Ruffnut Thorston

"Nellie" and friends were probably the first electric OO gauge locomotive for a lot of people... In "Tri-ang Railways, The First Ten Years", published in 1962, the artist Terrance Cuneo painted a "Nellie" to look like a working locomotive. Some early 'weathering'... The RS.24 Train Set was popular. Initially, "Nellie" and "Connie" were both blue. This led to the two nameplates being applied to either of the then available two running numbers, 7, and 6. Subsequently, "Nellie" was blue, No. 7, "Connie" was Yellow, No. 6, and a new name, "Polly", No. 9, was red. It's worth noting that the body tool was slightly modified, to delete the locating ridges for the nameplates, when the green "27" was introduced.(1970-71) Subsequent "Nellie" models (Including those from the "Take-A-Ticket" Train Set) therefore, don't have these ridges. In the right light, two circular marks can be seen , where the ridges were situated. I believe that the body tool around the original dome was retooled to take the large dome. Therefore, the tool was again altered to produce 7178. A new dome was added, which is in a slightly different place... I think it's slightly further from the chimney...(50:50 chance.😉) The names were re used by Hornby later, notably on some "Holden tank" locomotives. ᚱᚢᚠᚠᚾᚢᛏ × ᛏᚼᚬᚱᛋᛏᚬᚾ 🐉🙋🏼‍♀️

Yes. This is a fairly common model really. Like "Lord Westwood" (the district of Margate where the Tri-ang Railways Factory is.) the running number is actually one of the company phone numbers! The chrome plated plastic dome is the moulding from the Lord Of The Isles locomotive. LOTI domes are brass plated. ᚱᚢᚠᚠᚾᚢᛏ × ᛏᚼᚬᚱᛋᛏᚬᚾ 🐉🙋🏼‍♀️

I'm wondering if the 'grade' of plastic used has any bearing on the heat damage to these Airfix Railway System locomotives? I have a similar Airfix 4f, with similar damage, also acquired, from a fair, for salvageable parts. Just a thought? ᚱᚢᚠᚠᚾᚢᛏ × ᛏᚼᚬᚱᛋᛏᚬᚾ 🐉🙋🏼‍♀️

Yes, that's the one I remembered. 🐉🙋🏼‍♀️

Also buildings...and a version of the 1951 Festival of Britain site. Brighton Toy Museum link... https://www.brightontoymuseum.co.uk/index/Category:Micromodels 🐉🙋🏼‍♀️

R.59 Chassis Blocks and Pony Trucks... Apart from the chassis itself, the pony trucks also underwent changes, not limited to the change from MK2 to MK3 couplings in 1959. The shape of the castings also underwent change. From memory, the different pony trucks are not interchangeable between the different chassis...the shape of the chassis block determining the type of pony truck that will fit... 1955 R.59 Service Sheet. With Jan. 1959 addendum to list the ready assembled wheels/axle assemblies. I think that the earlier R.59 was the only Tri-ang Railways loco to have slots in the chassis, so that the wheels could be removed without disassembly... 1961 R.59 Service Sheet. The cylinder block and chassis block retooled to allow for the Seuthe type smoke unit to be fitted. Also, 'Magnahesion' traction magnets are now fitted. The "Princess" type S.5056 motion bracket is retained, though the design of this part was changed, to accommodate the chassis change for the Pacific Chassis Block from thin plate frames to a thicker part of the new cast chassis block. The pick up plate, which was only held in place by the pony truck screws before, now has its own standard S.1011 securing screws, as on other models. So, to allow for this, the pick up plate is different... New "See though" spoked wheels with steel tyres were also used, to allow the 'Magnahesion' traction magnets fitted to this chassis block to work. Addendum for SS9a. Sept.1962. In 1962, the R.59 chassis block was again retooled, and brought into line with the other Tri-ang Railways locomotive chassis...the slots being deleted, and axle holes being used instead. So, the compete wheel/axle assemblies could no longer be used. The R.59 was retired from the now Tri-ang Hornby range in1966. It was to return, (It is said, to boost the number of BR liveried locomotives, after the general use of 'Big Four' liveries in the range) with another new chassis, in 1969. 1970 R.59 Service Sheet. This covers the R.59 from 1969. This is a very different chassis block. The brake block details from the earlier versions was removed, and other modifications made to allow for the fitting of the smaller Synchrosmoke unit, with a unique to this model extension lid. While the X.426 cylinder block was retained (a bad move, as the now redundant hole for the Seuthe type smoke unit weakened the moulding. A prime cause of failure of this component, not helped by smoke oil contamination.) A new, unique to this chassis, motion bracket S.8013, was used. The pony trucks were also retooled for this chassis. Again, from memory, the S.1002 pony truck screws also changed, being shorter in length overall, as they no longer had to pass through the pick up plate, which had been changed to be the same type as fitted to the "Jinty" 0-6-0 chassis. The very last production R.59S locomotives had plated driving wheel tyres. Some may have also had the new bogie and pony truck wheels, with plated metal tyres, fitted... The various R.59 Chassis Blocks were also used for the two versions of the Transcontinental Series (T.C. Series) Continental Prairie Tank Locomotives. ᚱᚢᚠᚠᚾᚢᛏ × ᛏᚼᚬᚱᛋᛏᚬᚾ 🐉🙋🏼‍♀️

There has been a message from Horrnby, saying that due to the demand, it's taking longer than expected to send out the membership packs. In fact, we received the first magazine before the membership pack. Anyway, here's some better photos of our badge. 🙂 ᚱᚢᚠᚠᚾᚢᛏ × ᛏᚼᚬᚱᛋᛏᚬᚾ 🐉🙋🏼‍♀️

So, as I recall. The "curved drop" footplates were all built as non Streamline locos. The last two of these conventional locos, built with Ivatt's modifications, had what some call the "utility" front end to the footplate. This type of footplate was used on the Streamline locos when they had the casings removed. ᚱᚢᚠᚠᚾᚢᛏ × ᛏᚼᚬᚱᛋᛏᚬᚾ 🐉🙋🏼‍♀️

I only knew it was the Metcalfe version, as I've not long had the Metcalfe Catalogue delivered (With RM magazine.) ᚱᚢᚠᚠᚾᚢᛏ × ᛏᚼᚬᚱᛋᛏᚬᚾ 🐉🙋🏼‍♀️

That's the Metcalfe Signal Box Interior kit. 🙂 ᚱᚢᚠᚠᚾᚢᛏ × ᛏᚼᚬᚱᛋᛏᚬᚾ 🐉🙋🏼‍♀️

Tri-ang Railways and Horrnby Railways Turntables. Briefly. The first Tri-ang Railways Turntable was made for 'Standard' Track. It had a modified X.04 Type motor, and used a friction drive to the edge of a sold disk base, with a plastic 'bridge' mounted on it. This had only two entrance/ exit tracks, opposite each other. The only function being to turn locomotives by 180 degrees. The Second Tri-ang Railways Turntable arguably is the best Rovex produced RTR turntable. The R.407 (Hand Operated. A motorising kit was originally also available.) And R.408 (Electric Operated). These have one entrance, and three exit, tracks. The motor, an X.05, the same as in the Lord Of The Isles and Caledonian Railway Single 123, is mounted on the bridge, as described in a previous post. The worm on the motor, and the worm in the gear train on the motor base is the standard X.04 twin start worm. The gear wheels in the gear train are standard 50 tooth X.04 type gear wheels. The main turntable drive gear is indeed a weak spot. Resin printed replacements are now available. We have found that the original version of the R.408, with a maroon bridge, also have the drive gear in maroon plastic, and that this maroon plastic is somehow 'weaker' than the later black plastic used for the R.408U version of the Turntable. Power for the motor is carried by wires from a connection on the edge of the base, and wipers on the bridge bearing on brass rings around the central bearing. An interesting point is that the track locations on the base have provision for the locating clip found on Series 3 Track, as well as recesses to accommodate the half sleeper found on Super 4 Track. This possibly indicates that the original design for the turntable predated Super 4 Track, which was introduced in 1964. 🤔 The Turntable was slightly retooled, and supplied with fences, non working lamp posts (ex Minic Motorway parts), ramps for the tracks, and converter tracks to connect the Super 4 Track on the turntable to the then new System 6 track (code 100) in the early 1970s. Very early versions of R.408U have the base in a dark grey plastic, similar to the original R.408, but with the modifications to fit the fences, lamp posts, and ramps. Later, the base was made in a creamy, 'concrete' colour. The bridge, etc., being made from black plastic. The gear drive on the R.408/U is continuous, with a smooth rotation, except when the bridge is aligned with an entrance or exit track, when the clever arrangement of teeth on the gear, combined with the design of the base, causes a pause, giving time to cut the power with the tracks correctly aligned. The Horrnby Railways Turntables use a single start worm, originally in brass, and the Silver Grey drive gears. Originally with a New Type X.03 motor, more recent issues have been retooled to use the small, Type 7 type of motor, as used in the 0-6-0 chassis. These use a 'Geneva Drive' gear, and the rotation is in a series of jerks, pausing between the track positions. As the drive is fixed, the turntable stops where there is no track locations as well. A large step backwards in our humble opinion. 🤷🏼‍♀️ ᚱᚢᚠᚠᚾᚢᛏ × ᛏᚼᚬᚱᛋᛏᚬᚾ 🐉🙋🏼‍♀️

No, nothing Tri-ang. The 3MT Tank always had a cast metal chassis block. This is a brass plate frame chassis. ᚱᚢᚠᚠᚾᚢᛏ × ᛏᚼᚬᚱᛋᛏᚬᚾ 🐉🙋🏼‍♀️

From memory... B12. Hall. Sir Dinaden. Tender Drive Black 5 & the "maroon" version. LNER A3 "Flying Scotsman". LMS Streamline Princess Coronation. "Class 08" 0-6-0 Diesel Shunter. At first with "automatic" cab end coupling hook. ᚱᚢᚠᚠᚾᚢᛏ × ᛏᚼᚬᚱᛋᛏᚬᚾ 🐉🤷🏼‍♀️ EDIT: Information from a later post by @scrapman. Ex LMS Ivatt 2-6-0 Tender loco. GWR "Saint" (body modified from the Hall tools).

The Black plastic single start worm motor is the 'New Type' X.03 (The part number being a re use of the earlier, pre X.04, motor part number. These use a different (28 Tooth) gear wheel from the X.04. To differentiate these from the X.04 type gear (40 Tooth), they are usually in the silver grey plastic, though other colours did get used, especially later on. We even have seen black versions, which are confusing, as the X.04 compatible gear wheel was always made in black plastic, or made from Brass. The two gears will not work properly with the wrong motor. The X.04, and earlier motors, use a two start worm. This is always made from Brass. ᚱᚢᚠᚠᚾᚢᛏ × ᛏᚼᚬᚱᛋᛏᚬᚾ🐉🤷🏼‍♀️

I've just seen a YouTube video which shews what the members pack for the new Hornby TT:120 Club contains. There is a pin badge, that echoes the design of the original Tri-ang Railways badges. These were plastic, Red for OO/HO, and Yellow for TT. Available solo, and were included in Train Sets. They were later replaced by a metal enamel badge, which was only available solo... Just an interesting thing. 😉🙂 ᚱᚢᚠᚠᚾᚢᛏ × ᛏᚼᚬᚱᛋᛏᚬᚾ 🐉🙋🏼‍♀️