Set CTS.6 "The Canadian" Diesel Passenger Set
or Pacific Diesel Passenger Set
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Historical and Production InformationOriginally the proposed set was composed of the R.55 Transcontinental Diesel Locomotive, R.442 Baggage / Kitchen Car, R.440 Coach, R.441 Observation Car (all in 'silver & red' livery), PA.102C Transformer and R.167 Track Pack.
In 1955, the Canadian Pacific Railway had heralded a new age in train travel with the introduction of their flagship service "The Canadian". As reported in the papers, it was an 'ultra-modern, lightweight, highly attractive, stainless-steel streamlined train'. It included lounge cars with a raised dome and this service offered the world's longest dome ride, almost 2900 miles. Despite the title, "The Canadian" Diesel Passenger Set as advertised in the catalogue was that of a train in the standard silver and red Transcontinental livery. The 'Pacific' in the alternate title suggested, perhaps, that this set was intended as a representation of the Canadian Pacific liveried prototypes. In reality, of course, the silver and red looked nothing like the Canadian Pacific silver-grey and maroon livery and it was not until 1967 that actual Canadian Pacific liveried coaches became available. However, changes were afoot. At the ordering stage, the Canadian National liveried diesel locomotive, with its bright red nose, black body and white stripes, was substituted for the planned silver and red Transcontinental diesel and, in addition, the Observation Car was replaced in the set by the Diner. The R.55 CN Diesel was included in the set, one supposes, to give greater Canadian realism to the set content. From the outset, in factory memos, prior to ordering stock, the CN diesel is listed in the set contents. |
The reason for not including the silver and red Observation Car in the issued set because of a lack of a prototypical equivalent, as in the CN liveried CTS.2 Set, seems most unlikely. Unlike the Canadian National Railway, the Canadian Pacific Railway had prototypical Domed Observation Cars similar to the 2nd Series Transcontinental Coaches. Also, part of the purpose of issuing this set was as a means of disposing of unsold quantities of Transcontinental stock.
By June 1965, the artwork had been finalised and the catalogue already sent for printing. However, what had not been properly considered was the quantities required of each model. At the final planning stage it was determined that 500 sets would be required.
By June 1965, the artwork had been finalised and the catalogue already sent for printing. However, what had not been properly considered was the quantities required of each model. At the final planning stage it was determined that 500 sets would be required.
Initially, in factory memos, prior to ordering stock, the R.441 silver and red Observation Car is listed in the set contents. It was later deleted and amended, by hand, to R.443 Diner.
The sets were to be assembled from remaining stocks of solo models. No silver and red 2nd Series Transcontinental Coaches were made after 1962 and the actual production figures for the Observation Car were very low. So, it is likely that insufficient models remained in stock to fulfill the requirement of the 500 planned sets. This resulted in the Observation Car having to be replaced by the Diner in the set and the Observation Car being offered for sale only as a solo item. |
Two different versions of this set were issued
Set CTS.6 - original issue - 1965-1966
The issued set was composed of the R.55 CN Diesel Locomotive, R.440 Coach, R.443 Diner, R.442 Baggage / Kitchen Car (all in 'silver & red' livery), PA.102C Transformer and R.167 Track Pack (picture box).
500 sets were planned for production; priced at $39.95 each. It was previously thought that no examples of Set CTS.6 had been found - probably because of the misleading catalogue illustration - but the pictured set clearly proves that it was produced. Note the mixture of Tri-ang Railways and Tri-ang Hornby boxes; this was a common occurrence with these locally packaged sets where, as existing stocks of individual boxes were exhausted, they were replaced with the newer style packaging. |
Set CTS.6 - 2nd issue with change of contents - 1966
The set contents label lists the locomotive and passenger cars as being:
Diesel Engine with headlight, Baggage / Kitchen Car, Day Coach, Observation Car.
Diesel Engine with headlight, Baggage / Kitchen Car, Day Coach, Observation Car.
The pictured set contains the R.55 Transcontinental Diesel Locomotive, R.440 Coach, R.443 Diner, R.441 Observation Car (all in 'silver & red' livery), Model 2200 Transformer and R.167 Track Pack (window box). The inclusion of the silver and red Transcontinental locomotive appears to be correct. It is probable that either the Transcontinental or the CN versions of the model may have been included in these later issued 1966 issued sets. However, the inclusion of the Diner rather than the Baggage / Kitchen Car is questionable. It might be possible that the set was issued thus but more likely that the original buyer asked the retailer to substitute the Diner into the set when it was purchased or, simply, the model was substituted at a later date. |
What is unique about the set contents description, on both the box lid and the box inner tray insert, is that there is no mention as to the livery of the locomotive; whether it is the Transcontinental version or the CN version. In all other 1966 sets containing the Single-ended Diesel Locomotive the description clearly states that it is the CN version.
In addition, the contents are now described exactly as was originally proposed to be issued and illustrated in the 1965 / 1966 Tri-ang Railways Canadian Catalogue; with Baggage / Kitchen Car, Day Coach, Observation Car rather than the Baggage / Kitchen Car, Day Coach, and Diner which was first issued in 1965. It seems quite possible that there may have been a number of requests from retailers / prospective customers to issue the set as illustrated in the Canadian Catalogue and / or the company was still in need of off-loading surplus residual discontinued stock. |