Category: Tri-ang articles

The Tri-ang, 1955 first edition catalogue, part 2.

This is part two of a series looking at the Tri-ang 1955 catalogue, page by page. Page 3 of the 1955 catalogue featured an electric goods set and two clockwork sets.

The No. 3 Goods set

The R3 set had a Jinty locomotive , a bolser wagon, a 7 plank wagon, a GW van and a NE brake Van.

  • R10, 7 plank Goods wagon
  • R11 goods van in GW red
  • R17 Bolster wagon
  • R16 brake van

The R.52 Tri-ang Jinty was produced from 1952 until the mid 1970’s.

There were also 12 curves and two straights, of standard track, finally a battery box was included.

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The Tri-ang-Hornby M7 tank locomotive, model guide.

The Tri-ang Hornby M7 Tank locomotive model was in the Hornby range for over 40 years. Additionally, The model was also the first to feature a firebox glow and opening smokebox door.

The prototype

An M7 in action

The London and South Western Railway M7 tank engines were used on the intensive London services of the said company. Notably, 105 were built between 1897 and 1911. The designer was Dugald Drummond a Scottish engineer who had worked for three different companies.

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Tri-ang Minic Motorways, a slot too far?

Introduction

Tri-ang Minic Motorways, was a slot car system that appeared in the 1960’s. Notably, It was deigned specifically to go with the existing Tri-ang model railway range. Consequently the vehicles were to the same 1/76 scale.

Early advertising was bizarre and unintentionally funny! See the header image. The ad. reads “Fun for all the family” while showing a car crash. This would bring today’s woke snowflakes out in a rash. Interestingly one of the later features was a kind of “logic” control that stopped the crashes.

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The Tri-ang R3X Goods set from 1953 – iconic images

One of the first sets from tri-ang was the R3X goods set. This came out in 1953 with the notorious standard track. At the time it was fine but later tended to warp and go out of gauge.

The set had a Jinty locomotive and four wagons, including a brake van. Notably, the wagons were made of plastic. Moreover, the Tri-ang R3X Goods set had an R.42 speed control unit, these needed an external transformer to operate. The other version had a battery controller.

Triang had its origins in 1950 with a train set made for Marks and Spencer. In fact, the first Tri-ang catalogue came out in 1955.

See more iconic model railway images in the looking back series.

The Triang R157/8, DMU Class 101. Retro Review

The Class 101 DMU was in the Triang -Hornby range for a long time. It first appeared in 1958 and continued in various guises into the 1970’s. The main problem with the model is the inaccurate length. It should be a scale 57′, which is 228 mm, the actual length is 207 mm, the same as the Triang coaches of the time. The prototype was built to diagram B.R. 630 by Metro Cammel. The real vehicle was also long lived.

The prototype

The Class 101 units were built between 1956 and 1959 and were the longest serving of the first generation DMU’s. The last not being withdrawn until 2003. The original livery was green with yellow lining. The yellow warning panel was not added until the 1960’s. They were seen over much of the network, including the North West and Lake District.

Class 101 at Keswick in 1967.
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Retro review – The Triang class 31.

The prototype Brush type 2, class 31, Diesel electric locomotive.

The Triang class 31 was based on the Brush type 2, later class 31 Locomotive. The prototype class 31 had a complicated history, with various engine changes and design upgrades. Some class 31’s remain certified for main line use today. All photos the author except the electric blue loco.

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A short history of Tri-ang track

The Lines Brothers and Rovex.

The history of Rovex and Triang Railways goes back to Victorian times.

The lines brothers began making wooden toys in the Victorian era, by the 1950’s their descendants were looking to expand into model railways.

Occre 1/24 Scale Stephensons Rocket Model Kit, Buy now on Hobbies.

Rovex plastics LTD had been formed just after WW II. They made injection moulded plastic toys for Marks and Spencer. The injection moulding process was relatively new at the time. Previously, toys were made out of tin plate.

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