Tri-ang Railways.

[sagaguy]

I searched the web for ages & they were the only castings i could find!.

 

                         Ray.

[GoingUnderground]

I searched the web for ages & they were the only castings i could find!.

 

Ray.

Oh. I don't doubt that they were the best/nearest/only match you could find, and I'm obliged to you as you've saved me the bother of trawling tne internet myself for some.

[Wolseley]

I just purchased a slightly forlorn looking "Albert Hall" on eBay.  I intend to use it as the basis of a Caledonian Railway 60 Class 4-6-0 - after three railing the chassis of course.

[Il Grifone]

I just purchased a slightly forlorn looking "Albert Hall" on eBay.  I intend to use it as the basis of a Caledonian Railway 60 Class 4-6-0 - after three railing the chassis of course.

 

I can't really approve of converting a Swindon product into something from one of the lesser railways, but on the other hand it is one of Tri-ang's less successful models (to be kind!).

 

:)

Edited August 28, 2018 by Il Grifone

[cypherman]

Hi all,

This chap on You Tube may be of interest to all you Triang fans, He has an extensive collection of all things Triang. He even explains all the details of the models in his video's as he runs them. His videos are well worth watching.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNzT-4Qpccc

[john new]

Ages ago I was given an old Tri-ang E3001 and some blue grey mark one's, the livery is a paler blue than the more recent issues. I have been told these are a set of early batch coaches based on the X64 livery. Is that actually correct? The follow up is have they any rarity value as they are. I'm not looking to sell them but if they are rare/less common examples (As opposed to just faded) I will make sure they get well boxed etc., between running sessions and don't get repainted or otherwise altered.

[luckymucklebackit]

Ages ago I was given an old Tri-ang E3001 and some blue grey mark one's, the livery is a paler blue than the more recent issues. I have been told these are a set of early batch coaches based on the X64 livery. Is that actually correct? The follow up is have they any rarity value as they are. I'm not looking to sell them but if they are rare/less common examples (As opposed to just faded) I will make sure they get well boxed etc., between running sessions and don't get repainted or otherwise altered.

 

There definitely were two shades of blue used by Triang-Hornby in the early 1970s, I had three Blue/Grey Coaches, one of which was one of their CKD kits and it was a much lighter blue than the other two

 

Jim

[BernardTPM]

I don't think it was actually based on the XP64 livery, it was just the same shade of blue they'd used before on various models (e.g. D5578). A more accurate shade of blue was shown in the 1969 catalgue, so I'd guess they started using the correct shade from sometime in 1968. The lettering was also still the same Gill Sans used on Green and Maroon livery (though that had happened on the prototype too, occasionally).

[john new]

Thanks for the responses. Will keep them as they are given the variation was original not fading.

[Legend]

Ages ago I was given an old Tri-ang E3001 and some blue grey mark one's, the livery is a paler blue than the more recent issues. I have been told these are a set of early batch coaches based on the X64 livery. Is that actually correct? The follow up is have they any rarity value as they are. I'm not looking to sell them but if they are rare/less common examples (As opposed to just faded) I will make sure they get well boxed etc., between running sessions and don't get repainted or otherwise altered.

 

E3001s can go for surprisingly high prices .  The two shades you refer to I think are Electric Blue and Rail Blue . For the E3001 it first appeared in Electric blue (the lighter shade) with small stick on yellow warning panel . I believe Triang Hornby may have used this shade for the first all over blue versions with full yellow ends . I think the Hymek may also have had this lighter colour for a while . Latterley they were all rail blue, probably from 1969 as Bernard states above.

 

As to the coaches , the first blue/grey ones were lighter blue , but in these days were made in their thousands , so I don't think they are particularly rare . There are variations on roof colour used. Most have light grey roofs but some had a darker grey , the same as later applied to the later rail blue and grey

 

Hope that helps . One of Pat Hammonds books, Vol 2 I think, will have the definitive versions, but unfortunately I'm not home at moment.

 

In short , not particularly rare, but nice models!

Edited October 2, 2018 by Legend

[GoingUnderground]

Many Triang Railways models had a very hard life, and that, along with the quantities produced, reduces the value of most of them very significantly. If you can find examples in near mint condition with their original box in near mint also then they might be worth something, even the more common models. They are around. For example, today, I acquired an R225 SR Suburban Motor Coach Unpowered in mint unrun condition, there is no trace of wear or dirt on the wheels and the body is immaculate. Sadly the same can't be said for the box it came in. Whilst it is the right box, it is, shop worn, but not bad at all, well worth, to me, what I paid for it as it matches up very nicely with an R.156 SR Suburban Motor Coach powered. The question is: "Do I run it and reduce the value, or keep it in its unused condition?".

 

I also picked up two of the SR Suburban "trailer" coaches. They have been run, but again their condition is remarkable, no damage on either, and just a very slight blemish on one that might burnish out. They are probably from one of the final batches produced in the UK as they have pinpoint axles and are in the later paler green plastic. Unfortunately, they were unboxed.

 

What is remarkable about many of the models is that whilst the body may be absolutely dire, and the motor a non-runner, with a bit of TLC most of the motors can be brought back to nearly their original performance, including some that must be 60 years old.

Edited October 3, 2018 by GoingUnderground

[Golden Fleece 30]

Many Triang Railways models had a very hard life,

 

What is remarkable about many of the models is that whilst the body may be absolutely dire, and the motor a non-runner, with a bit of TLC most of the motors can be brought back to nearly their original performance.

This is true and is equally suited to the Tri-ang TT range as well where the motors can be cleaned and serviced to like new.  Two days ago I had to break off a body (which I did not want anyway) in lots of pieces as a previous owner tried to weight it with a heavy filler, so much so that it had got into the motor too which obviously stopped working.  A 30 minute strip down and clean up and it runs as it should.

 

The old trains, Tri-ang and Hornby Dublo, were built to last which is what they have done unlike their modern counterparts which can break down in months or weeks and not be repairable as lots of spares are not ,made or kept.

 

Garry

[Co-tr-Paul]

No such thing as a dead Triang loco !

[Titan]

No such thing as a dead Triang loco !

 

True, but the motor in my DMU has a difficult issue to resolve. It runs rough and noisy, with rather a wobble, The reason it seems is that the axles have worn down the chassis block until most of the weight is being taken by the worm and wormwheel. This means the mesh is not what it should be resulting in noise and rough running. And the wobble is down to the wormwheels not being concentric on the axles.  It becomes quite apparent how much wear there is when you realise when you look at it side on and realise how far above the centre of the axleboxes the centre of the axle is... God knows how many miles it must have on it!  It still runs, but I would like to restore it, so any suggestions?

[GoingUnderground]

If it's wear on the axles then you might need a replacement wheelset. If it's wear on the chassis where it sits on the axles then it's a new chassis frame. I suspect it's going to be wear on both axles and chassis. That's where the beaten up models come in as donors. There seems to be quite a thriving trade on the internet in "breaking" models for their spares.

 

Added: Swapmeets used to have traders selling cannibalised wheelsets etc. But nowadays those sorts of specialists seem to have gone, at least at the swapmeets that I go to, the one locally that used to have such traders ended. As I said, I've ended up buying such spares on the internet.

Edited October 4, 2018 by GoingUnderground

[Il Grifone]

True, but the motor in my DMU has a difficult issue to resolve. It runs rough and noisy, with rather a wobble, The reason it seems is that the axles have worn down the chassis block until most of the weight is being taken by the worm and wormwheel. This means the mesh is not what it should be resulting in noise and rough running. And the wobble is down to the wormwheels not being concentric on the axles.  It becomes quite apparent how much wear there is when you realise when you look at it side on and realise how far above the centre of the axleboxes the centre of the axle is... God knows how many miles it must have on it!  It still runs, but I would like to restore it, so any suggestions?

 

A replacement block should be quite easy and inexpensive on eBay. New wheelsets are also available but not quite as economical.  The axle ends can be removed from the wheelsets for the A1A-A1A/EM2 bogies, which can be obtained with smooth tyres for better running. care should be taken when swopping the bits over to use a keeper plate for the magnet and never break the magnetic circuit.

Edited October 5, 2018 by Il Grifone

[Hroth]

This is true and is equally suited to the Tri-ang TT range as well where the motors can be cleaned and serviced to like new.  Two days ago I had to break off a body (which I did not want anyway) in lots of pieces as a previous owner tried to weight it with a heavy filler, so much so that it had got into the motor too which obviously stopped working.  A 30 minute strip down and clean up and it runs as it should.

 

The old trains, Tri-ang and Hornby Dublo, were built to last which is what they have done unlike their modern counterparts which can break down in months or weeks and not be repairable as lots of spares are not ,made or kept.

 

Garry

Completely agree.

 

Anything with an X04 in it will go on until cockroaches become extinct!

 

While not authentically Triang, the Hornby R857 Black Ivatt 2MT may as well be.  I bought an example cheaply, excellent condition, boxed and with the service sheet too, sold as a non runner.  After taking the body off (1 screw and lift, no levering!)  I found that the previous owner had overlubricated the X04 and the chassis with what had the consistency of cooking oil, but was probably 3in1.  A quick clean and it was a good runner once more.

[Lacathedrale]

One of my most favourite discoveries on youtube in the last few weeks has been Oscar Paisley, who has a full layout set up in classic fashion. He typically will do a few minutes of showing the locos off with some relevant stock, then a breakdown of the loco and some more glamour. It's very relaxing to watch, I've fallen asleep to it on the couch with my dog more than I would wish to admit : https://www.youtube.com/user/oscarpaisley/videos

[GoingUnderground]

One of my most favourite discoveries on youtube in the last few weeks has been Oscar Paisley, who has a full layout set up in classic fashion. He typically will do a few minutes of showing the locos off with some relevant stock, then a breakdown of the loco and some more glamour. It's very relaxing to watch, I've fallen asleep to it on the couch with my dog more than I would wish to admit : https://www.youtube.com/user/oscarpaisley/videos

There's only one thing better than watching someone else enjoying running their Triang trains, and that is running your own Triang trains. It still gives me a buzz after 50+ years.

[russ p]

Did some EM2s leave the factory with a 31 power bogie?

I've seen a few at swap meets but was round a mates the other night and he had one.

Its the electric blue version and he has had it from new and never messed with it as its been in a box since the early 70s

Are they worth anything these day's ?

[Legend]

Oscars layout is superb . Reminds me of the days perusing the Triang Hornby catalogue and imagining the layout you would have . Great days .

[GoingUnderground]

Did some EM2s leave the factory with a 31 power bogie?

I've seen a few at swap meets but was round a mates the other night and he had one.

Its the electric blue version and he has had it from new and never messed with it as its been in a box since the early 70s

Are they worth anything these day's ?

Pat Hammond, the authority on all things Triang Railways doesn't say that it happened, but it is possible as the bogie is to the same basic design, the difference is in the mouldings depicting the frame and suspension. The 37 bogie is also to the same design. I think it had different side frame mpuldings to the EM2, not sure if they were the same as the 31 as I haven't got a 31 to hand to check.

 

As the EM2 was a relatively low volume product, I doubt that they would have substituted the bogie from a 31 just to shift product. If you've seen an EM2 shell with a Class 31 framed bogie it sounds like someone is trying to turn a non-runner into a runner by replacing the power bogie, but either they couldn't tell the difference, or didn't notice their mistake, or didn't care.

 

The EM2's design is slightly compromised by the need for it to run on Series 3 & Standard Track 1st radius curves, Series 3 being the Triang track at the time of its launch, which are a tighter radius than the later Super 4 from which modern Hornby, Bachmann and Peco Settrack inherited their geometry. But many, including me, think it is a better looking model than the Olivias Heljan EM2. So they do seem to get reasonable prices on Ebay for good examples even of the green one, which is probably the most common model, despite the Heljan model.

 

If your mate's is an Electric Blue version, in near mint condition in its original box, also near mint, he could probably get £100+ for it from a collector. The rarest ones are the Rail Blue versions with the E running number as those date to the end of the Triang Hornby era, after which the OHLE locos disappeared from the catalogue as did the catenary system until it was relaunched in the 1990s I think it was, but I may be a few years out on the relaunch timing.

Edited October 11, 2018 by GoingUnderground

[cypherman]

One of my most favourite discoveries on youtube in the last few weeks has been Oscar Paisley, who has a full layout set up in classic fashion. He typically will do a few minutes of showing the locos off with some relevant stock, then a breakdown of the loco and some more glamour. It's very relaxing to watch, I've fallen asleep to it on the couch with my dog more than I would wish to admit : https://www.youtube.com/user/oscarpaisley/videos

Hi all,

I have been watching Oscar Paisley's videos for some time. I has been interesting to watch how his layout has been built up from his first videos to how it is now. Unfortunately his early videos do not have any commentary.

There is another youtube poster who has an amazing series of videos worth watching https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZX7RgPpBvE

Edited October 12, 2018 by cypherman

[Lacathedrale]

Do you have any particular early ones worth watching? I gather the catenary went up with the EM2 buys?

[Legend]

Hi all,

I have been watching Ian Paisley's videos for some time. I has been interesting to watch how his layout has been built up from his first videos to how it is now. Unfortunately his early videos do not have any commentary.

There is another youtube poster who has an amazing series of videos worth watching https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZX7RgPpBvE

 

I suspect Ian Paisleys videos might be something completely different.............................

 

Sorry couldn't resist!