Because Pacers can't defend themselves!

[Ivo]

Depends which divison of Worst Bus you're looking at. Some divisions are probably running new buses, but Worst Northampton seems to have inhereted every clapped out Volvo, Scania and Dennis from around the Worst empire. Unlike Stagecoach who seem to be running far newer buses on more frequent service patterns.

I would certainly second this. Here in Bath almost everything is only five years old. Back home in Southend, though, the most recent vehicles - based at Hadleigh anyway - are from the late 90s! Everything is Dart this, Dart that! Bah!

Oh, and um, even I think that the Pacers have had enough stick lately. Time to find a new set to lambast?

 

[yorksrob]

I'd add to that luxuriating in the first class comparment on a 442 as the bogies iron out any joints in the track while it glides along SWML to Weymouth. Give me a can of lager, a good book and a beautiful lady right by my side and I'd be a very happy man!

Yes, they’ll certainly be in slammer heaven - especially as some have REP motors and even slam doors on the guards vans - and of course their first class compartments will have miraculously been reconstituted

Oh, and um, even I think that the Pacers have had enough stick lately. Time to find a new set to lambast?

No - of course not. Such a time could never exist. It would disrupt the space/time continuum.

 

[4SRKT]

Good to see the pacer threads still storming ahead! I had a near miss this morning when the 333 on the 11:08 Leeds > Skipton got turned over to a 3-car 144 for some reason. It was 12 minutes late arriving at Keighley, and for the first time in history a train on the K&WVR left on time!! Me and my two boys had to sprint like mad and only just made it onto the 11:45 to Oxenhope.

Still, it was better than the return journey, which was standing in the aisle from Keighley to Shipley in a pair of 153s down from Carlisle. Packed it was, and 10 minutes late to boot. It's hard to imagine that the engineers who built the magnificent Settle and Carlisle line could ever have foreseen the abomination that is a 153 regularly running on their masterpiece.

 

[yorksrob]

I was sat on a frozen 142 all the way from Leeds to Lancaster yesterday. At least the scenery was good

 

[Ivo]

No - of course not. Such a time could never exist. It would disrupt the space/time continuum.

Okay, fair enough. In that case...

I was sat on a frozen 142 all the way from Leeds to Lancaster yesterday. At least the scenery was good

Just as well - I'd have said to complain to Northern if it wasn't! [Okay, maybe not; especially given the scenery isn't exactly something that they can control.]

As for this...

Still, it was better than the return journey, which was standing in the aisle from Keighley to Shipley in a pair of 153s down from Carlisle. Packed it was, and 10 minutes late to boot. It's hard to imagine that the engineers who built the magnificent Settle and Carlisle line could ever have foreseen the abomination that is a 153 regularly running on their masterpiece.

And a Pacer isn't such an abomination?

(Do Pacers ever run on the S&C? Please tell me they don't...)

 

[142094]

I was sat on a frozen 142 all the way from Leeds to Lancaster yesterday. At least the scenery was good

What working were you on? I was on the 10.19 to Morecambe and Heysham Port. It was a 144, but again did not have any heating. I agree about the view, when the rain stopped.

(Do Pacers ever run on the S&C? Please tell me they don't...)

Never seen one running, but then again you never know.

the 11:08 Leeds > Skipton got turned over to a 3-car 144 for some reason

Wasn't on a Morecambe working was it? They usually have Skipton displayed from Leeds then change it at Skipton for Morecambe.

 

[yorksrob]

Yeah, I was on that one, rear carriage. I thought the 144's were the 3 carriage ones?

 

[Vulcan]

Good to see the pacer threads still storming ahead! I had a near miss this morning when the 333 on the 11:08 Leeds > Skipton got turned over to a 3-car 144 for some reason. It was 12 minutes late arriving at Keighley, and for the first time in history a train on the K&WVR left on time!! Me and my two boys had to sprint like mad and only just made it onto the 11:45 to Oxenhope.

There was plenty of spare seats on our train all today
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Yeah, I was on that one, rear carriage. I thought the 144's were the 3 carriage ones?

Only some of them

 

[royaloak]

Yes, they’ll certainly be in slammer heaven - especially as some have REP motors

All the 442s had REP motors, the REP motor coaches were withdrawn specifically to donate the motors as the 442s were built.

Originally Posted by Ivo
(Do Pacers ever run on the S&C? Please tell me they don't...)

Went on one in the late 90s, coupled to a 156, not sure if they go there now though

 

[Vulcan]

Its usually 158s or a 158 with a 153 on the Settle Carlisle, but I wish they'd run the top and tailed 37s again, best thing Arriva ever did.

 

[Ivo]

Its usually 158s or a 158 with a 153 on the Settle Carlisle, but I wish they'd run the top and tailed 37s again, best thing Arriva ever did.

Probably only good thing they ever did

[In case you hadn't noticed, Arriva are the Scum of the Earth in my opinion.]

 

[northwichcat]

Yeah, I was on that one, rear carriage. I thought the 144's were the 3 carriage ones?

23 144s were built as 2 car and 10 had a centre carriage inserted after build meaning 13 144s remain as 2 car.

I think the main difference between the 143s and 144s is the 144 interiors were done to WY Metro specifications. 144 interior: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:144019_MSO_Interior.JPG

 

[4SRKT]

23 144s were built as 2 car and 10 had a centre carriage inserted after build meaning 13 144s remain as 2 car.

I think the main difference between the 143s and 144s is the 144 interiors were done to WY Metro specifications. 144 interior: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:144019_MSO_Interior.JPG

Although when built 144s had the same interiors as 143s, even down to the lighter brown moquette, compared with dark brown in 142s. The main difference is that 143 were built by Hunslet Barclay, and 144s by BREL.

 

[142094]

Yeah, I was on that one, rear carriage.

Was in the front. No idea why the heating wasn't on (or working properly), seemed to be blowing cold air around the train all the way there.

 

[yorksrob]

Cheers for the Pacer and REP info everybody

Was in the front. No idea why the heating wasn't on (or working properly), seemed to be blowing cold air around the train all the way there.

I know. I'd just warmed up a seat in one of the facing bays then went to the loo and the train stopped at Giggleswick (or somewhere) and someone nicked it

 

[northwichcat]

Was in the front. No idea why the heating wasn't on (or working properly), seemed to be blowing cold air around the train all the way there.

Isn't that a standard Pacer feature no heating in winter but blowing out hot engine air in summer?

 

[142094]

Sounds like most buses... well they are buses I suppose.

 

[Ivo]

Sounds like most buses... well they are buses I suppose.

Agreed. Except that - to stoke the argument once more - Nationals are (or were) actually nice to travel on. Unlike Pacers :roll:

 

[4SRKT]

Well, I've had loads of pacer action over the last couple of weeks when driving to work has been a poor option, and every time they've been warm and welcoming. Stepping off the snow-covered platform at Morley into a warm carriage has been great.

 

[142094]

Some of the 142s can be quite cosy, the only problem I experience is that when they are full and you're sitting next to the heater, and someone sits next to you, your leg usually gets burned (especially if you're over 6ft tall and have to squash your legs in to be comfortable).

 

[4SRKT]

Pacer threads will not die!!!!!

 

[142094]

The only time it will is when the Pacers themselves go, which is a good few years yet. So I guess this thread will be up to let people complain about them until they depart for the cutter's torch.

 

[Ivo]

Pacer threads will not die!!!!!

Of course they won't die. Not if you do this...!

Had the indignity of several miles of Pacer on Wednesday evening in Cardiff. Ugh! Lovely city ruined by ATW running these pieces of [insert swear or other condemning noun here] throughout the city... and also replacing the Bubble with a 153 ("Too cold")

 

[4SRKT]

Of course they won't die. Not if you do this...!

And you as well!

Had the indignity of several miles of Pacer on Wednesday evening in Cardiff. Ugh! Lovely city ruined by ATW running these pieces of [insert swear or other condemning noun here] throughout the city... and also replacing the Bubble with a 153 ("Too cold")

That's bad news. Is the bubble still running between Princes Risborough and Aylesbury, or am I hopelessly out of date?

 

[Drsatan]

That's bad news. Is the bubble still running between Princes Risborough and Aylesbury, or am I hopelessly out of date?

To the best of my knowledge it is. Chiltern Railways also own another Bubble in NSE livery for route-learning/Sandite duties.

 

[poshbakerloo]

Couldn't they fit pacers with new proper train bogies, refurbish them to proper train standards then they might be at least half decent...

 

[Vulcan]

Couldn't they fit pacers with new proper train bogies, refurbish them to proper train standards then they might be at least half decent...

Its not as simple as that, i'm afriad. Re-engineering them to ride on bogies would require at least a whole new chassis, and when it gets to thats stage its not worth the cost over building a brand new train. And thats not happening either.

 

[142094]

When are Pacers actually supposed to be going? I heard a few years ago that it was sometime in the next 2-3 years, but has there been any word since?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Also, probably going to Harrogate tomorrow. I may be fortunate and not get a 150, instead hopefully a 142/144. Hopefully.

 

[FlyingScot]

Preserve the pacers!

 

[poshbakerloo]

When are Pacers actually supposed to be going? I heard a few years ago that it was sometime in the next 2-3 years, but has there been any word since?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Also, probably going to Harrogate tomorrow. I may be fortunate and not get a 150, instead hopefully a 142/144. Hopefully.

Somewhere I read that Northern were gonna get rid of em sometime AFTER 2015