Haha, don't worry I have many good stories about me and the mrs such as the time when...... hold on give me a minute!
They are a lot cheaper than running diesel locos hauling coaches or steam. Some heritage lines suffered a lot during covid and lockdowns and their passenger numbers haven't grown enough to recover and go back to using loco hauled stock so pacers are a lifeline and used for survival.
That was Sprinters, Pacers cost almost as much as a Sprinter to purchase and until they were rebuilt at great expense in the 90s they were a lot more expensive to operate than a sprinter. However the primary Leyland factories being in Marginal Constituencies meant cancelling was not an option politically. I suspect there was also a bit of not invented here given the Sprinters were based on the powertrain from a Dutch unit 143s and 144s were built by Alexander (now Alexander Dennis) in Scotland. As for kind things? I guess a refurbished 143 was better than a 153
One of the many horrible things I remember about commuting into Liverpool Lime St. in the 80s/90s on Pacers was the air temperature, they were sweatboxes in Summer, the windows didn't open very far at all, so everyone was hot and bothered, especially when the train was invariably stuck at some signal or other for twenty minutes. Conversely in Winter they were ice-boxes, the heating consisted of a couple of under seat hot air vents which seemed to do nothing to actually heat the carriage but was hot enough close up to melt the leg wear of the poor devils unlucky enough to be sat on one of those seats.
I got to ride a 143 Pacer yesterday for some TTI (ticket inspector) training. I forgot you need sea legs to ride one or walk inside one. Being honest though, I spent most of my time in the rear cab with my head out the window like a dog. This was partly because it was warm and mostly because my anxiety kicked off and made me feel like I was going to pass out or vomit (it wasn't the ride that made that happen, it was something a passenger had said about illness and that's a big trigger for my anxiety and OCD around contamination).
I have enough trouble on the west highland line with sprinters bumping up and down. I think I would die on a pacer XD
Is it, no it's not... yes it is! How have you been keeping Nathan mate? The WHL with a Pacer would be absolute hell on earth!
bump bump de bump. For those who love the latest generation of trains, espcially if you are say under 18. In 1986 I was the same when Pacers showed up on the Blackburn to Bolton line. Although most of the time when we went on the train, it turned out to be a 1st Generation DMU, mainly 104s. I could say I hated 104s. Of course now I am older, I do have a place in my heart for 104s and also class 142s. Though I will always remember going to Preston with a friend from school and getting 144022 on the Leeds to Blackpool North service. I had never felt so travel sick in my life. It was even worse that it turned out the be the exact same unit back to Blackburn.
I have often wondered that myself. I can remember things from years ago and are clear as it was yesterday. Problem I have is I can't remember things from yesterday, or this morning.
Oh I know the feeling! Ask me where I were on the second week of August in 1984 I could probably tell you the exact weather conditions, ask me what I had for breakfast this morning and I haven't a clue!
There's always one! Luckily I set myself up with an easy one as I would have been down in Devon with the mrs and children staying in Paignton for our yearly holiday down west. Next!
Goodrington area and if I remember rightly it were a quite a cloudy, wet week as when I took my son for a walk along the wall in Dawlish we had a rather wet ride back on a rickety 118(?) and the guard were one of my fathers old mates so we rode in the back cab. Still haven't a clue what I had for break fast this morning!
Excellent is a bit of an understatement. That’s just completely shocked me to be honest. From things you have said before I’d hate to imagine your mrs reaction!!
I once remember that I had a north west day ranger, what has now become the Lancashire/Cheshire day rangers. I was heading from Chester to Manchester, a 158 coupled to a 142 pulled in. big choice had to be made, 142 won. Skipper 142015 was going towards Rochdale, although not sure if it went via Oldham loop or not, Got on it at Manchester Vic. Nobody on it which seemed strange, the next thing I knew I was locked inside it. for about 5 mins. Bit o/t but newer ones I remember. I was going to Bognor Regis to collect a car, I got 390 015 at Manchester. Train got inbetween Stockport and Cheadle Hulme, then broke down. Funny thing was it was April 1st so we all thought it was an Aprils Fool. Soon realised it wasn't after quite a few hours, before gettting detrained and having to get a coach back to Stockport. A couple of years later and I was heading upto Glasgow to collect another car. Had Voyager 221 117, which broke down just outside Lancaster. The limped the train into the station and terminated it. The next train behind was a 390. ending in 115.
