Pacer long distance runs

[SickyNicky]

I have the last day of my North West 4 in 8 rover tomorrow (I'm based in Askam) - don't laugh but I'd like to do some mileage on pacers (all 158's and 170's in my neck of the woods)

What do you think are the best reasonably long distance pacer runs in the FoNW area that I could try, bearing in mind connections to Askam and the ticket restrictions?

Thanks.

 

[yorksrob]

Lancaster - Leeds via Morecambe is a favourite journey of mine and thats always a pacer. Also, if you go back Leeds - Manchester Victoria via Bradford, there's usually a pacer on one of the stoppers.

 

[Greenback]

Does Blackpool South to Colne use Pacers these days? That's one of the routes I would do, basically because I've never done it!

 

[WestCoast]

Does Blackpool South to Colne use Pacers these days? That's one of the routes I would do, basically because I've never done it!

My local service (well, the part west of Preston)! It does mostly use bus-bench seated 142 Pacers, although 150s make regular appearances (and occasionally 156s).

End-to-end it is SLOW.

 

[142094]

Lancaster - Leeds via Morecambe is a favourite journey of mine and thats always a pacer. Also, if you go back Leeds - Manchester Victoria via Bradford, there's usually a pacer on one of the stoppers.

1st one I was going to say. Could combine with a Leeds - Huddersfield local service and a Huddersfield - Man Vic (which is normally a Pacer, although 150s do come around as well).

 

[SickyNicky]

Lancaster - Leeds via Morecambe is a favourite journey of mine and thats always a pacer. Also, if you go back Leeds - Manchester Victoria via Bradford, there's usually a pacer on one of the stoppers.

Thought about Lancaster to Leeds but it was a class 150 this morning, so rejected it. Leeds to Manchester via Bradford should be interesting though.
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My local service (well, the part west of Preston)! It does mostly use bus-bench seated 142 Pacers, although 150s make regular appearances (and occasionally 156s).

End-to-end it is SLOW.

Haven't done that one, so it's worth taking a look tomorrow.

 

[YorkshireBear]

90% of time the leeds morcambe service is pacer perated so if your in leeds i would give it a go. its a lovely run.

 

[SickyNicky]

90% of time the leeds morcambe service is pacer perated so if your in leeds i would give it a go. its a lovely run.

They're pretty infrequent though, I think there's only 4 a day, and as I say, this morning's (opposite direction) was a 150 which I'm not interested in. Problem is, because of the timings I waste a lot of time getting to Morcambe (or Leeds) for the 1 afternoon train.

Looks like the only way of getting to Leeds for the afternoon train is a series of TPE services via Manchester or via Carlisle and the S&C. Perhaps that's not such a bad thing

 

[YorkshireBear]

They're pretty infrequent though, I think there's only 4 a day, and as I say, this morning's (opposite direction) was a 150 which I'm not interested in. Problem is, because of the timings I waste a lot of time getting to Morcambe (or Leeds) for the 1 afternoon train.

Okay, well if you happen to be in leeds at that time then i suggest it i dont suggest waiting hours for it.

 

[SickyNicky]

Okay, well if you happen to be in leeds at that time then i suggest it i dont suggest waiting hours for it.

Sounds like it's worth giving it a shot again, anyway, thanks. I might try to meet it at Hellifield coming off the S&C - if the 11.14 isn't a pacer I could wait for the 11.56 in the other direction, ride either to their destination and then back for the whole length of the route

 

[150222]

Thought about Lancaster to Leeds but it was a class 150 this morning, so rejected it. Leeds to Manchester via Bradford should be interesting though.
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Haven't done that one, so it's worth taking a look tomorrow.

Bear in mind that the leeds to manchester pacers are on 150 diagrams. There is only one late night via bradford service that is booked for a pacer. However yes there usually is a pacer covering for a sprinter.

 

[142094]

Sounds like it's worth giving it a shot again, anyway, thanks. I might try to meet it at Hellifield coming off the S&C - if the 11.14 isn't a pacer I could wait for the 11.56 in the other direction, ride either to their destination and then back for the whole length of the route

That sounds like a decent plan, also (if it is open), there is a good cafe at Hellifield. It is also quite an interesting station to look around.

 

[4SRKT]

Thought about Lancaster to Leeds but it was a class 150 this morning, so rejected it. Leeds to Manchester via Bradford should be interesting though.

You were unlucky. The Little North Western is nearly always a pacer.

Not many Leeds > Manchester via Bradford trains are pacers. The service is a motley mixture of 150s, 153s (either in pairs or strengthening 2-car sets of other classes), 155s and both 2- and 3-car 158s. 142s do make occasional showings but it's very unpredictable. 144s are very unusual at Bradford Interchange. The service via Brighouse however is booked for rock solid 3-car 144s, so this is a good basis to get high pacer mileage.

As far as I have observed, the 17:23 Leeds > Wakefield via Brighouse and Huddersfield is booked for a 4-car 142.

 

[northwichcat]

I'd suggest for maximum mileage:

Lancaster-Leeds*
Leeds-Huddersfield (stopper via Dewsbury)*
Huddersfield-Victoria*
Victoria-Wigan*
Wigan-Lime Street*
Lime Street-Oxford Road (stopping service)*
Oxford Road-Piccadilly
Piccadilly-Chester via Altrincham*
Chester-Warrington Bank Quay
Walk to Warrington Central
Warrington Central-Lime Street (stopping service)*
Lime Street-Preston*
Preston-Lancaster

*= Pacer frequently appears on line but some services may be Sprinter operated.

If you can handle that, you deserve a medal!

 

[4SRKT]

Trying to include the Helsby > Ellesmere port working would be a good coup if you can fit it in.

 

[northwichcat]

Trying to include the Helsby > Ellesmere port working would be a good coup if you can fit it in.

The afternoon one is booked for a 156 - yes a 156! Although it does do a Warrington Bank Quay-Lime Street run after and then works an evening peak service to Manchester Oxford Road.

 

[4SRKT]

Bummer. Luckily I had the 'foresight' to do that line in the days of the hourly Chester > Hooton > Helsby service. Phew!

 

[driver9000]

Preston-Lancaster

Very unlikely to produce a 142 these days. Its been a long time since I saw a 142 hurtling between Lancaster and Preston on the WCML.

Blackpool South-Colne is nearly 40 miles in length and is booked for Pacers, occasionally a Sprinter will appear in their place though. Sundays are booked Sprinters.

 

[tbtc]

Has nobody mentioned the Hope Valley line?

Manchester - Sheffield is one of those routes suited to Pacers, for the reason that the big windows give you a decent view of the Peak District!

There are two Sheffield - Leeds services each hour that are often Pacer run (via Castleford or via Bolton-on-Dearne), or there's the Sheffield - Huddersfield that gets a lot of Pacers.

If you have time then you can even do Scunthorpe - Sheffield - Lincoln on a Pacer, or Sheffield - York.

Plenty Pacer action this side of the Pennines, with a mix of 142 and 144s (144s tend to only be on Leeds services).

 

[YorkshireBear]

he only has a north west rover and i dont think that goes to sheffield tbtc

 

[4SRKT]

Is all that in the validity of the FoNW ticket?

 

[142094]

Not sure if all of those are valid on a NW Rover - certainly don't think York is.
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3 at the same time!

 

[4SRKT]

A hat-trick!

 

[northwichcat]

Has nobody mentioned the Hope Valley line?

Manchester - Sheffield is one of those routes suited to Pacers, for the reason that the big windows give you a decent view of the Peak District!

There are two Sheffield - Leeds services each hour that are often Pacer run (via Castleford or via Bolton-on-Dearne), or there's the Sheffield - Huddersfield that gets a lot of Pacers.

If you have time then you can even do Scunthorpe - Sheffield - Lincoln on a Pacer, or Sheffield - York.

Plenty Pacer action this side of the Pennines, with a mix of 142 and 144s (144s tend to only be on Leeds services).

Look at what type of rover is mentioned in the original post. I was going to suggest Leeds-Huddersfield, Huddersfield-Sheffield and then Sheffield-Piccadilly but noticed Sheffield is not in the included area.
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Very unlikely to produce a 142 these days. Its been a long time since I saw a 142 hurtling between Lancaster and Preston on the WCML.

Yeah that's why I didn't put a star next to that one in my list. It's only 20 minutes or so to do Preston-Lancaster so I suggested more as a way of getting back after alighting a Lime Street-Blackpool service at Preston.

 

[YorkshireBear]

that makes 4 of us nice work.

I would suggest some of those routes anyway as i love sheffield - huddersfield/manchester

 

[142094]

that makes 4 of us nice work.

I would suggest some of those routes anyway as i love sheffield - huddersfield/manchester

Being in Sheffield can be a ball-ache if you want to go on a longer distance Pacer bash but not end up somewhere in Scunthorpe. Been bowled a few times on hoping for a Pacer turning up for the Penistone line or Hope Valley, only to find a 15x instead.

 

[4SRKT]

And let's face it, we wouldn't want to end up in Scunny.

 

[142094]

And let's face it, we wouldn't want to end up in Scunny.

Problem with going to Scunny is that, if you want 100% Pacer mileage, you're forced to get the same unit back to Doncaster and either go back to Sheffield or get that extra bit to Adwick. At least going along the Hope Valley or Penistone line, you can guarantee some different action at Manc or Hud.

 

[YorkshireBear]

Problem with going to Scunny is that, if you want 100% Pacer mileage, you're forced to get the same unit back to Doncaster and either go back to Sheffield or get that extra bit to Adwick. At least going along the Hope Valley or Penistone line, you can guarantee some different action at Manc or Hud.

ive got to admit ive never done a pacer bash, having been on them so much for last 10 years i like them but never bashed. I am thinking of doing it soon though on a south pennines day ranger. As i am based in leeds/newcastle/sheffield all year round so i do see them regularly but just something about bouncing along on one

i wouldnt go to scunny though, it would be come straight back definitely. Nothing is worth that

 

[142094]

ive got to admit ive never done a pacer bash, having been on them so much for last 10 years i like them but never bashed. I am thinking of doing it soon though on a south pennines day ranger. As i am based in leeds/newcastle/sheffield all year round so i do see them regularly but just something about bouncing along on one

i wouldnt go to scunny though, it would be come straight back definitely. Nothing is worth that

It can be quite a challenge, if you make a plan and stick to it rigidly. Course it is easy just to wait an hour for the next train if a 15x turns up and have a pint in the meantime.