Here's one for all you Pacer lovers/haters!

[MidnightFlyer]

From a 1986 'Lancashire Lines' guide, published by Lancashire County Council:

Setting the pace...
Introducing the civilised way to speed to the shops, wend to work, trot off to school or head for the big match.
The new Lancashire Pacer trains. To give you the local rail service of the future - now. More convenient, more reliable.
With trains so smooth, spacious and comfortable, you feel as though you're still sitting at home.
Step aboard , and you can't help noticing the changes. Air operated double folding doors. Smart new interior design. Modern high speed structure. Better lighting, better suspension, even at 75mph. Better seating, and room to stretch. Plus a toilet compartment on very train. It makes travelling a really relaxing experience again.
So next time you're off to work, or off to the shops, remember who sets the pace in Lancashire. And take the Pacer.
Pacers operate on the East Lancashire, West Lancashire and South Fylde lines.

How opinions have changed!

 

[GNERman]

"With trains so smooth, spacious and comfortable, you feel as though you're still sitting at home"

hock:

As if being on the spacious and comfortable Pacer fells like being at home, maybe if you live here :-

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_FsmHhO0DCTY/RpuHFhv3dUI/AAAAAAAAAfk/2FQ21MaKhbE/s1600-h/wrecked+house

 

[Anon Mouse]

ROTFL!

Thats a very optimistic article. I'm sure it didnt take long for the locals to miss their heritage DMU's.....or was it loco haulage on that line?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

ROTFL!

Thats a very optimistic article. I'm sure it didnt take long for the locals to miss their heritage DMU's.....or was it loco haulage on that line?

Curiosly enough I think Preston-Colne/Skipton was one of the last regular steam routes in the country - was it 1969 they ended?

 

[T163R]

You guys don't seem to realise that Pacers are real luxury.

*pops out as fast as he can*

 

[WestCoast]

Modern high speed structure.

??????hock: It makes them sound like a TGV!!

Better seating, and room to stretch.

Bus benches are better than what? Wooden planks, cattle pens, chains?

Again, room to stretch what? Certainly not your legs!

Smart new interior design. better suspension

hrmmmmm.....

 

[MidnightFlyer]

You guys don't seem to realise that Pacers are real luxury.

*pops out as fast as he can*

I'll give you that, Blackburn-Preston is my local line and I've not absolutely nothing against them.

 

[T163R]

Curiosly enough I think Preston-Colne/Skipton was one of the last regular steam routes in the country - was it 1969 they ended?

They should've kept the steam trains

 

[WestCoast]

I'll give you that, Blackburn-Preston is my local line and I've not absolutely nothing against them.

My local lines are the Fylde Lines, when they are busy or even crush-loaded, I absolutely loathe them. You get thrown about near Kirkham on them as well..

They may be a novelty for some non-regular users but peak-time commuters are not fond of them! I will not be sad when they are gone at all. Plus, they see use on longer routes than they were NOT designed for.

 

[tbtc]

Eeh, lad, an inside toilet? On t'train? Whatever next?

We can laugh now, but Pacers were a step forward over some of what they replaced (heriatage DMUs are good fun on preserved lines, but would you want to use one to commute on each day?), the big windows are good on some of the scenic lines they serve (since the Blackpool - Blackburn has "the most dynamic scenery of any UK rail line", or whatever the Daily Mail claimed)

 

[Anon Mouse]

Eeh, lad, an inside toilet? On t'train? Whatever next?

We can laugh now, but Pacers were a step forward over some of what they replaced (heriatage DMUs are good fun on preserved lines, but would you want to use one to commute on each day?), the big windows are good on some of the scenic lines they serve (since the Blackpool - Blackburn has "the most dynamic scenery of any UK rail line", or whatever the Daily Mail claimed)

I would rather a decrepid 101, at least the seats were comftable and they were on bogies and not based on MGR wagons!

 

[DarloRich]

I believe these days this is called "spin" or " sexing up a dossier"

 

[WestCoast]

I believe these days this is called "spin" or " sexing up a dossier"

There's "spin" and then there is making it up!

 

[tbtc]

I would rather a decrepid 101, at least the seats were comftable and they were on bogies and not based on MGR wagons!

They were fun to travel on as a lad, but you tend to forget the rattles and draughts and "little things" over time

 

[Anon Mouse]

They were fun to travel on as a lad, but you tend to forget the rattles and draughts and "little things" over time

Not really. Yeah they were draughty but so are Pacers. Try getting a 142 down the ECML and propper DMU's did not make that awful squealing and banging noise. Out of the BR new generation DMU's I think only the 158's were canny (even if the toilets are crap and the air con never works). Pacers are cheap and nasty 1970's bus design welded onto an MGR underframe.

 

[sprinterguy]

Not really. Yeah they were draughty but so are Pacers. Try getting a 142 down the ECML and propper DMU's did not make that awful squealing and banging noise. Out of the BR new generation DMU's I think only the 158's were canny (even if the toilets are crap and the air con never works). Pacers are cheap and nasty 1970's bus design welded onto an MGR underframe.

I liked Leyland National buses, and it’s an adapted VDA van chassis that it’s welded onto, not that it makes much difference!

Has to be said though that that “Lancashire Lines” speal is more than slightly optimistic about the hoped for performance from the Pacers: Modern high speed structure? Smooth, spacious and comfortable?? Better suspension???

 

[Anon Mouse]

I liked Leyland National buses, and it’s an adapted VDA van chassis that it’s welded onto, not that it makes much difference!

Has to be said though that that “Lancashire Lines” speal is more than slightly optimistic about the hoped for performance from the Pacers: Modern high speed structure? Smooth, spacious and comfortable?? Better suspension???

I like Leyland Nationals don't get me wrong. But they should only be on the road, not the ECML!

 

[sprinterguy]

I like Leyland Nationals don't get me wrong. But they should only be on the road, not the ECML!

Amen to that, I meant to add that into my post. Buses definitely shouldn’t be put on railways!

 

[Anon Mouse]

Amen to that, I meant to add that into my post. Buses definitely shouldn’t be put on railways!

Mind you, DB have some double deck, single car railbuses that look pretty cool!

 

[Eng274]

Better lighting, better suspension, even at 75mph

I'm glad they ironed out that irritating problem with the lighting that blighted previous units capable of 75mph..:roll:

I know leyland engines were weedy old lumps, but surely the lights being on/off wouldnt affect performance THAT much.

 

[142094]

That description sounds like everytime I travel on a Pacer!

Although it does sounds too good to be true, just remember that some people in the not so distant past tought we would be using hover cars and living on the moon.

 

[sprinterguy]

That description sounds like everytime I travel on a Pacer!

Although it does sounds too good to be true, just remember that some people in the not so distant past tought we would be using hover cars and living on the moon.

If "Back to the Future 2" is anything to go by, there was a lot of optimism about life in the new millennium in the mid eighties (after the nuclear Cold War threat had subsided anyway), just as there was in the mid sixties: “Where we’re going, we don’t need roads!”-Ummm…yes…Roll on 2015…I don’t think!

 

[142094]

If "Back to the Future 2" is anything to go by, there was a lot of optimism about life in the new millennium in the mid eighties (after the nuclear Cold War threat had subsided anyway), just as there was in the mid sixties: “Where we’re going, we don’t need roads!”-Ummm…yes…Roll on 2015…I don’t think!

I know! I wish these bloody hover cars would hurry up and be produced. Don't think I can take any further rises in the price of diesel!:-x

 

[asylumxl]

I have a solution to the Pacer problem.

Sell them to scrap dealers to make some money back, and see if people appreciate them once they have lost their train services and their lines close.

 

[prod_pep]

How have the Pacers ever offered a smooth ride or room to stretch? Even when new, they were nowhere near either of those!

 

[Peter Sarf]

I have a solution to the Pacer problem.

Sell them to scrap dealers to make some money back, and see if people appreciate them once they have lost their train services and their lines close.

Fraid so, bang on there. The pacers' existence kept lines open.

Just a pity about the marketing LIES. I cannot find one bit of truth in the original publicity. Just sums up how supid the decision-makers/politicians think we are and how totally ignorant and stupid most of them are. They will continue to be so becsuse thay are incapable of seeing reality.

 

[37372]

With trains so smooth, spacious and comfortable, you feel as though you're still sitting at home.

Ooh did they have armchairs in them back then?

Oh and the "pacers kept lines open" argument is 30 years old now!

 

[YorkshireBear]

Oh and the "pacers kept lines open" argument is 30 years old now!

and that is because it is true

 

[WestCoast]

They may have kept lines open, but that does not make up for their lacking design. They were never intended for long-term use, or to run on longer routes such as Newcastle - Carlisle or the Cumbrian Coast, which they have to run on on at times. The fact is now they see use on routes that wouldn't have closed without them!

Plus it's fine for people traveling in "pacer-free" areas (or soon to be "pacer-free" in some cases) to mock, but in the North and South Wales the pacer will stay for a good few years to come. I believe that 99% of regular commuters (not enthusiasts) don't like them, they do nothing to encourage rail travel either. When Northern Rail lose their 180s for some busy peak runs on Blackpool North - Preston - Bolton - Manchester Victoria in favour of more pacers, I think some people will be put off.

 

[YorkshireBear]

They may have kept lines open, but that does not make up for their lacking design. They were never intended for long-term use, or to run on longer routes such as Newcastle - Carlisle or the Cumbrian Coast, which they have to run on on at times. The fact is now they see use on routes that wouldn't have closed without them!

Plus it's fine for people traveling in "pacer-free" areas (or soon to be "pacer-free" in some cases) to mock, but in the North and South Wales the pacer will stay for a good few years to come. I believe that 99% of regular commuters (not enthusiasts) don't like them, they do nothing to encourage rail travel either. When Northern Rail lose their 180s for some busy peak runs on Blackpool North - Preston - Bolton - Manchester Victoria in favour of more pacers, I think some people will be put off.

couldnt agree more, while as an enthusiast i dont mind them i still much prefer a ride on a 150 153 or 158 (south yorkshire)

I certainly think if sheffield commuter services were 333's people would catch the train far more often.