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Accurascale ACC3395

Class 142 - GW Chocolate & Cream 'Skipper' - 142024

Manufacturer catalogue image - please note that pre-release images may be CAD renders or CGI images rather than photographs

Prototype Era
Era 8 (1983 to 1994) British Rail Sectorisation

Manufacturer description

142024 (55565+55615) Newcastle / Middlesbrough

The next 13 units, 142015-142027, were for use on branch lines in Devon and Cornwall. New to Plymouth Laira between September-December 1985 and branded as ‘Skippers’ they were delivered in a chocolate and cream scheme in a reverse of the Great Western coaching stock livery, appropriate considering the GW150 celebrations that had been taking place that same year. This was applied to the same format as later introduced on the Provincial ‘Pacers’ complete with the same white waist band. Entering service on routes including Barnstaple-Exeter-Exmouth, Liskeard-Looe, Newton Abbot-Paignton, Par-Newquay, Penzance-St Erth-St Ives, Plymouth-Gunnislake and Truro-Falmouth, their introduction was not a happy one. Despite the best efforts of newly-installed greasing equipment, they were found to be entirely unsuited to the South West with the tight curves and difficult gradients leading to excessive tyre wear and wheel noise on the long-wheelbase units. They were transferred north starting with 142017 in August 1987 and the ‘Skippers’ were no more after the last day of November with the fleet being split between Newton Heath and Neville Hill. However, it wasn’t long before the majority of the units were on the move again to Heaton to supplement the Alexander-Barclay built Class 143s. Of our releases, 142015 is as built and firmly set in the South West. With its Exeter St Davids / Paignton destinations it would have made a fine sight on the sea wall at Dawlish. Meanwhile, Tyne & Wear-based 142024 has the revised destination blind, extra bodyside vent and subtly different labelling.

Catalogue listing

Model details

Prototype information

^* Class names often change over the lifespan of a locomotive, so this is not necessarily the class name used by the operator in the period modelled.

Accurascale Class 142 – GW Chocolate & Cream ‘Skipper’ – 142024 is a DCC‑ready model of the British Rail Class 142 Pacer, supplied under manufacturer part number ACC3395. The kit represents the British Rail sectorisation era and depicts unit 142024 in the Chocolate & Cream livery that was used on the ‘Skipper’ Pacers.

The model corresponds to unit numbers 55565 and 55615, which were originally based at Newcastle and Middlesbrough. The ‘Skipper’ batch (units 142015–142027) was delivered to Plymouth Laira between September and December 1985 and painted in a reverse Great Western coaching stock scheme with a white waist band, a design linked to the GW150 celebrations of that year.

Although the livery was intended for services in Devon and Cornwall – routes such as Barnstaple‑Exeter‑Exmouth, Liskeard‑Looe, Newton Abbott‑Paignton, Par‑Newquay, Penzance‑St Erth‑St Ives, Plymouth‑Gunnislake and Truro‑Falmouth – the long‑wheelbase units proved unsuitable for the region’s tight curves and steep gradients, suffering excessive tyre wear and wheel noise. From August 1987 the fleet was transferred north, initially with unit 142017, and by the end of November was split between Newton Heath and Neville Hill before later being moved to Heaton to support the Class 143s.

The specific 142024 release includes a revised destination blind, an extra bodyside vent and subtly different lettering, reflecting the Tyne & Wear allocation the unit received after its northern transfer.