Tanat Valley Railway Selling Class 143s

[Steddenm]

Just came across a post on Facebook from the railway with the following advert attached:


Seems that the Tanet Valley Railway are selling off three class 143s and spares for "offers above scrap value".

Wonder if they will go to scrap or be kept operational?

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www.tanatvalleyrailway.co.uk

Image above shows an advert fot the sale of Class 143 units at the Tanat Valley Railway with the text, "happy to negotiate price for the purchase of all the above".

 

[YorkshireBear]

Not surprising considering how many went into preservation. There definitely feels an over supply, how many heritage railways actually regularly run Pacers?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Anyone got an idea of the asking price?
A (non-heritage) 156478 had a list price of £50,000 at auction a year or so ago.

how many heritage railways actually regularly run Pacers?

Wensleydale definitely do, I've driven 143623. As of last year they had quite a few 142s sat around doing nothing, I don't know how they're doing now

 

[Gwr12345]

Most heritage railways that want/need Pacers will already have them. Can see them easily going for Scrap. Many railways still operate Pacers, but are now taking a back seat-Pacers were very useful for running immediately post-covid, but are slowly less in regular service.
I know the Wensleydale pretty much only exclusively operated Pacers for a while, and still do mid week, but at Weekends Loco haulage is becoming more common. The Aln Valley still holds pacer running days, again generally midweek, and the Weardale Railway seems to be pretty much reliant on it's pacer at the minute, which is why there running 31s now that it's been taken out of service. The other northern line I'm aware of (the KWVR) operates it's pacer generally as a 2nd unit.

 

[StephenHunter]

We're also going to have a lot of Sprinters coming up soon.

 

[Siimo]

Put some hydraulics beneath it and you have a theme park ride. You can't tell me they aren't structurally capable of bouncing up and down...

 

[trebor79]

Mid Norfolk runs Pacers quite a lot. Don't see the attraction myself.

 

[StephenHunter]

Mid Norfolk runs Pacers quite a lot. Don't see the attraction myself.

They are a slightly more modern train for filming purposes, I suppose.

 

[Ralph Ayres]

Anyone got an idea of the asking price?
A (non-heritage) 156478 had a list price of £50,000 at auction a year or so ago.

Wensleydale definitely do, I've driven 143623. As of last year they had quite a few 142s sat around doing nothing, I don't know how they're doing now

I counted at least 5 sets apart from the one I was travelling on at the Wensleydale a month or so back, filling the sidings and rusting away. I'm guessing they'll mostly be cannibalised to keep one or two running, but it doesn't give a good impression.

 

[rustbucket]

Mid Norfolk runs Pacers quite a lot. Don't see the attraction myself.

That should stop at some point next year when the 101 returns to traffic, then the pacer will be stood down for largely emergency use only

 

[SERA01UK]

It’s much the same as the first gen DMUs with a number of ‘preserved’ vehicles being scrapped to provide parts to keep the better examples running over the last few decades.

As said elsewhere with 150s becoming available who wants to throw good money at a knackered pacer with better options elsewhere.

 

[trebor79]

That should stop at some point next year when the 101 returns to traffic, then the pacer will be stood down for largely emergency use only

That's good to know. I'd pay for a ride on a 101, no chance on a pacer.

It’s much the same as the first gen DMUs with a number of ‘preserved’ vehicles being scrapped to provide parts to keep the better examples running over the last few decades.

As said elsewhere with 150s becoming available who wants to throw good money at a knackered pacer with better options elsewhere.

Don't see the appeal of trundling around in a noisy cramped 150 either.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

That's good to know. I'd pay for a ride on a 101, no chance on a pacer.

Don't see the appeal of trundling around in a noisy cramped 150 either.

From a passenger appeal perspective, 150s are probably just about the worst stock you could choose. At least Pacers offer a decent view out of the window.

 

[43096]

From a passenger appeal perspective, 150s are probably just about the worst stock you could choose. At least Pacers offer a decent view out of the window.

The Chapman 2+2 seated sets are about as good as it gets - such as the 150 going to the Watercress line. The ideal would probably be the 156s with Chapman seats (ie not the ironing boards) - end doors, 2+2 seating and without the complications of aircon that would come with a 158 (although a 158/159 is a far better train).

 

[StephenHunter]

Also, it is getting harder to find parts for the first-generation units.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The Chapman 2+2 seated sets are about as good as it gets - such as the 150 going to the Watercress line. The ideal would probably be the 156s with Chapman seats (ie not the ironing boards) - end doors, 2+2 seating and without the complications of aircon that would come with a 158 (although a 158/159 is a far better train).

If I was preserving a Pacer I'd be after one of the ex-FNW 142s so I could easily put the interior back to the original. The Chapman interior might be more comfortable, but most preservationists favour originality.

I do hope to drive one at some point (having driven a 101 for my 30th).

 

[43096]

If I was preserving a Pacer I'd be after one of the ex-FNW 142s so I could easily put the interior back to the original. The Chapman interior might be more comfortable, but most preservationists favour originality.

I do hope to drive one at some point (having driven a 101 for my 30th).

If I was preserving a Pacer I’d give my head a wobble and not do it!

 

[trebor79]

Also, it is getting harder to find parts for the first-generation units.

They must be relatively easy to have made though.