The Class 143 and 144 Pacer DMUs were a series of 2 and 3-car units with bodywork by coach builders Alexander on a 4-wheel diesel-powered chassis. Built in the mid-1980s as a quick and inexpensive interim replacement for the aging 1950s built multiple unit trains and marketed as 'Pacer' trains these units were never particularly popular with passengers due to their basic fittings and bouncy ride. Despite this these distinctive little trains lasted in service until 2021, due mostly to the rapid growth of passenger numbers in the 2000s outstripping the supply of new units!
The Class 143s had a chassis built by Andrew Barclay with 25 units were built, initially working around Tyneside before moving to the South-West and Wales. Serving with many operators since privatisation numerous livery choices are possible.
The Dapol Class 143 / 144 features:
- A powered and a dummy car in each set
- All-new super-detailed bodywork with flush glazing
- Separate handrails, wipers and exhaust pipes
- Correct underframes for Class 143 and Class 144
- Tooling variants for front end and roof differences (original and combined light clusters / with or without radio pod)
- NEM Pocket
- Scharfenberg-style end coupling compatible with our Class 142, 153 and 156 units.
- Finely applied detail and decoration
- Close coupling with extendable corridor connections
- Electrical through coupling for improved running
- All wheel drive on the powered car
- DCC-Ready and DCC-Fitted versions available
- Light-Bar ready
- Directional lights on both cars, independently controllable internal (where fitted) and external lighting