Canadian Tri-ang Railways - The 1959 Sets
All the listed sets in the August 1st, 1959 Illustrated Retail Price List now contained Series 3 Track.
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1959 R3.U "Dockside Special" Set
The RUX Set had become the R3.U Set. The illustration was identical to the previous year’s price list featuring the Mark 2 (open) couplings. The retail price was now $12.95; a substantial reduction on the $17.00 price for the RUX Set (with Standard Track).
The R3.U "Dockside Special" Set could also be purchased complete with the newly introduced P.5C Power Pack at a 1959 retail price of $29.90 for the pair. The model pictured in the August 1st, 1959 Illustrated Retail Price List (above), which was simply an earlier factory mock-up, is incorrect for this set. The Canadian version of the R.253 Dock Shunter with Mark 3 (closed) couplings is the correct model and is unique to this set. It was manufactured without buffers and the holes for the buffers were not drilled-out of the front and rear buffer beams as was incorrectly illustrated above. |
Version 1: with black Dock Shunter
The originally issued version of this set is composed of the R.253 Dock Shunter without buffers, R.114 Box Car, R.116 Gondola Car, R.115 Caboose and small oval of Series 3 Track (R.190 Straight, R.198 Uncoupling Track, 12x R.193 Small Radius Curve and R.197 Power Connecting Clip). Unlike the previous year's RUX Set, the locomotive and freight cars now have the new-style Mark 3 (closed) couplings. |
Version 2: with yellow Transcontinental Yard Switcher
The revised set is composed of the R.353 Transcontinental Yard Switcher, R.114 Box Car, R.116 Gondola Car, R.115 Caboose and small oval of Series 3 Track (R.190 Straight, R.198 Uncoupling Track, 12x R.193 Small Radius Curve and R.197 Power Connecting Clip). Notice that the black buffer-less R.253 Dock Shunter, in the illustrated set above, has been replaced by the yellow R.353 Transcontinental Yard Switcher. In sets that included the yellow Transcontinental Yard Switcher, the Instruction and Information Manuals have been found dated as early as the 17th June 1959. In this issued set the documentation carries a manufacture date of the 22nd July 1959. What appears likely is that, initially, the locomotive and freight cars remained basically the same as the previous year's RUX Set but with the new Mark 3 couplings (as in the set above) but the remainder of the set now comprised only a small oval of Series 3 Track. When the Transcontinental Yard Switcher was released, at the beginning of 1960, this was used to replace the black Dock Shunter. |
The R3.U Set continued to be available in the August 1st, 1960 Illustrated Retail Price List but was finally superseded by the RS.11 Yard Switcher Freight Set; identical in every way except for a newer 'Tri-ang EXPRESS DELIVERY' version of the Gondola Car and the Tri-ang Railways Lapel Badge is no longer included in the set. |
1959 R3.S "Military Special" Set
It would be easy to assume from the 1959 Canadian illustrated price list that the R3.S Set was simply a repackaged version of the previous year’s RSX “Military Special” Set. However, some significant changes had been made:
The new style set box dimensions were reduced to 24 x 11 x 2 inches. The new Series 3 Track replaced the Standard Track. A new green and yellow colour scheme for the Double-ended Diesel Locomotive was introduced, which was unique to this set. They were not sold individually in Canada. The specially produced Green and Yellow Double-ended Diesel Locomotives are one of the rarest and most sought-after models in Tri-ang’s Transcontinental range. The models now had the familiar new style Type 3 (closed) couplings. The set was composed of the specially produced R.159 Green and Yellow Double-ended Diesel Locomotive, Bogie Well Wagon with Conqueror Tank Load, Bogie Well Wagon with Jet Fighter Load, R.216 Rocket Launching Wagon, R.115 Caboose, and oval of Series 3 Track (5x R.190 Straight, R.198 Uncoupling Track, 12x R.195 Large Radius Curve and R.197 Power Connecting Clip). The retail price, handwritten on the box lid, is $25.95 Canadian. Produced in very limited numbers, it is believed the set was intended primarily for the Canadian market. A number of the Green and Yellow diesels have turned up in Australia so it is possible, but unlikely, that the R3.S “Military Special” Set may have been available in very limited quantities in Australia as well as in Canada. Or, perhaps, just a few surplus models were sold off individually. From 1959 onwards, Speed Control Units were now no longer included in standard issue train sets. The Instruction and Information Manual supplied with this set is stamped R3S 100659 (10th June 1959). The ‘S’ is handwritten. |
All of the wagons were again without buffers.
In addition, there are some significant differences in the rolling stock: The Bogie Well Wagon for the tank load is now dark greyish-blue and carries ‘43171’ as the running number. This is the rarest version of the buffer-less R.118 Bogie Well Wagon. Note: M 43171 was the running number of the R.120 BR Maroon Suburban Brake Coach. The colour of the Jet Fighter Load has changed from silver-grey to a more accurate RAF grey-blue.
The rocket colour is now the more familiar red body with black warhead. |