Showing posts with label Pacer Railbus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pacer Railbus. Show all posts

Monday, August 12, 2019

Farewell Pacer Railbus 142005

The first of Northern's Pacer Railbuses retired from service today.


Pacer Railbus 142005 at St Annes-on-the-Sea railway station last August. It's the first Northern Pacer to be retired from service
Pacer Railbus 142005 at St Annes-on-the-Sea station last August. It's the first Northern Pacer to be retired from service

They've been a 'popular' train up north for a fair few years and we quite often see - and hear - them squealing along the many lines in Greater Manchester.



Today the first of Northern's Pacer Railbuses retired from service, as 142005 made its final journey from Manchester Victoria to Stalybridge.


At the end of its run Northern stated that it had travelled 3 million miles in its 32 years of service!

The first Pacer Railbuses were introduced in 1984 and were designed as a short-term measure with a lifespan of twenty years. They've certainly been pushed beyond what they were originally intended for.

While I wouldn't necessarily want to travel on a Pacer Railbus on a long journey, nor would I much fancy using one for a daily rush-hour commute, there is something about them that makes them fun to travel on.

We saw Pacer Railbus 142005 a couple of times while on the Fylde coast last August
We saw Pacer Railbus 142005 a couple of times while on the Fylde coast last August

While modern trains may be sleeker and have more comfortable seating and air-con, there's a lot to be said for old diesel trains. Last week's large-scale power cuts showed that while new trains may be great when conditions are perfect, they were completely useless when the power went down.

Pacer Railbus 142005 connected to another old train - a Class 150 Sprinter
Pacer Railbus 142005 connected to another old train - a Class 150 Sprinter

When we arrived in Stockport in 2016 we noticed that, although there are a lot of train lines and connections aren't too bad, the rolling stock itself is very old. In fact as we moved north so did a load of ex-Thameslink Class 319s that we'd been commuting into London on since 2003!

Having lived most of my life down south I didn't realise quite how poor the train services can be up north in comparison. And that's saying something as a long-suffering commuter on the 'Bedpan line' from Luton to London.

Pacer Railbus 142005 arriving at St Annes-on-the-Sea station en route to Preston
Pacer Railbus 142005 arriving at St Annes-on-the-Sea station en route to Preston

Prior to a one-stop journey in April 2017 I had only ridden on one Pacer Railbus. That first Pacer train trip was only one-stop too, going from Paignton to Torquay on our South West Minigolfing Roadtrip in 2015.

Transport for Wales Pacer Railbuses at Barry Island railway station in May 2019
Transport for Wales are also withdrawing their Pacer Railbuses and have added public service announcements to the sides of the trains declaring it's "The start of a new journey"

On a recent trip to Carnforth we were lucky enough to see the first of the Pacer's replacements out on a test-run. While it was merely a brief encounter it was nice to see Class 195001 breeze through the station.


Related blog posts:
- Pacer Railbus
- Train Nerd
- Trains

Thursday, September 07, 2017

Pacer Face-Off at Manchester Piccadilly

What a sight for fans of Pacer Railbuses!

Pacer Railbus trains at Manchester Piccadilly
What a sight!

Thursday, April 13, 2017

Pacer Railbuses at Ashburys and Stockport

Riding a much maligned workhorse of the north's rail network.  

Prior to yesterday I had only ridden on one Pacer Railbus - from Paignton to Torquay on our South West Minigolfing Roadtrip in 2015. They're a 'popular' train up north and we quite often see - and hear - them squealing along the many lines in Greater Manchester.

Richard Gottfried and a Pacer Railbus at Paignton railway station
At Paignton station in the summer of 2015

While in the city I managed to make a trip from Ashburys station in Openshaw one stop along to Manchester Piccadilly riding in Pacer Railbus 142037.

Pacer Railbus at Ashburys railway station in Openshaw, Manchester
I wasn't the only one catching the train from Ashburys. However, I was probably the only person who'd specifically gone there to get on a Pacer Railbus

Prior to its arrival a four-coach Pacer had sped through the station. I also saw a Class 323 and a Class 150 heading towards Hadfield and New Mills Central respectively.

Ashburys railway station
Ashburys railway station

My final destination was back home to Cheadle Hulme, but as I didn't fancy waiting around for the next train I hopped aboard my second Pacer of the day, 142013 to Chester via Stockport where I alighted for a walk home.

Pacer Railbus at Stockport railway station
Back in the borough

Quite the day out!

Ashburys railway station in Openshaw, Manchester
Ashburys railway station is in Openshaw, Manchester. Ashburys doesn't refer to the area, rather it's taken from the name of the company that built the station in 1850

Ashburys railway station in Openshaw, Manchester
The station is the closest to Manchester City's Etihad Stadium

Ashburys railway station in Openshaw, Manchester
There was some unexpected greenery under the stairs on an unused bit of the other platform

One of the most interesting things at Ashburys station was this abandoned glove
One of the most interesting things at Ashburys station was this abandoned glove

Network Rail have a signalling centre very close to the station

323230 arriving at Ashburys station
323230 arriving at Ashburys station

I was looking in the wrong direction and hadn't even heard this Pacer until it was almost too later

Sprinter 150147 heading away from Ashburys station
Sprinter 150147 heading away from Ashburys station

Pacer Railbuses 142037 & 142054 at Manchester Piccadilly
Pacer Railbuses 142037 & 142054 at Manchester Piccadilly station

Pacer Railbuses 142030 & 142054 at Manchester Piccadilly
Down the other end they were Pacer Railbuses 142030 & 142054

Pacer Railbus 142067 at Manchester Piccadilly
Earlier in the day I'd seen Pacer Railbus 142067 at Manchester Piccadilly

Related blog posts:
- Trains
- Manchester
- Stockport
- Top Trainspotting

Videos:
- Pacer Railbus 142037 at Ashburys railway station in Manchester
- Pacer Railbus 142013 at Stockport railway station