Class of diesel multiple-unit trains, part of the Pacer family of trains
British Rail Class 143 Pacer
Great Western Railway Class 143 at Dawlish in 2018
Great Western Railway refurbished saloon
In service
1985–2021
Manufacturer
Hunslet-Barclay
Walter Alexander Coachbuilders
Order no.
31005 (DMS vehicles)
31006 (DMSL vehicles)[1]
Family name
Pacer
Replaced
BR First-Generation DMUs
Constructed
1985–1986[1]
Refurbished
1990s
2001–2002
2015–2016[2]
Number built
25
Number preserved
13
Number scrapped
12
Formation
2 cars per unit: DMS-DMSL[1]
Diagram
DMS vehicles: DP236
DMSL vehicles: DP237
Fleet numbers
As built: 143001–143025[1]
Later: 143601–143625
Capacity
In 4-abreast config.: 104 seats[3]
In 5-abreast config.: 122 seats[1]
Specifications
Car body construction
Steel underframe, aluminium alloy body and roof
Car length
15.546 m (51 ft 0 in) (over couplers)
Width
2.695 m (8 ft 10.1 in)
Height
3.515 m (11 ft 6.4 in)
Doors
Double-leaf folding (three per side)
Wheelbase
9.000 m (29 ft 6.3 in)
Maximum speed
75 mph (121 km/h)
Weight
DMS vehs.: 24.0 t (23.6 long tons; 26.5 short tons)
DMSL vehs.: 24.5 t (24.1 long tons; 27.0 short tons)[1]
Axle load
Route Availability 1[3]
Prime mover(s)
As built: 2 × Leyland TL11
After upgrade: 2 × Cummins LTA10-R[4]
(one per vehicle)
Engine type
Inline-6 4-stroke turbo-diesel[5][6]
Displacement
Leyland: 11.1 L (680 cu in)[5]
Cummins: 10.0 L (610 cu in)[6]
(per engine)
Power output
Leyland: 149 kW (200 hp)[7]
Cummins: 168 kW (225 hp)[4]
(per engine)
Transmission
As built: SCG RRE5 (4-sp. epicyclic)[7]
After upgrade: Voith T 211 r (hydrokinetic)[8]
Minimum turning radius
70 m (230 ft)
Braking system(s)
Electro-pneumatic (tread)[3]
Safety system(s)
AWS
TPWS
Coupling system
BSI
Multiple working
Within class, and with Classes 14x, 15x, and 170[3]
Track gauge
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Notes/references
Specifications as at March 1985[9] except where otherwise noted.
The British Rail Class 143 is a diesel multiple-unit railbus, part of the Pacer family of passenger trains introduced between 1985 and 1986.
During the 1980s, British Rail (BR) was interested in replacing its first-generation diesel multiple units, particularly in the use of railbuses to service its lightly used branch lines. It was decided to develop such a vehicle with a high level of commonality with the widely used Leyland National bus, leading to its modular design serving as the basis for the design. Several single- and two-car prototypes were constructed and evaluated, leading to an initial production batch by British Leyland, designated Class 141 units. BR, seeking to procure improved derivatives of the Class 141, placed an order with the manufacturers Hunslet-Barclay and Walter Alexander to construct its own variant, the Class 143.
Entering operational service during the mid-1980s, the Class 143 embodied several advances over the original model in terms of ride quality and reliability. During its operating lives, the type operated various passenger services across the United Kingdom; initially operated in the North-East of England, all units were subsequently transferred to other regions, including Wales and South-West England.
Due to their non-compliance with the Rail Vehicle Accessibility (Interoperable Rail System) Regulations 2008, the Pacer family began to be withdrawn during the late 2010s ahead of the 1 January 2020 deadline. Some fleets were given dispensation to operate until 31 December 2020. While modifications for compliance were proposed by rolling-stock companies, no train operator took up the option. Great Western Railway retired its Class 143 fleet in December 2020, while Transport for Wales was granted an extension and ran its trains until 29 May 2021.
^ abcdefFox, Peter (1987). British Railways Pocket Book No. 2: Multiple Units (Summer–Autumn 1987 ed.). Sheffield: Platform 5 Publishing. pp. 41–42. ISBN 0906579740. OCLC 613347580.
^"Class 143". The Railway Centre. Archived from the original on 9 March 2005.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ abcdClass 143 & 144 Diesel Multiple Units(PDF) (1A ed.). Derby: Porterbrook Leasing Company. September 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
^ abPritchard, R.N.; Fox, Peter (2009). British Railways Pocket Book No. 3: Diesel Multiple Units 2010. Sheffield: Platform 5 Publishing. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-902336-75-6. OCLC 614300319.
^ abLeyland Titan Technical Data(PDF). Southall: British Leyland UK. June 1978. Lit. No. 1683. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 January 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
^ abEngine Performance Curve LTA10-G2. Columbus, Indiana: Cummins Engine Company. 14 April 1997. FR-2254. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
^ abCite error: The named reference shore was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^Fox, Peter; Hughes, Barry (1994). British Railways Pocket Book No. 3: DMUs & Channel Tunnel Stock (7th ed.). Sheffield: Platform 5 Publishing. p. 26. ISBN 9781872524597.
^Vehicle Diagram Book No. 220 for Diesel Multiple Unit Trains (Railcars)(PDF). Derby: British Railways Board. 1982. DP236 & DP237 (in work pp. 67–70). Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 January 2015. Retrieved 19 February 2016 – via Barrowmore MRG.
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