Did you like the pacers? (The Class 140, 141, 142, 143, and the 144.)

[Pacerfan142]

Just one rule
Be honest.

And if you didn't like them, Why?

 

[Andy Pacer]

This is all I can say...

 

[hst43102]

Can't say I had that much experience with the Pacers personally, but although they were terrible from a passenger perspective they did have some character with the 195's lack.

 

[Pacerfan142]

This is all I can say...View attachment 113614

We are officially BFF

 

[bramling]

Just one rule
Be honest.

And if you didn't like them, Why?

I can't really say I found them too bad. The bus seating I found quite comfortable, indeed some of the re-seated versions I found worse (Merseytravel, also the 144s where the legroom was poor). Likewise the Northern Spirit refurbs I found quite comfortable.

So whilst by no means my favourite train, nor the best train ever built, I found them quite adequate for purpose. No more, no less. I'd rather have a long train of Pacers with plenty of space than a short train of something better.

 

[Pacerfan142]

I can't really say I found them too bad. The bus seating I found quite comfortable, indeed some of the re-seated versions I found worse (Merseytravel, also the 144s where the legroom was poor). Likewise the Northern Spirit refurbs I found quite comfortable.

So whilst by no means my favourite train, nor the best train ever built, I found them quite adequate for purpose. No more, no less. I'd rather have a long train of Pacers with plenty of space than a short train of something better.

Yeah the leg room on the 144's was pretty much non existant.

 

[yorksrob]

I liked the three carriage 144's.

 

[alxndr]

I liked them as a novelty when visiting Exeter, they had some character and were different to the fairly featureless units elsewhere. I doubt that I would like them very much if I had to use them on a regular basis though.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I went for "Kind of..." which so far seems the most popular choice.

I grew up on them, so I'll always have a bit of nostalgic affection for the type. Especially the 141s and 144s which spent their entire (British) careers in West Yorkshire. Nostalgia aside however, they weren't ever particularly good, other than the views from the "observation bay"* on classes 142-144: something that is definitely missed on the Huddersfield to Sheffield line now that it has 150s.

*= the seats opposite the rear door in the non-toilet car.

 

[Pacerfan142]

I went for "Kind of..." which so far seems the most popular choice.

I grew up on them, so I'll always have a bit of nostalgic affection for the type. Especially the 141s and 144s which spent their entire (British) careers in West Yorkshire. Nostalgia aside however, they weren't ever particularly good, other than the views from the "observation bay"* on classes 142-144: something that is definitely missed on the Huddersfield to Sheffield line now that it has 150s.

*= the seats opposite the rear door in the non-toilet car.

I grew up on them as well as a wee lad I used to call them bouncy castles due to the shaking they did.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I liked the three carriage 144's.

I preferred them when they had bus benches (though I was smaller then!) as there were more seats arranged in bays.

It was quite odd during the refurbishment, when due to ownership issues you'd sometimes get a unit with an unrefurbished MS vehicle between driving cars with the Richmond(?) seats, or vice-versa.

 

[175001]

As a guard or passenger, hated them.

As a driver, loved then.

 

[Runningaround]

This is all I can say...View attachment 113614

And did you ever manage to keep any tea in it while on said train?

 

[yorksrob]

I preferred them when they had bus benches (though I was smaller then!) as there were more seats arranged in bays.

It was quite odd during the refurbishment, when due to ownership issues you'd sometimes get a unit with an unrefurbished MS vehicle between driving cars with the Richmond(?) seats, or vice-versa.

That was before my time !

I found the replacemrnt seats in them pretty comfortable to be honest.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Were the 'No' and 'Hated them' voting options specifically designed to split the vote from those folk on the forum who possibly won't be responding positively?

 

[Bevan Price]

Endured the awful things for over 35 years on local services in the north. Too small, ride quality dreadful except on very good quality track. Needed earplugs every time they traversed a sharp curve. Good riddance.

 

[YorksLad12]

I liked them, though I don't miss them. They were very... British. I started with the 141s on the Harrogate Line, then the 142s, then the 144s that WYPTE specified (including the centre carriage). Never saw a 140 or got on a 143 anywhere.

I fervently hope that the unrefurbished unit with the original bus seating (142 018?) was preserved; the low seat backs and larger windows made them feel brighter and more spacious, which was quite clever without ever being the intention. Sit in a single seat in First Class on an LNER Azuma and it feels like being in solitary.

 

[Runningaround]

They were an embarrassment and for them to be running in the 21st century must have been for comedic reasons. And some will say they saved branch lines, they damaged them far more how many decided they were never travelling by train again after commuting on one for more than a few months.

 

[krus_aragon]

My main dislike for them was the noisy ride they gave on curves, especially around the Cardiff area. I wasn't thrilled to have the pleasure of one on a day trip from Carmarthen to Llanymddyfri (and then back!), clacking along the jointed track.

Having said that, my singular ride on a Northern Pacer (Chester-Altrincham-Manchester) made me realise how lucky we were in Wales to have lost the bench seats during refurbishments.

 

[Mikw]

Only ever went on them twice and loved them. Bouncing all over the place, noisy, screechy - a real hoot!

Also it has to be remembered how their use saved some of the network.

 

[Bletchleyite]

For day to day transport, no. Too short, cold, rattly, noisy etc.

For the purpose of riding them, yes. Interesting and full of character, and great views out.

 

[Runningaround]

Only ever went on them twice and loved them. Bouncing all over the place, noisy, screechy - a real hoot!

Also it has to be remembered how their use saved some of the network.

So you weren't on one day after day in all year. How do you know they saved the railway? If they'd put proper trains instead then more would have travelled, do you think passengers chose rail because they were travelling on one?

 

[Bletchleyite]

My main dislike for them was the noisy ride they gave on curves, especially around the Cardiff area. I wasn't thrilled to have the pleasure of one on a day trip from Carmarthen to Llanymddyfri (and then back!), clacking along the jointed track.

Having said that, my singular ride on a Northern Pacer (Chester-Altrincham-Manchester) made me realise how lucky we were in Wales to have lost the bench seats during refurbishments.

I found the benches the best way to do 3+2 because it became comfortable 2+1 off peak.

So you weren't on one day after day in all year. How do you know they saved the railway? If they'd put proper trains instead then more would have travelled, do you think passengers chose rail because they were travelling on one?

The other option would have been more 150s, and those are either designed for midgets (/2) or so that not one single seat has an acceptable window view (/1). I would have a Pacer over a 150, though neither is particularly good.

 

[Cowley]

I can’t help but have a bit of a soft spot for them. Rattling through the tunnels between Dawlish and Teignmouth on a hot sunny day with all the hopper windows open was always a fun experience.

My fridge sticker (I’ve got a mug the same too):

 

[Trainfan2019]

Yes, I liked them. Travelled on quite a variety in their final few years. Bouncing up and down, rain coming in sometimes. At least I always got a seat between Sheffield and Manchester although it helps knowing best places to stand on platform 2c at Sheffield for them!

 

[Mikw]

So you weren't on one day after day in all year. How do you know they saved the railway? If they'd put proper trains instead then more would have travelled, do you think passengers chose rail because they were travelling on one?

I don't have facts and figures but i've seen a couple of video where it was stated they were cheap to build and run and meant lines could operate cheaper.

No, i don't see them as great, but i did love them. Modern trains are great, but lack character.

The Pacers were hopeless, but had character. The two or three rides i has in 1990 when i attended a training course in Leeds were a lot of fun, all three journies were an event.

I still remember them. Maybe not for the right reasons though.

I guess it's a bit like a rubbish car you've owned. You've had better cars but they don't always engender any feelings. For me, those Pacers did.

When Geoff Marshall and Vikki Pipe did "All the stations" i'd cheer whenever a Pacer was in the videos. Maybe it's the cheering for the underdog thing?

 

[xotGD]

Totally rancid.

The only good thing was that when the Class 143 bendybuses first turned up in the North East they were so unreliable that we got to enjoy plenty of loco-hauled DMU substitutions.

 

[Runningaround]

Its like saying the Allegro and Maestro saved Austin. Pacers just prolonged the misery that they were and symbolised BR and the railways from the 80's onward. They were just naff and lazy design.
if you wanted a funny ride Alton Towers would let you in for a similar price

 

[pdeaves]

In my view, the Pacer types got a worse reputation than they deserved. To me, they did the job without fuss.

I used to call them bouncy castles due to the shaking they did.

In my household they are forever 'squashy toilet trains', the name coming about after having to, ahem, 'deal' with a toddler. It's not easy doing that with a rucksack of necessary accoutrements and get the door closed!

 

[Mikw]

Its like saying the Allegro and Maestro saved Austin. Pacers just prolonged the misery that they were and symbolised BR and the railways from the 80's onward. They were just naff and lazy design.
if you wanted a funny ride Alton Towers would let you in for a similar price

But my course was in Leeds, so Alton Towers (for all it's merits) would be useless.....