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Accurascale ACC3403-DCC

Class 142 - GW Chocolate & Cream 'Skipper' - 142015 - DCC Sound Fitted

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

142015 (55556+55606) Exeter St Davids / Paignton

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 “Skipper” model, reference ACC3403‑DCC, is supplied fitted with DCC sound equipment. The livery replicates the Chocolate & Cream scheme used on the Western Region “Skipper” units, and the model represents the British Rail sectorisation era.

The prototype unit, 142015, was built for the 55556 + 55606 Exeter St Davids / Paignton service. It entered the Plymouth Laira fleet between September and December 1985 as part of a batch of thirteen 142015‑142027 units allocated to branch lines in Devon and Cornwall. The colour scheme was a reversed version of the Great Western coaching stock livery, featuring a white waist band.

In service the “Skippers” proved unsuitable for the South West’s tight curves and steep gradients, suffering excessive tyre wear and wheel noise on the long‑wheelbase design. From August 1987 the units began to be transferred northwards, with the final South West operation ending in November 1987. Most later moved to Heaton to supplement Class 143s.

The Accurascale release portrays 142015 in its original as‑built condition, complete with the Exeter St Davids / Paignton destination blinds. It reflects the distinctive bodyside vent, chocolate and cream striping and period‑accurate labelling, offering a faithful representation of the short‑lived “Skipper” appearance.