Huddersfield to Bradford was always fun, and bad for the back!Pacers were great between Barnsley and Meadowhall when it had jointed track, they bounced around all over the place at line speed. It's just not the same anymore!
I agree, with one caveat - right now, the Pacers are cheaper to operate than anything else available. So for some younger, or less established railways (or those such as Wensleydale needing to offer a regular service to rebuild custom, in order to justify operating steam), they make sense right now. If they run them into the ground for 5 years, but are able to build up to a point where their resources allow them to operate genuine regular heritage services with diesels or steam, it won't matter if the pacers are then turned into tin cans -they'll have fulfilled their purpose.They are, though I'd suggest there's rather fewer of those who like Pacers than like Marmite! Further, I'd say the vast majority partaking of the Pacer love-in are the usual end of life "doom bashers" who will chase anything that's going. They'll move on to the next thing soon enough. That there's no long-term Pacer society says plenty; the majority of enthusiasts have a preference for locomotives.
The current position is totally unsustainable with such huge numbers "saved" (or, at least, scrapping deferred) - a lack of support (those "doom bashers" won't be around long term) and lack of funds will see most parked up. Added to that, at some point the railways they are at will at some point work out just how bad they are:
- appalling ride quality, especially on jointed track.
- an interior not really fit for the days out market with (on most of the 142s) bus seating and few bays of 4.
- those "panoramic" windows that are spoken about, that rapidly become misted and damp and can't be seen out of.
- the toxic "Pacer" brand. They were widely - and rightly - derided before withdrawal, and that message isn't going to help when a preserved line tries to sell trips on them to Joe Public. They simply aren't a great "day out" proposition when railways are charging fares for them, even off-season.
My prediction is that most will be laid up within a short timeframe, littering the usual preserved line junkyards. And a message for the railways that have taken leave of their senses and acquired one: if you really have a genuine need for a 2nd generation DMU, you'd be far better off waiting until 156s become available.
Crimple Valley curve is awful!Most notable was coming off the end of Crimple viaduct and round the tight curve - they really screeched there.
Could say the same about Mk1 DMUs.
Once they are all gone from the mainline they become 'heritage' pretty rapidly.
Could be quite a wait!
MK1 DMUs have more character tho, comfier seats and the forward view through the cab. Plus a far more nostalgic feel to them, even if that's purely psychological. Massive difference to pacer.
Maybe 142078 142018 142087 have also gone to wensleydale railway. Could it be that there could be reqular daily timetabled Pacers services on this line. Or could it be that possibly wensleydale railway might become pacer more less operated with only a very few selected locomotive hauled services.
142087 appears to be up for sale. Anyone know why? Is it the one that was bought by a couple hoping to turn it into an eco home in a few years?