(27/11/2020 17:29)ant17612 Wrote: [ -> ]Pacers are now finished with 142004 working the last service to Kirkby this afternoon. The wheelsets are knackered and Northern are not wishing to put them through the wheel lathe. As a result several services will be dropped back to 2 carriages, not ideal!
It was on the 1636 from Kirkby to Manchester Vic but wasn’t publicly advertised to stop it being crowded with enthusiasts
(27/11/2020 21:09)ant17612 Wrote: [ -> ]I wouldn't take anything written in a Magazine as gospel tbh.
Gospel or not, it would take nearly three years to overhaul all 26 sets and clearly that won't happen under WMT without a major setback in the 730 replacement programme.
The railway press does have a chequered history of accuracy but at least Modern Railways is more reliable than Rail.
I'm glad the Pacers are finally gone but the sooner the 150s join them in the bin the better.
The BBC and quite a few enthusiasts found their way on to that last Pacer
(27/11/2020 23:15)SNL 824 Wrote: [ -> ]The BBC and quite a few enthusiasts found their way on to that last Pacer
That was because Northern trains wanted the publicity after the event , i wonder how long there replacements will survive , wonders what the railway will look like in the future for Northern.
(27/11/2020 22:56)H101GEV Wrote: [ -> ]I'm glad the Pacers are finally gone but the sooner the 150s join them in the bin the better.
As someone who lives on the Mid-Cheshire line I have some concerns about how a few trains were just removed from passenger service, when it seems there's no immediate replacement for them. Of course, I would prefer 156s, 158s, 170s or 195s instead but I fear we're going to see single 150s running around for the next few weeks on a line which is already missing a considerable number of services and which has some very well loaded trains even during lockdown 2.0.
(28/11/2020 08:32)wirralbus Wrote: [ -> ]i wonder how long there replacements will survive
Depends what you mean by 'the replacements'. The 195s have generally taken the place of 156s, 158s and 195s, even if you could argue a small number of them have directly replaced Pacers either temporarily or permanently.
The indirect replacement for the 142s just withdrawn will likely be the 769s, when they eventually get introduced, freeing up a few 150s for an internal cascade. Replacements for some of the 142s which have already gone were the 150s from GWR, which are actually slightly older than the 142s but the ROSCOs hope they will last until at least 2025.
Well it's looking like the lack of Pacers has had an effect on formations as some Kirkby - Manchester diagrams today are down to 2 coach, may not be an issue now but once lock down is over next week, this may cause some crowding issues.
(27/11/2020 22:56)H101GEV Wrote: [ -> ]Gospel or not, it would take nearly three years to overhaul all 26 sets and clearly that won't happen under WMT without a major setback in the 730 replacement programme.
The railway press does have a chequered history of accuracy but at least Modern Railways is more reliable than Rail.
I'm glad the Pacers are finally gone but the sooner the 150s join them in the bin the better.
I'm not a fan of the 150s either but given how much money has been spent on them I think we'll be waiting a while.
(28/11/2020 11:31)St Helens Rider Wrote: [ -> ]Well it's looking like the lack of Pacers has had an effect on formations as some Kirkby - Manchester diagrams today are down to 2 coach, may not be an issue now but once lock down is over next week, this may cause some crowding issues.
The 15:02 Chester to Manchester was a single 150 both yesterday and Thursday instead of a 150+142. That service loads 200+ from Greenbank onwards, even at present, so it's a tight squeeze on a train with around 125 seats, even if you ignore the fact we are supposed to be social distancing as much as possible.
I must admit that I have rode on 142s and 150s at different points in time and I would travel on a 150 anytime over a 142.
The ride quality on a 150 is much more comfortable, gets my vote everytime.