Nearly 30 years ago.

[83G/84D]

I found this, enjoy!

 

[Ash Bridge]

Interesting that it shows an Exeter - Honiton service, did they ever work on the LSW Main Line?

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

*jumps through screen and hugs the pacer*

That is one beautiful unit

 

[gordonthemoron]

The Skippers will be in a striking brown and cream livery

Not what I'd call it

 

[BlythPower]

Automatic sliding doors.

Errmmm..? :neutral:

 

[EbbwJunction1]

I remember them being built and introduced, but I don't remember them being called "Skippers" ...?

 

[Waldgrun]

I remember them being built and introduced, but I don't remember them being called "Skippers" ...?

The answers there in the leaflet, the name "Skippers" was given to the units used in Devon & Cornwall, to promote a local identity! I traveled on one once from Par to Newquay, it was fine until the first sharp curve, then every one put their fingers in their ears!
Also on the Tamar Valley Line from Plymouth to Gunnislake, the introduction of these units meant that alarm clocks where not set, because the first train up the line woke the valley up! Which was fine until the unit failed and was replaced by a first generation unit, which caused people to over sleep and not catch the train on its return into Plymouth!

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Ah, I see - it was a local identity; at first, I thought that they'd used a national name which I didn't recognise.

Thank you.

 

[83G/84D]

I remember them being built and introduced, but I don't remember them being called "Skippers" ...?

I don't know how the name "Skipper" was chosen for the 142's in Cornwall but we also had "Hoppa" buses.

When the minibus "revolution" started Western National introduced them in Cornwall & South Devon under the "Hoppa" brand.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

I don't know how the name "Skipper" was chosen for the 142's in Cornwall but we also had "Hoppa" buses.

When the minibus "revolution" started Western National introduced them in Cornwall under the "Hoppa" brand.

You think that is bad? Lincolnshire Roadcar had converted Ford Transits and Iveco vans under the "Roadrunner" brand

 

[83G/84D]

You think that is bad? Lincolnshire Roadcar had converted Ford Transits and Iveco vans under the "Roadrunner" brand

beep beep! The skippers should have been called squeelers.

 

[satisnek]

That was the thing about 1980s BR - their publicity machine was vastly superior to the trains themselves!

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

That was the thing about 1980s BR - their publicity machine was vastly superior to the trains themselves!

Except, in hindsight, for the decision in featuring Mr James Savile in their adverts

 

[Waldgrun]

I don't know how the name "Skipper" was chosen for the 142's in Cornwall but we also had "Hoppa" buses.

Skippers another name for a spratt, as most of the West Country branch lines had connections to the sea I think that's the answer.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_sprat

 

[SCH117X]

Remember travelling on a Skipper from Par to Newquay, its the only time I have ever suffered travel sickness!

 

[deltic1989]

You think that is bad? Lincolnshire Roadcar had converted Ford Transits and Iveco vans under the "Roadrunner" brand

Don't forget the Sherpas, and Mercs as well. Pretty terrible things to drive so my Dad told me.
SYT/Mainline did the branding a bit better "Little Nipper" they called them.

 

[SCH117X]

A lot of operators used such vehicles, it was a direct result of the looming deregulation and operators seeing an urgent need for small vehicles which were cheap to operate and a bus manfacturing industry still focused on full sized vehicles.West Yorkshire Road Car also called them Hoppas for example

 

[Bevan Price]

A lot of operators used such vehicles, it was a direct result of the looming deregulation and operators seeing an urgent need for small vehicles which were cheap to operate and a bus manfacturing industry still focused on full sized vehicles.West Yorkshire Road Car also calked them Hoppas for example

Some of them were used to increase service frequencies, sometimes leading to temporary increases in passenger numbers . However, they were too small, and created problems with lots of passengers left behind at intermediate stops, staring at processions of full microbuses.