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.
