Pacer Hunt

[MaxLikesTrains]

Hi, my name is Max and I'm an 11 year old from London who's a fan of trains, though I am currently visiting Yorkshire. Believe it or not, I'm actually trying to find a pacer.

My preference of station to find these bus-train hybrids is York or possibly Thirsk. If anyone could tell me where to go on these "trains", it would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Max

 

[J-2739]

You can try the Harrogate line, down to Leeds via Harogate. It's a decent route that shows you the true faces of Yorkshire.

There's a whole load of rolling stock on that route just in case you get bored.

 

[Kite159]

York will be a lot better than Thirsk to try and hunt down a pacer.

 

[Darandio]

Thirsk, no chance unless there is an ECS move, York might even be a push.

If you could go a bit further to Darlington, Pacers guaranteed.

 

[30907]

Leeds will also produce some - along with everything else Northern run (not many 156 though)

 

[ash39]

York can see them on the Harrogate loop (as mentioned) and sometimes even on the York-Hull, but you can't guarantee one. You'd be much better at Darlington or Leeds, where you should see plenty. Good luck!

 

[MaxLikesTrains]

Thanks everyone, I will certainly use your advice for my Pacer hunt!

Max

 

[njamescouk]

plenty in Sheffield, unfortunately!

 

[DarloRich]

Darlington or Leeds will see you right - York might throw up the odd one on a Harrogate or Selby/Hull

 

[wessexrailguy]

Leeds is definitely a hotspot for pacers. Most do the Leeds - Harrogate Line, but some don't go all the way to York so I say Leeds is the better place than York. Leeds is also worth visiting for Class 333s especially, running the Airedale Line and Bradford Line, as well as many TPE services and the odd 158 to Carlisle. Was there last week in fact, caught a 4 car 144/142 to Harrogate.

 

[DarloRich]

Leeds is definitely a hotspot for pacers. Most do the Leeds - Harrogate Line, but some don't go all the way to York so I say Leeds is the better place than York. Leeds is also worth visiting for Class 333s especially, running the Airedale Line and Bradford Line, as well as many TPE services and the odd 158 to Carlisle. Was there last week in fact, caught a 4 car 144/142 to Harrogate.

Pacers do loads more services out of Leeds than just Harrogate.

 

[me123]

Welcome Max.

FWIW, I think you're slightly crazy, but if you of indeed want to torture yourself on a Pacer then I'll agree with the above. Leeds has the edge over Darlington IMO; it has quite a variety of trains in addition to the Pacers and it's very easy to get there - just a short trip from York with frequent trains (potentially a pacer if you go via Harrogate).

Best of luck

 

[43074]

Pacers don't work that many of the Leeds - York via Harrogate services - Monday to Fridays it's mainly 150s, 153s and 155s weekday off peak, with the odd Pacer at peak times. The Leeds - Horsforth shuttles on Sunday are usually a 142, but the Yorks tend to be 155s and 158s.

There are plenty running out of Sheffield on the local services to Doncaster, Leeds, Huddersfield & Manchester though, Sheffield would probably be best.

 

[bradford758]

The 0637 Leeds - Hebden Bridge - Leeds (0833) is a four-car sprinter+142 set, though I think it splits when back in Leeds.

Sent from my 4009X using Tapatalk

 

[MaxLikesTrains]

The 0637 Leeds - Hebden Bridge - Leeds (0833) is a four-car sprinter+142 set, though I think it splits when back in Leeds.

Sent from my 4009X using Tapatalk

Mate, I'm crazy, but not enough to get up at 6

 

[MaxLikesTrains]

Good news, I have successfully found a pacer!

Now, here's the story:

I went to Harrogate Station and waited for the 1415 to Leeds. Disappointingly, it was a Class 153, not a pacer.

However, that all changed while I was pulling into Leeds. I saw two types of pacer, the Class 142 and the 144. I was extremely happy. On platform 5c, there was 142 050 lingering there. I asked where it would be going, but nobody knew and one person said it wouldn't be going anywhere for an hour. That didn't matter though.

On platform 11c, the 1518 service to Manchester Victoria was waiting, and it consisted of a Class 142 and a type of Sprinter, though I don't know which type as I was in a little bit of a hurry and to me, the Pacer only mattered. I went to Bradford Interchange, but for a while, I thought I had a return to Bramley instead. Then we got the 1549 Class 158 back to Leeds.

My mum was the first person to spot that our train back to Harrogate was on Platform 5c and we soon discovered that it might be that very Pacer waiting to move, and in fact, it was! Then I paced along back to Harrogate.

At Leeds, I saw all sorts of trains from the Class 82 all the way to Class 333s, it was brilliant!

Thanks for your help,

Max

 

[Kite159]

Sounded like a good day

Congrats on riding your first pacer

 

[Cowley]

Success Max. Soon enough Pacers will probably be history on the mainline but you'll be able to remember bouncing around on one and you'll be able tell your kids what funny trains we had back then

 

[DarloRich]

Good news, I have successfully found a pacer!

Now, here's the story:

I went to Harrogate Station and waited for the 1415 to Leeds. Disappointingly, it was a Class 153, not a pacer.

However, that all changed while I was pulling into Leeds. I saw two types of pacer, the Class 142 and the 144. I was extremely happy. On platform 5c, there was 142 050 lingering there. I asked where it would be going, but nobody knew and one person said it wouldn't be going anywhere for an hour. That didn't matter though.

On platform 11c, the 1518 service to Manchester Victoria was waiting, and it consisted of a Class 142 and a type of Sprinter, though I don't know which type as I was in a little bit of a hurry and to me, the Pacer only mattered. I went to Bradford Interchange, but for a while, I thought I had a return to Bramley instead. Then we got the 1549 Class 158 back to Leeds.

My mum was the first person to spot that our train back to Harrogate was on Platform 5c and we soon discovered that it might be that very Pacer waiting to move, and in fact, it was! Then I paced along back to Harrogate.

At Leeds, I saw all sorts of trains from the Class 82 all the way to Class 333s, it was brilliant!

Thanks for your help,

Max

good effort. glad you enjoyed your day out.

 

[PeterY]

Well done Max. I've yet still to have that pleasure of riding in a pacer.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

To think that in a year or so we'll not be able to move up North for all those Southern gricers trying to bag Pacers before they go to that big depot in the sky... (or should that be the big depot underground?)

 

[bradford758]

Mate, I'm crazy, but not enough to get up at 6

I'm sure some of the evening peak Leeds - Hebden Bridge - Manchester Victoria runs are the same, 142 + sprinter 4-car combo, as noted by you.

 

[MaxLikesTrains]

Well done Max. I've yet still to have that pleasure of riding in a pacer.

It's not that bad, actually

 

[Techniquest]

Congratulations young man on your quest being successful!

 

[jonathan01n]

Lincoln is a place for pacer too . I have seen 142,144 and 144e here. Sometimes they use 3 cars 144 and sometime they couple 2x142, 2x144 or 142+144 together.
I have seen once a 142 couple with a 158 in Ravensthorpe too

 

[Techniquest]

You know, it surprises me that he didn't get a lot of recommendations to head west to Cardiff for very regular Pacer action!

 

[MaxLikesTrains]

You know, it surprises me that he didn't get a lot of recommendations to head west to Cardiff for very regular Pacer action!

It's a little far away, I feel.

 

[Techniquest]

It's a little far away, I feel.

Fair enough, after all it depends where you are amongst many other factors.

I've managed to convince myself that I need to go to Cardiff for some Pacer action!

 

[PeterY]

At long last I got my first ride on a pacer. 143 617. Exeter to Exmouth. I chuffed now.

 

[MaxLikesTrains]

At long last I got my first ride on a pacer. 143 617. Exeter to Exmouth. I chuffed now.

Congrats on your first Pacer!