs for good views out. Return again low back seats but the classic bus style with the polished metal rail at the top of the seat back.

Not only the benefit of good views out, but looking around and seeing other groups of people on the train with you, rather than seat backs, yields a pleasant atmosphere.

A nice route for Pacers as no tight track causing wheels to screech, which I am sure will not be missed by those who experience it on a regular basis.

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The curve out of Salford Crescent brings pure joy to my ears

Well I was on a 2 car pacer from Cadoxton to Merthyr Tydfil - the 5:36pm from Cadoxton which was 7 mins late but that was due to the late running Aberdare train.
All great, until we got past Troedyrhiw then an abrupt stop. Breaks failed - he could not get air into them. Suffice to say, supposed to arrive in Merthyr at 6:58pm got here at 9:39pm. The next train a 2 car 150 latched on and could not push. Awaited fitters etc from Cardiff, and eventually went back to Merthyr Vale to catch the 9:30pm arrival at Merthyr (which was obviously late). Could have done this earlier too! Some irate people a nurse could not get to work, a guys 3 year old kid was crying no water etc. There was a terrible stench too. Suffice to say my opinion on pacers was not great, but now they are the pits!!!

Markdvdman said:

Well I was on a 2 car pacer from Cadoxton to Merthyr Tydfil - the 5:36pm from Cadoxton which was 7 mins late but that was due to the late running Aberdare train.
All great, until we got past Troedyrhiw then an abrupt stop. Breaks failed - he could not get air into them. Suffice to say, supposed to arrive in Merthyr at 6:58pm got here at 9:39pm. The next train a 2 car 150 latched on and could not push. Awaited fitters etc from Cardiff, and eventually went back to Merthyr Vale to catch the 9:30pm arrival at Merthyr (which was obviously late). Could have done this earlier too! Some irate people a nurse could not get to work, a guys 3 year old kid was crying no water etc. There was a terrible stench too. Suffice to say my opinion on pacers was not great, but now they are the pits!!!

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Things like this occasional happen to all rolling stock. It could be due to some debris puncturing one of the brake pipes. I remember a similar incident involving 142089 on the Southport line in 2007, when the brakes locked on. In this case the following service linked up to it and we were soon on the move.

The most farcical incident I have ever seen was at Castleford in the early 1990s. Two carriages of a Class 156 unit wanted to go in opposite directions! Eventually one engine was shut down to enable the train to run!

Newer rolling stock is more technologically advanced involving computer systems, so there is more to go wrong.

ed1971 said:

Things like this occasional happen to all rolling stock. It could be due to some debris puncturing one of the brake pipes. I remember a similar incident involving 142089 on the Southport line in 2007, when the brakes locked on. In this case the following service linked up to it and we were soon on the move.

The most farcical incident I have ever seen was at Castleford in the early 1990s. Two carriages of a Class 156 unit wanted to go in opposite directions! Eventually one engine was shut down to enable the train to run!

Newer rolling stock is more technologically advanced involving computer systems, so there is more to go wrong.

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Even the 156's want a direct service to York !

ed1971 said:

Things like this occasional happen to all rolling stock. It could be due to some debris puncturing one of the brake pipes. I remember a similar incident involving 142089 on the Southport line in 2007, when the brakes locked on. In this case the following service linked up to it and we were soon on the move.

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Indeed. 14x and 15x seem to have a habit of disgracing themselves at the worst possible places. There’s been a couple of occasions where a 15x broke down at Stapleton Road, before it was quad tracked and blocked almost everything to and from Bristol at peak time. FGW were trying to get people moving by sending 2 car 150s on 4 and 5 carriage services but they were so overcrowded and someone fell over in the carriage then got trampled and needed medical assistance. Then the advice was to catch a bus, so everyone walked over to the bus station to find the bus was overcrowded and not letting anyone else on. Then everyone had to walk back to the station. After about 2 hours FGW gave up and sent everyone off in taxis.

Recent memories of Pacers causing chaos were when a Pacer broke down at Cardiff Queen Street at the only northbound platform at the time, and when a pair of 143s broke down between Starcross and Dawlish, blocking everything into the SW.

ATW’s Pacers had a relatively good reliability record, but with them due to be withdrawn imminently it wouldn’t surprise me if TfW were trying to save money where they can.

LowLevel said:

Yes. Train driving cabs receive very little attention and are generally filthy unpleasant places to work. Vandalism with pens or scratched into panelling is supplied as standard.

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In the case of Sprinters, Pacers and 319's yes!!

But the cabs on the new 195's and 331's are nice and will probably prove to be the best thing to happen to the job in many years.

Grannyjoans said:

But the cabs on the new 195's and 331's are nice and will probably prove to be the best thing to happen to the job in many years.

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Ah but do you get the same sort of seat as the passengers?

On Pacers, 195's and 331's, the Drivers seat is better than the passenger seats.

On Sprinters, the Passenger seats are better than the Drivers seat.

Fully compliant Pacer replacement, 1st class to the front. Fully air conditioned, toilet via holes in floor. Low running costs

delt1c said:

View attachment 68849 Fully compliant Pacer replacement, 1st class to the front. Fully air conditioned, toilet via holes in floor. Low running costs

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I wouldn't be surprised if the DfT haven't considered it.