Unsuitablilty of Merseyrail Pacers on longer routes (e.g. Leeds to Morecambe)

[Xenophon PCDGS]

If it gets me from A to B couldn't care less!

You are the type of passenger that TOC with old clapped-out rolling stock must dream about...

 

[crehld]

That's because he had the sense to bring his own chair.

Ha!

 

[pemma]

But aren't the 156s based in Manchester? We don't get any east of Huddersfield and I don't think they go anywhere in North Yorkshire either. I don't think they ever make it to York and never to Leeds.

156s are based at Allerton (Merseyside) and Heaton (North East.) I'm pretty sure the Heaton 156s make it to North Yorkshire, but I don't think the Allerton 156s get beyond Huddersfield or Sheffield.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

156s are based at Allerton (Merseyside) and Heaton (North East.) I'm pretty sure the Heaton 156s make it to North Yorkshire, but I don't think the Allerton 156s get beyond Huddersfield or Sheffield.

One passed me westbound at MIR on the fast line last week, but the blinds were set to "Special" and it appeared to be empty. Guess it was ECS from Heaton to the Heath.

 

[rg177]

156s are based at Allerton (Merseyside) and Heaton (North East.) I'm pretty sure the Heaton 156s make it to North Yorkshire, but I don't think the Allerton 156s get beyond Huddersfield or Sheffield.

Allerton units 156426/429/441/452 have strayed across to Newcastle in service in the past year. Not usual but it happens.

 

[Northern Pacer]

Heaton 156475 and 156490 have been working LIV-BPNs recently as has HT 142078

Sources: It's my local line and I've been on them a few times in the past week!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Heaton 156475 and 156490 have been working LIV-BPNs recently as has HT 142078

Sources: It's my local line and I've been on them a few times in the past week!

There seems to be a semi-regular process of both 142s and 156s switching between the North East and North West, usually via the Tyne Valley but occasionally ECS over the Pennines- sometimes even in service (in the case of 142s, and not necessarily the same service all the way!) other than North of York/South of Darlington. I assume this is done because the two depots will have specialisation in different work.

 

[pemma]

Newton Heath Pacers generally have more intensive diagrams in terms of station stops, this causes greater pressure on the whole unit but in particular brake pads and things like door components. Heaton Pacers generally stop less.

Yesterday Newton Heath put the cream of it's 142 fleet on a Mid-Cheshire diagram. The squealing was much worse than normal on a 142 and it was bad enough just stopping and moving off on straight track. When it did Deansgate Junction to Skelton Junction I think a pneumatic drill would have been kinder on the ears. The lock on the toilet door was broken and some of the frame supports holding the roof in place looked like they were about to drop off.

It was one of the Pacers with original bus seats. Two ladies sat on the seat in front of me which had a 1cm gap between the metal bar and the rest of the seat back. One of them commented on being originally from Bangladesh and said even she thinks the train is the poorest quality she's been on.

 

[childwallblues]

Heaton 156475 and 156490 have been working LIV-BPNs recently as has HT 142078

Sources: It's my local line and I've been on them a few times in the past week!

Heatons Class 142 and 156 are regularly reported operating in the North West. There does not however appear to be a regular diagram bringing them here.

 

[darloscott]

Heatons Class 142 and 156 are regularly reported operating in the North West. There does not however appear to be a regular diagram bringing them here.

Two 142s do head south every night to York, which then end up on the Sheffield-Lincoln/Scunthorpe/Adwick circuit the next day. They could theoretically end up at Huddersfield I guess and then work into Manchester

 

[JonathanH]

Two 142s do head south every night to York, which then end up on the Sheffield-Lincoln/Scunthorpe/Adwick circuit the next day. They could theoretically end up at Huddersfield I guess and then work into Manchester

Likewise, Heaton 156s work the Cumbria Coast (and I haven't seen a 'western side' 156 there on my recent visits). The Cumbrian Coast diagrams include journeys as far as Preston and Blackpool carriage sidings so scope for swaps there.

Incidentally, I had 156480(HT)+156466(AN) on a TP service into Manchester Airport on Thursday so even the TP hire ins can sometimes be Heaton 156s.

 

[childwallblues]

Two 142s do head south every night to York, which then end up on the Sheffield-Lincoln/Scunthorpe/Adwick circuit the next day. They could theoretically end up at Huddersfield I guess and then work into Manchester

Theoretically but highly unlikely. SHF-HUD units are usually 158s.

 

[yorksrob]

Theoretically but highly unlikely. SHF-HUD units are usually 158s.

I've had a 158 once on the Sheffield - Hudds and occasionally a 142, but in my experience this is nearly always a 144.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Theoretically but highly unlikely. SHF-HUD units are usually 158s.

I've had a 158 once on the Sheffield - Hudds and occasionally a 142, but in my experience this is nearly always a 144.

A couple of years ago, it was fairly regular to get s 158 on Penistone, but very rare for anything other than a 144 these days. I've only seen one 150 on there since the last timetable change.

 

[Northern Pacer]

Two 142s do head south every night to York, which then end up on the Sheffield-Lincoln/Scunthorpe/Adwick circuit the next day. They could theoretically end up at Huddersfield I guess and then work into Manchester

There is, unfortunately, an AWK-MAN diagram which is consistently a 142. Heaton ones have a habit of ending up on that diagram.

 

[darloscott]

There is, unfortunately, an AWK-MAN diagram which is consistently a 142. Heaton ones have a habit of ending up on that diagram.

Ironically that one appears to start its day at Stockport?
Spends the majority of the day on Manchester-New Mills before an afternoon trip to Sheffield, during which it gets "pinched" to work to Adwick and then back to Manchester. Finishes at Longsight eventually I think?

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Whilst there won't be many making the whole trip, there's a daily Southport to Leeds service which is almost always a pair of 142s. I'm not sure of the stopping pattern East/North of Victoria but it works as one of the peak extras as far as Huddersfield where it forms the 1802 departure (the prior arrival from Leeds forms the 1751 via Brighouse, as the prior arrival from there goes to Sheffield). On Monday it was a Northern Spirit unit leading a Miserytravel, yet the latter was far busier than the former for some reason.

 

[childwallblues]

There is, unfortunately, an AWK-MAN diagram which is consistently a 142. Heaton ones have a habit of ending up on that diagram.

I assume that is AWK-SHF-MAN via the Hope Valley?

 

[Northern Pacer]

I assume that is AWK-SHF-MAN via the Hope Valley?

Aye, certainly is
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Ironically that one appears to start its day at Stockport?
Spends the majority of the day on Manchester-New Mills before an afternoon trip to Sheffield, during which it gets "pinched" to work to Adwick and then back to Manchester. Finishes at Longsight eventually I think?

IIRC you're exactly right except the last bit. Newton Heath rather than Longsight.