Out paced at last

 Passengers on Northern Rail's 16.36 service from Kirby to Manchester last night had the honour of taking the last ever Pacer service. Introduced in the mid-80s, with a supposed 'stop-gap' life of up to 20 years, the damn things screeched, rattled and lurched along for 35 years before being put out of their (and our) misery.

The cross-pennine run from Halifax to Manchester Victoria on a Pacer was an endurance test for all senses - smell included (they had a definite 'wet dog' aroma to them), along with a bone rattling, teeth loosening vibration.

Name on a Pacer

'John. Got some good news and some not-so-good news for you're

'What's the good bit?'

We've decided to name a train after you're

'Great stuff, but what's the bad?'

'It's a Pacer'

'Bugger'.

Keeping pace with the Pacers - for 36 long years...

The best part of 36 years ago, the British Rail (remember that?) took delivery of some new trains for use in the north of England, they were called Pacers. Apparently, British Leyland had some bus bodies left over, so some bright spark decided to turn them into trains. From the start, they were a disaster - early crews nicknamed them Torville and Deans, because the brakes were so bad, and the bodies so light and badly-balanced, that some trains used to slide past platforms if the brakes were applied too hard, or the track was wet (it rains a lot up here...). Well, we've been stuck with the damned things ever since. Except, now that Gideon had decided we live in his virtual-reality Northern Powerhouse, and rail franchises are up for renewal, even the blighted old north can expect some relief from the Pacer. So the BBC has, very-belatedly, discovered the joy of Pacer travel. Thirty-seven years too late.