Dapol announce new N Gauge Class 143 and 144 Pacer models
Dapol announce new N Gauge Class 143 and 144 Pacer models
Dapol have announced today that they will be completing the collection of ‘Pacers’ they offer in N Gauge.
With an intended delivery date of Q4 2025 according to the announcement you don’t have too long to wait. These units will make a welcome to the already popular and well received class 142 Pacer units that Dapol have been producing in N Gauge now for a number of years.
The expected RRP at this stage of the units is a very reasonable in my opinion £170. With discounts sure to be found by shopping around I would expect.
The Class 143 / 144 is being based around the existing Class 142 chassis and will have the following 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
- NEM Pockets
- Tooling variants for front end and roof differences (original and combined light clusters / With or without radio pod)
- 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
Prototype Information
The Class 143 and 144 Pacer diesel multiple units were classes of 2 and 3-car units with bodywork from Andrew Barclay on a fixed 4 wheel diesel chassis. Despite their unpopularity with passengers, these distinctive little trains lasted in service until 2021, when disability access regulations saw their demise.
The Class 143s also had their chassis built by Andrew Barclay. 25 members of this class were built, initially working local trains in the Tyneside area before moving to both the South West and Wales regions. With the many changes of operators since privatisation, a very wide and diverse set of livery choices are possible.
The Class 144 class of DMU featured BREL-built underframes and spent all of their working careers based in the Leeds area in West Yorkshire, working a varied selection of both local and regional services.
Ten class 144 units received centre cars in 1987. Although originally intended for local journeys, the 144s worked overtime as far afield as Manchester, Lancaster, Morecambe, Lincoln, Hull, Scarborough and Cleethorpes.
Eleven Class 143 and fourteen Class 144s are now preserved in various states around the country. With several other units finding a second lease of life in non railway related use, such as school classrooms and cafes.
