Sparky
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Post by Sparky on Nov 28, 2020 8:18:34 GMT
Yesterday was the last day of Northerns pacers, there was a bit on North West tonight about it. Seems quite a few are being preserved so not the end totally though Look North also did a piece on it yesterday evening too.
A handful have been preserved; I'd expect the remainders are being stripped for spares (to keep the preserved ones running) and then going for scrap.
Most if not all of the Class 142 Pacers had vanished from around Sheffield / Doncaster by February this year.
They had been replaced with much publicity with "New" trains...
Which in effect are Class 150s (introduced in the early mid-80s), Class 158s (introduced in the late 80s) and a handful of ex-Scotrail Class 170s.
None the less, after the clean up and refurbs - they are better than the 142s. Some of the 144s were still in service - doing Sheffield-Leeds stopping services; but I think they've even gone now.
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Sparky
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Post by Sparky on Nov 28, 2020 14:51:46 GMT
I forgot to add in the last post...
The Sandite Trains have been out and about too; normally we are honoured with 2 pairs of Class 20s. This year we've had two sets of Class 37s AND a pair of Class 20s. Marvellous stuff.
Once this (pointless) Lockdown ends, and we are a little more free to move, we'll try and get out to see them.
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Del Boy
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Post by Del Boy on Nov 29, 2020 15:21:53 GMT
They often use the old stuff for these purposes. On the underground many lines have old 1962 stock converted for sandite duties.
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Post by Charles Bronson on Nov 29, 2020 19:23:55 GMT
Yesterday was the last day of Northerns pacers, there was a bit on North West tonight about it. Seems quite a few are being preserved so not the end totally though According to what I read yesterday the Pacers were originally built for Iraq decades ago but after viewing them, they refused to take delivery, claiming that they were rubbish.
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Three Litre
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Post by Three Litre on Nov 29, 2020 19:51:35 GMT
Once this (pointless) Lockdown ends, and we are a little more free to move, we'll try and get out to see them.
Too true!
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Three Litre
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Post by Three Litre on Nov 29, 2020 19:52:22 GMT
Yesterday was the last day of Northerns pacers, there was a bit on North West tonight about it. Seems quite a few are being preserved so not the end totally though According to what I read yesterday the Pacers were originally built for Iraq decades ago but after viewing them, they refused to take delivery, claiming that they were rubbish. They did quite well then even if they were a bit basic, I presume?
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Cartman
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Post by Cartman on Nov 29, 2020 20:55:17 GMT
A few were later exported to Iran, don't know about Iraq
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Sparky
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Post by Sparky on Nov 30, 2020 16:39:46 GMT
According to what I read yesterday the Pacers were originally built for Iraq decades ago but after viewing them, they refused to take delivery, claiming that they were rubbish. They did quite well then even if they were a bit basic, I presume? They were quite basic - but I "heard" they were originally used by us as a stop gap (not sure how true that is).
The 142s had bus style seats in and were generally uncomfortable, the Northern ones leaked too.
While on a trip across the Pennines from Sheffield one Saturday - and it was chucking it down outside, we had water pouring in through the window seals. The seats were getting soaked, so we had to stand for the rest of the journey.
The 144s weren't much better - though they did refurbish one a couple of years ago - as a prototype. This upgrade consisted of a new paint job inside (painting over the original panels), new seats, removal of the bike/pushchair bays, sw***y (too bright) LED lighting and a fancy Digital "Next Station" display.
Ironically, the "Pacers" were less comfortable that the original 1st Gen DMUs that they replaced - the old 101s, 110s and all those. They were quite comfy.
Though - in all the years I have been out and about on the Railways - either as a Kid or with my Son - it was quite rare to see a "Pacer" with engine issues. The issues seemed to be the sliding doors on the side that kept jamming.
Weren't they Bus shells and Chassis?
There are a couple of Class 141s in preservation too.
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Three Litre
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Post by Three Litre on Nov 30, 2020 17:50:05 GMT
Yes, Sparky, I believe they were part bus.
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Cartman
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Post by Cartman on Nov 30, 2020 18:00:42 GMT
They were based on the Leyland National bus body, the 141s were the same width, the 142 was slightly enlarged. The chassis was derived from a long wheelbase freight wagon. Agree the first generation DMUs were better to ride in.
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