A second Pacer diesel multiple unit (DMU) has arrived at the Mid-Norfolk Railway’s Dereham station to join the railways growing fleet of heritage DMUs.
Pacer unit number 142061 was delivered by Rail Support Services Ltd, a company that specialises in the road haulage of rail vehicles. The unit arrived at Dereham station after being stored at the Gascoigne Wood Sidings near Selby, where it has been stabled since being withdrawn from service by Northern Trains.
142061 together with 142038, the MNR’s first Pacer unit are now planned to enter service with the railway during the 2021 passenger operating season. The pair of Pacer units will also be refurbished.
The railway also plans to return one of the units to its original Regional Railways livery, as used by British Rail when they were first introduced onto the network during the 1980s.
“The acquisition of Pacers by the railway is important, as they join our first generation of Diesel Multiple Units and mean that we are assembling an important collection of this oft forgotten aspect of our railway heritage. Pacers have had in some quarters a controversial past, often being described as noisy and uncomfortable, but that you must remember was when they travelled at 70mph on the national network. Here they will be travelling at much slower speeds and will be an excellent way to travel on our line and enjoy our beautiful Norfolk countryside views.” Charlie Robinson, MNR Chairman