British Rail Class 142 facts for kids
The British Rail Class 142 is a special type of train called a Pacer. These trains are also known as diesel multiple units, which means they have their own engines and can run by themselves.
Ninety-six of these trains were built in Derby, England, by a company called BREL between 1985 and 1987. They were an improved version of an earlier train, the British Rail Class 141.
Quick facts for kids British Rail Class 142 Pacer |
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| In service | 1985– |
| Manufacturer | BREL Derby and Leyland Bus |
| Built at | Derby |
| Family name | Pacer |
| Constructed | 1985–1987 |
| Refurbishment | 1997–2003 |
| Number built | 96 |
| Number in service | 94 |
| Number scrapped | 2 |
| Formation | 2 cars per trainset |
| Fleet numbers | 142001–142096 |
| Capacity | 102 to 121 seats per trainset |
| Operator(s) | Arriva Trains Wales First Great Western Northern Rail |
| Line(s) served | Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Teeside,Tyne & Wear, Valley Lines, Yorkshire |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Steel |
| Articulated sections | Flexible diaphragm within unit only |
| Maximum speed | 75 mph (120 km/h) |
| Weight | 48.23 t (47.47 long tons; 53.16 short tons) per trainset |
| Prime mover(s) | Cummins LTA10-R (Originally Leyland TL11) |
| Safety system(s) | AWS, TPWS |
| Track gauge | 1435 mm (4 ft 8½ in) |
Contents
What are Pacer Trains?
Pacer trains were designed to be a cheaper way to run train services. They were built using parts from buses, which made them quicker and less expensive to produce. This is why they sometimes felt a bit like riding on a bus!
Building the Class 142s
The Class 142 trains were built by two companies: BREL (British Rail Engineering Limited) and Leyland Bus. They were put together at the Derby factory. Each train usually had two carriages joined together.
Life on the Tracks
These trains could carry between 102 and 121 passengers. They could travel at a top speed of about 75 miles per hour (121 km/h). Over the years, they were used by different train companies like Arriva Trains Wales, First Great Western, and Northern Rail.
They served many areas across the UK, including Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside, Teeside, Tyne & Wear, Valley Lines, and Yorkshire. This shows how important they were for local train journeys.
The End of an Era
The Class 142 trains were in service for a long time, starting in 1985. Many of them were updated between 1997 and 2003 to make them more comfortable. However, by the late 2010s, newer, more modern trains were being introduced. This meant that the Pacer trains started to be retired from service. Some trains, like 142076, even had special messages on them to mark the end of their journeys.
Images for kids
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142088 in its original blue and white colours at Castleford.
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The inside of a Class 142 train after it was updated by First North Western.
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142066 in its Northern Spirit colours at Wakefield Kirkgate.
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The inside of a Northern Spirit refurbished Class 142 train.
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This train, 142076, had a message saying 'The start of a new journey' as Transport for Wales announced the Pacers were leaving service.
