Pacer Preservation Society formed

[pacer-pete]

Just a quick message to say that a Pacer Preservation Society has been formed with the intention of saving at least on Class 142-144 unit when they are withdrawn.
The PPS's website is: http://pacer-preservation.webs.com and their first meeting will be on Sat 26th March 2011 at Crewe Station. Details, directions and contacts on their website!

 

[Patrick]

But why would anyone want to preserve one of these?

 

[SouthEastern-465]

I hope the group all the best.

I am not usually a 'Pacer' fan, but I hope the group all the best and hope you achieve your goal of preserving one.

 

[sprinterguy]

But why would anyone want to preserve one of these?

Because they were an unusual and innovative (if not necessarily wise) answer to the problem of new trains being needed on low usage rural and suburban routes, as well as being very telling of the economic state of Britians’ railways in the early to mid 1980s when they were developed. They define an important chapter in the history of railways in the UK.

And given the amount of debate they inspire amongst the railway fraternity, they should be considered as iconic, given how widely discussed and known about they are!

 

[Shrub Hill]

personally with the panoramic views offered by the low seats, i don't feel there is anything better for bumping along the Devon coast on a nice sunny day, best of luck to them!

 

[DarloRich]

Because they were an unusual and innovative (if not necessarily wise) answer to the problem of new trains being needed on low usage rural and suburban routes, as well as being very telling of the economic state of Britians’ railways in the early to mid 1980s when they were developed. They define an important chapter in the history of railways in the UK.

And given the amount of debate they inspire amongst the railway fraternity, they should be considered as iconic, given how widely discussed and known about they are!

I agree entirley -As much as I hate the bloody things with a passion they need to be preserved, if only as a warning from history as to what can happen!

 

[4SRKT]

As founder member of the West Yorkshire Pacer Veg Society, I'll get involved with this. Details please.

Can't attend any meetings at the mo 'cos the wife's in bed with a badly slipped disc, so I have to run the house, work, look after kids etc. Not much fun

 

[SouthEastern-465]

I really hate to admit it.... but.... I am starting to like 'Pacers'....

 

[4SRKT]

I really hate to admit it.... but.... I am starting to like 'Pacers'....

It's like a disease without a cure. Many resist for ages, but once you've succumbed.......

 

[SouthEastern-465]

It's like a disease without a cure. Many resist for ages, but once you've succumbed.......

Last week I hated them, but since than its been quite the oposite I just started liking them for some odd reason!

Aparently theres no cure...

 

[mumrar]

Think I'd sooner be on the sex offenders list than join that!

 

[NSEFAN]

But why would anyone want to preserve one of these?

To demonstrate to future generations how NOT to build trains. Those who fail to learn from the mistakes of history are doomed to repeat said errors!

 

[Bighat]

I really hate to admit it.... but.... I am starting to like 'Pacers'....

We all have our crosses to bear!

 

[northernrail]

I suppose i like the pacers, and i would love a 144 preserved

 

[pacer-pete]

For all those looking at membership, details are available at: http://pacer-preservation.webs.com/membership.htm

 

[Mysterium]

Just a quick message to say that a Pacer Preservation Society has been formed with the intention of saving at least on Class 142-144 unit when they are withdrawn.

Well you'll have plenty of time to save up as I'm sure Northern will run them for another decade...!

 

[DarloRich]

Well you'll have plenty of time to save up as I'm sure Northern will run them for another decade...!

AT LEAST! :roll:

 

[northernrail]

But why would anyone want to preserve one of these?

Why did people want to preserve the 140 & 141, its a big part of British Railway History.

 

[Patrick]

But Pacers aren't even proper trains, they're just modified leyland buses. Why waste money preserving them when the money could be better spent preserving something that most enthusiasts actually like and enjoy riding on?

 

[northernrail]

there are a lot of people that would ride on a pacer, what would the Railway heritage we have be like if we only preserved stuff certain people liked.

 

[Darandio]

But Pacers aren't even proper trains, they're just modified leyland buses. Why waste money preserving them when the money could be better spent preserving something that most enthusiasts actually like and enjoy riding on?

But it bears no cost to anyone other than those who wish to buy membership or donate. Whats the problem?

Good luck them I say. Will be nice in 20-30 years time to take the grandkids to a preserved railway to see what grandad travelled on morning and night, six days a week for years. Fingers crossed, they will have it so much better in the future that they will be horrified or not believe me.

 

[junglejames]

To demonstrate to future generations how NOT to build trains. Those who fail to learn from the mistakes of history are doomed to repeat said errors!

So for this reason, does that mean we are going to preserve all the pendos and voyagers, just to really drum it in!!!!

Oh heck. Yes i know railways arent run for enthusiasts, so Mr Pendo, please dont say it!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

But Pacers aren't even proper trains, they're just modified leyland buses. Why waste money preserving them when the money could be better spent preserving something that most enthusiasts actually like and enjoy riding on?

Oh god, you couldnt make it up! A pendo fan comes out with this statement!! LMAO!
Sorry, but if Pacers are modified leyland buses, then pendos are modified spaceships, or modified plastic tin cans.

I myself would for a lot of journeys possible on a pendo, rather travel on a pacer. For the rest (the longer ones) I wouldnt want to travel on either.

Dam, better say it again. I realise railways are not run for the enthusiast, so Mr Pendo, please dont say it!

 

[Toad]

Not so long ago.......

The same debate's were being had on weather to save a HST or 47 ??

 

[WillPS]

Pacers, particularly 141 and 142s, are (visibly) modified Leyland Nationals.

Along with the Nationals themselves, their part interoperability will serve them well in to preservation.

 

[Techniquest]

Oh god, you couldnt make it up! A pendo fan comes out with this statement!! LMAO!
Sorry, but if Pacers are modified leyland buses, then pendos are modified spaceships, or modified plastic tin cans.

Beast! Post of the week!

As for the Pacer Preservation Society, good on them. I can't see me signing up any time soon, but who knows what the future holds. I wish them the best of luck with their goals.

 

[northernrail]

in my opinion, and if we had enough room in this country, i would love to see at least 1 of every class preserved, especially something that's made such a impression, after all the pacers were one of the first, second generation DMU's

 

[Techniquest]

Just had a look around the webpages linked to, liked the selection of images used in the background, a nice mix.

Just a quick pointer that the About Us page doesn't seem to go to anything.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

As much as I like Pacers, I would never go to any lenght to preserve one, let sleeping dogs lie, you cannot change the past.

Would be interesting to see what could be done with them, not like they would be of any operational use? Back of a darkened room at the NRM?

 

[WestCoast]

I definitely think a couple of pacers should be preserved, despite their drawbacks they have played a major role in provincial dutities and saving forgotten branch lines.

They'll have to wait a quite a few years yet though

Oh god, you couldnt make it up! A pendo fan comes out with this statement!! LMAO!
Sorry, but if Pacers are modified leyland buses, then pendos are modified spaceships, or modified plastic tin cans.

I myself would for a lot of journeys possible on a pendo, rather travel on a pacer. For the rest (the longer ones) I wouldnt want to travel on either.

I quite like the sound of a modified spaceship, sounds futuristic. I do like the first class carriages on the Pendolinos, I find them very comfortable. The pendolinos are somewhat cramped in standard, but they are good for the WCML in terms of operations and I don't find them anywhere near as bad as the haters make out. If you've got no-one next to you it's fine. I'd rather have that than the a bumpy journey on a rock hard 'old bus style' seat with no legroom whatsoever.

 

[142094]

Well, I thought today couldn't get any better and how I have been proved wrong!

Looking like a day out in Crewe soon...