How close do Pacers get to London?

[David Goddard]

The 143s did work the Swindon-Cheltenham for a while (Video125's Golden Valley DVD was filmed on one!).
Would agree that Bristol is the closest they get to London (117miles), while Carlisle is the closest they get to Glasgow (102miles)

 

[455driver]

The one that reached Swindon was substituting an HST from Paignton/Plymouth! (TBF most London Passengers had been transfered to the following via Westbury HST, the Pacer was just mopping up any passengers on the Great Way Round) - IIRC the crew were up for taking into Paddington, Control were less keen on a 75mph unit causing chaos on the 90/125 lines into London

Correct, they even coupled a 150 to it at Bristol before it set sail through Bath etc, the service was terminated at Swindon due to the service controllers going into meltdown.

 

[Qwerty133]

Slightly different but how close do 153s get to London, preferably in 1 coach form?

 

[Max]

Slightly different but how close do 153s get to London, preferably in 1 coach form?

I would take a stab at Bedford-Bletchley services?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I would take a stab at Bedford-Bletchley services?

I'm not sure if any 153s are booked, or if it's solely 156s; but if they are Marks Tey-Sudbury is a whole 5 chains closer to London than Bletchley is!

 

[PHILIPE]

Slightly different but how close do 153s get to London, preferably in 1 coach form?

Swindon, Bletchley and Bedford.

 

[6Gman]

I've still haven't tried the delights of a pacer.....yet

You lucky, lucky man!

 

[Strathclyder]

I've still haven't tried the delights of a pacer.....yet

Neither have I. It's on my bucket list, though (No, I haven't gone insane ).

 

[Carlisle]

A bit off-topic, but how close do Pacers get to Glasgow in revenue-earning service? I'm guessing Carlisle?

They have reached Dumfries occasionally although not sure if they still do

 

[306024]

I'm not sure if any 153s are booked, or if it's solely 156s; but if they are Marks Tey-Sudbury is a whole 5 chains closer to London than Bletchley is!

Marks Tey by a nose then. 156 diagrammed Mon-Fri, 153 diagrammed Sat and Sun.

My guess is most of the people who frequent Canary Wharf couldn't give a damn about how the other half lives. And thats part of the reason this country is going down the toilet

If a pacer did run in London and the South East then the country would indeed have gone 'down the toilet'

 

[SpacePhoenix]

If it wasn't for the national shortage of DMUs then I think that all the pacers would have already been sent to the scrapyard (which would be an event worth celebrating). I've only ever had one ride on a pacer many years ago between York and Scarborough and I hated the ride quality which was sh*t, was glad that the return journey was I think a class 158.

I don't know if the ride quality would be improved if they were to be rebuilt as articulated units (though at this stage in their life it'd probably way cheaper to just scrap them).

 

[jopsuk]

Further diverging- what about 156s? Marks Tey again? What about 155s?

Other regional diesels: 150s have operated in London on the Goblin, 158s get into Waterloo with 159s, 171s to London Bridg (hell, they're not really "regional" units in this sense), 170s used to serve Liverpool Street, Waterloo and bits of the North London Line. 185s have only every been used on Transpenine. 175s as far as I know have stuck to Wales and the north west of England?

 

[PermitToTravel]

Sectional Appendix confirms they are most certainly cleared right in to Paddington. Pay to see it happen now!

I'd pay to go on it! Railtour operators listen up

 

[Whistler40145]

Which routes from Paddington are cleared for Pacers?

 

[HSTEd]

170s used to serve Liverpool Street, Waterloo and bits of the North London Line.

Don't forget St Pancras!

 

[306024]

170s used to serve Liverpool Street, Waterloo and bits of the North London Line.

Don't forget Kings Cross!

 

[PHILIPE]

They wouldn't get anywhere near London from any Southern routes as there is a blanket ban all across Network Southern terrirtory

 

[Strathclyder]

They have reached Dumfries occasionally although not sure if they still do

I have heard about that happening a few times before. Possibly as a last minute substitution.

They wouldn't get anywhere near London from any Southern routes as there is a blanket ban all across Network Southern territory.

They're banned from sections of the WCML as well. According to this picture, at least.

 

[PermitToTravel]

Which routes from Paddington are cleared for Pacers?

All of them, except for all of the Cornish branches, the Heathrow branch, Greenford station (they're okay on the rest of the Greenford branch though), and lots of Wales. They're also banned from various sidings and goods branches.

 

[87015]

Further diverging- what about 156s? Marks Tey again? What about 155s?

Other regional diesels: 150s have operated in London on the Goblin, 158s get into Waterloo with 159s, 171s to London Bridg (hell, they're not really "regional" units in this sense), 170s used to serve Liverpool Street, Waterloo and bits of the North London Line. 185s have only every been used on Transpenine. 175s as far as I know have stuck to Wales and the north west of England?

153s and 156s at Euston vice 158 in NWT days long past... 156 into Liverpool St during some major GE shambles that was later found to be a bit naughty! 150s were booked in there for a while also under Anglia

 

[SeanG]

Would love to have seen a Merseytravel pacer on one of the NWT Rochdale/Airport - Euston services!

 

[D6975]

I have heard about that happening a few times before. Possibly as a last minute substitution.

Many years ago an early morning Carlisle-Dumfries-Carlisle turn was booked for a pair of Pacers - saw it many times.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

They would only be allowed into the South East if the occupants were moo-ing.

 

[PHILIPE]

All of them, except for all of the Cornish branches, the Heathrow branch, Greenford station (they're okay on the rest of the Greenford branch though), and lots of Wales. They're also banned from various sidings and goods branches.

The 141 known as "Skippers" worked on the Cornish Branches in the late 80s/early 90s but were removed due problem with curves. 142s and 143s have worked to Penzance in more recent times.

 

[455driver]

The 141 known as "Skippers" worked on the Cornish Branches in the late 80s/early 90s but were removed due problem with curves. 142s and 143s have worked to Penzance in more recent times.

When intruduced some 142s were based in the South West, the 141s were always based around the Leeds area, I remember them well.

 

[PeterY]

In a few weeks time, I'm visiting the Bristol area. Are there any pacer diagrams to Bristol Temple Meads?

 

[VisualAcid]

In a few weeks time, I'm visiting the Bristol area. Are there any pacer diagrams to Bristol Temple Meads?

There is a late evening stopper to Exeter that is sometimes a 143+153

 

[CC 72100]

There is a late evening stopper to Exeter that is sometimes a 143+153

Otherwise Devon is where the pacers are found - a few years back they became more concentrated and moved away from Bristol area.

Of course, if you are after pacers, then just pop over to Cardiff, plenty the other side of the border!

 

[jopsuk]

They would only be allowed into the South East if the occupants were moo-ing.

There's plenty of cattle-loading on the electrics. I'd love to see a 16-car pacer formation sub for a 12-car EMU (yes I know the control systems don't allow it)

 

[mister-sparky]

Another London-bashing thread. What a ****** surprise!