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'Tri-ang Railways' and 'Transcontinental' Diesel Switcher Locomotives
- available in Canada 1957 - 1964
First released Spring 1957 - mk2 couplings
Initially available in three colours - Dark red (Maroon), Dark green and Yellow
R.155 'Tri-ang Railways' Diesel Switcher - dark red with white lining - 5007
Type 1 body - with smooth cab roof
or later Type 2 body - with sliding cab roof detail
R.155 'Tri-ang Railways' Diesel Switcher - dark green with white lining - 5007
Type 1 body - with smooth cab roof
or later Type 2 body - with sliding cab roof detail
The model was withdrawn from sale in Canada at the end of 1961
R.155 'Tri-ang Railways' Diesel Switcher - yellow with red lining - 5007
Type 1 body - with smooth cab roof
or later Type 2 body - with sliding cab roof detail
R.155 'Tri-ang Railways' Diesel Switcher - yellow with black dazzle stripes - 5007
Type 2 body - with sliding cab roof detail
Introduced 1958 - mk2 couplings
R.155 'Tri-ang Railways' Diesel Switcher - yellow with black dazzle stripes - 7005
Type 2 body - with sliding cab roof detail
or, circa 1960 - 1961, Type 3 body - with sliding cab roof and modified long bonnet detail -
rivetted plate added to top in front of cab, long narrow grille added to each side in front of cab windows and the black exhaust grille, at the top front, now has grid-style detail added
Introduced late 1958 - mk2 couplings - Type 2 body
1959 - end of 1961 - mk3 couplings - Type 2 and Type 3 bodies
R.155 'Transcontinental' Diesel Switcher - yellow with black dazzle stripes - 7005
Type 3 body - with sliding cab roof and modified long bonnet detail -
rivetted plate added to top in front of cab, long narrow grille added to each side in front of cab windows and the black exhaust grille, at the top front, now has grid-style detail added
Introduced 1962 - mk3 couplings
The model was withdrawn from sale in Canada at the end of 1964
Canadian Issue 'Tri-ang Railways' Diesel Switcher Locomotives
R.155 'Tri-ang Railways' Diesel Switcher - yellow with red lining - 7005
Type 2 body - with sliding cab roof detail
Issued circa 1958 - mk2 couplings - this version of the Diesel Switcher was made for Canada *
* NOTE: two examples of this Canadian issued model have been discovered in their correct original boxes but with the UK price of '57/6' handwritten on them.
This suggests that a few of these models may have been marketed in the UK. But this then raises a few questions as to why this occurred.
It might well have been that more bodies were made for Canada than were eventually ordered or actually sent. Therefore the remaining bodies / models were assembled and off-loaded onto the UK market to clear surplus stock. Off-loading of surplus stock was a common practice in those days; they may have been offered to one particular shop or store (Hattons or Gamages for example) at a discounted price.
This suggests that a few of these models may have been marketed in the UK. But this then raises a few questions as to why this occurred.
It might well have been that more bodies were made for Canada than were eventually ordered or actually sent. Therefore the remaining bodies / models were assembled and off-loaded onto the UK market to clear surplus stock. Off-loading of surplus stock was a common practice in those days; they may have been offered to one particular shop or store (Hattons or Gamages for example) at a discounted price.
My thanks to Ken Winter for his many photographs and help.
Issued circa 1960 - mk3 couplings - this version of the Diesel Switcher was exclusive to Canada
R.155 'Tri-ang Railways' Diesel Switcher - maroon with greyish-white lining - 7005
Type 3 body - with sliding cab roof and modified long bonnet detail -
rivetted plate added to top in front of cab, long narrow grille added to each side in front of cab windows and the black exhaust grille, at the top front, now has grid-style detail added
Issued circa 1960 - 1961 - mk3 couplings - this version of the Diesel Switcher was exclusive to Canada
The model was withdrawn from sale in Canada at the end of 1961
R.155CN / R.1551 Canadian National Diesel Switcher
- black with orange-red bonnet ends - 3000
Type 1 - issued 1965-1971 - with sans-serif numerals - greyish-white lining, lettering and numerals
R.1551 Canadian National Diesel Switcher
- black with dark red bonnet ends - 3000
Type 2 - issued 1971-1972 - with sans-serif numerals - greyish-white lining, lettering and numerals
A small production batch of the R.1551 Canadian National Diesel Switcher was made, in late 1971, with dark red bonnet ends. The dark red is very distinctive and different, if incorrect, from the more usual orange-red colour used on previous models.
This version of the Diesel Switcher was almost exclusively used in the 1971 Eaton's Special Set No. 9311 and was probably made because there were insufficient remaining stocks at the warehouse to cover the numbers required for the order.
This version of the Diesel Switcher was almost exclusively used in the 1971 Eaton's Special Set No. 9311 and was probably made because there were insufficient remaining stocks at the warehouse to cover the numbers required for the order.
R.1551 Canadian National Diesel Switcher
- black with orange-red bonnet ends - 3000
Type 3 - issued 1973-1974 - with serif numerals - silver lining, lettering and numerals
R.155CP / R.1552 Canadian Pacific Diesel Switcher
- grey and maroon with yellow bonnet ends - 3000
R.1553 CP Rail Diesel Switcher
- orange-red with white diagonal striped bonnet ends - 1553
Australian Issue Diesel Switcher Locomotives
These models were only available to the Australian market and NOT AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN CANADA
However, for the benefit of the collector the models, below, have been included in order to provide a comprehensive listing of all the Diesel Switchers manufactured between 1957 and 1976
However, for the benefit of the collector the models, below, have been included in order to provide a comprehensive listing of all the Diesel Switchers manufactured between 1957 and 1976