Class 142 Pacers in service on Devon branch lines, 2007 to 2011 - merged topic

[whole diary]

[Don]

Not if there's the political will, but that hasn't been there for the last 30 years. The fall in oil prices won't be helping the argument either, although long term decisions shouldn't be made on the basis of short term fluctuations.

One of the greatest problems that our railway has to deal with is Government ministers unwilling to make long-term decisions because of their short-term - "what will the voters see at the next election" - viewpoint.

As for time, remember the Government announced the go ahead for track doubling of the Cotswold line (Oxford to Worcester). It has only taken 30 years to get this agreed to, in-depth planning has been going on for around 4 years, FGW^▸ (First Great Western) and Network Rail admit that there is a budget shortfall, and it is stated that the line "should" be open in 2010.  So I will make a prediction, electrification at Snow Hill should be complete by about ......... 2030 or am I being too optimistic. 

[G.Uard]

If government or the SNCF^▸ (Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais - French National Railways), (or whoever is running things by then), electrifies west of Exeter before 2030, I will eat my lurid FGW^▸ (First Great Western) pink tie, live on any cheesy local news programme you care to choose.

[Northerner]

We need some new units beacause pacers should have never have been built. but if a rolling programme of elctrification came underway the snow hill lines might get elctrifyed quicker.

[Masteradam]

If government or the SNCF^▸ (Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais - French National Railways), (or whoever is running things by then), electrifies west of Exeter before 2030, I will eat my lurid FGW^▸ (First Great Western) pink tie, live on any cheesy local news programme you care to choose.

I agree, I would lick the crud on the sleepers if that happens at all. Plus I dont want it to ever happen and it couldnt anyway...you know why!

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

hydrogen fueled........Honda has developed it for cars this could work for trains! No wires no route restriction Eco friendly

[Chris from Nailsea]

Indeed - and welcome to the Coffee Shop forum, Masteradam! 

[chrisoates]

Am I being dim ?

Haven't been to Devon for a few months but today I saw 6 pacer cars at Newton Abbott, one set attached to a 153.

Asked station staff about them going back 'up north' and they didn't know what I was talking about.

...said they'd been away but came back last summer ??

[LiskeardRich]

Where is 117305? did it get scrapped? For those of you wondering, 117305 was the chocolate and cream DMU^▸ (Diesel Multiple Unit) that ran around in whats now the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) area until 1997, does anybody know it's fate??

sorry bringing up a old topic, reading through old posts as new to here and wanted to read about various things, sadly 117305 was scrapped, here is a small bit from google about 117305.  http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.hondawanderer.com/117305_Portway_1993_thumb.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.hondawanderer.com/Class_117_2.htm&usg=__okzr35WG4O3NjFHrBbYPtYRLHFg=&h=125&w=180&sz=8&hl=en&start=2&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=b7PwZzorvrcaSM:&tbnh=70&tbnw=101&prev=/images%3Fq%3D117305%2Btrain%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26tbs%3Disch:1

[woody]

I understand that 142063 has gone back to Northern,is that a prelude to the arrival of the delayed extra 150s

[fatcontroller]

No.

Heaton has the contract to carry out the C4 examination on the unit. Comes back next weekend.

[159jim]

I'm currently scavenging through fotopic at the moment, and ive noticed this:

http://units.fotopic.net/p62893894.html

Bit of an odd sight, isnt it? But do pacers go down Plymouth way regualy?

[Zoe]

I'm currently scavenging through fotopic at the moment, and ive noticed this:

I'd be intereted to know how well it copes with Hemerdon.

[6 OF 2 redundant adjunct of unimatrix 01]

its not the first time, in-fact its what they were built for, well the branch lines anyway... unfortunately they were not well suited but i dont belive there is any problems on the main line

[159jim]

Iver also noticed this:

http://units.fotopic.net/p9519929.html

Was this the only WT refurb 158 that had those seats? And were the WT refurb 158s quite like the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) refurb 158s?

[chrisoates]

They used to screeeeech up and down the St Ives branch.