Class 142

[jackandyclare1]

I can't see anyhting wrong with the pacer, just because they are very bouncy makes them bad trains, I dont think so. Thats like saying, I dont like that girl because her shoes are slightly too big. The engines sound fantastic aswell, going up the Werneth bank, they go flat out for about 2 minutes and only reach about 35 mph. They sound fantastic. And we're talking about pacers not 158's and 185's.

[davidaward]

Eh?

I think someone is trying to form the 142 preservation society here to save one for posterity for all the nation to show how not to build a unit.

I'm sure all the commuters (myself included) and train crews who suffer them on a regular basis are writing our cheques now to help you save one. Likewise preserved railways will be queuing up to accommodate your purchase (in fact they all want one of their own!) and the visitors queuing up to pay to travel on one rather than a steam loco/heritage diesel or quality heritage DMU (I'm sure they'd get a quality day out and drink their cups of tea in com,fort as they bounce through the countryside. Also for added authenticity the service which should have been a 4 car Mk1 set is replaced by the 2 car 142 just so they can get that animals in transit experience that commuters have enjoyed for so long. I'm really looking forward to reliving these days in the future (or maybe not......). The volunteers likewise can't wait to get their hands on one, not to mention the retired railwaymen who want to remember just how bad they rode and why they got the common complaint of 142 back and relive those failures on the road in the middle of nowhere. But then all those visitors and volunteers will be upset because the 142 will be out of service today due to a failure.........

Get in the real world matey.

[arabiandisco]

Aren't there a couple of preserved 141s around?

[davidaward]

I think there is, I can never work out why though- certainly not to encourage tourism but i can see their use as a cheap people mover for a low budget rail service- like they were used on the 'Wearydale'. I wouldn't travel across the country and spend a holiday in the area to travel on one though..........

Also other railways are queuing up to add the 142s and 141s to their next gala event- forget the Pacifics or attractive 4-4-0s etc, or your Western Hydraulics, Deltics or Sulzers etc 142s are what the people and punters want!!!

Do I sound sarcastic?

[BR7MT]

You do sound a bit sarcastic. Difficult to tell though

Thankfully I have never had the displeasure of having to use a Pacer. Don't think I have actually been on a bad train on the national network either now I come to think of it!

Regards,

Dan

[steve74]

Went from Exeter to Barnstaple and return today (2.5 hours in a 142 Pacer ). The line itself is beautiful, through the Taw valley, travelling over the old "Southern" metal bridges over the river. The 142 itself wasn't too bad in most places; a little jerky and bouncy obviously, but there were three or four sections of track, each a mile or so long, that made the train vibrate and rattle like you wouldn't believe.
It didn't bother me too much, but if I was using the line on a daily commute it would make me think twice.

[jackandyclare1]

Dont get me wrong, I prefer a set of Mk1's pulled by a classic steam loco to a pacer, I do, but I can't see what is wrong with the pacers, the only thing different about a pacer to a sprinter is that they haven't got tables and the wheels are on proper springs rather than wheel-bogeys you get on sprinters, MK1's MK2's and all the rest.

[davidaward]

I just hope you'll grow out of it or seek mental health help matey........

Having endured the wretched things since they were built i just can't see why anyone who has to use them on a daily basis would like them! I and many others could make a long long list of whats wrong with them........but its already in the thread!

[MoonKid47]

The Pacer is like Marmite, you either love it or hate it.

But come on, BR didnt make it to be comfortable or First Class guys, for something cheap it done the job, and who can argue with that. Hell they made it out of the Leyland National bus so what do you expect. If you want something with more class go for a 158, but for those community railway lines with beautiful sights the Pacer does a good job keeping them open most of the time, especially when you railtourers want to take a classic Diesel down one...


The Pacer might be something many people hate about the railways, but we have to face the fact its a part of it weather we want it to be or not, its here to stay for another 5 to 10 years, and since its been here its done its job, nothing more. Yes I dont like riding Pacers either, but if I have to get somewhere I'd rather take a Pacer from Northwich to Manchester than have to get 3 frigging buses....

[martinhodgson]

That's the thing - I think there is a case for preserving some, simply because of what they did for the railways - keeping many lines open, which may otherwise have been lost. They may not be popular now, but they did a job, and have a place in history because they worked (for the most part!). I can't say I jump for joy when a pacer turns up; but at least something does turn up - and it isn't a bus.

I'm sure 101's and other first generation DMU's and EMU's were fairly widely disliked as well, but many of those have been saved.

[MoonKid47]

Just the point I was getting at Martin, well said

[GlennMitchell]

Yay Just been on 2 pacers today . Sheffield-Hathersage and back was great fun!!

Brilliant trains

Glenn

[arabiandisco]

They may have saved some lines in the 80s, but that was then, and this is now. (Though given the state of things these days they may be called upon to save the lines again).

They were rubbish when they were new, and had served their purpose within 10 years. I would imagine that 142s are getting on for 25 years old now, and there is still no sign of a plan for replacing them.

I used to have a few work trips to Thornaby, and the first time I got the train from Darlington. It was a pacer, and consequently, I got a cab back to Darlington and whenever I've been up there since I've inconvenienced myself to get the TPE train via Yarm or a cab from Darlington. Put cattle in those heaps and the RSPCA would be up in arms...

[davidaward]

Put cattle in those heaps and the RSPCA would be up in arms...

True, very true

Anyway I've dropped lucky my last 2 commutes were a 150 and 156- comparative luxury............but still couldn't keep up time- good old Northern Rail

[jackandyclare1]

The Pacer is a good train. I dont think I need to "grow out" of liking it, there's nothing wrong with them. All my mates like them, loads of other people like them and I like them aswell. Pacers shouldn't be taken the mick out of this much when they're just trains. And I disagree with anyone who doesn't like them because of their characteristics, wants to ban them or wants to scrap them. And it's not like the pacers are old because early sprinters, 150/1's and 150/2's were introduced before the pacers. You might say that 158's have evolved from 150's but they still have the same basic engine, size, shape and seating arrangement as each other.