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England Class 142 Pacer Railbus

F FECguyOGR Forum Member

I was watching a video about English Rail safety and much of it centered around how the Class 142 Pacer Railbus are dangerous and need to be retired. It seems like they were poorly designed when they were new and I am surprised they are still in use because even if they are cheap to run if they ever get an accident I am sure rail franchise that leases them will have to pay alot of money for all the fatalities that would happen.  Since they were designed for branch lines I am surprised they would be using them on heavily used trunk lines.  Has anyone on this forum ever got to ride on one?  Makes me happy these never got exported to the US but they probably would not have even met are safety regulations back in the 80s.  I could not imagine a big American freight locomotive like a ES44AC plowing into one of these things. 

Last edited by FECguy
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F FECguyOGR Forum Member
Originally Posted by CNJ 3676:

Interestingly, a few two axle railbuses built by Leyland were exported to North America for demonstration purposes. They were sent to the US in the early 80s. One was returned to the UK after several years while the second car remained in our country, making the rounds among several owners. Pictured below are the two cars. Note the first has had "ghetto grilles" affixed to the windshield in preparation for operation in the US. The picture of the second car was taken during its stint on the Durbin & Greenbrier Valley Railroad. It is currently in the collection of the Connecticut Trolley Museum.  

 

Bob

 

LEYLAND1

LEYLAND2

I guess on a tourist line they would be okay.  I see why no US commuter agencies ordered them. I am guessing they did not demo too well because it seems like DMU's in general do not do well in the US.  I would be worried about being in any collision in them especially up against an American size diesel locomotive. 

R RailRideOGR Forum Member SUPPORTING MEMBER

You'll notice from the video that these vehicles are described as bus bodies on a two-axle freight-car chassis. Not the most durable railcars out there--I'd doubt they'd fare well in a collision with a rapid-transit train much less a freight locomotive.

 

From the linked videos it appears the operator is caught between a rock and a hard place--they have to use the equipment assigned to them by a leasing company, and since their contracts run only a quarter of the lifespan of a typical railcar, they have no incentive (much less the funding) to purchase their own equipment, which they'd likely be stuck with if they don't win a contract extension/renewal.

 

These trains are much like the Aerotrain--minus some semblance of a locomotive on the lead end.

 

---PCJ

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