Worst Pacer squealing

[northwichcat]

I've heard people say that the approach to Carnforth and Lincoln Central are among the worst for Pacer squealing. However, having been to Lincoln Central a couple of weeks ago and leaving on a Pacer I found the squealing to be quite a bit quieter than the section between Deansgate Junction and Skelton Junction. I think the difference at Lincoln Central is there are more non-rail user pedestrians near the line compared to the number at Deansgate Junction so it affects non-rail users more.

Does anyone know how Carnforth compares to Deansgate-Skelton Junction or know any other curves that Pacers squeal very loudly on ignoring lines that are now banned on? Marple is the other one that comes to mind for me.

 

[edwin_m]

A fellow graduate trainee at BR Research spent a week or two travelling round measuring Pacer squeal. He was based on Tyneside so that was probably thought to be a "good" area for it, perhaps the curves on and off the two bridges over the Tyne.

 

[185143]

Yeah, just around Manchester there's a few!

Rose Hill is bad for pacer squealing
Oxford Road platform 5 gives squealing on ANY train, the train I take home has an annoying habit of being 'Pacerised'!

 

[Greenback]

Leaving Swansea and rounding the curve at Landore to head to West Wales on a Pacer is the worst squealing I've heard since my brothe rhad ot buy a round of drinks in Ireland!

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Greetland Junction, Bradley Wood Junction, and the Wakefield Kirkgate-Westgate curve can all be pretty bad...

 

[heart-of-wessex]

Leaving Swansea and rounding the curve at Landore to head to West Wales on a Pacer is the worst squealing I've heard since my brothe rhad ot buy a round of drinks in Ireland!

Never tried that, must compare to my personal experience of the very tight curve at Barry towards Barry Island! The other one used to be at the curve just north of Avonmouth when 143's went to Severn Beach

 

[Quakers Yard]

Between Cardiff Central and Grangetown and to Barry Island are a bit loud.

 

[Silv1983]

Brewery Junction to Philips Park West Junction (Brewery Curve) in Manchester is so tight drivers' have to exceed the 10mph limit when driving a pacer to stop them getting stuck.
The flange squeal is comparable to, if not worse than Skelton Jct - although fortunately there are no residences - only a scrap yard beside it. An open window would result in hearing damage im sure. You won't be able to appreciate it though as it's for ECS movements only.

 

[cjp]

Why are Pacers so bad?

 

[tom1649]

Why are Pacers so bad?

They only have four wheels on each carriage and no bogies.

 

[TOCDriver]

The down Salford from manchester Vic to Salford central on a hot day is really bad.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Why are Pacers so bad?

Because of the wheelbase in respect to this topic

 

[Lampshade]

I think the following all tie for the top spot:

• Miles Platting - Manchester Victoria
• Wigan Wallgate
• Farington Curve Junction
• Ashburys East Junction
• Meols Cop - Southport

 

[TOCDriver]

I think the following all tie for the top spot:

• Miles Platting - Manchester Victoria
• Wigan Wallgate
• Farington Curve Junction
• Ashburys East Junction
• Meols Cop - Southport

The 20mph speed at meols cop prevent it from being too excessive. Dito Wigan Wallgate

 

[callum112233]

I was going to say Miles Platting Jnc-Philips Park Jnc. It really can make your ear drums crackle if the windows are open.

Wigan Wallgate is nowt compared to the above, in my opinion.

Callum.

 

[Darren R]

I think you could probably carry on adding curves to this for quite some time and still not have an exhaustive list! Farington Curve Jn up to Lostock Hall is one of the worst (not quite so bad in the other direction) and seconded about Salford Central to Manchester Victoria. Some more for the list though:

heading north out of Bolton towards either Lostock Junction or Blackburn
Poulton-le-Fylde
Shipley (especially towards Skipton)
the western approaches to Leeds around Whitehall Jns
Lancaster - Bare Lane

As regards the Newcastle Central approaches, wasn't there an (ahem) 'operating incident' whereby an unfortunate member of the Pacer classes got stuck going round the curve soon after they were introduced up there? Or is that an urban myth amongst the legions of Pacer fans?

 

[317666]

Not so much the flange noise, but watching a pair of them fly into Cardiff Central with the brakes on is pretty deafening - you often see passengers holding their ears!

 

[Whistler40145]

Pacers used to work the Blaenau Ffestiniog line until BR found the units had excessive tyre wear.

IIRC that is the same reason they were removed from working on several Cornish branch lines.


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[transmanche]

As regards the Newcastle Central approaches, wasn't there an (ahem) 'operating incident' whereby an unfortunate member of the Pacer classes got stuck going round the curve soon after they were introduced up there? Or is that an urban myth amongst the legions of Pacer fans?

No I think you're right. I have a hazy memory of reading a newspaper report about a train getting stuck on the curve at Gateshead on the Newcastle-Sunderland route - must be about 20 years ago.

 

[PacerFace]

I think of the squeal purely as a battle cry as the mighty Pacer goes blazing around the corners (speed limit permitting). Alas I hear it everyday on the Leeds to Sheffield run on the junction just outside the station.

 

[northwichcat]

The 20mph speed at meols cop prevent it from being too excessive. Dito Wigan Wallgate

Yeah. The ride quality is more of a concern than the squealing there. Although, I think the engineering works currently are going to improve that.

 

[SGS]

As regards the Newcastle Central approaches, wasn't there an (ahem) 'operating incident' whereby an unfortunate member of the Pacer classes got stuck going round the curve soon after they were introduced up there? Or is that an urban myth amongst the legions of Pacer fans?

Is this the curve at Greensfield Junction? I was on one earlier this year that had big problems there, with much stopping and starting and revving. It took about five minutes to get round.

They have flange lubricators (oo-er, etc.) there now. I don't know if they were installed when Pacers first arrived on the route - the squeal isn't quite so bad there these days. When they first started I couldn't believe the sound round that curve, it was absolutely ear-splitting.

Stuart.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuartstransport

 

[sprinterguy]

Is this the curve at Greensfield Junction? I was on one there earlier this year that had big problems there, with much stopping and starting and revving. It took about five minutes to get round.

They have flange lubricators (oo-er, etc.) there now. I don't know if they were installed when Pacers first arrived on the route - the squeal isn't quite so bad there there days. When they first started I couldn't believe the sound round that curve, it was absolutely ear-splitting.

Yep that's the one, definitely one of the true "classics" with regards to Pacer squeal. I thought that the flange squeal on that curve hasn't been as bad in recent years as I remember it being ten or more years ago (Still impressive, though), glad to see that I'm not the only one.

 

[Drsatan]

The curve between Exeter Central and Exeter St Davids is pretty bad for Pacer squealing too.

 

[sheff'd victoria]

The Holmes Chord near Rotherham Central must be up their on this list

 

[Anvil1984]

Crimple Curve on the Harrogate Line must rank high too

 

[D6975]

The curve at Dr Days used to be bad for squealing, but pacers don't go round it anymore. Even some freights with bogie wagons squeal around there.

 

[rebmcr]

Seconded on Victoria-Salford, and Oxford Road P5. Not been near the former for quite some years, but still remember it.

 

[Blindtraveler]

Think anybody coming on the Pacer Bashing WY Dayrover on Jul 20th may be able to update this list a little further!
Any interested parties in this thread wishing to join us see the thread in forum meets

 

[brian1]

I agree with greenback , for a continuous squeal it has to be landore triangle.

 

[SeanG]

The Newcastle loop can get bad too