Canadian Tri-ang Railways Sets - 1960 to 1962
In 1960 a new series of set numbering was introduced replacing the existing system. These new Series 3 Track sets had an ’RS’ prefix.
From 1962 sets for the UK market would contain the new style Super 4 Track but it would be much later that year (August onwards) before these sets were advertised and generally became available for the Canadian market.
From 1962 sets for the UK market would contain the new style Super 4 Track but it would be much later that year (August onwards) before these sets were advertised and generally became available for the Canadian market.
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Set RS.C - including Depressed Center Car with Low-loader and Bulldozer Load
most probably made for Simpsons and Simpsons-SearsThe set was composed of the R.155 Yellow ‘TRI-ANG RAILWAYS’ Diesel Switcher, R.237 Depressed Center Car with Low-loader and Bulldozer Load, R.136 Long Box Car, R.115 Caboose, and oval of Series 3 Track (3x R.190 Straight, R.198 Uncoupling Track, 12x R.193 Small Radius Curve and R.197 Power Connecting Clip).
The Instruction and Information Manual supplied with this set is stamped RSC 270660 (27th June 1960).
The existence of this set is a 'new discovery' and will come as a great surprise to collectors of Canadian Tri-ang Railways. Currently, the existence of two examples of this set has been documented and photographed; each set has immaculate provenance as to its authenticity. For whom this set was made is yet to be confirmed but it pre-dates the RS.C Set with the Snow Plough, which was made for Eaton's (see below). |
Eaton's 1960 Christmas Catalogue
Set RS.C - including Snow PloughEaton's 027-B-632 Triang Special Four-unit Snow Plow Train SetIt can now be confirmed that this set dates from 1960 and was sold by Eaton's, appearing in their Christmas Catalogue for that year.
The set was composed of the R.155 Yellow ‘TRI-ANG RAILWAYS’ Diesel Switcher, R.138 Snow Plough, R.136 Long Box Car, R.115 Caboose, and oval of Series 3 Track (3x R.190 Straight, R.198 Uncoupling Track, 12x R.193 Small Radius Curve and R.197 Power Connecting Clip). Set price - including a variable speed, forward and reverse control powerpack - was $29.95 Canadian. If you look carefully, the packing piece surrounding the Snow Plough is far too large for the model; this packing piece was clearly manufactured deliberately over-size in order to be able to be accommodated in the space which had been previously occupied by the Depressed Center Car and Load.
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Also available in the Eaton's 1960 Christmas Catalogue was the Tri-ang Railways standard issue
RS.15 Steam Freight SetEaton's 027-B-633 Six-unit Freight TrainSet price - including a variable speed, remote-control powerpack -
was $37.50 Canadian. |
Set RS.11 - Diesel Freight Set
Set RS.11 was one of the UK range of Transcontinental train sets which was also marketed in Canada.
The pictured set contains all the relevant Canadian Literature as originally supplied with sets sold in Canada including the August 1st, 1961 Illustrated Retail Price List for Canada. The set was purchased from a shop called Playtime Stores and the retail price was $14.95 Canadian. |
The following two sets, RSC.1 and RSC.2, had remained a mystery for many years. It was not known either for whom or exactly when they were produced.
These sets do not appear in any of the illustrated retail price lists of the period and there is no further information concerning the sets in company records. So, it was quite likely that, as with the RS.C Sets (above), they would have been only marketed through some of the major department store chains and / or, possibly, home shopping / mail order companies such as Simpsons-Sears and Eaton’s. However, through examination of the set box styles, set numbering and the contents it is now possible to arrive at a fairly accurate approximation of the date of manufacture. |
A very recent discovery has now helped clarify the date and the origin of Set RSC.2 (see below).
Set RSC.1 - Diesel Freight Train Set
This set possibly dates from 1961 but it is more likely that it dates from 1962.
The set was composed of the R.55 red and silver Diesel Locomotive, R.115 Caboose, R.236 Depressed Center Car, R.212 Bogie Bolster Wagon with Log Load, R.137 Cement Car, R.126 Stock Car, and oval of Series 3 Track (5x R.190 Straight, R.198 Uncoupling Track, 12x R.193 Small Radius Curve and R.197 Power Connecting Clip).
The Caboose in the illustrated set is the version with the small ‘TR’ shield which was not released until 1962.
The set was composed of the R.55 red and silver Diesel Locomotive, R.115 Caboose, R.236 Depressed Center Car, R.212 Bogie Bolster Wagon with Log Load, R.137 Cement Car, R.126 Stock Car, and oval of Series 3 Track (5x R.190 Straight, R.198 Uncoupling Track, 12x R.193 Small Radius Curve and R.197 Power Connecting Clip).
The Caboose in the illustrated set is the version with the small ‘TR’ shield which was not released until 1962.
Set RSC.2 - Hudson's Bay Company - Diesel Freight Train Set
It is now possible to confirm that this set dates from 1962 and was advertised as being 'Exclusive to "The Bay" from "Tri-Ang"!'
The set was composed of the R.55 red and silver Diesel Locomotive, R.235 Pulpwood Car, R.117 Oil Tanker, R.115 Caboose, and oval of Series 3 Track with siding (4x R.190 Straight, R.198 Uncoupling Track, 13x R.193 Small Radius Curve, R.292 Right-hand Point, R.83 Track Bumper and R.197 Power Connecting Clip). Retail price including Power Pack was $24.88 Canadian. The R.235 Pulpwood Car was not released in the UK until the Autumn of 1960, first featuring in the 1st August 1960 Retail Price List. (Right) Hudson's Bay Company advertisement from page 13 of the
WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1962 And on the following page - a real-life train disaster ... Please click on the pictures of the newspaper advertisements and article to view larger images |
Neverwazza !A set that should have been made for Canada... but never was. Opposite :
An original Canadian National Railways advertisement for the new 'Super Continental' Train, running daily Transcontinental inter-city schedules from April 24th, 1955 between the cities of Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Edmonton, Jasper and Vancouver. Below : Tri-ang Railways Transcontinental Diesel Passenger Set in Canadian National Railways green livery. The R.55 Diesel Locomotive has been superbly repainted by Graeme Brown, to match the original Tri-ang Railways duo-tone green 2nd series Transcontinental Passenger Cars. |