Richard Lines (Triang) 1930 - 2020

[32475]

Sad to report that Richard Lines died last night. Richard was part of the Lines family and was instrumental in setting up the factory in Margate in the 1950's.

I only met Richard a few months ago on hearing that he and his wife lived only a mile from me near Sandwich. They invited me over and I spent a wonderful hour or so with Richard reminiscing about his time at Triang, setting up the factory and developing new locomotives, rolling stock, Minic motorways and everything that Triang had to offer. I had also arranged for the Railway Mania podcast and website to interview Richard this month but due to Richard's ill health that was delayed and will sadly never happen. Richard was such a charming fellow and so enthusiastic about his career. I was delighted when he signed my battered 1964 Triang catalogue which I had kept since the age of four and he even invited me for a session with his 0 gauge layout in the attic of an outbuilding in the garden. I feel very proud to have met Richard who's career influenced the lives of so many (mainly) schoolboys, myself included. How fitting also that he died at hospital in Margate, barely half a mile from the old Triang factory which Hornby have now returned to.

[32475]

Just a correction : that should have read 1930 - 2020; still a very good innings by any stretch of the imagination

[Colin_McLeod]

RIP Richard. Glad he saw the centenary year.

 

33245 you can edit the title of a thread if you want go correct the 1920 to 1930.

[Legend]

I can’t believe I missed this . It was only a Facebook posting with a link to RMWeb that alerted me.

 

Really sad . To me and I suspect a good few others brought up on Tri-ang and Tri-ang Hornby Richard Lines was the father of model railways .  I am glad he saw the Hornby 100 year range and bet he had a chuckle at the Rocket being re introduced .  Rovex at its peak. My childhood would certainly have been a lot duller without the models and catalogues produced under his tenure. 

Thoughts  with his family . A great inspiration to many of us and the reason we are in model railways RIP

 

[Pandora]

The O gauge layout of Richard lines, was it finescale or traditional?  was he a railway enthusiast?  If so please describe his interests.

[Colin_McLeod]

1 hour ago, Pandora said:

The O gauge layout of Richard lines, was it finescale or traditional?  was he a railway enthusiast?  If so please describe his interests.

 

Sounds like an exam question.

[Titan]

18 hours ago, Legend said:

I can’t believe I missed this . It was only a Facebook posting with a link to RMWeb that alerted me.

 

Really sad . To me and I suspect a good few others brought up on Tri-ang and Tri-ang Hornby Richard Lines was the father of model railways .  

 

 

He may still be, Yesterday my next door neighbour gave me a box of ancient Triang trains and track that he wanted to set up for his grandson. Despite not having run for many years, and being over 50 years old, The 08 (ish), Princess and Britannia ran straight away albeit a little reluctantly, but after a service ran almost like new. The Blue Pullman was as dead as a Dodo however, but I expect I will have it up and running later today.  So maybe another young convert.  His legacy will live on for ever, as indeed it would seem the trains he made.

[Andy Kirkham]

I'm not sure if this is common knowledge, but the name Triang originated because there were three Lines brothers and three lines make a triangle.

[BernardTPM]

My first model train was Tri-ang over 60 years ago. While not in poverty we weren't exactly well off but Tri-ang was an affordable entry into the world of model trains. I still have that loco and I'm still modelling railways. Thanks to Richard.

[sandwich station]

Sad news. RIP Richard. My condolences to the family.

[32475]

On 07/02/2020 at 12:37, Pandora said:

The O gauge layout of Richard lines, was it finescale or traditional?  was he a railway enthusiast?  If so please describe his interests.

Richard's 0 gauge layout was a few Basset Lowke engines and rolling stock. He had a layout of about 25 metres, double track in a large oval and I wish now that I had taken one or two photographs. Richard obviously had much delight in sending a train round the circuit at top speed just like a schoolboy and without any derailments! I realize now that I may well have been the last person to 'play trains' with him. Whether I was or not, it was a real privilege.

[doilum]

On 07/02/2020 at 17:48, BernardTPM said:

My first model train was Tri-ang over 60 years ago. While not in poverty we weren't exactly well off but Tri-ang was an affordable entry into the world of model trains. I still have that loco and I'm still modelling railways. Thanks to Richard.

Another reason to get 82004 finished.

[steveo]

I was sorry to learn that Richard Lines had passed away. I realise this was a while ago now. I am reading ' The Hornby Book of Trains - The First Hundred Years' by Pat Hammond and am surprised that there does not appear to be any mention of Richard Lines as he was a pivotal figure in the toy and toy train industry.