British Railways Pacer Compilation

A compilation of Pacers featuring Class 141 Class 142 Class 143 and Class 144. filmed between 2014 and 2019
Pacer is the operational name of the British Rail Classes 140, 141, 142, 143 and 144 diesel multiple unit railbuses, built between 1980 and 1987. The railbuses were intended as a short-term solution to a shortage of rolling stock, with a lifespan of no more than 20 years.
All Pacer trains were scheduled to be retired by the end of 2019 as the Rail Vehicle Accessibility Regulations require that all public passenger trains must be accessible to disabled people by 2020 - however the Pacer units were given dispensation until the end of 2020. Only one Pacer (the modernised 144e) currently meets this requirement, and the remainder were therefore planned to be withdrawn by that date. Furthermore, a decision in 2015 by the Transport Secretary required that such railbuses be removed from service by 2020 for the then-new Northern franchise, stating that the "continued use of these uncomfortable and low-quality vehicles is not compatible with our vision for economic growth and prosperity in the north".
At the start of 2020, 138 Pacer units were either still in service or storage with three National Rail operators: Northern Trains, Great Western Railway and Transport for Wales. Northern Trains retired its last Pacer unit on 27 November 2020, with Great Western Railway and Transport for Wales expected to follow by the end of the year.

[@Auraxium]

Quite a crude machine, but it gets the job done and has lasted well beyond it’s expected lifespan. Great footage.

[@ryangaming321]

My favorite train is the pacer :D

[@antman09ful1]

Enjoyed your great video.

[@rolymier8659]

The much maligned Pacer. History l think will eventually put them in a better light. They kept services going despite their faults and the fact they were used on inappropriate long journeys. I personally have a soft spot for them.

[@timstrainvideos142]

great video!

[@fpk1234]

Nice video 👍
The Pacer DMU looks like an articulated bus. The route at the beginning of the video is familiar to me. I seem to recall that is Midland Railway
- Butterley. I went to there 2 years ago. I was very impressed there. Thanks for sharing.

[@ebddenby8439]

That's because they are a Leyland titan body on railway trucks

[@DavidWhitley]

used to shunt these at Huddersfield, thanks for the memory

[@scorpionwolf9729]

143 144 were Plaxton Pointers

[@gabrielsavarge1301]

Exactly as I remember them in the 1990s until 2001.

[@ConorDaRobin]

Ah yes, the bouncy bus on rails.

[@jcabral6231]

ignite your passion, return the much beloved pacers #blovedpacers #Ilovepacers

[@ElectraProductions225]

Bouncyyyy

[@fancyyahoo]

There was one internet article saying "If you’ve sadly gotten used to hearing the depressingly fetid sound of a Pacer’s stricken lawnmower engine each morning on your daily commute" (quite a scathing choice of words 🤣), and the general response to these Pacer trains is overwhelmingly negative.
Listening to the sound of the prime mover does actually make me think "How the heck are passengers able to even tolerate that racket?" It sounds like if the loco engineer applies any more throttle, the prime mover might actually throw a piston out with that stress.

[@aplane9625]

PACER IS TEH BEST

[@MirelleLaRouge]

I'm not sure about pacers in preservation, do you really want your children to know about these things? Is this something you want to hand down through the ages?

[@ebddenby8439]

I'd imagine there was people saying the same about steam from what I've been told about mainline steam is they were absolutely filthy and extreamly unkept there was nothing elegant about them at all. They were a very far cry from the preservation locomotives you see on tourist lines now

[@dieselpower7075]

Yes

[@rc9254]

Actually second but cool vid anyway

[@yourlocalskoda4860]

pacerrrrrrrrrrrrrr and not first

[@rc9254]

Eh yes?