With the current lockdown in place and with nowt better to do on a Saturday afternoon, I dug out my old Triang catalogues from the 1960s.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-280320050052-896501602.jpeg)
They date from 1962 to 1967, and all but one of them (10th edition, 1964) have Cuneo covers. I have spent a long while this arvo looking for the mouse on all of 'em, but so far have only located it on the 1967 cover!
There were a lot of developments going on during these years, and it is my intention in this thread to look at the more interesting of these as they occurred. It's certainly bringing back memories of Bealman's yoof, and hopefully forum members may find it interesting from a historical viewpoint.
Probably the biggest shock-horror of those years was the amalgamation of Triang with Hornby Dublo.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-280320050218-89651461.jpeg)
This was particularly traumatic for a mate of mine who had quite an extensive Dublo two-rail setup. I took a smug satisfaction that I was on the winning side. :-[
The supplement in the catalogue showed that all was well, there would be a convertor wagon with a Triang tension lock coupling on one end, and a Hornby Dublo coupling on the other. The two operated in different planes, of course, as the adolescent Bealman points out here:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-280320050308-89652153.jpeg)
A convertor track was also made available, so the Hornby track could connect to the Triang Super 4 track, as shown above. In reality, of course, the Hornby Dublo track was much superior to the Triang stuff. The Triang Super 4 was steel rail (so the company's Magnadhesion locomotives could stick to it), and was hopelessly overscale with thick sleepers and huge gaps under the rails, so lineside accessories could simple clip in.
The Dublo track had a lower profile (in fact the convertor track was a ramp to bring it up to Triang height), and, best of all, was nickel silver rail. Bealman found in later years that if you tried ballasting the Super 4 using the methods suggested by the model railway press of the day, the rails became rusty quick smart. And I'm talking REAL rust, not painted on rust!!
Anyway, the supplement insisted the two systems could coexist, and provided a picture of a layout to drool over, incorporating the creamy vanilla Dublo buldings with the Triang Model-Land products.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-280320050406-896531285.jpeg)
A selection of Hornby locomotives were retained (including "Barnstable"), but this move effectively marked the beginning of the end of Hornby Dublo.
@Bealman (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=255) . George. April railway modeller sadly reported the death of Richard lines
I've a book the art of hornby. Heres a screenshot .... great idea.something to reminisce. Chris
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/3894-280320063059.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=89659)
Best screenshot of railway modeller article
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/3894-280320063459.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=89660)
Thanks. I'll see if I can turn 'em around!
No worries george. I'm happy to pm and send a copy guess you will wait for the railway modeller if subscribe. The article in the now out of print art of hornby is rare
Quote@Bealman (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=255) There were a lot of developments going on during these years, and it is my intention in this thread to look at the more interesting of these as they occurred. It's certainly bringing back memories of Bealman's yoof, and hopefully forum members may find it interesting from a historical viewpoint.
Superb idea for a thread George, and I for one shall greatly enjoy the journey down memory lane. :thumbsup:
Of course, you could alway photo/copy every page spread of the mags you have and post them all! >:D
Oh, right. Colour photocopies too, I suppose ;)
Thanks, Daffy. I intend to look at each year in turn, and add a few anecdotes and photos of my own.
Stay tuned! :thumbsup:
.... and that last photo in your post looks like @Train Waiting (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=6222) 's Poppingham on steroids! :D
Fascinating stuff George, this was a mere 20 years before my existence BUT even though dad had his N gauge stuff in boxes as a kid I had a Hornby OO layout.
I loved my 1990 catalogue and wanted lots of stuff out of it.
The Silcock Express (probably where my Cl. 47 admiration started)
A 2 tone blue Cl. 142 Pacer
A rake of Yeoman hoppers
And the huge station that they built
In reality I never got any of them but like 98% (I imagine) Hornby OO stated my love affair with the model railway world and to have the ability to learn about their history is going to provide some fantastic reading
:thankyousign: @Bealman (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=255)
Cheers, buddy. Stay tuned! :beers:
Hi @Bealman (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=255)
Great thread and really looking forward to hearing your memories from that period. I was fortunate to get all these early catalogues on CD a few years ago so look at the quite often on my tablet.
It is the model artwork that I love. These catalogues are far more exciting and atmospheric than today's glossy, high quality books from Hornby, Bachmann etc. Our models may have improved massively but alas not our ability to sell a dream.
Kind regards
Paddy
Thanks, Paddy. You've got that right. Stay tuned! :beers:
Quote from: daffy on March 28, 2020, 07:47:51 AM
Superb idea for a thread George, and I for one shall greatly enjoy the journey down memory lane. :thumbsup:
Me too! Hopefully I might be able to contribute from time to time. Great idea, George. :beers:
Quote from: daffy
link=topic=48785.msg625795#msg625795 date=1585382018
.... and that last photo in your post looks like @Train Waiting (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=6222) ‘s Poppingham on steroids! :D
Thank you so much, Mike. That's a compliment+++! :-[ As well as my own memories, I looked at a lot of photographs like this when planning and building the Table-Top Railway. It took four attempts to get something remotely resembling the picture in my mind's eye. The main difficulty was that I kept straying into more conventional model railway techniques like ballasting and weathering. Just look at all the gorgeous bright and shiny models in that amazing photograph that George posted. I'll spend much of today gazing at that picture!
Best wishes.
John
Quote from: Train Waiting on March 28, 2020, 09:21:44 AM
Quote from: daffy on March 28, 2020, 07:47:51 AM
Superb idea for a thread George, and I for one shall greatly enjoy the journey down memory lane. :thumbsup:
Me too! Hopefully I might be able to contribute from time to time. Great idea, George. :beers:
Quote from: daffy
link=topic=48785.msg625795#msg625795 date=1585382018
.... and that last photo in your post looks like @Train Waiting (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=6222) 's Poppingham on steroids! :D
Thank you so much, Mike. That's a compliment+++! :-[ As well as my own memories, I looked at a lot of photographs like this when planning and building the Table-Top Railway. It took four attempts to get something remotely resembling the picture in my mind's eye. The main difficulty was that I kept straying into more conventional model railway techniques like ballasting and weathering. Just look at all the gorgeous bright and shiny models in that amazing photograph that George posted. I'll spend much of today gazing at that picture!
Best wishes.
John
Compliment highly intentional John. :thumbsup:
And I may be wrong, but in George's photo is that white smudge half hidden by a bush in the front left of the paddock behind the turntable possibly a prototype Flossie? :hmmm: :D
No sign of an out of scale cat though. :D
Looks like Flossie to me! :thumbsup:
Glad you like the pic, John. Here's a teaser photo for you of what's ahead. Poppingham with moving cars!!
Looks like you may have to start looking at the Faller road system.... ;D
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-280320095026-896691014.jpeg)
OK.... let's officially get this underway, before I turn in and watch "Hidden Figures" on DVD - yet another story of the period.
Before we move to the sixties, however, this little gem fell out of one of the catalogues. Unfortunately, the front cover is missing, so I can't get a handle on the exact year.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-280320074109-896622022.jpeg)
It does, however, have to date from the early to mid-50s. I can say this with reasonable certainty, as it shows Triang's "Standard" track, with the built in ballast base - just like the N gauge Kato track of today! Looking at some of my old Railway Modeller magazines of the 1957-1960 period reveals Triang adverts featuring Series 3 track, with black, widely spaced sleepers. This was replaced by Super 4 in 1962.
I clearly remember playing with a classmate's Triang set which had standard track. The memory is clear because this was the very first electric train I had ever operated, and light years ahead of the Hornby tinplate O gauge clockwork I had at home.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-280320074257-896672201.jpeg)
The move to Series 3 was a backwards step in my opinion - I thought that the standard track with it's built-in ballast base looked quite respectable, and still do to this day. Take a look at the drool pic from this catalogue:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-280320074235-896661054.jpeg)
I personally can't find anything wrong with that - in fact I think it looks rather cool. Somewhere along the way during the sixties, I acquired, second hand, the station building and water tower. The brightly coloured plastic was shiny and warped, but I still plomped them on my layout!
One thing about this home isolation.... gives me time to rabbit on like this. Stay tuned! :beers:
Great thread bringing back many memories, George.
My stuff was all Tri-ang c/w metal platforms/station, working overhead catenary and many locos including (of course) a Hymek, Jinty and an EM2 'Elektra'.
I have this book from many years ago....................
https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/174233072748?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=174233072748&targetid=885285326120&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1006873&poi=&campaignid=1669190312&mkgroupid=95392719302&rlsatarget=pla-885285326120&abcId=1063846&merchantid=114919132&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIx_vtsI696AIVWeDtCh0g9Q33EAQYASABEgKFDPD_BwE (https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/174233072748?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=174233072748&targetid=885285326120&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1006873&poi=&campaignid=1669190312&mkgroupid=95392719302&rlsatarget=pla-885285326120&abcId=1063846&merchantid=114919132&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIx_vtsI696AIVWeDtCh0g9Q33EAQYASABEgKFDPD_BwE)
Looking forward to seeing more.
Yes, I was brought up on Triang OO with a mixture of Series 3 and Super 4 track. Dad made up all the Airfix building kits and we used to set up wonderful layouts on the floor :D
I'd learnt how to strip and service Triang locos by the time I was 10. I progressed to System 6 track over time, but sold off my OO and moved to N by the late 70s. That's not to say I don't still have some OO in the cupboard including my favourite old B12 loco, but those are ostensibly my son's collection of course :)
Quote from: daffy on March 28, 2020, 09:34:13 AM
And I may be wrong, but in George's photo is that white smudge half hidden by a bush in the front left of the paddock behind the turntable possibly a prototype Flossie? :hmmm: :D
No sign of an out of scale cat though. :D
Dunno, but I'm pretty sure that there should be a mouse hidden in each of the front cover pics - can't spot him at the maximum enlargement available, though.
:hmmm: If the mice are missing - or hiding - there is a strong suspicion that a cat may be around somewhere then. Poppy? :hmmm:
I spent an hour on Saturday looking for the mouse on the covers. So far I've only got the one on the 1967 catalogue!
Quote from: Bealman on March 28, 2020, 01:45:50 PM
I spent an hour on Saturday looking for the mouse on the covers. So far I've only got the one on the 1967 catalogue!
I've just found him on the May 1965 one ;)
I've got no chance on the others unless you can scan/photograph them somewhat larger.
Please, no spoilers! I'll have another look when I get up (12.50am here) :thumbsup:
I'm going to look at each one in turn, so I'll provide better quality pics.
Quote from: Bealman on March 28, 2020, 01:51:07 PM
Please, no spoilers! I'll have another look when I get up (12.50am here) :thumbsup:
I'm going to look at each one in turn, so I'll provide better quality pics.
Cheers, I always used to like finding the mouse - coz the catalogue was about all I could afford so I stood more chance of finding the mouse than I did of acquiring any of the contents :D
BTW, I've also found him on the one Chris @crewearpley40 (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=3894) posted.
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not to be revealed until George gets up :D
Ah sunday morning uk time.... the mouse hunt continues. Loving this . I have the copy of mr lines article plus the art of hornby. I can screenshot by request
Nah, that's alright. It's the easy one on the shed windowsill ;) :dighole:
Quote from: Bealman on March 28, 2020, 02:04:12 PM
Nah, that's alright. It's the easy one on the shed windowsill ;) :dighole:
Well, the May '65 one was even easier :P
Somewhere up in my loft, I have a book called" Triang the first ten years". If my memory serves me correctly it has an article by Terence Cuneo on weathering locos and rolling stock. Will have to find it and read it again I think.
Hidden Numbers is a great movie. Hope you enjoyed it too.
Kind regards
Paddy
Good morning, all! Well, it's morning here, but in light of our current situation, the "good" bit is stretching things a bit, I guess. Chin up, though.
Thanks Paddy, it's a great movie, that was my third watch! I remember the period very well. I have very clear memories of the period. Did you know they found the Liberty Bell 7 on the ocean floor and retrieved it?
@chrism (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=7182) yeah... found the little blighter this morning on top of the overhead mast. I was having difficulty because the front cover of the actual catalogue is identical, and I was searching there. Turns out the Triang logo covers that part of the painting on the cover! :worried:
Returning now to that early catalogue, the stuff was quite advanced for the time, Bealman thinks. Certainly, the coaches were far from scale length, but the plastic bodies and glazed windows were light years ahead of the tinplate monstrosities with silver panels to represent windows that Hornby Dublo were offering at the time.
Plus of course the standard track was two-rail, and not that horrible 3-rail stuff also being pushed by Dublo (with tinplate ballast!). Of course all that 3-rail Dublo stuff is now extremely collectible and has a niche following, even to the point of entire layouts showing up at exhibitions, and I have no problem at all with that - I too enjoy the nostalgia. However, at the time as far as young Beaman was concerned, it was a no-brainer. His first electric train set would be Triang!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-280320074134-896631539.jpeg)
Impressively, as can be seen above, a working mail coach was available even then, and the Transcontinental range had already been introduced.
One thing that I liked, and still do today, is that although the bodies were plastic, at the the time the chassis and bogies were cast metal. Triang introduced a plastic chassis to their British stock in the mid-sixties, a retrostep I thought at the time, especially as it had a strange horizonatal bar connecting the pairs of wheels.
Here is the goods roster of the day:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-280320074157-896641532.jpeg)
Of course, even then, tension lock couplings are in evident. While ugly, they are undeniably effective. What impressed the young Bealman was that no special electrically operated uncoupling ramps were needed, as in the Dublo system. Just a simple spring loaded ramp which in the later Super 4 track simply clipped into the track anywhere you wanted (as long as it was straight!). With a bit of practice, shunting was a hands-free breeze. The metal versions shown here are more discrete than the modern offerings, too.
Motive power was a bit on the sparse side, though:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-280320074218-896651187.jpeg)
The time machine jumps ahead now to 1962, where things have changed considerably. I wouldn't waste too much time looking for Cuneo's mousey - I have a feeling it's hidden under the logo again! :beers:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-280320074319-8966859.jpeg)
Plainline mentioned the Tri-ang book called "The First Ten Years...". So I dug out my copy (see photo). Interestingly, the forward was written by Dr. Richard Beeching(!).
The chapter by Terence Cuneo on weathering was entitled "Creating Lifelike Models" and ends with the following advice: "If you decide to adopt my suggestions for characterising your railway, please take the job seriously. Don't rush at it. Use your paint delicately and thoughtfully. Remember, these models are magnificent in their own right - don't spoil them by slapdash work. Good luck."
Mr. Cuneo also briefly mentions his old model railway - "a gauge 1 garden affair, American in style and steam driven throughout."
I have also included a photo of the table of contents for those that are interested.
A note on the back cover reads: "RT-208 1962".
Ian
Los Angeles
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/3276-290320000912.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=89734)
Thanks for that, Ian!
There is reference to that very book and Cuneo's weathering of a Britannia locomotive just inside the above catalogue cover, and I'll be looking at that next. :thumbsup:
1962 was THE big year. Bealman was 10 years old, and had persuaded the Bealmother and Bealman Senior to get him an electric train set for Christmas. The eighth edition of the Triang catalogue was duly purchased, and studied intensely. I am now convinced, by the way, that Mousey is hidden beneath the title, although Cuneo's signing is visible in the bottom right hand corner, dated December 1960.
On the reverse of the cover, the book that Ian shows us in his post above, "Triang Railways - The First Ten Years...." is touted, along with Cuneo's weathered Britannia locomotive. There are also notes about the catalogue cover.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-290320031750-89720569.jpeg)
New items for 1962 were of course, Super 4 track - "far more realistic and cheaper too," smoke and Magnadhesion, exciting action accessories, scale length coaches, and new station buildings.
Bring it on!!! :thumbsup:
I'm still happy to screenshot pages, but in the meantime this is taking ones mind off the outside world
Quote from: Bealman on March 29, 2020, 02:19:34 AM
The time machine jumps ahead now to 1962, where things have changed considerably. I wouldn't waste too much time looking for Cuneo's mousey - I have a feeling it's hidden under the logo again! :beers:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-280320074319-8966859.jpeg)
I fear that you are right :(
Heres nostalgia.1967
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/3894-290320065050.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=89750)
And at crewe.....was this the shot chrism blanked out asking if we should let bealman sleep
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/3894-290320065257.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=89751)
Quote from: chrism on March 29, 2020, 06:36:54 AM
I fear that you are right :(
I hope he's not sitting on the track! :uneasy:
Quote from: crewearpley40 on March 29, 2020, 06:53:06 AM
And at crewe.....was this the shot chrism blanked out asking if we should let bealman sleep
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/3894-290320065257.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=89751)
Yep ;)
Quote from: Bealman on March 29, 2020, 07:00:40 AM
Quote from: chrism on March 29, 2020, 06:36:54 AM
I fear that you are right :(
I hope he's not sitting on the track! :uneasy:
IIRC, some did have the mouse running along the railhead or sleepers. At least one had him sat on the front running plate of a loco (a King, possibly) and IIRC one had him in the secondman's cab window on a diesel.
The one that I have never succeeded in locating him is the 1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Whenever I've found a large enough image to try I've failed because that painting, like the subject, has so much detail in or behind which the mouse could be hidden.
Quote from: Bealman on March 28, 2020, 10:39:33 AM
OK.... let's officially get this underway, before I turn in and watch "Hidden Figures" on DVD - yet another story of the period.
Before we move to the sixties, however, this little gem fell out of one of the catalogues. Unfortunately, the front cover is missing, so I can't get a handle on the exact year.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-280320074109-896622022.jpeg)
It does, however, have to date from the early to mid-50s. I can say this with reasonable certainty, as it shows Triang's "Standard" track, with the built in ballast base - just like the N gauge Kato track of today! Looking at some of my old Railway Modeller magazines of the 1957-1960 period reveals Triang adverts featuring Series 3 track, with black, widely spaced sleepers. This was replaced by Super 4 in 1962.
Many thanks, George. This is an excellent thread; please keep your splendid posts coming.
According to my copy of the
Tri-ang Hornby Book of Trains (undated but I think 1969), the clockwork 'N2' 0-6-2T shown in the illustration was only produced from 1952 to 1954. So your suggested date is spot-on. Interesting that Tri-ang chose an 'N2', as Hornby Dublo had one in its range since the very start in 1938.
Thanks again and best wishes. :beers:
John
Thanks, John, I've learned something there! :thumbsup:
I think that in those days, there was a fair bit of competition between the two companies. That could explain the N2. :hmmm:
Moving on. By Christmas 1962, a trainset had been selected. The trainsets of the day were pretty impressively packaged in didtinctive yellow and red cardboard boxes, as in the Lord of the Isles set below:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-290320031851-8973614.jpeg)
Let's face it, that's a pretty impressive set, with a passing loop, signal box and level crossing included! Both the loco and coaches are equally impressive, and the coaches showed up regularly in Railway Modeller issues of the time, as they were used by serious modellers for various projects.
BY 1962, steam loco wheels were no longer solid, but had see-through spokes, another cool advancement of the period.
However, the train sets did not come with a power unit, which was of course, an added expense. In defence of Bealman Senior, he went out of his way that Christmas. He purchased a Triang P5 unit, which was pretty cool - it had a 12V controlled output for the track, a 12V uncontrolled output for accessories or an additional variable resistor controller for double track operation, and a 15VAC output for point motors.
In testimony to it's ruggedness, it still is operational today on my existing Beal & Castle Eden layout, providing power for a transistorised handheld controller, and building lighting!
[smg id=4623]
There were some initial hiccups with it (more of that annon), but it was sorted.
The old man also had a baseboard constructed for me, 8'x4' which was actually a bit big for our upstairs flat, and it had to sit on the floor. Our town had a billiard hall upstairs above the pub which Bealman Senior used to frequent on the more than odd occasion. Anyway, they were putting new felt on the tables, so some of the old material ended up covering the baseboard! Also, the nearest 3-pin socket was in another room, so he got an electrician mate of his to put a really long mains lead onto the Triang unit, so it would reach into the other room. Pretty cool, really.
Anyway, the Lord of the Isles set didn't interest the young Bealman (I don't think the Bealoldie's budget stretched that far anyhow), and he selected the Britannia Pullman set on the same page above. You may notice in pics throughout this thread that there are ticks beside various items. These were items I ended up owning.
There is a tick beside the maroon Princess locomotive also on this page. That is an anecdote in itself. Stay tuned, viewer! ;)
Wow!!!!!! Your dad must of spent some good money George!!!
A green baize baseboard, and the extra wiring!! Absolutely fantastic.
Please tell us that Mr Bealman also spent hours of his time building and playing around with the layout as well!!
Unfortunately not, he was a truck driver for British Road Services, and in those days, a trip from Newcastle to just about anywhere meant he was away for days or weeks.
Looking back on it, that baseboard would have made quite an acceptable pool table >:D
Hi George,
Sounds like you had a wonderful Mum and Dad. 8' x 4' is huge when you see it in real life - amazed you could fit it in to your flat. Love the artwork - it makes you want the models so much.
Kind regards
Paddy
I wish I still had my 00 stuff as it included much of what you have shown in the pics. Very suspiciously, it all disappeared in one of my parents many house moves :'( :'(
Most of my stuff was still there when I went back and had to clean the house out when my parents died in 1990, but I gave most of it to the next door neighbour whose son had got married and recently had a little boy.
Another anecdote.... a close inspection of the trainset page with the Pullman set that I received for Christmas 1962 will reveal a tick beside the maroon Princess Royal locomotive in the night sleeper set. Within a day or two of Christmas, the Britannia started playing up. I can't recall exactly what was wrong, but it prompted a return to the place of purchase.
The shop was a sports shop called Josephs, in Sunderland, actually not far from Sunderland railway station. While being primarily a sports shop, upstairs they had a toy department with what to me was a very impressive display layout.
Anyway, up we went with my mother complaining bitterly about this bloody Britannia loco not working. The hassled guy placed it on the display layout and couldn't get it to go either. My mother went on and on and demanded a new locomotive immediately. The poor bloke went off to the manager and huddled discussions ensued, followed by much rummaging around among shelves of red and yellow Triang Railways boxes.
Upon his return, he explained that they had no Britannias in stock, but did have a new Princess Royal, also with smoke. The Bealmum decided that was good enough, so Bealman ended up with a Stannier at the head of his Pullman express, and the shop assistant lived to work another day.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-290320032048-897391210.jpeg)
1962 saw the introduction of twp new British locos, the NE B12 shown here, and an A1A-A1A diesel, also shown here. This page also shows the smoke and Magnadhesion features.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-290320032128-897401387.jpeg)
During 1962, Series 3 track continued to be available, but it's production quickly ceased. The new gee-whiz Super 4 track boasted: correct scale(!), realistic(?), correct sleeper space and length(maybe), facilities for clipping accessories(definitely), plated steel track and fishplates(yuk), close double track spacing(yeah!) and self-isolating points(also good for young enthusiasts).
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-290320032211-897412064.jpeg)
The working catenary system was something which interested the young Bealman greatly, but never appeared on his layout, although I do believe that @Newportnobby (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=264) had a catenary setup with the Triang EM2 Co-Co locomotive, Electra.
What also interested Bealman, however, was the Transcontinental range. I desperately wanted that Davey Crockett locomotive!!!
Things took an unexpected turn, however. My father was a pretty heavy smoker at the time, and Embassy cigarettes, his preferred cancer stick of choice, gave away coupons with every packet. Green stamps with tequilla! Lah, la la la la lah... oops, wrong thread ;)
Anyway, a glance through the Embassy catalogue revealed the Triang RS31 set, shown here:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-290320032302-897421588.jpeg)
The set consisted of a 0-4-0 yard switcher, gondola, oil tanker, and caboose. Awesome!! Bealman cautiously approached Big Bealman about this, fully expecting to get his arse kicked. To his surprised delight, it turned out that not only did Bealman Senior have enough vouchers to get it, but he was quite happy with the idea. Perhaps he was more of a model railway enthusiast than he let on!
And he gave up smoking in 1967. :thumbsup:
/To be continued
Hi George,
Your Dad gave up smoking the year I was born. Obviously not suggesting his decision had anything to do with my momentous appearance. ;)
Kind regards
Paddy
My Dad had a brilliant idea at one point - knowing very well that we wouldn't be able to built much of a layout due to the expense, he bought me a book of Triang Hornby track plans. That was good enough for me, I spent hours "playing" on those layouts, tracing the routes around. I still have a couple of the books lying around.
I think the "missing" mouse is underneath the "Hornby" graphic on the picture. I remember it being on one of the sleepers. One of the hardest ones that I remember, the mouse was "disguised" as a ceramic insulator on a telegraph pole.
Quote from: Paddy on March 30, 2020, 08:14:50 AM
Hi George,
Sounds like you had a wonderful Mum and Dad. 8' x 4' is huge when you see it in real life - amazed you could fit it in to your flat. Love the artwork - it makes you want the models so much.
Kind regards
Paddy
It fitted into the upstairs flat in Sunderland Street, but when we moved to a new council house on the Burnside estate in early 64, it wouldn't! Baseboard cut down to 5x4.
In the 60s I used to buy the Triang catalogues and dream about what I would buy...if I had the money. Getting 2/6d (half a Crown) pocket money didn't go far, and saving it up was hard for a young lad when it burnt a hole in my pocket.
In the early 60s there was a programme on T.V. the few weeks leading up to Christmas that showcased new toys. IIRC they were shown on a Saturday teatime.Who else remembers these programmes?
I particularly remember they showed a Triang American diesel in blue and yellow, with a light placed centrally on the Deltic like "bonnet" Boy did I want one of these, but alas it never happened. I think the colour of it attracted me more than anything else.
@trkilliman (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=2838) .If it was one of the ones illustrated here
https://tri-ang.weebly.com/r55-diesel--prototype.html
I shared the same wish for one, but it was not to be. :(
@trkilliman (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=2838) I also remember that show! It featured a great Triang layout! I don't know how you saw it in colour, though, as it was all black and white TV then! ;)
However, the locos you mention are most certainly in the 1962 catalogue. The single ended unit can be seen beneath the set I got above, and the double ended unit is on the opposite page:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-310320082748-89889781.jpeg)
And the next, along with a cute steeple cab loco (both with working pantographs), and a Budd diesel railcar:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-310320082811-898902259.jpeg)
I never had anything quite as old as these, although I think the first stuff I had was still Triang-Hornby rather than just Hornby.
I remember being rather puzzled when one of my Christmas presents was a large sheet of plywood, until I got to the smaller things in the pile and unwrapped a blue 0-4-0 tank engine and a few wagons.
The following year I was given a Hymek and later got (part with pocket money, part with top-up from Dad) "Albert Hall" - no smoke but it had "sound", a sounder box in the tender with a stiff sandpaper-like strip hanging down which was brushed by a metal strip fixed to one axle on every revolution.
I do recall my earliest track was the Super 4 (I think it was called) stuff, because I had to get adapters lengths when my later purchases were the newer System 6, with lower sleepers and rails.
Ah, a little blue 0-4-0 tank engine in the Triang Hornby period? In that case, you had "Nellie".....
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-310320095138-898912127.jpeg)
As opposed to "Connie," as she was known during the Triang years.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-310320095200-899102431.jpeg)
Connie carried number 6, Nellie number 7!!
"Connie" rings a bell more than "Nellie" - must have been a Triang one then.
Whichever she was, she eventually got seriously modified to become a resemblance of a Dubs crane tank ;)
I can now confirm that the early catalogue is indeed the 1955 edition, thanks to Paddy, who very generously emailed his PDF copy to me, along with several others.
That edition is actually Number one, with the 1956 edition being #2, at the princely sum of sixpence. Interestingly, by the 1961 edition, it had only gone up to nine pence!!
I also found it interesting that the range was pretty much stagnant there for the first few years, with new developments really starting to take off at the start of the new decade.
I reckon I've got enough material here for a PhD in history!!
Thanks, mate! :thumbsup: :beers:
George
Some years ago I did have given to me an original Rovex "plunger" Princess with cracked wheel flanges, and a couple of very warped coaches. I wonder what I did with them.....? I have a nasty feeling I may have binned them although that's a very unusual thing for me to do with any train stuff :D
Yeah, I've thrown a lot of stuff out over the years I wish I'd kept, but then again why?
Realistically, you can't hold onto everything for ever, you'd be inundated. And even if you did, would you sell it? Probably not.
I've got a Corgi James Bond Aston Martin from 1966 sitting in the study, which I've been told I could sell for quite a respectable sum (on this forum a few years back, actually).
But have I bothered, nah, it's still sitting in the study.
I seem to recall seeing Hornby (Tri-Ang) on Blue Peter - sure they had a BP layout.
Kind regards
Paddy
For a minute, I thought BP layout meant Blue Pullman rather than Blue Peter :drool: :drool:
I certainly remember Peter Purves and the Blue Peter layout. They even had a No. 532 Blue Peter on it. It was a Trix (remember British Trix?) 'A2' which I seem to recall Mr Purves converted to a double chimney version.
Best wishes.
John
Was that A2 notoriously difficult to obtain ? I remember my Grandad telling me the late John noakes constructing wagon loads from a card tray from bounty bar chocolate
I remember the Blue Peter layout had the long suspension bridge which really impressed me as a youngster.
One thing I never knew until very recently was that the industrial 0-4-0 (which in 1968 was Nellie - blue/Polly - red/Connie - yellow) was actually based on a stretched LSWR locomotive, the C14.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/1517-310320215336.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=89973)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/1517-310320215404.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=89974)
(C) Mike Morant Collection
So in the same way that Thomas is based on an LBSCR E2 0-6-0, so Nellie was an LSWR C14 0-4-0 but stretched a bit (only about 15%) to fit the pre-existing chassis :) - Like this!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/1517-310320220244.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=89976)
Nellie lives!
Happy days!
Bob
Totally awesome! Thanks, Bob! :beers: :beers:
Great thread, I do remember poring over some of these pages as a young boy. Also, how many of us are now running N gauge versions of the OO Tri-ang models we owned as youngsters? The Brush Type 2 fits into that category for me!
Yeah, guilty as charged, m'lud. :thumbsup:
Look at these jolly nice chaps, wearing ties too!
The railway doesn't seem to go anywhere, but there is obviously potential. Hurrah! And England for the World Cup!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/6889-010420055121.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=89984)
Now that's a one I've never seen before! Thanks for posting! :beers:
You can go from Plan 1 "Oval Layout With Siding" to Plan 12 "End to End and Continous Running for two trains with Flyover to Marshalling Yard" with hardly a blink. You might need 15' x 6' as opposed to 4' x 3', but surely that's in the realm of possibility for everyone? There is a helpful article showing how to store your layout in your wardrobe (removing all loose items first)! but I think a 15' wardrobe might be beyond anyone's means.
:laughabovepost: :laughabovepost:
Yeah, wishful thinking there, for sure!
George you have competition :hmmm:
https://youtu.be/lshSGkOFLDs
But George is more well known.
Here. :D
:laughabovepost: :laughabovepost:
Thanks daffy :beers:
Well, that is competition alright.... Pete Waterman! Thank God he's into 0 gauge these days!
I guess I could send this thread to Hornby stories, but I'm far too modest for that :) ;)
So I'll just soldier on here. :thumbsup:
Interesting views, he had though. Seems like a pretty cool sort of guy. Thanks for posting! :beers:
In the Hornby video, Pete Waterman states that he is now building a new 4mm layout that uses Hornby models!
Could he move to N gauge next? :hmmm:
Kind regards
Paddy
He is an absolute Gent of a bloke, going back probably nearing 15 years he was at a local show to us with plans and photos of his Leamington Spa build, my town of birth and know every inch of what hes building.
Dad and I went to the show just for a gander and bumped into him, he was desperately trying to find out about a row of buildings that sat just beyond 1 of 2 bridges as plans he had didnt show them and they were knocked down in the 70s.
You couldn't meet a nicer bloke, obviously my chances of meeting @Bealman (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=255) are quite slim, he has no belief he is better than you or I and really you wouldnt know hes had the success that he has. A genuinely great bloke with so much passion for Railways of every kind.
Ok, another anecdote. Post #43 shows the P5 power unit from 1962 which is still powering my layout today. It's actually amazing that it is!
Within a few days of Christmas 62, the thing started overheating and wax started dripping out of it! This had both myself and my father completely baffled, and the Bealmother was on the verge of taking that back to Joseph's in Sunderland as well. Then it dawned on me fatha (slipping back into the dialect there ;D) that operating it on the carpet was probably stopping the ventilation!
So, onto the baseboard it went, but the felt from the billiard table wasn't helping either, and it still kept dribbling wax. Sitting it on a hard cover book solved the problem - just in time, I suspect!
However, it really is still operating under the B & CE today! :thumbsup:
Ok, back to the catalogue. This page shows a number of Bealman ticks:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-290320032322-897431550.jpeg)
The goods wagons came with the Embassy smoker's Transcontinental train set, except for the R236 "depressed center car", which is actually the R118 "bogie well wagon" in the British rolling stock range. I also owned the snowplough, which I absolutely loved. So much so, in fact that an NGS snowplough is on the wishlist.
Then, of course, there is the operating helicopter car, on the same page. Well, what have we got here? An intruder on the Beal & Castle Eden!!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-010420063756-899871157.jpeg)
There are a couple of problems, however - it won't fit through the tunnels, the couplings are incompatible with the N gauge Rapidos, and......
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-010420063828-899881802.jpeg)
....the trackside trip lever won't clip-fit to Peco Streamline track!! ;D :D
/to be continued
The 1962 edition saw the introduction of new, "Modern Image" station buildings and canopies, and also curved platforms. To deal with the Super 4 track radii, they'd be curved alright! (Mind you, I need talk. Check out the curves at Kirkby Langdale in the helicopter shot above)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-290320032346-897441608.jpeg)
Interestingly, there is just a glimpse of Minic Motorways in the background there. This roadway system would play a big part in things in the future, as we will see in forthcoming episodes. :thumbsup:
Equally interestingly, Triang still offered the original range of staion buildings from the original 1955 catalogue:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-290320032434-89746480.jpeg)
On the opposite page, however, was a new addition: a colour light signal. Bealman acquired one, and was disappointed by it. Firstly, it seemed underscale. It was about half the height of the Hornby Dublo versions which were around at that time. Secondly, although operating on the suggested 12V, both grain of wheat bulbs blew. Replacement bulbs were not available at the time (or if they were, Bealman could not find any), so that effectively was that.
I still have the yellow lever frame type switch, though, attached to two black passing contact lever frame switches used by Triang for their point motors. Here they are sitting on the mess that is the Beal & Castle Eden on 1/4/20:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-010420064402-899961270.jpeg)
....and in the flooded quarry depicted in the May 1997 Railway Modeller magazine!!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-010420064438-900092166.jpeg)
/To be continued
One weird thing in this catalogue (well it didn't seem to be weird then, but sort of does now) was the inclusion of a collection of rubber scenic accessories (I don't know if the material was actual rubber, but it was some kind of latex based stuff). There were embankments (with suitable rubber gradient sections to get your trains up onto them), a stand-alone tunnel similar to @Train Waiting (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=6222) 's "tea cozy" tunnel (but rubber), two weird-looking stand-alone rubber cuttings, and these:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-290320032412-897451494.jpeg)
Note that there are three items ticked - a pair of haystacks, an oil tank, and a pair of small fir trees.
They say the past can sometimes come back to haunt you..... well in this case not so much me as the Beal & Castle Eden.
Invasion! :o
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-010420063627-899822066.jpeg)
Arghhh!! Headlines! Giant and haystacks appear in a field near Troutbeck Bridge overnight! Giant rubber fir trees block the road to Castle Eden! :o Horror!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-010420063657-899852214.jpeg)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-010420063959-8999015.jpeg)
On a purely technical note, the reason one of the haystacks is lying down is because whatever the stuff is, it's become quite brittle over the intervening 57 years (God, 57 years.... :worried:), and it won't stand up!
For the record,I don't have the oil tank anymore as it was modified to become a flying saucer which featured in my box-office flop 1972 science fiction movie, "The Visitor", made with the clockwork Kodak movie camera featured in another thread.
As the alien was fleeing Earth in his UFO/rubber oil tank, he crashed into one our satellites and the rubber flying saucer was totally destroyed.
Hence no pictures of a giant oil tank at Castle Eden. Just so you know. ;D
Next: the 1963 catalogue!!
Wow! I had a couple of those haystacks when I was a child, I'd clean forgotten they existed!
They look like muffins now. Perhaps it's time I had my breakfast.
Please, please, please remove those lever switches from the flooded quarry George! :o
You'll electrocute yourself with all that water about! :D
As for the 'rubber' items, they are so ... er .... lifelike. Not sure just what form of life though. :hmmm: I can understand why you used the oil tank as a flying saucer as they all seem positively alien.
Quote from: tutenkhamunsleeping on April 02, 2020, 07:38:04 AM
Wow! I had a couple of those haystacks when I was a child, I'd clean forgotten they existed!
They look like muffins now. Perhaps it's time I had my breakfast.
Muffins, I hope! :thumbsup:
It's life, daffy, but not as we know it. ;D
1963.
This is an interesting catalogue in what was obviously a busy year at Rovex Scale Models Limited, Westwood, Margate, Kent. The Lines Bros Group were branching out big time, and Item RT.280, the 1963 catalogue, reflects this.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-020420081416-90088838.jpeg)
First thing I noticed was the Ninth Edition had gone up to one shilling! A Cuneo painting graced the cover again, "Modern Image" this time, with a wonderful rendition of the transition period. A Class 4 diesel-electric has crossed the single track Saltash bridge, while a "Grange" waits for the express to pass.
I assume little mousey is blotted out by the Triang Railways banner again.
The banner hints at something different.... the Triang - Lionel Science Series?? :hmmm:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-020420081506-900912206.jpeg)
Once the catalogue is opened, you realise you've got quite good value for your 12 pence! Not only have you got all the Triang Railways goodies, along with these peculiar science interlopers, but the entire TT range as well!
This was the year that Stephen's Rocket made it's debut, with smoke, no less, and to this day I think it's a great model and I wish I'd got one.
Hi George,
I believe the rubber buildings were made by another Tri-Ang company called something like Frog Models. I suppose it was an early example of what is now called cross-selling.
Kind regards
Paddy
Ah yeah.... I have a vague recollection of Frog Models.
Totally forgotten about them - thanks for the memory bump! :beers:
Just be grateful that Tri-Ang did not put prams in the catalogue! :D
Kind regards
Paddy
Yes, they made those too, if I recall, yes?
Hopefully not a hijack but just a link of interest.
I remember making Frog plastic kits. Is this the company you're thinking of @Paddy (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=356) . There is a dedicated site and forum for them
https://www.frogmodelaircraft.co.uk/ (https://www.frogmodelaircraft.co.uk/)
Yeah, that's them. In fact I think I may even had a couple of their models, but we're getting deep into the misty cavities of my memory cell now!
Quote from: daffy on April 02, 2020, 07:55:03 AM
As for the 'rubber' items, they are so ... er .... lifelike. Not sure just what form of life though.
Didn't Madonna use a couple of those 'muffins' in one of her stage costumes?
Quote from: Bealman on April 02, 2020, 10:56:11 AM
we're getting deep into the misty cavities of my memory cell now!
Uh-oh. Let's not go there please! :worried: :stop:
Really enjoying this trip down tri-ang Memory Lane, George :thumbsup:
Returning to the 1963 catalogue, a new train set was introduced to the range:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-020420081624-900931682.jpeg)
A rather nice B12 local passenger set. I have included this as being of note, because when we moved to the new council house, I became friends with a boy a couple of doors away, and got him interested in model railways. More of the B12 set and him later, but he remains a good friend to this day. He and his wife who is also from Durham live in Wellington, New Zealand, and we see each other every few years or so, the last time being at my daughter's wedding in Sydney in 2017.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-020420081706-90094102.jpeg)
The "big" sets from 1962 were still there - interestingly, I've ticked the Britannia locomotive, even though I didn't have it any more!
However, this was the year the Grand Victorian suspension bridge was introduced, and while it greatly impressed the young Bealman, he figured that by the time you had the gradients on either side to get up to it and off it, that would be your entire bloody layout!
As I said earlier, 1963 was the year some big concepts were starting to happen.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-020420081747-90095606.jpeg)
How about a train set with not one, but TWO trains, with enough track to make a layout with a passing loop, and a SIDING that you could actually SHUNT?!! Awesome!
And then, of course, the Minic Motorway system started to make inroads ( :doh:) into the railway system. However, as the picture shows, a ton of fun was to be had. I will leave it up to you as to whether sixties sexism is on display here.... notice the son's smug look on his face as he dodges the train and accelerates away, while father is chuckling away as he wipes mother out.....
I'm enjoying the catalogue pages and also enjoying the fact that the young Bealman is referred to in the 3rd person :)
i know nothing about sexism (wasn't taught at my all-boys Grammar school) ;), but I'm wondering why Mum, Dad and sonny Jim are depicted as being, apparently, radioactive! :o
Quote from: daffy on April 02, 2020, 11:35:18 AM
i know nothing about sexism (wasn't taught at my all-boys Grammar school) ;), but I'm wondering why Mum, Dad and sonny Jim are depicted as being, apparently, radioactive! :o
... and that leads to Dad having 6 fingers as famously depicted on one of the Hornby Dublo adverts :D
(http://tech-ops.co.uk/next/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/early_anim_4.png)
I've found more info. The art of hornby
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/3894-020420121346.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=90118)
And some text
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/3894-020420121451.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=90119)
Tad more
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/3894-020420121631.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=90121)
Well we all know that families who could afford Hornby Dublo had a wee bit extra - just didn't realise it meant fingers! ;)
Paddy
Ha ha, I haven't seen that one before!
Actually there's a township not far from Chez Bealman where they reckon people are like that, but for a different reason completely, so we'll steer clear of that one :uneasy:
Quote from: daffy on April 02, 2020, 11:35:18 AM
I'm wondering why Mum, Dad and sonny Jim are depicted as being, apparently, radioactive! :o
Nah - they've just has their Ready Brek :)
As for the Dad with an added digit - gimme six!
I bought these two TT sets from an antique shop whilst on honeymoon in 1987. The passenger set is mint, the goods set didn't have the original tank loco (I need to find a better condition example) but everything else is unused. They came with a 1962 catalogue, a station set, and a bunch of other boxed coaches and wagons for the princely sum of £55.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/5885-020420181524.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=90138)
I love Tri-Ang TT - there is just something about it. The perfect size if you ask me. Smaller than OO but big enough to see and enjoy the detailing.
Kind regards
Paddy
Yeah, it's sort of a shame TT never took off. I realise there are some specialised clubs and groups around for the gauge, but they are exactly that.... specialist.
Those boxed sets are fantastic, ntp3!! You know what they say, though, once you take them out of the box, they're worth nowt.
However, as discussed earlier, and like me and my James Bond car, will you ever sell them? I tend to think not!
Your pics just reminded me that every Triang set came with that bottle of horrible oil! :thumbsup:
Quote from: ntpntpntp on April 02, 2020, 11:51:15 AM
Quote from: daffy on April 02, 2020, 11:35:18 AM
i know nothing about sexism (wasn't taught at my all-boys Grammar school) ;), but I'm wondering why Mum, Dad and sonny Jim are depicted as being, apparently, radioactive! :o
... and that leads to Dad having 6 fingers as famously depicted on one of the Hornby Dublo adverts :D
(http://tech-ops.co.uk/next/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/early_anim_4.png)
Quote from: Bealman on April 02, 2020, 01:43:27 PM
Ha ha, I haven't seen that one before!
Actually there's a township not far from Chez Bealman where they reckon people are like that, but for a different reason completely, so we'll steer clear of that one :uneasy:
In the (then very insular) town on the Cumbrian coast I spent a few childhood years in, there was a family with that particular anatomical feature and one of the boys was in my class did indeed have 6 fingers.
Insular, eh? Yeah, this place I'm thinking of here is a bit that way too, but we'll not go there. Ever onwards in the Triang Universe!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-020420081821-900962167.jpeg)
The new products were very exciting. The Brush 2 diesel electric loco was now available in BR green livery (Of course, it was that colour at the time - this being very much Triang's "Modern Image"). But look below - available Autumn 1963 - A BLUE PULLMAN!!! :drool: :drool: :drool:
Things were getting serious here. Even the new Caledonian Single locomotive took the young Bealman's fancy.
As an aside here, in hindsight, it is amazing (and in my mind, a credit to the designers) just how many products at the time were retasked and came out as new models! This comes through these catalogues time after time. For example - and that is just these pages alone, take a look at that new 0-4-0 diesel at the bottom of the left hand page. that has to be sharing the same chassis as "Connie" on the right.
The outside frameless 0-6-0 diesel shunter would most certainly have the same chassis as their 0-6-0 Jinty locomotive. Likewise, I think the new Caledonian Single would have been the same chassis as "Lord of the Isles". It is blatantly obvious that the Dock Shunter on this page is identical to Bealman's Transcontinental yard switcher, except it's red instead of yellow.
This strategy didn't just apply to locomotives, but coaches and trackside accessories too, which I'll be looking at later.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-020420081915-900982269.jpeg)
The rolling stock range remained fairly stable at this time, although new coaching stock appeared in the form of something for the new locomotives to pull - a Liverpool/Manchester coach for Stephenson's Rocket, and a Caledonian 1st/3rd composite coach for the Caledonian Single.
Looking at goods stock, a cute wagon with three containers was introduced along with a wagon carrying a Triang container, very similar indeed to the current Peco N gauge versions. I can't remember for sure if I had one of those three container wagons or not, but my mate mentioned earlier definitely did.
However, I was given one of those bogie well wagons shown here - complete with Conqueror tank load, held on by elastic bands!! The tank was one of those toys where you pulled it backwards a few times, let it go, and whoosh! Off it went like a startled rabbit ;D
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-020420082138-901021608.jpeg)
1963 saw the introduction of CKD - Completely Knocked Down. This is a concept I shied away from at the time, as the crippled Britannia locomotive did not give me much faith in either myself or Bealman Senior being able to put "Princess Elizabeth" together - and I'd swapped Britannia for a Princess anyway. However, my new mate didn't, and he got the pair of maroon coaches, though I think his dad put them together.
This was an interesting and bold concept, and has often been discussed on this forum as to if it would work in N gauge. Without hijacking my own thread, the general consensus, if I recall is that it wouldn't, and I tend to agree. If you want to discuss this further, please use the search function and address the appropriate board.
However, substantial savings were to be to be had by going down this route - Princess locomotive in the Night Sleeper set shown earlier, 69/6, CKD version, 45/- !! BR maroon composite coaches, 11/6, CKD, a pair for 18/11 !!
The block signalling equipment shown on the left page was a bold move, too - but probably a little advanced for it's target audience.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-020420082206-901031687.jpeg)
By now, those horrible rubber houses and embankments had been phased out (except for the rubber tunnel, as can be seen. The hay stacks and fir trees were retained, however!!). The embankments had been replaced by a set of bright orange piers, which I had a set of, but talk about ugly!! I think I preferred the rubber embankments, except the piers could be used on curves, of course.
Also in the above pic is yet another example of Triang retasking, but I'll address that in the next post. VB stubby empty! :beers:
Now you're talking! That southern electric set was my pride and joy, and fairly whooshed round the big series 3 oval on the 8 x 4 my dad had built.
And as it was an oval, the V was always at the front ;)
All (and I do mean ALL) these years later, coming across one at a swapmeet still brings a smile to my face.
Great topic, Bealman
Thanks, Buffin!
Ok, VB replenished (I'm sick of bottled stuff, but saving a lot of money), so let's further examine Triang's retasking of equipment. Take a look at that platform crane at the top of the left-hand page in the last image of my post above. Then take a look at this:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-020420082044-9010017.jpeg)
See anything familiar?
The engineer's coach in the crash train is quite obviously a re-liveried clerestory coach from the Lord of the Isles set. The operating crane is a brilliant bit of gear which appeared as the British crane truck here, a platform crane, and on a "Depressed Center Car" as a Transcontinental crane car!!
What so impressed the young Bealman was that, unlike the Hornby Dublo platform crane of the day, this Triang offering was streets ahead. No big silver crank operating handle sticking out the side here! This crane looked the part - girder coloured, it looked industrial (even though there was no suggestion of how such a prototype would be powered), sexy gold chain instead of string, a hook AND a jib that could be raised and lowered!
Best of all, no overscale crank handle. Instead, small discrete knurled operating knobs which were almost invisible on the model. No wonder Triang got heaps of mileage out of it! Mileage? Certainly - it even made it to Australia!
Triang crane at Castle Eden ready to resurrect the coal merchants that used to occupy this site:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-010420064334-89995851.jpeg)
In the goods yard at Kirkby Langdale, partially obscuring the primitive Ratio crane behind....
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-010420064232-899942461.jpeg)
Next.... Triang Science!!
Quote from: Bealman on April 03, 2020, 06:04:46 AM
The new products were very exciting. The Brush 2 diesel electric loco was now available in BR green livery (Of course, it was that colour at the time - this being very much Triang's "Modern Image").
I loved my type 2. Later on in the early 70s I had a Freightliner set which Dad posted to me all the way from Fiji of all places! (he was working out there at the time)
Quote
The outside frameless 0-6-0 diesel shunter would most certainly have the same chassis as their 0-6-0 Jinty locomotive.
Yes definitely the same.
Quote
It is blatantly obvious that the Dock Shunter on this page is identical to Bealman's Transcontinental yard switcher, except it's red instead of yellow.
Basically it was a body on top of the power bogie from the Transcontinental diesel. I had two dock shunters, they were very reliable little things.
I still have the sorry remains of Southern Electric unpowered end somewhere in the garage.
Yeah, that little Transcontinental shunter had knurled wheels, if I recall. Kept going forever! Noisy, though.
But it had a light on the front, which I thought was great. :thumbsup:
As requested by daffy in reply #84, I have removed the Triang lever frame from the flooded quarry at North Beal, and even cleaned the area up a bit!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-030420043321-901631676.jpeg)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-030420043745-901682245.jpeg)
The horses on the hillside at the nearby Ferryhill Gap seem contented enough, if a little red:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-030420043912-901712321.jpeg)
Back to the 1963 catalogue!
These bring back some memories! I can remember badgering my mum one day for the green 2-6-2 3MT tank loco, with steam, which I think was R59S. I must have been at home as every time mum asked me something, "R59S" was dropped in by me. She cracked and took me to Bermans toy shop in Basildon and got me it later that same day....... Not something I'm proud of doing now, but hey I was a youngster then!
I also had the CKD Princess Elizabeth in green but remember overtightening the tiny screw on the centre driver after fitting the valve gear so the thread got stripped and it would never stay in place for long. The coaches were a doddle to fit together as CKD but I'm sure mine came with LMS printed sides (on a MK1 coach?!) - have I remembered that right?
I got rid of all my Triang when i was 13 and went over to N, getting the Hornby Minitrix 2MT and Britannia, plus a Grafar 94xx. My mate had the Jubilee so he kept getting invites over.....
Interesting story about your CKD experiences. I remember my mate (the one who lives in NZ these days) definitely had a pair of CKD maroon coaches, but not what they had on the sides.
Depends when you got them, I suspect, as back in the day of these catalogues, the only stuff that Triang turned out was BR. So the nearest thing to LMS would have been an M, for Midland region.
In fact this BR exclusive mode that Triang was in at the time really frustrated the young Bealman, as by then he was reading Railway Modeller regularly, which of course was full of stuff that the adult modellers of the time were making.
Just as I model the railway of my youth - ironically BR, of course, they were modelling GWR, LMS, LNER, SOUTHERN, and all sorts of other stuff.
Bealman desperately wanted his locos to be LMS like the ones he'd drool over in the mags, to the point of hand painting LMS on the sides of his Jinty and Princess tender.
He made such an horrendous job of this of course, that he essentially spoiled two perfectly good locomotives. :worried:
My NZ mate also had one of those green 3MT tanks. That was a handsome model. It ran well, too.
My two penn'orth.
About 1965, I was given some Triang by an older friend who no longer wanted to play trains. This consisted of a circle of series 3 track, a Jinty, brake van and four wagons:IIRC, the cable wagon (with only one cable drum), the open wagon with opening doors, the open with fixed doors, and the other I can't remember. For about four years prior to this I'd been using Playcraft/Joueff, which was HO rather than OO.
I quickly found that my Playcraft controller was not powerful enough for the Jinty, and the wheels of all the Triang were too coarse to be reliable on the Playcraft track. It was a long time saving for a new Triang controller, and I still have it
I continued in OO for some years, but changed to N in 1975: most of my considerable collection of OO ended up with younger cousins, where I'm sad to say, it generally got broken and thrown out. It did include some electric light signals and the Royal Mail operating set
The first catalogue I remember was the one when the 9F was introduced: it might be the one where the mouse pretends to be a telegraph isolator. I think a great fuss was made if the fact you could see daylight under the boiler and the Ringfield tender drive. A friend had a large collection of Triang, and we often played with each others collection:he had quite a lot of the Transcontinental series as well as British.
There more, but this is long enough.
Martyn
No, please, feel free to go on! :thumbsup:
I remember the Playcraft stuff! I think Woollies used to sell it?
Yes, Playcraft was only widely available in Woolies, and some sets via the Mail Order catalogues (such as Littlewoods) of the time, though fortunately a fairly local model shop, the long gone Wheelers in Colchester also stocked it.
IIRC, I had a clockwork and electric USA tank, a WR diesel hydraulic, an 040 diesel shunter, four WR coaches, and about a dozen wagons. These included two Shell bogie tanks, a bogie car transporter, boplate, and IIRC, a French style mineral. During the time I was collecting the Playcraft the Couplings were totally changed from a tension lock to a Dublo type hence needing a converter wagon or change the coupling for a new type available as spares. I couldn't work out why the coaches were described as Opens, when the doors were obviously closed...
I had to change Triang track to make sure trains could run. I'm pretty sure I went from standard 3 to series 4 and super 6 types. What happened to number 5?
I did get, amongst others, the Brush type 2 diesel. I was a little disappointed with it over time: the worm drive was brass and the gear moulded to the axle was nylon, and the wear was phenomenal. I then found a good spares shop in Ipswich.... Also on this loco, the plastic plate holding the wheels in one the drive bogie had securing bolts in each corner. Unfortunately the plastic was not strong enough and the bolts wore through and the plate dropped off. Back to the spares shop.... And for some reason, I bought a replacement armature, which is I still have, unused! When it was released, I was much more impressed with the Airfix version.
I also found that the steam chassis block, a bit like Farish, was common to a number of locos. I was given a Hall, complete, which over time, became a B12! I remember the CKD, but never built any. I always fancied the EM2, but again, never had one. The first kits I built were J17s by Fine cast which fitted the Jinty/08 chassis. A bit difficult in the days of no superglue, and I didn't know then how to solder white metal. It was Araldite, elastic bands, and fingers...
In the mid 70s they was a short series of articles in Modeller on how to convert the B12 to other classes, mainly ex GER.
Martyn
My boss once worked the famous Newcastle manchester ted bank parcel train with two Van's full of pallets and still has the do let, remember the Brian mills depot Sunderland direction with onward directions to add the two Van's to the nightly manchester london parcels train. I did wonder where my late Grandad ordered his type 2 loco from.
I had a Playcraft set from Woolies, with the little 4 wheel diesel shunter in BR green, a couple of wagons and a brake van as I recall. It ran quite well on my Super 4 system.
Ah the arrival of the Ringfield Motor 9f - I remember when I saved for and bought mine via our local model shop's "savings club", it was a superb performer and I loved it running with my blood and custards. Looking back now it was very shiny green and copper, but most impressive :D Just occasionally I see one on a 2nd hand stall and get a craving to re-acquire, so that's bound to happen one day if a mint one turns up at a good price :)
Yes indeed. I know an N gauge man who bought one of those spaceships, made a nice wooden plinth, put a bit of sceniced and ballasted OO track on it, and sat it on his sideboard as an ornament, simply because he "likes looking at it"
.....continuing our 1963 adventure, dear viewer, we come to what I thought at the time was an odd thing to include in a model railway catalogue, but as a retired science teacher, looking back from today, now think it's pretty cool....
Science Sets!!
These were touted in the catalogue: "Rovex Scale Models Limited, the builders of Triang Railways, now bring to you the exciting world of science" and were under the banner of Triang-Lionel. Where or what the "Lionel" bit came from or was, I've no idea. Any info appreciated.
Anyway, there were 4 series: Famous Inventors, Electronics Engineering, Weather Stations, and Plastics Engineering (this last one sounds like a load of toxic fun).
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-020420082242-901041241.jpeg)
I never had any experience with any of this stuff at the time, though I vaguely recall seeing some of it in a shop somewhere. As a science teacher, I must say that the Famous Inventors kits look pretty good - educational and fun - IF - they did everything the catalogue said they did. Good value for money, too, ranging from 36/9 to 45/- (still getting me head round that old money).
Each kit had a gold plastic bust of the famous man himself. The range was:
* Gutenberg (printing press), * Hooke (compound microscope, available Summer 1963), * Cartwright (power loom, available Autumn 1963 - looks really cool - if it worked), * Hero (steam turbine), * Morse (telegraph), * Edison (phonograph), * Edison again (electric light), * Galileo (telescope) and * Bell (telephone).
The Science Sets are intriguing. They came in MKI, MKII and MKVI versions. What happened to MKIII one can only speculate!
It's difficult from the pictures in the catalogue to see what you got for your money, but the blurb states that the MKII weather station (119/6) had a "precision aneroid barometer" and two "dial computers on the console" to "simplify calculations of relative humidity and temperature-humidity index". There was also an electric anemometer to indicate windspeed and direction (I thought the wind was supposed to make that go around? ;D Of course, I assume you put it outside and connected it by wires to the dial inside your kit).
I assume that the MKIV electronics lab would be a bit similar to the Phillips Electronics kits that came out a few years later, although the blurb made some pretty heavy claims: "Operate home appliances by remote control, and build many other ingenious devices from this magnificent safety-tested equipment". YIKES! :uneasy:
As for the plastics lab, all I can make out are a whole lot of moulds to make things like rowing boats, a Mercury capsule, a world globe, a chess set, and test tubes and other stuff, including two big bottles of God knows what. Hours of toxic fun!!! :worried:
thanks for stirring the memories George, i remember having a set in the mid 60's but cant remember what it was or what happened to it. I have a vague recollection it was given to a distant relative with my Scalextrix in the very early 70's. By that time i was an apprentice with Post Office Telephones (now BT of course) and busy studying when i wasn't off chasing girls and beer.
:laughabovepost: :laughabovepost:
I presume it was the telephone set you were given. ;)
Yes, girls and beer and study(! :no:) tended to get in the way of model railways back then. ;D
Scalextrix (Is that the correct spelling? Doesn't look right, but there again I've been pulled up over that in this thread already) was big competition for model railways at that time, and I'll be looking at that to some extent in future episodes. :thumbsup:
you are correct should have written Scalextric.
Thanks, mate. When I saw your post I was scratching and scratching my head 'cos I couldn't remember the spelling either! :thumbsup:
Wrapping up 1963.....
The catalogue's final section was devoted to TT, and at this particular point in history, the range was quite extensive:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-020420082339-901061424.jpeg)
It was similar to the OO collection, except the "Transcontinental" segment was simply "Continental".
What is immediately obvious, however, is the solid "spoked" wheels, which sort of takes the edge off the models a bit (well for me, anyhow).
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-020420082411-901071155.jpeg)
However, as already noted, the range was quite extensive, and new items were still being introduced at the time, as in the Continental surburban electric set, coaches and track cleaning car seen on the pages above.
The Britannia Class locomotive, "Boadicea" even had smoke!
Unfortunately the gauge did not really catch on with the general public, and Triang suspended production not long after this catalogue.
Turning to the back cover, though, gave one a hint of what was to come. Triang had it's eyes on promoting Minic Motorways..... and that is exactly what they did.... starting in 1964.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-020420082447-901081634.jpeg)
Stay tuned! :thumbsup:
I'm really enjoying reading the trip down Felony Lane with all of your memories and ways to get the latest stuff.
What's really interesting is, I reckon it would of been 1994 that I got my first Hornby OO trainset, my uncle had a decent 00 gauge layout in his dining room, most of that would of been this stuff that your talking about now, most of my "extras" were second hand.
Dad got a 8x4 board from our local merchants and it had 2 levels on it. Its amazing how much of what was listed in the 1990 / 1994 / 1998 catalogue is what you had in 1963!!!
By 1997, I had started secondary school, got my first paper round, space was hard to come by in the house to keep the layout on the dining room table and shortly after we must of stripped it up and it's still in the original boxes today!!
The orange track gradient clip on pieces, I had in grey to get up to my 2nd level.
Thanks, Craig! :thumbsup:
Maybe it will all get resurrected one day? :beers:
Seeing the Minic advert with the train going over the elevated bridge reminds me that Playcraft had something similar, but the incline piers were made from large cubes with a platform top; and the bridge was quite a large girder one, which I had. Playcraft also had a number of line side accessories; I can remember having a set of gradient posts, water trough signage, and speed restriction signs (though I'm not sure about the latter....)
The Playcraft track was way ahead of Triang in the period we're talking about for looks, and it wasn't until Super 6 came out that it caught up. But it was difficult to use the Playcraft and Super 6 together; the fishplate were on the same side........and as I've said, the Triang flanges were too deep to run on Playcraft.
The Triang given to me also had the two types of couplings; one, the newer version, not unlike the Hornby coupling of today, and the other was a hook on top of a curved plain bar.
Later;
About this time, Airfix brought out a series of building kits and rolling stock kits which were to OO scale, and I had quite a few of these, noticeably the pub and dockside crane. I think at least some of these are still available in the Dapol range. I also was give a solitary Kitmaster loco kit; possibly a Pacific of some sort. I can't now remember because although I made most of it quite successfully, I managed to lock the valve gear up, and so it was only ever used for background decoration. Were there not motorising kits later available from a third party supplier for some of these kits?
Martyn
Yeah, the Playcraft track was finer than the Triang stuff of the day.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-040420095055-90246571.jpeg)
Airfix had a fantastic range of OO scale buildings and lineside kits. The great thing was that they were pocket money cheap - I think I had every one of them, including the footbridge, girder bridge, and turntable. In fact, here's an Airfix lineside hut, horrible 13 year old Bealman paint job included, on my N layout just last week!!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/89/255-010420064207-899931770.jpeg)
There were most certainly motorising kits available for Kitmaster locomotives, and articles about them were frequent in the model railway press of the day. I had a Kitmaster DP1, but it never got motorised.
Playcraft once produced a kit for Macclesfield station which I found to be very exciting as this wasn't far from where I lived - ideal for my EM2 and AL1 locos (I suppose we'll be introduced to these in the not too distant future). I had no problem operating a DC voltage prototype on my 25kV layout!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/1787-040420101549.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=90250)
Cool! :thumbsup:
I really don't remember the station kit at all...
I also had quite a few more Airfix building kits, though I can't now remember which ones, and quite a lot of their military kits were used on my railway. They also produced figures, mainly military, to go with their kits and again I used some of these on my railway.
Martyn
Quote from: martyn on April 04, 2020, 11:04:39 AM
I really don't remember the station kit at all...
I also had quite a few more Airfix building kits, though I can't now remember which ones, and quite a lot of their military kits were used on my railway. They also produced figures, mainly military, to go with their kits and again I used some of these on my railway.
Martyn
Yes, I remember having the signal box, signal gantry, platform accessories and lots of other railway items. Airfix certainly put Oakham on the map!
The Airfix box appears as recently as December 2019 on the Railway Modeller's beginners project.
Dapol own all those kits now, don't they?
Hornby @Bealman (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=255) according to website
Now produced by Dapol. Certainly many of the loco kits and some of the building kits have been in Dapol bags (not boxes nowadays) when I've been browsing in shops.
Some of these should look familiar :) My Dad made up all of the railway related Airfix kits back in the 60s.
https://www.dapol.co.uk/shop/model-accessories/self-assembly-oo-kits (https://www.dapol.co.uk/shop/model-accessories/self-assembly-oo-kits)
Thanks I stand corrected. I spotted the oakham signal box
Yes, I thought it was Airfix/Dapol, that's what it said in the article. That stuff in the link is definitely the old Airfix stuff - the water tank, engine shed, I had the lot!
The lineside hut that I plonked onto my layout for the photo in my thread is even in that link! Much better paint job, though :-[
1964.
The 1964 edition of the catalogue broke the mould by not featuring a Cuneo painting on the cover:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-040420052545-902281198.jpeg)
It still cost one shilling, but as can be seen, both Triang Railways and Minic Motorways have equal billing. In fact, the panel top right says Railways/Motorways.
I have a couple of issues with this cover. Firstly, while it showcases the new Blue Pullman model :drool: :drool: :drool:, (the Jag ain't bad either), it is quite obvious that the irresponsible driver of the Jag has done a gate runner and barely made it through before the Blue Pullman got there!!!
Secondly, the background equally obviously is attempting to show the new Model Land series of structures. However, being an ex-NE lad, the scene is reminiscent of a NE pit village. What's a Midland Pullman doing there, I wonder?
Picky, aren't I? ;D At least the illustration attempts to show the slot in the road for the car.
The rear cover shows the extent to which the Line Bros Group were going to integrate the two systems:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-040420052614-9022923.jpeg)
A mechanical horse with a road/rail wagon and adaptor, an amazing car loading ramp where you could drive a car up onto the railway car transporter, and off you go by rail, interesting road/rail junctions and track, and cute little road/rail buffer stops (bottom right).
Interestingly, the two systems appear to have been manufactured at different locations; as it says bottom left, Triang Railways are built in Britain by Rovex Scale Models Limited, Margate, Kent, while Minic Motorways are built in Britain by Minic Limited, Canterbury, Kent.
Once opened, the eyes are treated to the new Triang Model-Land range of structures and sundry items. The buildings are pre-coloured, which is a bonus, I suppose, but seem to me to be a curious mix.... tea shoppe, village inn, country stile, village stocks, etc, with a bit of California thrown in - San Fernando, Bermuda and Hollywood bungalows, if you don't mind!!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-040420052640-9023098.jpeg)
Interestingly, the blurb states that: "All buildings are of British style and carefully proportioned to blend with OO/HO and TT layouts". Yeah, right.
The next page has some cool stuff:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-040420052700-90231506.jpeg)
The pit head gear looks pretty good, as does the operating winding engine. It was apparently designed to fit inside the winding house, which at least has big windows so you'd be able to see it working!
The two buildings top right, "Parkview" and "Heathview look like they're mix & match, while the De-Havilland Trident at the bottom (available later) looks pretty cool - with remote-controlled taxiing and steering, 9/12VDC. I may be wrong, but I don't think that it ever appeared.... too hard basket, probably!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-040420052758-902331788.jpeg)
All of the buildings on the next page, however (above), seemed pretty cool and open to all sorts of kitbashing possibilities. Of course.... directly opposite..... the new Blue Pullman train set!!! :drool: :drool: :drool:
It looks surprisingly good for the day, but unlike our Farish N gauge version, only had the one powered car.
[smg id=9019]
Oh, sorry about that viewer... Christmas Day, 2013. Wonder what Bealman got? :D
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-040420052900-902341953.jpeg)
Most of the standard train sets continued, but the Freightmaster set (blurred, top left) was noteworthy, as it came with 7 wagons.... quite a large set for it's day.
As implied earlier in the thread, the firm continued to push the integration of it's road system with the rail system.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-040420052936-902351821.jpeg)
The car transporter set (bottom right) was interesting - that loading ramp looks like it comes straight off the point; certainly not a lot of room to spare there!
At the time, the young Bealman was baffled as to how the Minic cars changed lanes to go into garages, or up the ramp here, for example. Of course, the secret was there was a blade in the slot in the road, which operated just like a railway point. He found that out when he got a Minic car racing set in 1967 (yes, it's here in Oz with him today), but that's for a future episode! ;)
Also occurring in the year 1964, locomotives with smoke became locomotives with SYNKROSMOKE, later amended to SYNCHROSMOKE in the next year's catalogue - presumably some employee woke up to the mistake :D
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-040420053004-90236911.jpeg)
The blurb says:"SYNKROSMOKE, the latest wonderful development from Triang Railways, must be seen drifting across every layout" ( not to mention smelled drifting across every layout - I'm sure the young Bealman had a slight addiction there). "The faster the locomotive, the more furiously the smoke puffs from the chimney - up to twenty minutes of continuous running on one filling of special smoke oil."
I actually acquired a Jinty in later years with the Car-A-Belle set, which had that feature. It did indeed work, but to this day I don't know how that trick was achieved. :hmmm:
Anyway, returning to the catalogue page above, industrial locomotives #6, "Connie" and #7, "Nellie were joined by #9, "Polly". Above was a new model - a Co-Co Class E.3000 electric locomotive. Now that's a model I wouldn't mind having in my N gauge collection. Has anyone ever done one?
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-040420053043-902371623.jpeg)
The crane continued to multitask, and a new powered lifting bridge was introduced (above). An EM2 loco was added to the CKD series, and I think it's the first time I think I noticed a "Y" point. I know I did own one at one point ( :doh:) I always found it funny that the mysterious looking isolating track was just a piece of track with a gap in the rail, the mysterious brown box just being there to accept two wires and their plugs! (Below)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-050420071502-9028279.jpeg)
But then.... the remainder of the catalogue was hijacked by an interloper... the dreaded Minic Motorways!! :laugh2:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-040420053136-902391772.jpeg)
There was the rare class 81 am1 george. Wrenn micromodel / lima. Made this. This, saying trix and lilliput but overscale and wrong hue shade of blue.
IIRC, and I might be wrong after so much time, there were at least two variations of the synchrosmoke generators.
I'm pretty sure that I had a Britannia which just had a simple tube underneath the chimney opening; inside the tube was a heating element which vaporised the smoke oil. There was just random emissions from the chimney, no attempt at synchronisation with the movement of the cylinders.
And I'm also pretty sure that I had a Jinty with a different arrangement; a fairly big casting in the front of the boiler, which had an oil reservoir and a heating element under the chimney. I also seem to recall-and here I'm probably quite wrong-that there was some sort of piston which was driven by the motor worm which puffed the smoke out of the chimney in a sort of synchronisation with the loco moving. Or is that a sign of my ageing again?
Some tender locos-the B12 at least-also later had a simple form of 'chuffing' sound; basically a metal tab fixed to a tender wheel axle rubbing on a rough surface within the tender as the wheels revolved.
HTH-and isn't a wrong steer.......Apologies if I'm wrong.......
Martyn
No, I'm pretty sure you're on the money there. My Brit and Princess definitely only had the tube and heating element. I have a similar unit in the chimney at Skeggles Water on my N layout.
I never pulled my Jinty apart, but I seem to remember reading about something very close to what you describe to produce the "Synchrosmoke".
I'd given the game away by the time the chuff-chuff locos arrived, but once again I've read about the sound generation device, which once again fits your description. Cheers! :beers:
Quote from: martyn on April 05, 2020, 09:24:40 AM
And I'm also pretty sure that I had a Jinty with a different arrangement; a fairly big casting in the front of the boiler, which had an oil reservoir and a heating element under the chimney. I also seem to recall-and here I'm probably quite wrong-that there was some sort of piston which was driven by the motor worm which puffed the smoke out of the chimney in a sort of synchronisation with the loco moving. Or is that a sign of my ageing again?
Martyn
That's exactly the arrangement that I recall, Martyn. There was a gear on top of the worm, driving a piston in the smoke generator by means of a short connecting rod. The faster the locomotive went, the more it 'puffed'. I think the sound was a bit later, in the Tri-ang Hornby years. The smoke certainly had a distinctive smell!
Best wishes.
John
Quote from: Bealman on April 05, 2020, 07:26:33 AM
I actually acquired a Jinty in later years with the Car-A-Belle set, which had [sunchrosmoke] feature. It did indeed work, but to this day I don't know how that trick was achieved. :hmmm:
Very simple: a second gear wheel sat above the drive worm and drove a piston pushing in and out of the smoke unit.
http://www.tri-ang.co.uk/Smoke.html (http://www.tri-ang.co.uk/Smoke.html)
(http://www.tri-ang.co.uk/smoke1.jpg)
I remember my 1970s LMS Jinty, in its box with the red "smoke" label above the chimney. Oh and that smell :D I think I still have one of the original vials of oil somewhere.
These days I have a couple Arnold N locos with smoke units, but they're not synchonised.
Yes, I'm guilty of wafting the smoke from the chimney on my layout toward me nose even today! :-[
Quote from: martyn on April 05, 2020, 09:24:40 AM
Some tender locos-the B12 at least-also later had a simple form of 'chuffing' sound; basically a metal tab fixed to a tender wheel axle rubbing on a rough surface within the tender as the wheels revolved.
Yep, there was a clip fixed to the axle - which from memory was extremely similar to clips found in Meccano sets :D - rubbing on a metal tongue coated with a layer of sand. The tongue was routed into the hollow chamber of the tender.
Simple but quite effective to the ears of a young enthusiast :)
Loving this thread btw. :D
I've just been for a quick wander around here
http://www.tri-ang.co.uk/ (http://www.tri-ang.co.uk/)
Thanks for the link! I just had a quick look, and it looks good. Interesting he's upgrading the site. I'll take a closer look tomorrow!
Glad you're enjoying my efforts, by the way. The pictures I'm taking with my phone of the catalogues on the floor are crap, but I kid myself that they're in keeping with the vintage of the thread! ;)
Although my OO layout was Hornby Dublo I'm thoroughly enjoying this thread, I liked Hornby because of the chunky feeling Die cast locos (Duchess of Montrose was my favourite!) whereas the Triang I remember was plastic, I had a Bo Bo diesel which had a plastic body and very disappointingly adopted the shape of a Banana! Back to this thread a picture on post 108 stirred "The little grey cells" and after much thinking finished up covered in dust under the spare bed (old fashioned spring frame jobby, visitors find it very romantic as it dips into the middle!) to retrieve an old cardboard style suitcase full of abandoned railway projects mostly OO. Anyway there it still was!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/523-050420104120.jpeg)
which revealed
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/523-050420104213.jpeg)
It's only ever run on a yard of test track, I lost interest in model railways in about 1960 when Motor Bikes, Girls and Beer were more interesting, went back to the trains in the late 70's after getting married, Graham Farish taking over!
Thanks George for this thread which has bought up a lot of memories for fellow forum members. :thumbsup:
I remember classied ads in the Sunday papers in the 60s advertising job lots of what I assume was "obselete" Hornby Dublo stuff. They could be found among the ads for trusses and civil defence great coats. I never managed to persuade my dad to cough up :(
<drools over that Caledonian Single> !!!
Yeah, that Caledonian Single sure is in good nick! Thanks for posting, David!! :beers:
1964 continued....
The Minic Motorways range began just as the name implies, a sort of model railway but with cars. Hence the "normal" cars, buses, lorries, etc shown on these pages.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-040420053229-90241921.jpeg)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-040420053256-902421037.jpeg)
However, Triang/Minic were obviously very much aware of the slot car racing craze which was taking off at about the same time. My NZ mate had a Scalectric set a few years before I talked him into a train set!
Realising that they already had the infrastructure set up, the firm produced a half a dozen "production race cars", and parceled them up into three racing sets. These were joined in later years by Corvette Stingrays, and all sorts of other goodies such as a chicane and operating frontier posts, but I'm getting ahead of myself here.
With the recent discussion here about smoke units, don't you just love the steam lorry with the smoke generator sticking blatantly up through the cab? The police car with flashing light is pretty cool, too.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-040420053324-90243233.jpeg)
As can be seen, the range of road components was pretty extensive, allowing quite complex schemes to be realised. A glance at the hand controllers shows they had a reversing switch - these cars could do something Scalectric cars couldn't - they could go backwards!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-050420113521-903051644.jpeg)
Ok, I may not have known how the locos achieved Synchrosmoke, but I know how this trick was done (don't forget, I eventually ended up with a set) ;)
There was a small reversing pin at the rear of the car which sat in the slot, so it prevented the thing from jackknifing all over the place when you reversed the current! Simple, but effective.
However, the nice thing was that it was removable, so when you were racing, the rear of the vehicle was free to swing around on the corners just like a Scalectric car. Cool, eh. :thumbsup:
Wrapping up 1964, I've included this final page for no other reason than I think the bungalow with automatic garage door and a smoking chimney is, well, cool!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-040420053424-90245919.jpeg)
Coming up.... the eleventh edition - 1965.
Quote from: Bealman on April 05, 2020, 07:26:33 AM
Anyway, returning to the catalogue page above, industrial locomotives #6, "Connie" and #7, "Nellie were joined by #9, "Polly". Above was a new model - a Co-Co Class E.3000 electric locomotive. Now that's a model I wouldn't mind having in my N gauge collection. Has anyone ever done one?
I doubt it, as the E3000 locos were Bo-Bos so another typo there.
There's my EM2 shown. What year did the working catenary come out please?
Mick according to @Newportnobby (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=264) , brightontoymuseum.co.uk triang launched their triang railways Overhead Power Supply System for model railways in the 1959 catalogue . Hornby dublo launched AL1 E3002 single pantogrsph loco in 1963 shortly before meccano went bust. Who remembers the EM1 / 2 ?
Quote from: crewearpley40 on April 05, 2020, 01:01:01 PM
Mick according to @Newportnobby (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=264) , brightontoymuseum.co.uk triang launched their triang railways Overhead Power Supply System for model railways in the 1959 catalogue . Hornby dublo launched AL1 E3002 single pantogrsph loco in 1963 shortly before meccano went bust. Who remembers the EM1 / 2 ?
I loved my EM2. Mine was in corporate blue livery with full yellow ends.
Even though we seem to be fussier these days about specialising in particular loco operations and regions I wouldn't mind betting that this would be a success in N gauge, partly for nostalgia reasons (all of those current N gauge modellers who owned this loco in their childhood). Maybe those nice chaps at RevolutioN might give it a go one day.
Ok, I'm assuming a return to a Cuneo cover with the eleventh edition, though I'm not certain. It indeed looks like his style, but once again there is no sign of the mouse, or a signature. Could be off-pic, to bottom right, I suppose.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-060420005715-90328689.jpeg)
The eleventh Triang Railways catalogue was an austere affair - thin (only 24 pages), and with little new product. Of course, with the benefit of hindsight, there was probably a lot going on behind the scenes, with the up-coming amalgamation with Hornby Dublo. But that was in the future, and the young Bealman was still the Triang man!
By now, his mate had decided to get a train set for Christmas, and it looked as though it was to be the "Holiday Express", with a B12 and a couple of blood and custards.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-060420010102-903447.jpeg)
It was a surprise, therefore, when Bealman called around to his place a few days after Christmas, and found "The Defender" set trundling around his fledgling layout!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-060420010359-903461507.jpeg)
It was, however, great fun, and many happy hours were spent taking aim with the 4-rocket launcher at the exploding box car, as it trundled around in the dark, illuminated by the searchlight wagon!! The rocket launcher was surprisingly powerful, and all four could be launched individually, or if you really meant business, fire all four of them off together!!
That very same Christmas, Bealman received the new Car-A-Belle set. It was in the mail order catalogue that the Bealmum used to order stuff from, and he was successful in persuading her to make that his Christmas present.
I admit with some embarrassment today that I had no interest in the car transporters at all - I just wanted the Jinty with Synchrosmoke :-[
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-060420010138-90345732.jpeg)
One new announcement for 1965, however, was the English Electric Type 3 Co-Co Diesel, which the catalogue described as; "One of the latest mixed traffic diesel locomotives to go into large scale service with British Railways".
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-060420010454-903472480.jpeg)
By now, the old station buildings from the fifties had disappeared (along with the rubber haystacks). Bealman hated that "modern double track engine shed" seen here, however, and he still thinks it looks stupid to this day.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-060420010533-90348446.jpeg)
The back cover depicted yet another drool pic, the railway combined with Minic and Model-Land, and I must say that I think that it looks good - nothing except Rovex product in that picture, and it all goes together rather well.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-060420010003-903431630.jpeg)
Next: 1966 - the year of amalgamation!
Quote from: Bealman on April 06, 2020, 04:16:17 AM
Ok, I'm assuming a return to a Cuneo cover with the eleventh edition, though I'm not certain. It indeed looks like his style, but once again there is no sign of the mouse, or a signature. Could be off-pic, to bottom right, I suppose.
It certainly does look his style, but apparently it wasn't a Cuneo.
There was a similar thread on RMWeb some years ago which included a post listing the covers and whether or not they were Cuneo's work.
https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/41622-the-hornby-catalogue-influence/page/4/&tab=comments#comment-1522845 (https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/41622-the-hornby-catalogue-influence/page/4/&tab=comments#comment-1522845)
The synchrosmoke Jinty-R52S?-the first Triang loco that I bought, as opposed to my collection of Playcraft, from a long gone toyshop in Clacton. The Jinty I had been given to start my Triang collection didn't feature this; and the previous owner had painted it brown, to boot.
It later suffered again as it was one of my first attempts to renumber; to an ex LNER J71, I think!
Martyn
.....Bealman picked up the latest copy of the Triang Railways catalogue, but...... what was this..... shock! Horror! Triang... Triang... HORNBY?! Eeeek!! :confused1:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-060420062843-90349890.jpeg)
Anyway, we all know the mouse is on the top of the catenary mast but blotted out by the logo (see page 1), so let's take a look inside.
What was on the first two pages? To be released in 1966... A treat for Western fans, that's what! Two locomotives!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-060420062903-90350146.jpeg)
A 4-6-0 Western Region Hall Class locomotive, "Albert Hall" (with driver & fireman), and Hymek B-B Diesel Hydraulic locomotive! The Hymek blurb states: "Authentic BR livery emphasises the attractive lines of this modern workhorse".
I've always liked Hymeks, but have yet to acquire one in N. It's on the Bealman wishlist. :thumbsup:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-060420062926-903511204.jpeg)
As @Train Waiting (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=6222) pointed out a few posts back, there was a train set called "The Midlander". The 3F appeared in maroon livery for the first time in this catalogue. That would be unprototypical though, wouldn't it? Did a 3F ever appear in this livery?
Interestingly,at the top of the page, Bealman's original Pullman set of 1962 has been re-named the "Inter-City Express", and "Britannia" has been replaced by the new EE Co-Co locomotive. This, of course reflected the contemporary scene at the time.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-060420063000-903521938.jpeg)
Bealman's Car-A-Belle set with it's 12 MINIX cars (not to be confused with the motorised MINIC cars) is featured, with the Synchrosmoke Jinty which was the only reason the young Bealman had the set. The Minix cars had horrible silver wheels and were very plasticy. However, I recall seeing an article in Railway Modeller (and not all that long ago in the context of the timeline of this thread) about super detailing these cars. They were certainly cheap and nasty, but good raw material for such a project.
On the same page is a new set, "The Goods" featuring "Polly", and a flat wagon with yet another shiny-wheeled Minix car - Harry Potter Anglia cars were flavour of the year in 1966! But what caught my eye (just then, actually) was this set came with a controller, not available for Australia! Dunno why, we run on 240 volts 50 cycles AC - maybe Polly was scared of kookaburras, or something!
At the top of the page, it can be seen that the Hornby Dublo "Barnstaple" steam locomotive made it through the amalgamation intact - for now!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-060420063038-90353363.jpeg)
The diesel page is interesting. I'll address the first couple of issues to @Newportnobby (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=264) . Firstly, the typo has been addressed and the E.3001 "Co-Co" is now a Bo-Bo. Secondly, his beloved "Electra" loco is now blue!! Also blue is the double-ended Transcontinental locomotive - and I've only just realised as I'm writing this - it and the matching blue coaches are the only Transcontinental stock in this catalogue!!!
The Transcontinental range was quite obviously being phased out, though this never occurred to me in 1966!!! There is no Transcontinental freight stock at all in this catalogue, and a check of the 1967 catalogue reveals that the Transcontinental stuff has disappeared completely (apart from Battle Space).
That really is a revelation to me, and something I've only discovered by writing this thread. Well, well well. :thumbsup:
Another surviving Hornby Dublo locomotive is on this page - the Co-Bo diesel electric. Wouldn't mind seeing one in N gauge. Didn't it haul "The Condor"? All Hornby Dublo locos were supplied with coupling converter wagons, by the way.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-060420063106-90354594.jpeg)
The freight roster was essentially the same as in previous years (minus the Transcontinental stuff!) with the addition of a coupling converter wagon. Interestingly blue-gray coaching stock made their first appearance.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-060420063134-903551211.jpeg)
1966 saw the introduction of Battle Space, which was essentially just existing stock in a new paint scheme, and has already been discussed.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-060420063207-90356394.jpeg)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-060420063309-903581430.jpeg)
Note that, except for the back cover, no Minic Motorways appear in the 1966 catalogue. By now, Rovex had made the decision that they would market this range completely separately, and began to produce a dedicated catalogue.
The Model-Land page above touts Minix as "THE GREATEST little CARS IN THE WORLD". Dunno where that idea came from, some eager young PR man, I assume.
At this time, just after amalgamation, the original Hornby Dublo plastic buildings were retained:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-060420063338-90359520.jpeg)
Young Bealman thought some of these were ok - the terminal buildings, with the overall plastic roof were particularly impressive, as was the engine shed. Bealman actually had one of these, bought back in 1962 - well before the amalgamation. The Triang version was crap, as can be seen on this page, along with the Hornby Dublo version. No comparison, I reckon.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-060420063400-90360401.jpeg)
Also on the same page is the Dublo crane with the big crank handle mentioned in an earlier post. This time, the Triang product wins hands down.
Finally, the back cover features the railway-Minic Motorway level crossings, oh, and that horrible Hornby Dublo crane!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-060420063421-903611053.jpeg)
Coming up - 1967 - the year of flower power and the year that Bealman waved goodbye to Triang Railways!
Quote from: chrism on April 06, 2020, 07:06:10 AM
Quote from: Bealman on April 06, 2020, 04:16:17 AM
Ok, I'm assuming a return to a Cuneo cover with the eleventh edition, though I'm not certain. It indeed looks like his style, but once again there is no sign of the mouse, or a signature. Could be off-pic, to bottom right, I suppose.
It certainly does look his style, but apparently it wasn't a Cuneo.
There was a similar thread on RMWeb some years ago which included a post listing the covers and whether or not they were Cuneo's work.
https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/41622-the-hornby-catalogue-influence/page/4/&tab=comments#comment-1522845 (https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/41622-the-hornby-catalogue-influence/page/4/&tab=comments#comment-1522845)
Just had a look after typing the last post. Very interesting - thanks for the link! :beers:
Some of those buildings would look lovely on John's ( @Train Waiting (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=6222) ) Poppingham Railway. If they are perfectly scaled for OO, HO and TT then no doubt they will fit for N as well! :D
Kind regards
Paddy
This thread has got me thinking a lot about my old Triang collection, and in particular the thought that I had had CKD MK1 coaches in - shock horror - LMS livery. I remember being very disappointed when getting them as a present that the colour wasn't like BR maroon, and the LMS on each end needed to be changed.
However, at that time I was using (amongst other things) balsa glue to fix metal chimneys from Lone Star bodies onto boilers made of paper wrapped round a pencil, so that show the level of my modelling skills at the time. Repainting and lettering were most definitely out!
Searching for these on the net bought little results until I noticed that an auction site had a box of random OO gauge models advertised last year, and lo and behold, LMS Mk1 coaches! I wasn't going mad after all. I suspect these will not feature in Bealman's excellent trawl as they must have come out 1968-9 or even a little later. Anyone else remember them?
I do remember the Minix cars, but I only had one transporter. I also vividly remember spending Xmas with my mums parents in a dingy flat next to Kings Cross station (the good thing about going there!) and coming home with just over £1 in hard cash, enough to buy me a passing loop set.......
Those were the days!
Dave
Dave
Quote from: Newportnobby on April 05, 2020, 12:47:26 PM
Quote from: Bealman on April 05, 2020, 07:26:33 AM
Anyway, returning to the catalogue page above, industrial locomotives #6, "Connie" and #7, "Nellie were joined by #9, "Polly". Above was a new model - a Co-Co Class E.3000 electric locomotive. Now that's a model I wouldn't mind having in my N gauge collection. Has anyone ever done one?
I doubt it, as the E3000 locos were Bo-Bos so another typo there.
There's my EM2 shown. What year did the working catenary come out please?
Thanks to a generous gift from @Paddy (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=356) of PDF's of Triang catalogues from 1955 to 65, I can confirm that the overhead catenary system did indeed make it's debut in the 1959 catalogue. Present day tension lock couplings too, by the way. :thumbsup:
The transformer/controller I saved up for was the RP13, and it still works, though not used. This was the basic controller, with a single 12v dc output only; there was a 'deluxe' version which had, IIRC, 2 x 12v dc (might have been only 1x12 v, not 2) and 1 x 16v ac. My friend with the large Transcontinental collection had two of the previous version of these which were smaller, and had a high/low resistance switch, which neither of us understood what it did. When I eventually aspired to two tracks, I bought an H+M Clipper, which is still used to power the points on my layout.
Seeing the Triang/Hornby catalogue, he had been given a railway collection from some-one who was quite a bit older than us, and who had no further use for it. This included the large overall Hornby station canopy, but the previous owner had completely painted it grey.
This friend also acquired quite a lot of Battle Space; together with Corgi and Britain's die cast model army field guns, we had quite a few battles. As these guns fired small metal 'shells', and with the Battle space rockets, they would have been a nightmare in today's H+E atmosphere!
Somewhere along the line, I acquired the Hornby 4MTT, CoBo, and also the Deltic. I renumbered the Deltic with plates from King's Cross models (conveniently next door to the station); the plates had to be cut out from 'solid', no etched tabs here! One of these diesels was missing, I think, traction tyres, and as I had no idea where to get spares, that's how they remained. I really can't remember where these three locos came from (possibly a school mate selling up), nor what happened to them.
I note that you didn't mention another range produced and captioned in the catalogue; ARKITEX model buildings. I still have quite a large collection of this in the loft. Basically, the main supports of the building was made with H-section yellow plastic beams which plugged into plastic 6-way connectors, which in turn plugged into the baseplate. The building exterior was made from a range of panels similar to the pre-cast ones then in fashion in the 'real' world; these included various door and window panels. Roofs and floors were made of coloured card panels which were laid on the cubic framework built up with the H-sections. The range also included stairway sets (single and double width) and roof/floor panels WITH LIGHTS that were fed by battery via a system of copper strips, which were held in place by the methodology of the H-beams and plastic plugs. I don't know if this was very popular; it was certainly difficult to get 'extra' packs soon after introduction.
And also to be contrary (think Playcraft instead of Triang), I had Airfix Betta Builda instead of Lego.......which I again still have a small collection of in the loft. I remember making a 'ship' from Betta Builda, which I loaded with rice via the Triang open wagon with opening doors given to me!
I'm now realising that I had a lot more toys and models than I would have thought I had; and that's without going into my Airfix kits and Matchbox cars!
Martyn
Yes, you are indeed correct about those ARKITEX buildings. The text in the third from last pic describes exactly the same construction method you have explained, and the R.589 set could be configured as any of the three buildings shown on that page. :thumbsup:
As you suggest, I don't think they were around for long.
Thanks, George, about the Arkitex.
Unfortunately, I can't read the text, even on highest magnification.
The window panels shown are slightly different to mine; the lower coloured panels are metal and reversible and just slip in to the bottom of the panels. Mine are bright red or blue, not as illustrated.
Martyn
No Martyn, nobody will be able to read the text, thanks to my crappy phone photography!! Sorry!
Still great stuff, George. I thought the Hymek was earlier than 1966 as my Mum has a pic of me at Christmas when I got mine. I also had some of those godawful station buildings in (quite heavy) metal and some of the Battle stuff, although whenever I fired mine the wagon just fell off the track from the recoil :doh:
By right clicking on your pics and using 'Save image as.....' I did manage to save it to my laptop and then enlarge it so I could read the typo on the E3000.
Shame the thread is nearing its end but by 1967 other things took my attention ;)
Please Sir, can we have a Co-Bo in N gauge? Happiness is a freight train called Condor... ;)
Kind regards
Paddy
Quote from: Paddy on April 06, 2020, 02:23:57 PM
Please Sir, can we have a Bo-Bo in N gauge? Happiness is a freight train called Condor... ;)
Kind regards
Paddy
@Paddy (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=356) Do you mean the class 28 Metrovick Co-Bo, Paddy?
Hi @Newportnobby (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=264) - I do indeed and thank you for spotting my error. Post now amended. :-[
For some strange reason, I like the look of the Co-Bo despite it not having the best of reputations.
Kind regards
Paddy
How long was the mini motorway available for as i remember seeing it in the catolouge and drooling /pestering parents for both the road way and the train road interface,would have been early-mid 70;s i'd guess,never got one,or even saw one in the flesh though.
As for smoking and chuffing engines i had both,this set
(https://www.picclickimg.com/d/l400/pict/143466815415_/Pre-owned-Vintage-Triang-Hornby-RS613-Steam-Freight-set.jpg)
although im sure the car was blue in mine.
and
(https://image.invaluable.com/housePhotos/LacyScott/49/319849/H0656-L29984647.jpg)
not only did it make a noise,but also had a glowing fire box.
Going slightly ot,but the smoking effect was also common in adverts and films were a steaming plate of food or similar effect was required,a tampon would have a coil of nichrome wire wrapped around it and soaked in oil,add a few volts and voila,"steam" coming of the plate. It can also be used to make a dragon puppets mouth give off a gentle waft of smoke in between the blasts of flames (brake cleaner fluid ).O the fun we had in the days before elf and stasi
Thanks for posting those pics! I must admit I've never seen those. My last Triang Hornby catalogue was the 1967 one I'm about to take a look at, so these sets were most certainly after my time, so to speak.
In 1968 my interests turned to electronics, the Triang stuff was boxed away, and the baseboard was cut up and turned into a work bench.
By the end of 1970, I was off to college, studyng (HA!) and drinking beer, chasing girls and drinking beer, playing football and drinking beer, playing cricket and drinking beer, making 8mm movies and drinking beer, and in 1972 travelling regularly through Eaglescliffe ( @Jonner (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=3014) ;)) and drinking beer.
Quote from: Paddy on April 06, 2020, 02:23:57 PM
Please Sir, can we have a Co-Bo in N gauge? Happiness is a freight train called Condor... ;)
Kind regards
Paddy
Yes, I like it too, Paddy. I'd love to see it in N gauge, if simply to duplicate The Condor! :thumbsup:
Bealman's last Triang catalogue.... 1967. Are you going to San Fransisco? Make sure you wear some flowers in your hair... :music:
The front cover returned with a Cuneo painting, with the mouse visible on the sill behind the guy tending the M7 locomotive.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-070420013316-90427396.jpeg)
And sure enough, right inside the front cover, is the new M7 model - complete with opening smoke box door and firebox glow!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-070420013348-90439455.jpeg)
I've always liked the M7, and this model found it's way onto quite a number of layouts featured in Railway Modeller magazine over the years. It is of course available in N, and is yet another model on my wishlist.
The next page showed some of the features of the Triang Hornby system, accompanied by some very impressive artwork:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-070420013415-904401195.jpeg)
The models continued to reflect the 1954 British Railways "modernisation programme":
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-070420013441-90441958.jpeg)
While the steam locomotive page was revealing. There is not a Hornby Dublo locomotive to be seen anywhere in this catalogue - in other words, dropped like a ton of bricks a year after amalgamation!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-070420013515-904421843.jpeg)
The 0-4-0 motive stud was reduced to two, poor old "Connie" had even vanished from the last year's catalogue! The CKD range was now referred to as "Assembly Packs", and the Princess Elizabeth was joined by the B12 loco. The EM2 loco "Electra" was still available in this form, and the catenary system was still going strong. Interestingly, the steam loco in the photos below appears to be the Dublo "Barnstaple", not available anymore!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-070420013540-904431907.jpeg)
The 1967 catalogue hinted at the future to come.... container trains.....
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-070420013614-90444331.jpeg)
...and the new corporate colours....
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-070420013641-904452030.jpeg)
The "Assembly Pack" range now included three coaches, all in the new blue and grey livery. A passenger pack was also introduced - presumably for the Blue Pullman!! ;)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-070420013712-904461723.jpeg)
The newly-liveried Battle Space range continued to expand - talk about a classic but successful re-tasking of existing equipment! Take a look at these pages:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-070420013743-904472047.jpeg)
* Q car: the existing exploding car now falls apart but has missiles inside
* Ambulance car: existing Transcontinental stock
* Multiple Ground-to-Air Missile Site: Missile turret from my mate's Defender set re-liveried and re-tasked
* Command car: Re-liveried Transcontinental operating mail car
* Sniper car - the giraffe on the giraffe car replaced by a sniper!
* Tank recovery wagon: re-liveried Transcontinental crane car
* Honest John Pad: Re-tasked rocket launcher from the bogie bolster wagon, put onto a platform crane base
Let's face it, pretty smart marketing strategy when you think about it!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-070420013810-904481856.jpeg)
Unlike the locomotives, the Hornby Dublo railway building range was retained, as was the ARKITEK range at this point:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-070420013916-904492191.jpeg)
Finally, the back cover showed the railway/motorway combination was still there, but by now Minic Motorways had it's own catalogue - watch out for an Epilogue, dear viewer! ;)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-070420013942-904501822.jpeg)
Quote from: Bealman on April 07, 2020, 02:48:38 AM
I've always liked the M7. It is of course available in N, and is yet another model on my wishlist.
I reckon the only way I'm going to see one is if Dapol do another run and, by the time it is produced, I won't even be able to remember what one is :doh:
This has been a great romp through the past, George. Thoroughly enjoyable and thanks for putting it all together. Presumably the threatened epilogue is just the one liner - "and so I drank some beer" :D
You'll just have to wait and see, won't you.
Don't hold your breath, though - I threatened an epilogue for my Japanese adventure, and that was two years ago.... :-[
The Model-Land stuff didn't stay in the catalogue very long.
Did it not sell well, or were Triang unable to produce it ?
Can't answer that one! Was it in the 1968 catalogue, I wonder?
The 1967 catalogue - I so remember my Dad bringing this home and I spent hours looking through the pages. A strong edition in my view!
Here's some info about the fate of Model-land :
https://www.brightontoymuseum.co.uk/index/Category:Model-Land (https://www.brightontoymuseum.co.uk/index/Category:Model-Land)
Best regards,
Joe
History then repeated itself with the launch/demise of Lyddle End.
I shall have to look out my old catalogues and continue the thread.
Just don't know quite where they are....
Bob
Quote from: Bob G on April 07, 2020, 01:09:02 PM
I shall have to look out my old catalogues and continue the thread.
Just don't know quite where they are....
Bob
(All together now)....."In that safe place, Bob"
Just read through this thread and I found it most interesting.
Probably because Mizzy Gizzy has a Tri-ang set, with a 0-6-0 tender loco, a coach and a SR bogie parcels van.
When we tried out the set, we only had to change the fuse in the 13A plug to get it up and running again. That ozone smell was most familiar from my own childhood.
Whenever we go to antique shops, I often have a look for the old Super 4 track and pick up the odd piece cheaply. Our plan one day, is to mount it on a baseboard and make a simple 60's trainset for display....
I found the Brighton toy museum link for Arkitex;
https://www.brightontoymuseum.co.uk/index/Category:Arkitex (https://www.brightontoymuseum.co.uk/index/Category:Arkitex)
It would appear that it was produced in two scales, 1;43 and 'OO'. the 1;43 scaled with 'Spot On' cars, and O gauge railways, and I'm pretty sure that this is the scale that I have, not the OO version; I remember at the time trying to use it with the trains, but it was much bigger.
It would appear to have been axed circa 1965, according to the history.
Martyn
Quote from: joe cassidy on April 07, 2020, 12:40:44 PM
Here's some info about the fate of Model-land :
https://www.brightontoymuseum.co.uk/index/Category:Model-Land (https://www.brightontoymuseum.co.uk/index/Category:Model-Land)
Best regards,
Joe
Thanks for that link, Joe, but unless I'm missing something, I can't find anything that says with absolute certainty when the range disappeared. In fact the header at the top says "1963 - "
Now if that was about an author on a book jacket, it's saying he/she is still alive!!
The link does confirm something I've long suspected though - that the Trident aircraft never saw the light of day. :thumbsup:
Gizzy: Great idea! How about some pics of the set?
Martyn: Not long before my Triang train set came along, I actually had quite an extensive Spot-On road set which I'd lay out on the carpet. The road sections were made of shiny grey metal, with plastic curbing.
Dunno what scale it was, but it was big - the cars were much bigger than the Corgi and Dinky vehicles of the day.
Edit: Just found this link, Brighton Toy Museum again:
https://www.brightontoymuseum.co.uk/index/Category:Spot-On_Models (https://www.brightontoymuseum.co.uk/index/Category:Spot-On_Models)
It also says that the ARKITEK models carked it in 1967.
EPILOGUE.
Especially for @Newportnobby (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=264) (but for also for anyone else remotely interested).
As hinted at in my final Triang Railways thread of 1967, the company had plans for their Minic Motorway system. Sure enough, in January of that year, a dedicated catalogue appeared:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-080420023730-90532603.jpeg)
Price one shilling, but interestingly, Bealman's copy has 1/3d pencilled in on it. Ripped off! Anyway, the catalogue had awesome artwork, and convinced the young Bealman what he'd be chasing Christmas 1967.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-080420023804-905331810.jpeg)
Triang realised that they already had the infrastructure in place to go head-to-head with the existing slot car producers. They introduced new cars, touted as GT racing and rally cars. An Aston Martin DB6, an E-Type Jag, Ferrari 500 Superfast, and even a Corvette Stingray!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-080420023829-90534333.jpeg)
The fact that Minic was OO scale, meant much more racing in a smaller space. New racing sets were introduced:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-080420023905-905351003.jpeg)
Along with motorised roadside gimmicks (powered by clockwork, incidentally), which allowed slot car rallying to occur!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-080420023929-905362292.jpeg)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-080420023956-90537742.jpeg)
More retasking - even the flying helicopter found a place with Minic!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-080420024027-905381723.jpeg)
The extensive range of roadway components allowed novelty sets like the "Cops and Robbers" set - the police car could come out from the police station and run the bad guy off the road at the chicane!!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-080420024101-90539200.jpeg)
The artwork was so good it even made mundane vehicles look exciting! Too good, actually - Bealman remembers the sense of disappointment when he saw the real models.... piddly little plastic things with not much detail, but I'm getting ahead of meself again...
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-080420024130-90540495.jpeg)
There can be no doubt that the small size was in Minic's favour. That's a pretty impressive circuit in 5' x 3'6". You could also copy real life circuits in a reasonable space! The catalogue even gave you a list of track parts.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-080420024202-90541291.jpeg)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-080420024237-905421778.jpeg)
Plenty of accessories to be had, and the back cover still pushed the railway connection.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-080420024306-905431655.jpeg)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-080420024324-905442423.jpeg)
Coming up: More Minic stuff, and the Bealman connection :beers:
EPILOGUE PART 2.
I have another catalogue here, which is virtually identical to the one above.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-080420024353-905451316.jpeg)
Same cool artwork, but almost identical inside. I don't know if it was before, after, or ran concurrently the one above.
There was a different painting inside, however:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-080420024447-905462156.jpeg)
Anyway, to cut to the chase, so to speak, Bealman did indeed get a set that Christmas. It was the smallest race set, because that's all the Bealmother reckoned she could afford. That was probably true, but I'd like to think that she was maybe a bit shitty that I was deserting the trains. Who knows.
Ironically, none of my trains made it to Australia, but this set did, probably because it's in a small box and I was able to ship it easily. Can't quite remember, but it's here with me now as I type this.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-080420023627-90505780.jpeg)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-080420023700-905312490.jpeg)
It's the European Silver Eight Trophy Race, and while being small, had a chicane and was a lot of fun. Two different layouts were possible, the figure eight or a kidney-shaped affair. During 1968 I actually added a bit more road to it (including a junction), and the working frontier post. The car set still works, by the way, even on my old trusty Triang P5 power unit! :thumbsup:
For some reason, my set had a Porsche and an Aston Martin DB4 rather than the Jag and DB6 shown in the post above. See what I mean though, about the difference between cars in the catalogue and the model cars in real life? Let down! ;)
One impressive inclusion with the set was a comprehensive "Owner's Handbook - Third Edition". Fifteen pages long, it shows how to connect the power supply, connect track pieces together, and all sorts of useful info - roundabouts and reversing loops caused the usual sorts of polarity problems that railways are also confronted with, so there's a section on that. There are also comprehensive notes and diagrams on how dismantle the cars. Thumbs up for the documentation!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-080420024733-905521827.jpeg)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-080420024802-905531689.jpeg)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-080420024824-905542357.jpeg)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-080420024853-90555277.jpeg)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-080420024918-90556999.jpeg)
I seem to recall a little pamphlet advertising Railway Modeller magazine was included in the Car-A-Belle train set. Well, this little curiosity came with the Minic set:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-080420024613-905492279.jpeg)
It is of course, a Peco Publication from Seaton, Devon, and I suspect it lasted for like 5 nanoseconds!
Scenic slot car sets never really caught on, did they? The magazine quite obviously drew heavily on the format of it's railway-oriented cousin, even to the point of having a "ROADway of the Month"!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-080420024636-905501949.jpeg)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-080420024701-905511832.jpeg)
Miniature Autoworld "shows you how" was the catch phrase - wonder where that came from, and monthly features included:
* Out and About - places to visit by car
* Model car racing
* Saloon and racing car plans, photographs and descriptions
* Latest trade news
....and two VERY suss columns... they'd be Bealman's favourites, for sure....
* Leisure Girl (I assume that's her in the Hillman Imp on the front cover)
* Various indoor activities
:D :) :D
Anyway, as I say, the mag probably lasted nanoseconds - in fact I very much doubt Peco would have had enough for 12 issues! :beers:
What's a "suss column"?
Quote from: Bealman on April 08, 2020, 06:46:13 AM
Scenic slot car sets never really caught on, did they? T
I suspect controlling a car buzz through the scenery just doesn't have the same appeal as watching a train rolling through the same by itself.
I never had the faintest interest in slot cars of any kind. A train set could be made to look 'fairly' realistic but all my cousins did was slap bits of road together and then enjoy spinning the cars off the track. The only benefit I could see was the slot car stuff was easier to dismantle.
Quote from: Bob G on April 07, 2020, 01:09:02 PM
I shall have to look out my old catalogues and continue the thread.
Just don't know quite where they are....
Bob
Please let me know if these succeed in hiding from you, Bob. By co-incidence, my run of catalogues starts where George's stopped!
In the meantime; what about this?
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/6222-080420102857.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=90567)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/6222-080420102938.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=90568)
Unfortunately, it does not have a year in the print code as far as I can tell. It's R/166/4. It's 'Tri-ang Hornby' in the style of the 1966 catalogue. Locomotives shown in the booklet are:
'EM2', Railcar, Diesel Shunter, '3F', '3F' 0-6-0T 'Jinty', 'B12', 'L1', 'Britannia' and a maroon 'Princess Royal'. As there are none of the 1966 introductions shown, I'd guess at 1965 or 1966 as the year of publication.
George remarked on the excellent artwork in the catalogues. These illustrations, together with old magazines, Ladybird books and a 'Thomas the Tank Engine' provided much of the inspiration for
Poppingham.
What a splendid thread, many thanks George.
Best wishes.
John
I *Think* I know where they are, but I'm a little larger than I was when I placed them there for safety :) (i.e. behind the drawers on which my layout sits). My wife used to be able to reach them, I shall see if she can get in there :)
The Track Plans catalogue dates from between the period of edition 11 and 12, i.e. the very start of Triang-Hornby. I had track plan no 3 on the floor on a white sheet, and it evolved to Plan 5.
I submitted a Hornby Memory to the Hornby people (like Pete Waterman did) and they asked me if they could use it. I of course said yes. Here is my Hornby Memory (and it is actually wrong as the chocolate and cream coaches were actually carmine and cream - but a dark carmine. By the time they reintroduced blood and custard in 1970 it was a hideously bright colour).
It was Christmas 1965. I was 5 years 3 months old, had Scarlet Fever, and was quarantined from all my school friends. A bit like today really. I was very contagious and covered in spots.
I'd had the Holiday Express train set for my Birthday three months previously – a B12 4-6-0 no 61572 and two Chocolate and Cream Mk 1 coaches. I woke up on Christmas day to a mass of track and points, a station, and a Freightmaster trainset. A Brush Type 2 diesel and seven wagons (I can reel them off even today – Horse Box, Cattle Wagon, Milk Tank Wagon, Tri-ang Container Wagon, Three Container Wagon, Drop Side Wagon and Brake Van). We now had enough track to make the 6 x 4 track plan no 3 in the Track Plans Book of the time, but we didn't have a baseboard, so this was laid out for me by my dad on a white sheet on the carpet in the front bay window of our house. I sat and played trains and my friends could only look in and see me transfixed in a different world, oblivious to them peering in.
The white sheet became two paste tables by the next Christmas, and I'd upgraded to Plan 5 in the track plans book, before I eventually got my 6 x 4 board in the spare room, Winston Churchill, and some pullman coaches.
I still play trains 55 years later, and I am still transported into my little world that I have created.
Robert Gregory
Age 5 ¼.
Ah memories
Best
Bob
Good one, Bob. Love it! :thumbsup: :beers:
John: I can spot some of those shiny rubber trees in the background of that trackplan book! :thumbsup: ;D
They were the "conker trees" if I recall ;)
Epilogue's Epilogue.
As inferred earlier, The young Bealman did add a few bits and pieces to the Minic set over the course of 1968. A few extra curves, and a junction component which allowed a Le Mans style start to a race:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-090420042310-906151962.jpeg)
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-090420041729-905991772.jpeg)
Here is the operating mechanism of the junction. As can be seen, the copper blades are quite thin and flimsy. If a car hit one at high speed when it was set against it (which could happen on the inside track, if the driver had forgotten to turn the junction back to straight), damage could result. The operating levers can be seen on each side of the road.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-090420041946-906101666.jpeg)
Here is a close-up of the cross-over:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-090420042047-906112241.jpeg)
Bealman also acquired a Frontier Post/Customs working feature that year:
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-090420042138-906121566.jpeg)
It came in CKD form, but slotted together easily enough. Now this was a fun bit of gear!
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-090420042210-90613497.jpeg)
As mentioned earlier, the mechanism to raise and lower the barrier was clockwork, but really quite ingenious. The clockwork motor turned a wheel with plastic pegs you could add or remove to adjust the timing of the barrier.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-080420024519-90547877.jpeg)
The central yellow panel outlined a points system you could use for rally games, but me and me mates never bothered with that. We'd be just hooning around smashing into the barrier. It took a hiding!
The thing actually worked when I got it back to Australia in 1990, and the young Bealettes had a lot of fun with it. But then Dad overwound it, and.... that was the end of that.
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/255-090420042242-90614353.jpeg)
Anyway, that's the official end of this thread - mainly an exercise in nostalgia for me, along with a way of occupying myself during this mess we're all going through at the moment and if it has brought enjoyment to members (which the positive comments seem to suggest), then I'm happy.
Cheers, George. :beers:
I have as much as others enjoyed this thread. Nogalstic but not a motor racing or car fan, it's certainly brought memories. Thank you for posting in the first place george
thoroughly enjoyed it George. good one.
Quote from: Bob G on April 08, 2020, 11:42:16 AM
I *Think* I know where they are, but I'm a little larger than I was when I placed them there for safety :) (i.e. behind the drawers on which my layout sits). My wife used to be able to reach them, I shall see if she can get in there :)
The Track Plans catalogue dates from between the period of edition 11 and 12, i.e. the very start of Triang-Hornby. I had track plan no 3 on the floor on a white sheet, and it evolved to Plan 5.
Many thanks, Bob; that's helpful. This edition of the track plans booklet is featured in catalogues 14 and 15 but it's a different edition, including 'System 6' track, in catalogue 16. By co-incidence, my 6' x 5' layout was based on Plan 5 as well.
There is another charming full-colour illustration inside this booklet. It is either a different layout or, perhaps, the 'other' side of the layout featured on the front and rear covers:-
(https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/gallery/90/6222-090420091315.jpeg) (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view&id=90617)
With best wishes.
John
Those very nice catalogues also showed the biggest drawback of the gauge - short trains!
I would never have bought a 3 car Blue Pullman :no:
Could you actually buy the other 3 cars as separates?
Yeah you could.... listed as R.426, Pullman Parlour Car type 6, with seats in the Eleventh edition (1965). They'd all be the same, though.
That's another great pic, @Train Waiting (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=6222) . Shows the uncoupling ramps at the start of sidings and loops really well.
I'm trying to think who put out those backscenes - they were very popular at the time. Was it Biltezi?
I have a vague feeling that Kitmaster may have made some of the BP cars, but, never having had one, I'm not sure.
I don't think I ever saw more than a three car unit actually running.
Thanks for starting the thread, @Bealman (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=255) ; it has certainly brought back a lot of memories!
Nigel, @ntpntpntp (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=5885), belatedly, thanks for the photo of the synchrosmoke Jinty; that's exactly how I remembered it, and I'm glad my memory was working correctly!
I'm sure I saw in the catalogues the 'Rocket' set. I also had one of these, but not until about the late 70's/early 80's, or even later? Presumably there was some sort of re-issue, but I can't now remember. It was sold about 20 years later, having only been out of the box for about three test runs, to pay for some 'N' rolling stock.
Martyn
That was a nice little model, that, even if the big brass gear on the axle was unavoidably visible, if I recall.
It even had smoke at one point, I think!
Kitmaster did indeed make a full range of kits for the Midland Pullman - see http://www.kitmaster.org.uk/ (http://www.kitmaster.org.uk/)
Norman
Now that's a very cool link. Thanks for posting, Norman! :thumbsup:
I had a Kitmaster DP1 that the Bealdad put together for him around 1961 which I was very fond of, but I have no idea what happened to it. :beers:
I don't know if this will be of interest but I found it, entirely by accident. It's the first film of three.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7x4bCfCwN8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7x4bCfCwN8)
Please forgive me if someone has posted this link before.
Best wishes.
John
Wow! Isn't that fantastic? Makes me want to start collecting!!
I've only managed to get halfway through the first one as the days got in the way and I've got to get up, but what I've seen is wonderful.
They actually custom built that Margate factory... didn't know that.
I'm sure Mick will find the references to catenary and Electra interesting. I even spotted a full length Blue Pullman just before I stopped watching!
Looking forward to seeing the rest when I get the chance.
Thanks for this, John. Awesome!! :beers: