Those wreched nodding donkeys...

[4SRKT]

There was a while last year where the prime peak departure from Leeds to Skipton (17:25) was being operated by a 321 instead of a 333. Still a 4-car EMU, but at 3m shorter per coach, that's 13% less capacity than a 333. On a train that's packed even when a 333 is operating. No other trains were being worked by anything other than 333s at that time.

Normally Northern aren't too bad with this IMHO. If a 333 is unavailable and a Sprinter has to be substituted, it's put onto one of the two Leeds-Bradford Forster Square diagrams, which have the lightest loads and are self-contained. All the other operations are meshed:

Leeds-Ilkley-Leeds-Skipton-Leeds and so on; or
Bradford-Ilkley-Bradford-Skipton-Bradford and so on,

so having a 156 on any of these diagrams would cause problems at some point during the day.

 

[142094]

For some reason a 153 turned up one day for the 08.27 York - Leeds, came of the earlier Harrogate - York - Leeds service, probably due to the 14x not being available. Think we got to Micklefield and it was full. That day I bet people were wishing for a Pacer.

 

[yorksrob]

For some reason a 153 turned up one day for the 08.27 York - Leeds, came of the earlier Harrogate - York - Leeds service, probably due to the 14x not being available. Think we got to Micklefield and it was full. That day I bet people were wishing for a Pacer.

Or two 153's

 

[142094]

Ah yes, but still quite comical to see the faces of people when the 153 trundled its way into platform 7, even better when it arrived at Cross Gates.

 

[northwichcat]

Ah yes, but still quite comical to see the faces of people when the 153 trundled its way into platform 7, even better when it arrived at Cross Gates.

Some people might not have seen a 153 before and think they've cut a train in half.

It was interesting when day when I was in Greenwich and a 4 car 465 turned up. Everyone fitted on the train easily, but there did seem to be a lot of comments made about why only half a train was being used.

 

[Wyvern]

Some people might not have seen a 153 before and think they've cut a train in half. .

Yes they do look lonely trundling along by themselves.

You can imagine the first time I saw a DMU way back in the early 'fifties ghosting along without a loco in sight.

 

[TrainBrain185]

For some reason a 153 turned up one day for the 08.27 York - Leeds, came of the earlier Harrogate - York - Leeds service, probably due to the 14x not being available. Think we got to Micklefield and it was full. That day I bet people were wishing for a Pacer.

Yes, as I mentioned earlier on this thread, or a similar "Pacer Hater" related thread, similar thoughts and verbal comments used to be made when some short lived Heaton allocated 153's used to be on the Newcastle Sunderland diagrams.

 

[142094]

Never knew that the 153s were used on the Sunderland services. This must have been the ones stopping at Heworth, Brockley Whins, East Boldon and Seaburn?

 

[TrainBrain185]

Never knew that the 153s were used on the Sunderland services. This must have been the ones stopping at Heworth, Brockley Whins, East Boldon and Seaburn?

Yes, Heaton at a small number of 153's for a short while and worked the service you mention and onward to Boro'.
Incidently, a Pacer was involved in a derailment in Darlington Station yesterday. The unit number is unconfirmed, but one that remains in the ARRIVA livery.

 

[poshbakerloo]

I've not been on a 153 for ages. The main thing I hold against them his the noise inside them! The engins are sooo loud! but the ride is waaaay better than the 142s

 

[Aictos]

The engins are sooo loud! but the ride is waaaay better than the 142s

That's the one thing I like about them apart from the fact that they tend to better in my view then 14Xs.

Still, one question I'm interested in knowing is is there still a direct Peterborough to Doncaster service via Lincoln Central?

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Still, one question I'm interested in knowing is is there still a direct Peterborough to Doncaster service via Lincoln Central?

I believe so, yes. But maybe just one, at around noon. EMT via Spalding.

 

[Aictos]

I believe so, yes. But maybe just one, at around noon. EMT via Spalding.

That's the one I'm interested in - I know EMT run a service from Peterborough to Lincoln but I don't know if it goes back to Peterborough or sits for a hour before heading to Doncaster?

I know they're only 153s but it would be nice to spend a few hours trundling up the joint line then catching a East Coast train back.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

That's the one I'm interested in - I know EMT run a service from Peterborough to Lincoln but I don't know if it goes back to Peterborough or sits for a hour before heading to Doncaster?

Arrives Departs
. . . . - 11:48 Peterborough
12:10 - 12:10 Spalding
12:38 - 12:42 Sleaford
12:50 - 12:50 Ruskington
12:59 - 12:59 Metheringham
13:14 - 13:17 Lincoln
13:26 - 13:26 Saxilby
13:38 - 13:39 Gainsborough Lea Road
14:15 - . . . . Doncaster

(You probs knew this already!)

I know they're only 153s but it would be nice to spend a few hours trundling up the joint line then catching a East Coast train back.

It would be!

 

[Aictos]

Arrives Departs
. . . . - 11:48 Peterborough
12:10 - 12:10 Spalding
12:38 - 12:42 Sleaford
12:50 - 12:50 Ruskington
12:59 - 12:59 Metheringham
13:14 - 13:17 Lincoln
13:26 - 13:26 Saxilby
13:38 - 13:39 Gainsborough Lea Road
14:15 - . . . . Doncaster

(You probs knew this already!)

I didn't actually, would I be right in thinking it only runs Monday to Friday?

Your help has been much appreciated,

 

[142094]

Yes, Heaton at a small number of 153's for a short while and worked the service you mention and onward to Boro'.
Incidently, a Pacer was involved in a derailment in Darlington Station yesterday. The unit number is unconfirmed, but one that remains in the ARRIVA livery.

So they actually went all the way along? Interesting.

Hadn't heard about the Pacer at Darlo, was there on Monday so thank god it didn't happen then. Any idea where it happened in the station, as a few weeks ago a Pacer went into the back of a NXEC set on platform 4. Come to think of it the points at platform 4 didn't sound too healthy on Monday.

 

[37372]

The derailed pacer was 142093.
http://photos-by-steven.fotopic.net/p62295370.html

*bounce bounce bang*

 

[poshbakerloo]

^^ probs thru its self off the tracks haha

 

[royaloak]

^^ probs thru its self off the tracks haha

Would that be-
probably threw itself off the track haha.

I am not against shortening things but I should still be able to be read it without having to go over it 3 times.

 

[Drsatan]

^^ probs thru its self off the tracks haha

Could have been due to dodgy track, rather than the train itself.

 

[142094]

Darlo has catch points on platforms 2 and 3, looks like it may have come off on one of them.

 

[poshbakerloo]

Would that be-
probably threw itself off the track haha.

I am not against shortening things but I should still be able to be read it without having to go over it 3 times.

its not that hard to read lol.

pacer units running at high speed move a lot, and im not talking forwards either lol! im pretty sure ive seen daylight shine down between the couplings when the coaches shake around so much.

 

[142094]

Still, wouldn't expect one to come off the tracks like it did. Still think it was probably the catch points.

 

[crazytrain_uk]

No catch points on platforms 2 & 3 at Darlington - deraillers only and the dreaded TPWS. Catch points are still on platform 1 though.

Was definitely not dodgy track that made it come off either

 

[ukrob]

No catch points on platforms 2 & 3 at Darlington - deraillers only and the dreaded TPWS catch points are still on platform 1 though.

Was definitely not dodgy track that made it come off either

How can you state that as fact? What is your role in the investigation?

 

[crazytrain_uk]

How can you state that as fact? What is your role in the investigation?

Involved enough to know from an NR perspective that they are not looking at track and that Northern aren't looking there either.

Ask around on the station Northern and ECML staff know whats what and many are willing to share info if asked

 

[Donny Dave]

If the track isn't too blame, then I expect the RAIB to get involved, but as yet, there's nothing on their website to say they are investigating.

 

[crazytrain_uk]

No they have not got involved in this one as yet, mind there is nothing on the RAIB website about the collison at Darlington in october but they attended that one so maybe they will update the website ?

 

[142094]

A catch point is, in essence the same thing as a derailer. They both do the same job when required.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
142093 looks to be back in service, was sitting in platform 8 at Newcastle today.

 

[yorksrob]

Sorry to dig up this thread again, but theres another thing about these units which has been bothering me recently.

As a commuter, usually with a coat and my gym kit in my rucksack, the first thing I do when I find a seat is to put my gear in the luggage rack. Only, on a Pacer, a lot of the time, I look up to find nothing. Now, I don't know how much money it saved back in the mid eighties to leave out some brackets and a few meters of vulcanised rubber, but I find it quite an embarrassment and a nuisence to have to streach over the seated passengers on the other side of the train just to stow my hand luggage. Perhaps they should have just gone wild and spent the extra forty quid. My simmering anger grows ever deeper!