Tri-ang TT Railroads in the USA
Tri-ang TT Gauge Table Top Model Railroads
In much the same way as before with Tri-ang Railways and Minic Motorways, retail outlets were targeted. A Tri-ang TT Gauge Railways Trade Price List And Order Form (Aug. 1962) and a single-sided promotional leaflet on ‘How to sell a model railroad to a customer with a space problem’ were provided.
One would have expected the 1962 6th Edition TT Catalogue to have accompanied these but surprisingly this was not the case; it was the 1961 5th Edition Tri-ang TT Railways Catalogue which was used. It is only by examining the price list that the reason becomes apparent.
The 6th Edition Catalogue carried the newly introduced ‘Continental’ (French Railways) Pacific Locomotive, coaches and wagons but these were not available due to production delays and the models could not be guaranteed in time for the product re-launch; this also applied to a number of the British outline models and accessories, which were not scheduled for release until the autumn (some of which were not released until 1963). So, it seems, it was more appropriate to use the earlier catalogue rather than offer a seemingly incomplete range.
One would have expected the 1962 6th Edition TT Catalogue to have accompanied these but surprisingly this was not the case; it was the 1961 5th Edition Tri-ang TT Railways Catalogue which was used. It is only by examining the price list that the reason becomes apparent.
The 6th Edition Catalogue carried the newly introduced ‘Continental’ (French Railways) Pacific Locomotive, coaches and wagons but these were not available due to production delays and the models could not be guaranteed in time for the product re-launch; this also applied to a number of the British outline models and accessories, which were not scheduled for release until the autumn (some of which were not released until 1963). So, it seems, it was more appropriate to use the earlier catalogue rather than offer a seemingly incomplete range.
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A few historical notesAlthough an American innovation, TT gauge railways had never been popular in the US.
Rokal TT had been imported by Polk’s Hobby Department Store from the early 1950’s but sales and availability were limited, as was the case with all TT gauge models. The reality was that, in the main, space was not a problem for most American households, well, at least for those that could afford model railways and O gauge remained ‘king’ whilst HO gauge was beginning to gain a stronger following. Sales of the Tri-ang range were poor in the US as they were worldwide. Outside of the UK, only some 400 sets were sold worldwide in the whole of 1962 and by 1964 the decision had been taken not to extend the range any further; this effectively spelt the end for Tri-ang TT in the US. |