Class 142 (British Leyland / BREL Derby Local & Secondary Services 2-car)

The Class 142 Pacer was the most controversial train in Britain, a cheaply made diesel multiple unit from the 1980s still serving in 2020. Questions were asked repeatedly, from parliament downwards [1], about when it would finally be replaced. The controversy however, is somewhat unfair as when built the Class 142 was a way to provide cheap rolling stock for branch lines and services that may have otherwise been closed or had services withdrawn. The Class 142 has also served quite bit longer than was originally intended. The end finally came in December 2020.

Northern 142 005 at Wigan North Western

The Class 142 resembles a bus on rails [2], because in some ways that is what it is! The body is based on that of the Leyland National, a very common bus that could regularly been seen on Britain's roads from the 1970s until recently. The body is wider than earlier bus-based DMUs like the Class 141 [3]. The chassis is a development of a high speed freight vehicle designed in the late 60s and each carriage only has four wheels. The Class 142 provided a rather poor ride for passengers and excessive wheel squeal and flange wear on sharp curves.



There were 2 sub-classes, the 142/0 and 142/1, the distinction is mostly due to when they were built in two production series. One difference between the sub-classes is that the 142/1 has a simpler roof structure. The Class 142s were originally fitted with Leyland TL11 engines but were re-engined with Cummins diesels, they also originally had mechanical gearboxes but were later fitted with Voith hydraulic transmission.

Information
Number built:	192 (96 2-car sets)
Built:	1985-87
Builder:	BREL Derby / Leyland
Engine:	Cummins LTA-10R diesel per car
Power:	450 hp (330 kW)
Formation:	DMS (Driving Motor Standard)+DMSL (Driving Motor Standard Lavatory)

The Class 142 has served with British Rail and a number of post-privatisation operators and in it's final years with Northern and Transport for Wales [4]. The Class 142 fell short of accessibility requirements for passenger trains being bought in in 2020. Withdrawals began in the late 2010s with the final examples being withdrawn at the end of 2020 (several months later than expected). Sixteen sets have entered preservation with some other cars having been converted into non-rail uses including a library!

Northern 142 022 at Meadowhall Interchange

Transport for Wales 142 072 at Cardiff Central

Aboard Northern 142 015

Northern 142 023 at York

Northern 142 041 at Liverpool Lime Street

[1] "Nick Clegg demands replacement of outdated "Pacer" trains", The Chronicle <http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/nick-clegg-demands-replacement-outdated-8055969>
[2] Colin J. Marsden, Traction Recognition (2nd Edition) (Ian Allan, 2011), p. 102
[3] Brian Haresnape, Diesel Multiple Units: The Second Generation and DEMUs (Ian Allan, 1986), p. 64
[4] Colin J. Marsden, DMU and EMU Recognition Guide (Ian Allan, 2013), p. 122