Canadian Tri-ang Railways - The 1969 Special Sets
Sets made for department store chains and mail order companies.
Without the benefit of the Canadian factory records, it has been very difficult to sort and identify the special sets for 1969 through to the end of production in 1973. Some information is incomplete, some sets are yet to be discovered but so much more ‘new’ information has come to light over recent years that has made it possible to now produce an almost complete listing.
Missing set numbers and / or box lids from sets and the ease with which set contents can be substituted has made identification and dating of some sets very difficult but the story-so-far is worthy of publication.
It is questionable whether all of the special sets were given names but for ease of reference these have been attributed (in green) to aid easier identification.
Without the benefit of the Canadian factory records, it has been very difficult to sort and identify the special sets for 1969 through to the end of production in 1973. Some information is incomplete, some sets are yet to be discovered but so much more ‘new’ information has come to light over recent years that has made it possible to now produce an almost complete listing.
Missing set numbers and / or box lids from sets and the ease with which set contents can be substituted has made identification and dating of some sets very difficult but the story-so-far is worthy of publication.
It is questionable whether all of the special sets were given names but for ease of reference these have been attributed (in green) to aid easier identification.
Click on the pictures on this page to view larger images
Both the Coach and the Observation Car, included in this particular set, are from the second production batch without yellow lines above and below the window panels on each side.
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Set No. 900 Eaton's Canadian Pacific Diesel Passenger SetThe set was composed of the R.55 CP Canadian Pacific Diesel Locomotive, R.440 CP Coach and R441 CP Observation Car (all in 'silver-grey & maroon’ livery), Model 2200 Transformer, R.167 Track Pack and R.454 Siding Set.
Note that the set contents are individually boxed; no set box inner tray was made for this particular set. The Coach, included in this particular set, is from the first production batch with yellow lines above and below the window panels on each side. However, the Observation Car is from the second production batch, without the yellow lining.
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Set No. 907 The Bay
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Set No. 908 / Set No. 909 for Simpsons and Simpsons-Sears
This is the only known set box which carries a dual set number on the box lid.
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In addition the plastic box inner tray also carries the dual set numbers '908 + 909' impressed at the bottom right corner front edge. It is now certain that Set No. 908 and Set No. 909 are one and the same set contents-wise.
The dual set number was for Simpsons-Sears ordering and, probably, accounting purposes. It is believed that catalogue sales and retail store sales were handled by different departments within the company. There is a great similarity with the 1968 Simpsons-Sears Set No. SS 680 MO & SS 680 whereby the set number 'SS 680 MO' was allocated to the Simpsons-Sears Mail Order (home shopping) Christmas Catalogue sales and the set number 'SS 680' was allocated to their retail store outlet sales. Whilst It is certain that Simpsons and Simpsons-Sears would have placed initial orders for the sets sometime in the earlier part of 1969, the quantities required for retail sales and mail order requirements would have had to be somewhat fluid for the 1969 season dependent upon the strength of the Christmas orders. The set was clearly very popular and was carried over to 1970 for both retail sales and featuring in the Simpsons-Sears 1970 Christmas Catalogue ('Wish Book'). The Simpsons and Simpsons-Sears reference numbers printed on the box lid indicates that the 'RET. NO.' refers to Set No. 908 being intended for sales through their retail outlets; whereas the 'CAT. NO.' indicates that Set. No 909 was intended for sales through their home shopping / mail order catalogue(s).
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Set No. 908
Simpsons and Simpsons-Sears Ret. No. R40269 Canadian National Diesel Freight Set
Set No. 909
Simpsons and Simpsons-Sears Cat. No. 79N 40270 DL CN 5-piece Diesel Freight Set
Illustrated in the 1969 Simpsons-Sears Christmas Catalogue, above, is the (top) Special Set No. 909 5-piece CN Diesel Freight Set and (below) a variation of the Standard Set No. 906 Steam Switcher Freight Set
The R.681 Track Layout Pack included with these sets slightly varies from the Simpsons-Sears 1969 and 1970 Catalogue illustrations which incorrectly showed two sidings rather than a passing loop and one siding.
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This set is very similar to the Simpsons-Sears 1968 Special Set. Only the Refrigerator Car and the Caboose have been updated.
The set was composed of the R.55 CN Diesel Locomotive, R.1290 C&O Railways Refrigerator Car, R.111 CN Hopper Car, R.342 CN Car Transporter, R.115 CN Caboose, Model 2200 Transformer and R.681 Track Layout Pack (containing a large oval of Super 4 Track with a passing loop and one siding). The retail price was $29.95 Canadian. The second pictured set shows the Model 1000 Transformer which had replaced the Model 2200 Transformer sometime towards the end of 1969. The set continued to be available in 1970 and featured in the Simpsons-Sears 1970 Christmas Catalogue. The contents were identical but a later 'emergency' supply of sets had a slightly different box lid which did not feature the printed box 'label' and appeared to be blank apart from a rubber hand-stamped set number '909'.
Recent information has confirmed that unsold surplus stocks of this set were being sold as late as Christmas 1971 by Simpsons-Sears; at either their retail department store or their Clearance Centre (where ex-catalogue items were sold-off) in Vancouver.
A Canadian Pacific, later version of Set No. 908 was issued in 1970 with the set reference number 9081.
To view Set No. 9081 please click on the button (below). |
Special Set No. 906 (Steam Switcher Freight Set)
Simpsons and Simpsons-Sears Cat. No. 49N 40268 5-piece Steam Freight Set with Six Autos
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The set was composed of R.852CN 'Chugga' Steam Switcher Locomotive, R.712 Flat Car, R.710 Mineral Car, R.713CN Flat Car with Auto and House Trailer (Minix car and caravan), R.115 TR Caboose, Model 2200 Transformer and R.167 Track Pack plus a selection of Six various boxed Minix Cars. The track pack in this set only contained a small oval of track with just the two straights, as opposed to the normal four, but the uncoupling ramp was included. The retail price was $19.99 Canadian. |
Note about Set Number 910
The Set No. 910 reference number has not been able to be definitively attributed to this set at present since, currently, no surviving example of this set has been recorded and/or photographed.
The following Special Set was made in 1969 and the illustrated Eaton's set (below) seems most likely to be the actual Set No. 910.
The following Special Set was made in 1969 and the illustrated Eaton's set (below) seems most likely to be the actual Set No. 910.
The set was composed of the R.155 CN Diesel Switcher, R.138 CN Snow Plough, R.126 CN Stock/Cattle Car, R.139 Heinz Pickle Car and R.115 CN Caboose, Model 2200 Transformer and R.167 Track Pack plus an additional 4x R.480 Double Straight, 3x R.481 Single Straight, R.490 Left-hand Point, Double Curve and Track Bumper - all forming an extended oval and a siding of Super 4 track.
This illustration from the Eaton's 1969 Christmas Catalogue shows that the retail price was $28.98 Canadian.
This illustration from the Eaton's 1969 Christmas Catalogue shows that the retail price was $28.98 Canadian.
Set No. 911 Tri-ang Canadian Pacific Freight TrainThe set was composed of the R.55 CP Canadian Pacific Diesel Locomotive, R.1160 Rock Island Lines Gondola Car, R.126 CP Canadian Pacific Stock Car, R.115 CP Canadian Pacific Caboose, Model 2200 Transformer and R.167 Track Pack.
Again, it seems likely that this Special Set was produced for the smaller retailers, for the 1969 Christmas trade, in order for them to have a special train set to offer their customers in competition with the larger retailers and home shopping companies. Whilst recently browsing my back-numbers of the TCS NEWS - the former quarterly magazine of the The Train Collectors Society, now renamed TRAIN COLLECTOR - I came across this snippet from an article in 'The Rovex Column' by Pat Hammond.
Whether or not Set No. 911 really was supplied exclusively to Miracle Mart is not currently known but it is certainly a realistic possibility since they had at least 26 retail outlets in Quebec and a further 22 retail outlets in Ontario provinces. |
Set No. 912 Tri-ang CN Freight TrainIt seems likely that this Special Set was made available to the smaller retailers, for the 1969 Christmas trade, in order to be able to have a special train set to offer their customers in competition with the larger retailers and home shopping companies.
The set was composed of the R.55 CN Diesel Locomotive, R.111 CN Hopper Car, R.563 Flat Car with Three Ford Vans, R.235 CN black Canadian National Pulpwood Car, R.115 CN Caboose, Model 2200 Transformer and R.167 Track Pack.
This appears to be a later version of Set No. 912.
The all-white-sided box base includes a blue inner tray which dates this set to early 1970. Sadly, the set box lid has not survived. There are minor variations in the set contents; in particular the R.235 CN black Canadian National Pulpwood Car has been replaced by the brown version of the model. The locomotive is the last version with bright red nose and silver diagonal body stripes; which again dates the set to 1970. |