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Author Topic: Are there any FGW services to add to this list of shame?  (Read 13772 times)
northwesterntrains
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« on: May 18, 2009, 10:11:18 »

In the time Pacers have been around they've been put on some ridiculously long journeys from a Holyhead to Manchester service of 125 miles under First North Western to a Carlisle to Middlesbrough service of 109 miles every day under Northern Rail.  As well as a Sunday Only Southport to Chester via Stockport route of 94 miles and the recently suspended Blackpool to Chester via Stockport service of the same length.  Which makes Barrow-in-Furness to Carlisle via Sellafield and Lincoln to Adwick (Doncaster) via Sheffield routes of 86 and 72 miles respectively, not seem excessive.

Are there any FGW (First Great Western) services that can be added to this list?  Alternatively, any Arriva Trains Wales or former BR (British Rail(ways)) routes are just as good.
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ReWind
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« Reply #1 on: May 18, 2009, 12:25:25 »

The Last Cardiff - Exeter service ( 22.00 i think ) is booked as a pacer, but is not always the case.

Im not sure of the distance in milage though, but im guessing 100+
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inspector_blakey
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« Reply #2 on: May 18, 2009, 12:51:09 »

I've had the pleasure of travelling on a single 142 on a Gloucester - Milford Haven service (should have been a 158 - these were the days before ATW (Arriva Trains Wales (former Train Operating Company)) brought the 175s down south) and a 143 on a Fishguard Harbour - Cardiff train. Both of these were courtesy of ATW, although I'm pretty sure the Pacers were not the diagrammed units intended to operate those trains so they might not fit very well in this category!
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devon_metro
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« Reply #3 on: May 18, 2009, 14:10:42 »

The Last Cardiff - Exeter service ( 22.00 i think ) is booked as a pacer, but is not always the case.

Im not sure of the distance in milage though, but im guessing 100+

114m 61ch

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moonrakerz
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« Reply #4 on: May 18, 2009, 14:13:34 »

The Last Cardiff - Exeter service ( 22.00 i think ) is booked as a pacer, but is not always the case.

Im not sure of the distance in milage though, but im guessing 100+

According to the full timetable mileages:  114.5
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moonrakerz
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« Reply #5 on: May 18, 2009, 14:20:22 »

114m 61ch

Snap !   Grin
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eightf48544
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« Reply #6 on: May 18, 2009, 14:54:02 »

61 chains is O.7625 of mile.
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vacman
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« Reply #7 on: May 18, 2009, 17:57:13 »

The Last Cardiff - Exeter service ( 22.00 i think ) is booked as a pacer, but is not always the case.

Im not sure of the distance in milage though, but im guessing 100+
It may be a Pacer but that diagram is a 143 and you have to admit that 143's aren't TOO bad compared with 142's, I think Exmouth - Barnstaple is pretty bad, may not be long mileage wise but time wise it's best part of 2 hours, also, the 1900 Penzance - Exeter yesterday was a 142! 132 miles and 3 hours!
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moonrakerz
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« Reply #8 on: May 18, 2009, 18:48:50 »

61 chains is O.7625 of mile.

Shouldn't that be "61 chains are 0.7625 of a mile" ?   Grin Grin
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #9 on: May 18, 2009, 18:58:25 »

Hmm.  Cue TerminalJunkie - but I'd go for 'is', as '0.7625 of a mile' is the singular comparator?  Wink Cheesy Grin
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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
Phil
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« Reply #10 on: May 18, 2009, 19:04:34 »

Chris is correct.
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Phil
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« Reply #11 on: May 18, 2009, 19:10:10 »

Incidentally, if anyone does campaign successfully enough to have Pacers withdrawn from their line(s), we'll happily accept one or two down here at Melksham.

Quite frankly I'd be happy to stand in the back of a cattle truck if it meant we could have a peak time rail service of any description whatsoever....
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TerminalJunkie
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« Reply #12 on: May 18, 2009, 19:38:36 »

Cue TerminalJunkie

'61 chains' describes a discrete unit of length and is therefore singular, so 61 chains is 0.7625 miles.
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #13 on: May 18, 2009, 20:01:17 »

Thanks, TerminalJunkie - apparently, I was right, but for the wrong reason!  Roll Eyes

For those who need to get out more: http://www.metric-conversions.org/length/chains-to-miles.htm  Wink
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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament, or Mile Post (a method of measuring the railway in miles and chains from a starting point - usually London), depending on context) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: Stop, Look, Listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
Not from Brighton
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« Reply #14 on: May 18, 2009, 20:19:08 »

Sometimes Pacers would appear on the "Great Malvern to various places on the south coast" route.  I don't know if they ran all they way though, I only saw them at Worcester.
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