@@antman09ful1 is it? Is it nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of illiteratti or to take arms against them and by opposing them, destroy them. In the 1960's, and yes I was there, it was postulated that if wise people bred with wisdom and the ignorant bred in their unconstrained way, then the world would eventually be filled with marching morons. Seems the prediction has been made real. Time to put the trains back in their boxes, perhaps.
Always a bit sad to see things that love em or hate em have been a part of our railways history sent to the scrappers. Hopefully a few will be preserved for future rail enthusiasts. One of the things that I really appreciated from the recent East Lancashire Railway Winter Diesel gala event was how comfortable the old Mk 1 coaches were, though never thought much of them at the time! Might be stretching it a bit saying that about these things though, but sad to see them go all the same. Thanks for sharing Mike, All the best Paul
Is it me or is there something inherently sad about seemingly useful stock being driven on its last run. Despite their many faults, they got thousands to work every day.
Luke Fox Why is it? They are 40 years old. No long comply with safety regs and are inefficient and pollute. They also broke down often. And talk to anyone in the north who has had to ride on them regularly and most will say they can’t wait to see them go.
They got thousands to work but were horrible to ride. I remember the Oldham Loop Line used to have pacers on a regular basis, very relieved when they converted to metrolink, no more dreaded pacers!
The ones going to Newport will likely just be driven straight in then rolled over straight on to the shredder without removing any parts. It seems wasteful as they use the same transmissions & control equipment as Sprinters, and I can't see Voith lasting much longer to provide service & maintenence.
@@melanierhianna i have been on all of them even the tfw ones and i say that i like them to be honest better then the 195s atleast the suspension on the 142s is a thing
Life without the class 142 Pacers will never be the same again in the North. I am sure despite their faults, they will be remembered with great fondness by a lot of folks. Excellent video Mike. Cheers - Allan.
Allan when you see something everyday it will be strange when it’s no longer there, the last one I went on when I saw you in December the seating was 1000% better than them new plastic thins that LNER have. Cheers Allan for your comment on these popular units. Mike
I will concede, while I never liked the Pacer design for how cheap it was, it is humbling to see that they arrived at their demise under their own steam, while many more advanced designs have been dragged rather unceremoniously to the scrapyard or take on the back of a flatbed truck.
@@antman09ful1 Agree 100% with that statement. Made worse by continuing short forms and cancellations due to stock shortages and unreliable new trains. Full respect to Pacers and those who worked on them to keep these going for as long as they did. Just made up some have been saved for preservation
It’s an incredibly sad sight to see. I grew up on these trains in the north east. Always have fond memories with my grandad every weekend on board between Sunderland and Newcastle
It's nice to see I'm not the only person who has a soft spot for them... Full of character and outlived their initial expectations by a long way. Sad to see them go, as I have so many memories of trips to Liverpool, Blackpool and Manchester on them! I bet the trains that are replacing them don't live as long...
I'm surprised that these are not sent on to other countries for use on rural lines. I agree, not the most comfortable ride but the concept was interesting as a light rail alternative. Short hops on these would be no problem but longer distances, for which they were not designed, made for a tedious experience. I have made several journeys on these, let down by poor seating (reminiscent of an old bus) but the remodelled interiors were a welcome improvement, although many of these train sets were never modernised.
Interesting point David but we are in a throw away society, plus it’s easier just to take them to the scrap yard, less paper work I would think. Regards Mike.
I think needs a full refurbishment to be honest like resto mod train. It keeping it style but updated with current technology. The biggest reason it getting scrapped probably the age or the engine does not meet engine regulations today standards etc. Or lack of disability acess. Remember tho these train was made before disability laws and many other law. They was ahead of it time. Sad they not being bought of the company. Eg sold to public so they can allow old railway lines for thease to use. Josh Massey
I know that they were uncomfortable, rough riding noisy things. But it's still sad to see them run into the scrapyard, Mike. Maybe because I drove Leyland National buses, what they were based on.
Professor James Moriarty could be used as spare train’s if they had any issues with other trains and the new one’s. Would save delays and Cancellations knowing they won’t be short on trains.
Most of the Southern Region slam door stock lasted far longer and could have been driven to it's demise.. The thing that prevented it happening was the simple fact it had to be dragged off the 3rd rail...
As others have said they seem in too good condition to be scrapped - not even excessive smoke from the engines or screeching (which was a characteristic of the bogie less design of course) going through what look like tight curves 4:00. They were a good design for a stop gap budget solution as demanded of BR by the Conservative government of the time (I believe BR had offered the Class 210 originally, then the Class 150 until the Pacer was found acceptable on cost grounds). Now that the nationalised BR has gone money is seemingly no object. For people who like trains it's never enjoyable to see them scrapped whatever the design.
Bit of irony really. Northern still short of stock and cancelling trains, yet 'good old' pacers are able to travel right across the country - to be scrapped. Could it be the overhalled power units and new drives fitted five years ago (approx)? Could only be Britain? And yes, I remember sat on them on the steep curve outside Bradford Exchange (on way to Leeds), wheels spinning and squeeling (moving about a foot a minute).
antman09ful1 Does your video answer my query about Pacers sometimes being run in multiple (despite the lack of gangway between sets) in normal service I wonder. I bet people would be happy to get a seat on an 10 car Pacer rather than cram on to a much smaller but technically superior train. There is usually a limit to the maximum number of cars ..... for the class 205 Thumpers I understand the max no. of cars was 15.
@@holmesjunction Northern are short of stock because train builders have let them down on delivery. Some are a year late. Even converted 319s as 769s are a year late. And they cannot use Pacers as they are not compliant with the EU directive on PRM / TSI. Apart from which the politicians in the North (like Andy Burnham) have created such a stink about them they had to go. Typical politicians - say 'get rid' for party political point scoring with nothing delivered to replace them. But then that gives them something else to 'champion'.
Many people hated riding on them and I can agree with a lot of the criticisms, overall though they lasted much longer than they were supposed to. It is a shame to some of us to see them go, although many commuters will be happy with the new stock. Glad some pacers are being preserved at least, love them or hate them they are a significant part of our railway history now.
You covered everyone thoughts about this units mate, I did feel sad when most of them went to the scrap yards, but I hope to get some what are left on film next month. Thank you for your interest in my video. Mike.
I actually liked the 142s. Great front end design for a dmu, seating positioned the way it should be, unlike the horrible 150/152's. Pretty good acceleration and a ride to make you smile on the way to work. Arguably, these tough little runabouts on local stoppers and the excellent longer distance 158s kept the railways going. It's actually sad to see the 142s ending their days like this, but with an average of about 3 million miles on the clock it had to happen sometime. Thanks for posting.
The first class 142 DMU of which was unit 142059, which was withdrawn in 1991 after colliding with a buffer stop at Liverpool Lime Street. The train had run away down the hill from Edge Hill whilst returning with brake problems. The train was running without passengers at the time and the driver and guard both survived the accident without serious lasting injury. The platforms were evacuated in time before the train struck the buffers
I heard up here in Middlesbrough some of the best of the fleet have been kept as backup services when the new stuff has issues. And some are going to museums.
I feel so old! i remember the hype when they were to be introduced the saviour of the branch line and SHORT commutes,. Also. remember the disappointment when I travelled Prescot to Liverpool, and felt the bom-te-bomp.4 wheel seasickness inducing ride on sectional track for the first time . great for what they were meant for,intensive metro commuter services , but they were literally taken too far. (Liverpool to Morecambe ) for example . great everyone has cameras now to document their passing. never had that when class 502/503 were retired . thought theyd go on forever ,very little footage of them now.. Thanks for a Great video you just got a new sub👍👍👍👍
Firstly thanks for subbing my channel, I read your comment with interest as I too remember them old units. Hope you find some videos on my channel to your liking and enjoyable.
The final two finger salute from any train is when it can drive itself to the scrapper or storage location to be simply switched off operational. Plenty of the RfD 47s had this fate when the sheds turned up en-mass and put them out of a job - it will likely be their fate too in another 15 to 20 years.
Are any of the engines being removed so they can be resold to private owners of Leyland buses for spares? Or do they have to destroy the whole thing due to policy.
Sad to see. Thankfully some have been saved. Last rode on one back in 2016 from Preston to Liverpool. I can see why passengers hated them but they served well way past their intended lifespan. I have a sneaky liking for them tbh.
Such a depressing video, I love pacers, especially 142’s, I have many memories of travelling on these old trains to Blackpool, they will be sorely missed by me.
Yes I will miss them James, as when I was up north I would be happy to travel on them, but the good thing is a fair few have gone to preserved railways.
Either love or hate them but they did serve their purpose granted not the most comfortable units to travel on its true but as a design to be a stop gap measure they lasted quite well
Hope these 'buses on rails' get a battery operatability makeover. With shiny new upholstery,a new coat of paint using green as a component of its livery, a new design with better air conditioning and 3 or 6 cars per set, they would make sense on less used commuter routes and heritage routes.
I miss the Pacers. So much more character than a boring 150 or 153. I videoed a triple 142 going for scrap under their own power at Crewe and Shrewsbury. It felt so wrong tbh. They are a testament to their success story which has seen quite a few sets saved for preservation. The first gen DMUs didn't go out in this style. Great video but sad to watch.
142059 was actually the first to be scrapped. In 1991 it's brakes failed and it crashed into the buffers at Liverpool Lime Street. Fortunately the station was evacuated in time and the driver on board escaped unharmed. There are pictures online of the unit just after the crash and later on at Newton heath depot. The vehicle that hit the buffers was quickly scrapped whilst it's sister unit was used for spares before being scrapped. The cab front from one of the vehicles was stored under Manchester Victoria for many years, I did read that Regional Railways were going to use it to build a mock computer simulator to assist with training drivers. It was acquired by the Pacer preservation society, with Northern Rail later borrowing it to make a mould for another 142 that had been in a crash. 142008 as mentioned ended up being written off and scrapped after the Winsford crash in 1999, the second of the class to be scrapped.
Yeah I was told about that Liverpool crash after I uploaded this video, thanks very much for your very interesting comment Nathan which I appreciated. Regards Mike.
I guess many will be glad to see the back of these, but they did their job as a "stop-gap" train for many years. There's plenty going into preservation already though at several heritage railways.
Not everyone's favourite - I travelled on a leaky one in the North East, it had wet seats! But it looks like the ones you filmed had more life left in them ....
Well you know all the stories about them then, but it’s always sad to see something go which had been around years, because when you are a young lad you think train stuff is for ever. Thanks for watching.
antman09ful1 no problem I’ve seen this myself at Preston station about 4 units all heading on their last run.Im 17 now and I can remember all the times I’ve had on them as a kid best memories were heading on holiday in the north west around the Tyne
I lived in a prefab house they were not all that bad. The 142,s did their job but its now time for them to go so farewell. parting is such sweet sorrow or do i mean JOY.
Well that’s a place that brings back memories for me, I remember going to the DMU stabling yard on the day Prince Charles married Diana Spencer, and they told me where my last DMU off NH was. Thanks for watching.
Too long when they are used for services more than half an hour long. No toilets. Not much of a view out of the train either with the seats and windows all in the wrong place and no windows in the sliding door pockets. The doors are too near the centre, resulting in a huge gap on platform 1 at Brighton.
Think about it this way. They lasted for nearly 50 years or 60 years since they was made. I never liked them when they full of crowed people but. I cannot deal with it when they are being scrapped. The noise it beautiful to hear. It shame they are getting scrapped wish people could buy them off northern rail to be preserved and converted in like it own hotel or flats or like say museum etc. Despite anything they may not be fast they are such huge part of the rail. If they could convert the engine today or reproduce thease trains it all it needs. They never be same material ad thease 142 but they are nice train tho. Just seeing them go past.
The sad thing is the 'bus' part was OK it was the BR cattle truck chassis underneath that let them down. Only needed an articulated bogie in the middle.
Transport For Wales are keeping theirs for at least until the Late Summer or Early Autumn, as the new trains they have ordered are not ready yet, the Class 170's from Greater Anglia are already in use on the Ebbw Vale / Cardiff line, some Pacers do run on this route on occasions
I feel Jason you will still have some pacers in 2021, nothing goes to Plan with the railways in this country, thanks for watching and taking time to comment. Regards Mike.
Having ridden aboard these pacers (well, not specifically these ones, probably) from Colne to Nelson, Burnley, Blackburn, Preston and Blackpool, I can honestly say, I will not miss the ride, sore neck, ears ringing, bones rattled, they were outdated in the 80s, and the freight wagon chassis setup, ugh, going over Accrington Viaduct on one was TORTURE compared to the Sprinters... I'm amazed the Leyland Railbus project lasted this long, considering they were meant to be a stopgap between the older classes and a "future development" that never came, even outlasting their road-going parent, the Leyland National bus, granted they kept people moving (when they didn't break down), including myself before I left Lancashire, but overall, I won't miss them...
There'll be some nostalgia for them, I kind of miss the sound of the Cummins engines revving up every hour or so (I used to live across from the Colne station, amusingly the photo on the Wiki page on the East Lancs. line showing 142048 and the house I lived at in the background), kind of like a town clock, except it was usually about ten-to the hour, but like I say, riding them I won't miss...
Here's health to Pacer 20 may it's name forever stand, And always be remembered, throughout this great land, It's earthly race is over and it's gone for withdrawal, And we'll carry it up to Heaven on the Wabash Cannonball.
@@Hargravity Of course it matters. Grammar and spelling are progressively getting worse. Another classic is the use of "loose" and Loosing" instead of "lose and losing".
Not long before the rest of the BR stuffs scrapped to extinction, any rich rail buffs out there really need to start digging into to their pockets to start preserving some of the last of what was built here if they want to of course
Well Jason thanks mate for watching my video, there has been a lot of these units put into warm shortage and some have already gone to persevered railways.
@@antman09ful1 well it's not just that, it's more to do with like shutting down the engine and removing what's left of the fuel just so is mysterious accident and also some scrap yards require going across the main line which requires a unit capable of going 125mph
They were fred-flintstone primitive and rode as rough as hell, but these units appear to still have plenty of life.. Although they were poor, they were another example of british stop-gap design which, had it been invested in and improved, could have done well... Latterly, they became the butt of all jokes, like the sinclair c-5. They became characterised as the reliant robbin of rail travel.. However, the concept of a light, medium speed, economical-to-run rail vehicle is still a grail quest for rail designers. We should have improved on the initial design, and rather than turn our back, acknowledge faults and improve. The biggest source of irritation for me, is that having had a fully functioning rail design and rail manufacturing industry in the uk, we are now importing german and japanese machinery... whilst having sold on important technology to other nations to exploit more fully. The uk is at a crossroads. Either we submit quietly and pretend none of our past existed, or we fight for British engineering and technology, giving it a leg-up (forget silly rules re subsidies and protectionism, all the other nations, including EU ones, do). We have been too polite on the world stage; there's no point having expensive universities if you can't exploit the engineering and technology which comes with it. The first Boris rule from our leaving the EU should be that key UK industries are given no choice but to use and develop, using British talent and technology, all the key ingredients.
If I had the money I'd buy a plot of land and park a Pacer on it, strip it out and convert it in to a home. People do it all the time with coaches and buses, so why not a Pacer?! As much as they were hated, no one can deny the fact that they saved countless branch lines from being axed all those years ago and they have served ever since. Sad to see them go :(
Last bit is sad..looks like an unknowing animal being led into the abbatoir...to meet its doom... many a day trip in school summer hols with mum nan and my 3 sisters to Barry Island back in the early to mid 80`s
If they had been built as articulated pairs ie with three bogies, like trams, they would have been so much better. I understand that was the original intention. Unfortunately they ended up on 4-wheel freight wagon underframes. There was probably some politics behind that decision.
Questio I don't know alot about this class of locomotive but they look like there in decent shape for like rail maintenance or a overflow unit but they look like they cude be used for like a overflow or a emargry train with a Passenger train brake down but they got lot of life I think
There were many a time when a 6 car pacer would have been more than welcome on my journey to/from work. It's good to see them making their own way to the scrapyard. Apart from the steel in the bodies and chassis, what other parts of the Pacers are recycled?
My feelings entirely, it could be said that too few were made although I'm not sure they ever ran in multiple in normal service (I'm in the South so not sure)?
@@shahedmc9656 Thanks very much for your answer. I guess that they only ran in doubles (4 cars) due to the lack of available sets - not for technical reasons. Your original comment confirmed my view that a 6 or 8 car Pacer turning up for their journey would have been welcome to a lot of people even if their ride was rather bouncy.
Whilst I am not sad to see them go, I am concerned that all the promises to replace them & increase capacity by some TOCs have not stood up to the realities - There seems to be a bigger drive than ever by the train providers to scrap many passenger units that could be used elsewhere to relieve the dangerous standing room only of most lines. I won a bet with myself that TfWrail would have to apply for an extension and carry on using the 142s and 143s well beyond their 2019 'promise' on their cheap vinyl 'journey' posters (so many of the promises were broken and unfulfilled that they had to retcon their own posters to remove said promises, with no hint of apology and on social media just saying 'we'll have new trains in the next few months', which is what they kept saying for so many 'few' months time after time). The system is so broken, even the tories have decided to go with a policy of part nationalisation that they said they'd never do because it was 'communist' :P
You know what’s going on with our Railway as the same as me, don’t scrap them till all the new stuff is working 100%. I would rather have a old unit with four or six coach than no train, but because of staff shortages we have to put up with what we have, plus it costs more to run a longer train. So we have to put up with a Poor Railway. Thanks for your comment and for watching.
Yes I understand the way you are thinking, but about 15 class 142 have been preserved so you could still have a ride on one. But when its comes to the class 455 getting withdrawn I wonder If someone will bother to preserve one, and If they did where would they run it. Thank you for your comment.
The Thatcher Government''s contribution to the downfall of British Railway engineering - "Torvill and Deans"" they were known by railwaymen because of their propensity to "skate" on any but the most perfect rail conditions - scrapyard's the best place fir them!