LSL announce Pacer railtour

[bleeder4]

After LSL bought that Pacer recently, I've been wondering when the first Pacer railtour would be, and here it is: https://inter-city.co.uk/journey/st-tudno-wanderer
Definitely not my thing, but I'm sure it will sell well amongst certain enthusiasts, particularly as it's quite reasonably priced. I would imagine a padded cushion and ear defenders are required accessories for all who book on it!

Departing From​

• Wilmslow,
• Stockport,
• Manchester Piccadilly,
• Liverpool Lime Street

Class 142 ‘Pacer’ diesel multiple units were introduced by British Rail from 1985. Built by British Rail Engineering Limited at their Derby Litchurch Lane Works, a total of 96 were built. For the next 35 years these units worked extensively in the Northwest, North of England, Yorkshire & Northeast, Wales and Southwest England. By the end of 2020 all had been removed from mainline operation.
Since 2020 a number of these units have been bought by heritage railways. Locomotive Services Group has acquired two of these units (142003 & 142007) that will be returned to mainline operation. The first of these, 142003, will work The Saint Tudno Wanderer. Restored into Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive orange & brown livery, it would have been a familiar sight over the route we take.
The train starts from Wilmslow and runs via Manchester Piccadilly and over the Chat Moss route via Earlestown to Liverpool Lime Street. After a reversal here we cross the River Mersey to Runcorn and onward via the Halton Curve and Helsby to Chester, crossing the River Weaver enroute. From Chester we travel the North Wales Coast route through the holiday towns of Prestatyn, Rhyl and Colwyn Bay to arrive at our destination of Llandudno Town.
At Llandudno there will be a break of around 90 minutes to stretch your legs on the promenade and perhaps partake of the local fish & chips.
The return journey will retrace the outward route.

 

[D6130]

After LSL bought that Pacer recently, I've been wondering when the first Pacer railtour would be, and here it is: https://inter-city.co.uk/journey/st-tudno-wanderer

Good grief! It's not April 1st already, is it?

 

[Train Maniac]

This looks like fun! Pity its on a Wednesday...

 

[Iskra]

Good to see they’re using it and offering the tour at a reasonable price. It’s not something that interests me personally as I can’t think of anything worse than a sold-out pacer. They were alright when half empty but not definitely not something I’d enjoy being on for hours if every seat is taken. Hope it sells out though and those who book on have a great tour, so we can see more reasonably priced tours in the future.

 

[xotGD]

To be fully authentic, the Pacer should be declared a failure, and a 37 on a set of Mark 1s drafted in as a substitute.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

After LSL bought that Pacer recently, I've been wondering when the first Pacer railtour would be, and here it is: https://inter-city.co.uk/journey/st-tudno-wanderer
Definitely not my thing, but I'm sure it will sell well amongst certain enthusiasts, particularly as it's quite reasonably priced. I would imagine a padded cushion and ear defenders are required accessories for all who book on it!

The link doesn't work for me; what are the details of the tour please?

Although with it being midweek, I suspect it's unattainable for me....

 

[jfollows]

The link doesn't work for me; what are the details of the tour please?

See attached
Even though it starts from Wilmslow (07:45 Wednesday 27 September) I don't think I'll be bothering ....

 

[AlterEgo]

Disappointed to see Premier Dining not offered:

 

[Pete 1981]

The link doesn't work for me; what are the details of the tour please?

Although with it being midweek, I suspect it's unattainable for me....

View attachment 141882

Wilmslow-Llandudno via Lime St. 90 mins in the pulsating Welsh seaside town

 

[Tubeboy]

Disappointed to see Premier Dining not offered:

Yes. Pea and Ham soup would go down well…..all over one’s shirt with all the bouncing.

 

[Woolos 22]

Did the ever 142 work the Halton curve on the passenger sevices

 

[dgl]

Yes. Pea and Ham soup would go down well…..all over one’s shirt with all the bouncing.

Could probably do milkshakes though!

 

[childwallblues]

Did the ever 142 work the Halton curve on the passenger sevices

No they did not. And I doubt that they ever worked west of Chester either. Should be a great tour with a bit of fast running over Chat Moss.
Would like to be aboard but away on holiday.

 

[Turbo004]

Sorry to disagree with childwallblues but 142's were regulars on Llandudno - Manchester services occasionally coupled to a Class 150 when first introduced. I forget where the Llandudno services used to go to back then. Services often changed and weren't quite as clockface as now. Certainly some North Wales services went to Stalybridge and Wakefield both of which were regular 142 services.

As for the Halton curve whilst the curve was one way Chester to Liverpool there was a once weekly Saturday morning Chester to Runcorn / Liverpool service. This service often had 142's on it and was operated by Northern so was a bit random. In addition I'm fairly sure there have been ECS moves by Northern since the line became two way again. I'm fairly sure though this will be the first Pacer Southbound service with passengers on over the Halton curve.

Back on topic I'm pleased a Pacer has been preserved for Railtours. If I hadn't got other plans I would go on it.

 

[Kite159]

It's good to see a low cost railtour using a pacer, although I hope they will be sensible with selling tickets to make it something like 2+1 seating on the bench seats to be a bit more comfortable.

 

[PacerTrain142]

Have wondered if they ever would do a pacer Railtour. They did one way back in 2011 when First Great Western retired thier class 142’s. But the pacers were all withdrawn during the COVID/lockdown period so a railtour wouldn’t have been allowed. Pity.

Unfortunately the tour starts way too early for me (the starting places are very far away from where I am).

 

[Krokodil]

No they did not. And I doubt that they ever worked west of Chester either.

To add to what @Turbo004 said, they even went up to Blaenau Ffestiniog but were promptly banned on noise abatement grounds. One was also sent into the siding that went behind the signal box at Llandudno (before the car park was built over disused platforms 4+5). It was barely on the rails so they were subsequently banned from there too.

 

[Iskra]

It's good to see a low cost railtour using a pacer, although I hope they will be sensible with selling tickets to make it something like 2+1 seating on the bench seats to be a bit more comfortable.

Thinking about it, it’s good enough value that a passenger can buy two seats for the tour and just use one for a bit of extra room.

 

[childwallblues]

Sorry to disagree with childwallblues but 142's were regulars on Llandudno - Manchester services occasionally coupled to a Class 150 when first introduced. I forget where the Llandudno services used to go to back then. Services often changed and weren't quite as clockface as now. Certainly some North Wales services went to Stalybridge and Wakefield both of which were regular 142 services.

As for the Halton curve whilst the curve was one way Chester to Liverpool there was a once weekly Saturday morning Chester to Runcorn / Liverpool service. This service often had 142's on it and was operated by Northern so was a bit random. In addition I'm fairly sure there have been ECS moves by Northern since the line became two way again. I'm fairly sure though this will be the first Pacer Southbound service with passengers on over the Halton curve.

Back on topic I'm pleased a Pacer has been preserved for Railtours. If I hadn't got other plans I would go on it.

Many thanks I stand corrected.

 

[1Q18]

It's good to see a low cost railtour using a pacer, although I hope they will be sensible with selling tickets to make it something like 2+1 seating on the bench seats to be a bit more comfortable.

I guess that depends on whether specific seat allocations are provided, or not.

 

[ainsworth74]

I guess that depends on whether specific seat allocations are provided, or not.

I was wondering about the seating. Are they going to sell reserved seating on a 3+2 basis (sounds horrible), on a 2+1 basis (perfectly fine, the bench seating is quite comfy at that density) or unreserved seating on the basis of a maximum capacity of some sort?

 

[1Q18]

I was wondering about the seating. Are they going to sell reserved seating on a 3+2 basis (sounds horrible), on a 2+1 basis (perfectly fine, the bench seating is quite comfy at that density) or unreserved seating on the basis of a maximum capacity of some sort?

I’d be very surprised if they weren’t selling some way below the maximum seated capacity.

 

[Howardh]

I’d be very surprised if they weren’t selling some way below the maximum seated capacity.

For the true pacer experience passengers would have to be shoe-horned into 3x2 seating! They could actually do with being more specific about seating and there isn't an option to see the seat-plan when booking. Certainly wouldn't pay for 3x2!! I suppose down the line they could install their own more comfy seating, and indeed have a first-class section of 2 x 1 which I'd be interested in!!

 

[ls2270]

Have wondered if they ever would do a pacer Railtour. They did one way back in 2011 when First Great Western retired thier class 142’s. But the pacers were all withdrawn during the COVID/lockdown period so a railtour wouldn’t have been allowed. Pity.

Unfortunately the tour starts way too early for me (the starting places are very far away from where I am).

There was a farewell railtour from Cardiff Central for the Arriva Trains Wales/TfW Pacers organised by the Branch Line Society a few years back.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

142003 is visible from trains from Crewe towards Shrewsbury)
Doesn't seem to have moved much, since the official photo on the link in #1 and me seeing it both this and the previous Friday it has been in the same spot.
Do they not need to train some staff on how to drive the Pacer or is that saved for closer to the tour?

 

[Trackman]

Had a play about for a booking, apparently you book a guaranteed table for four.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Had a play about for a booking, apparently you book a guaranteed table for four.

Looks like it always shows "at a shared table of four". Even for 50 people! I'd assume that means 2+2? Although since they don't even have tables I'd assume it's just allocated bays?
I wonder how busy the train will be since it's at quite a bad day for most people.

 

[Bikeman78]

No they did not. And I doubt that they ever worked west of Chester either. Should be a great tour with a bit of fast running over Chat Moss.
Would like to be aboard but away on holiday.

They routinely ran west of Chester during the time when the 175s were being introduced. I saw one at Llandudno Junction, for example.

 

[LowLevel]

142s worked on the North Wales Coast until the route was transferred to Wales and Borders from First North Western in 2004 or thereabouts.

 

[Trainguy34]

Staying somewhere near Sheffield would be good for the previous night, the HST Farewell Tour to Swanage on the Tuesday then go to Manchester or Stockport for this on the Wednesday!