Egg Centric
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There were similar discussions on here a couple of years ago about the 14xs
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Porterbrook Class 150 gifted to Mid Hants Railway.
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There were similar discussions on here a couple of years ago about the 14xs
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I echo the argument though that preservation is for future generations to enjoy. I'm sure Victorian era coaches and road vehicles (Hansom cabs and the like) were mundane and boring to those that lived in the era. Now they are much more fascinating pieces of history. I for example can enjoy a steam hauled journey, but have no personal experience of them in day to day service on the mainline.
The difference with the 14x entering preservation was of course that they were being pretty much given away by the dozen, and heritage lines were queueing up for them!
It was an interesting time, as the heritage sector found itself contemplating whether there were potential uses and benefits beyond just preserving something for the sake of keeping it; i.e. could Pacers carve out a market for gentle rides along scenic railway lines without the ‘heritage’ interest element? Did people want that, or would the general public roundly turn their noses up at paying for a ride to nowhere and back on a well used 1980s railbus - I’m not entirely sure if we’ve actually found out what the answer is yet, have we?!
I very much doubt as many 150s will survive, but I certainly look forward to a ‘Second Generation DMU Gala’ being a thing in a decade or two from now!
I don't know about anybody else but I would enjoy a heritage pacer ride because I remember travelling by pacer a lot when I was a young man and look back on that fondly. It would be that nostalgia rather than the size of the windows or whatever that I'd enjoy. So I assume the same can apply for a 150! Why not?
Absolutely!!
61653 HTAFC
Veteran Member
I do agree- and for those who live quite close to the Mid Hants a 150 is more exotic anyway as they weren't a common sight down that way (the closest being the two prototypes on Reading to Basingstoke or the occasional substitution on Cardiff to Portsmouth/Brighton). However in the short to medium term those of us in the north don't need to pay heritage line prices for a 150 ride!
xotGD
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Of course the main market is normals rather than cranks. There are a lot more of them, for a start.
Any railway with a business model focussed primarily on enthusiasts will not be carrying many passengers outside of gala events or star visitors.
There are, but they have a far greater range of potential places & experiences on which to spend their disposable income, and they’re not especially likely to visit very often. It’s all about finding a balance!
Fawkes Cat
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And for my money, in one place. That would allow common maintenance, and forming up to a six car train for charter - rather as is done with the Hastings DEMU.
satisnek
Member
The more I think about it, I'm looking forward to having a trip on a 150 on the Mid-Hants. The grade is similar to Old Hill Bank, where Sprinters have now receded into the past to such an extent that they've become nostalgia!
Justin Smith
Established Member
But one can see very well out of a Class 101,even out of the front !
On the subject of which..... I can remember when they were in service and some drivers would leave the blinds down (so passenger got a view, which BR trumpeted when they were first bought in BTW). But some would, very frustratingly, pull the blinds down as the first thing they did when they got in the cab. Does anyone else remember this ? And what proportion of drivers left them up or had them down ?
UP13
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As a passenger I love the view, but as a driver I wouldn't want people constantly watching me at my workplace.
pokemonsuper9
Established Member
Even better, that wouldn't form 6 carriages, you'd have 7 (the /0 are 3 car).
Hairy Bear
Member
Didn't bother me at all. The first thing I would do would be to raise the blinds. But sometimes the retaining straps would be broken, so they had to stay down.
And at night, they had to come down, far to much light from the saloon. You could see the disappointment on the passengers faces but I'd open the door and explain why and they then understood why.
Happy Days !
If I got the chance I would always raise the blinds on a 101 working around the South Manchester area.
I usually left the one behind the driver seat down but the other two up if possible
I remember working in to Manchester on a foggy morning around Bredbury where the AWS was heard before you saw the signal and the looks on people faces in the front saloon
I usually left the one behind the driver seat down but the other two up if possible
I remember working in to Manchester on a foggy morning around Bredbury where the AWS was heard before you saw the signal and the looks on people faces in the front saloon
Attachments
Class450/4DES
Member
Any news on 150231?
Still seems to be at Derby , Quite surprised it hasn't run down to Alton yet considering it could probably do it under its own power.
StephenHunter
Established Member
Wouldn't you need people signed for those routes? Not to mention pathing?
Justin Smith
Established Member
I read yesterday that back in 1987 the first class 150s were put on the Holyhead to Scarborough run, can that really be true ?
I thought torture was against the law ?
I thought torture was against the law ?
Sad Sprinter
Established Member
As much as I hate Pacers, I enjoyed going on one again after many many years on the East Kent Railway last year.
Shaw S Hunter
Established Member
I believe that was the first 150/2s which ran in 6-car formations. Many years later I worked on similar formations on much more mundane workings necessitated by engineering work, ie Man Vic-Chorley and Man Vic-Wigan NW non-stop via Chat Moss. Happy days!
I did a 144 on the East Lancashire Railway's railcar day a few years back and it was nostalgic (144's being the gold standard of the pacers).
I'd do it every year if their Sunday timetable ran the whole day.
The ELR Diesel Gala is returning on 8 & 9 November but no 144 this year
DMU (Diesel Railcar) Gala - The East Lancashire Railway
www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk
The ELR Diesel Gala is returning on 8 & 9 November but no 144 this year
DMU (Diesel Railcar) Gala - The East Lancashire Railway
Ah yes, it was a visitor that year. Very popular as I recall !
Ashley Hill
Established Member
Are any of the class 141s still operational?
There's one at the Midlands Railway Centre I think.
Ashley Hill
Established Member
According to Railcar Association 141113 is as above at Midland Railway Centre. The other 141108 is apparently in storage at Eastleigh and no longer considered preserved.
Do they attract a crowd when in service?
43096
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Not when I have seen one in use at Butterley.
50002Superb
Established Member
Does that article say “Iric”!?
61653 HTAFC
Veteran Member
Yes, and also "Dervy Lightweight". I'd say I wish people would proof-read things before publishing, but that last one could be a deliberate pun I suppose!
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Does Butterley ever attract a crowd though? From what I've heard on the grapevine it's a railway that's struggling a bit.
WRT the 141 that's currently at Eastleigh, wasn't it set to join Hornby's "1:1 Collection" at Margate at one point?
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