British Rail Class 143 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids British Rail Class 143 "Pacer"
143605 at Cardiff Central railway station
In service	1985 - present
Manufacturer	Andrew Barclay and Walter Alexander
Family name	Pacer
Number built	25
Number in service	23
Number scrapped	2
Formation	2 car
Capacity	106
Operator(s)	Arriva Trains Wales First Great Western
Line(s) served	Bristol local lines, Valley Lines
Specifications
Car length	15.2 metres
Width	2.7 metres
Maximum speed	75mph
Weight	26.3 tonnes
Prime mover(s)	Cummins LTA10-R (Originally Leyland TL11)
Safety system(s)	AWS, TPWS
Track gauge	1435 mm (4 ft 8½ in)

The British Rail Class 143 is a diesel multiple unit, part of the Pacer family of trains introduced between 1985 & 1986. They originally worked around North East England but were later transferred to Wales. The coaches are based on an Alexander bus body mounted on a chassis from a freight or Goods truck. Twenty-five units were built, numbered 143001-025 but later re-numbered 143601 - 143625.

Images for kids

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  Unlike most other rolling stock on the UK network, Class 143s (in common with other Pacers) lack bogies, instead having single axles at each end of the vehicle (Red Boxes).

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  BR Regional Railways blue (Carlisle, undated)

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  BR Regional Railways sector livery (Seaham, 1991)

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  Tyne & Wear PTE livery with 'TW Pacer' branding (Seaham, 1991)

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  Wessex Trains 'Visit Bristol' Bristol Temple Meads, 2005)

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  Wales and Borders 'Valley Lines' with later Arriva branding (Gloucester, 2005)

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  Arriva Trains Wales (Cardiff Central, 2009)

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  First Great Western Bristol Temple Meads, 2008)

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  First Great Western Bristol Temple Meads, 2009)

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  Arriva Trains Wales 'Executive' (Cardiff Central, 2016)

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  Great Western Railway (Exeter, 2017)

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  Arriva Trains Wales Cab

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  Wessex Trains

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  Wales and West 'Valley Lines'

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  Arriva Trains Wales

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  First Great Western

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  Great Western Railway