Worst Pacer squealing

[armadillomaste]

The Shipley and Leeds mentions above are true.

The junction entering Leeds is really bad and the shipley curves make even the 33's squeal

 

[High Dyke]

I found this quote on wikipedia that made me chuckle.

On a section of line between Northwich and Greenbank in Cheshire the speed limit is 20 mph (32 km/h) but could be raised to 50 mph (80 km/h) if Pacer trains were banned from the line

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacer_(train)

I do recall report of an incident at Newton Heath Depot a number of years ago where a unit got stuck whilst moving on the depot. And, as someone mentioned, there was an incident at Newcastle with one getting stuck the same; i just can't find the details either.

 

[northwichcat]

I found this quote on wikipedia that made me chuckle.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacer_(train)

I believe prior to track upgrades on the Clitheroe line Pacers could run on the line but it would have added a lot of time to the journeys if they were timetabled for Pacer running.

The Mid-Cheshire line section would only be a 2-3 minute saving. However, Northern added 3 minutes extra padding in during the May timetable change because they decided the dwell times at some stations were too short now that passenger numbers have risen. So banning Pacers could have meant longer dwell times without increasing overall journey times.

 

[Bevan Price]

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

Earlestown triangle is at least as bad as most of those.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

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

Bradley curve is a must for that, though there's no guarantee of getting a pacer there! The Huddersfield line heading in/out of Barnsley is pretty noisy too, but sadly not in WY.

 

[VTPreston_Tez]

Preston station wrecks my ears when pacers come in...

 

[142094]

Carnforth line is one of the worst, slightly better is the curve from the High Level Bridge in Newcastle towards Heworth.

 

[Greybeard33]

Does anyone know if Network Rail's low track usage charges for Pacers take account of the wear and tear they must cause on these tight curves? I guess it must difficult to trade the cost of this against the benefit of relatively low wear on the much longer sections of straight track.

 

[northwichcat]

Does anyone know if Network Rail's low track usage charges for Pacers take account of the wear and tear they must cause on these tight curves? I guess it must difficult to trade the cost of this against the benefit of relatively low wear on the much longer sections of straight track.

It's actually a bit of a misconception that Pacers have cheap track access costs. A 142 may cost 7.9p per mile compared to 10.84p per mile for a 156. However, if you take the length of the train in to consideration the track access charge for the 156 gives better value for money than the one for the 142 with the 142 being 67% of the length of a 156 but 73% of the track access charge of a 156. Comparing a Pacer to a pair of 153s or a 155 gives even less favourable results for the Pacer.

Incidentally does anyone know the track access charge for a class 172?

 

[edwin_m]

The Pacers have a heavier axleload than Sprinters so are likely to damage the track more even on straight sections.

 

[Greybeard33]

It's actually a bit of a misconception that Pacers have cheap track access costs. A 142 may cost 7.9p per mile compared to 10.84p per mile for a 156. However, if you take the length of the train in to consideration the track access charge for the 156 gives better value for money than the one for the 142 with the 142 being 67% of the length of a 156 but 73% of the track access charge of a 156.

Not sure this is a valid comparison if you relate the charge to revenue. A 142 may only have 67% of the carriage length of a 156, but crush-loaded you can get more than 67% of the passengers in, because of the higher density seating and larger vestibules. Also it is difficult in practice to persuade standing passengers to move along to the middle of the carriage on a 156, because of the difficulty in getting back to the exit.

The Pacers have a heavier axleload than Sprinters so are likely to damage the track more even on straight sections.

Yes, but they have half the number of axles per carriage. A 2-car Pacer does incur a higher total charge than a 1-car 153 with the same number of axles. I presume the charge is calculated as some function of the axle loading multiplied by the number of axles.

 

[trentside]

The Pacers certainly "announce" themselves on approach to Lincoln Central but I've heard worse. I think the fact that they operate into a curved platform (5) makes the situation worse as they squeal right to a stop.

I think the worst I've personally encountered was on a 143 between Barry and Barry Island .

 

[Eastcoast43208]

Curve around the back of Gateshead next to the Sage on approach to the High level bridge got to be one of the worst.

[youtube]FtrlZlTUR-Q[/youtube]

 

[craigwilson]

Curve around the back of Gateshead next to the Sage on approach to the High level bridge got to be one of the worst.

[youtube]FtrlZlTUR-Q[/youtube]

Wow, even Skelton Junction/Deansgate Lane Jn isn't that prolonged!!

 

[Gareth Marston]

Thank god they dont do Wrexham General to Wrexham Central anymore the curve that dives under the Shrewsbury to Chester line was horrendous.

 

[Phil6219]

Anyone remember the section between Manchester Victoria and Salford Central before they "rationalised" it? Oh how the Pacers used to scream, I can hear it now

Phil

 

[jonesy3001]

They used to squeal on the bend near oldham werneth station before the line was converted to metrolink.