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Accurascale ACC3404-DCC

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

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 – DCC Sound Fitted is a model of a British Rail Pacer train representing unit 142024 (carriages 55565+55615) in the Newcastle and Middlesbrough area. The model is finished in the chocolate‑cream livery, bears the revised destination blind and additional bodyside vent seen on the Tyne & Wear‑based units, and includes DCC sound fitted equipment. Manufacturer part number ACC3404‑DCC.

The livery replicates the ‘Skipper’ scheme introduced on a batch of thirteen Class 142 units (142015‑142027) that were delivered to Plymouth Laira between September and December 1985. The colour scheme is a reverse of the Great Western coaching stock livery, with a white waist band, and was applied to the units operating in Devon and Cornwall during the British Rail sectorisation period.

These units were initially allocated to routes such as Barnstaple‑Exeter‑Exmouth, Liskeard‑Looe, Newton Abbot‑Paignton, Par‑Newquay, Penzance‑St Erth‑St Ives, Plymouth‑Gunnislake and Truro‑Falmouth. Operational experience showed excessive tyre wear and wheel noise on the tight curves and steep gradients of the South West, leading to their transfer northwards from August 1987. The final South West service ended on 30 November 1987, after which the fleet was divided between Newton Heath and Neville Hill and later moved to Heaton to supplement the Class 143s.

The Accurascale release reflects the as‑built appearance of the original South West units for 142015, while the specific 142024 model features the later northern modifications, making it a detailed representation of the Tyne & Wear‑based Skipper unit.