Tri-ang Railways R.159 Double Ended Diesel with 2nd Series Transcontinental Coaches

[@andrewfanner2245]

Loved it, the final shot of the "double header" was very enjoyable. Stay safe in thse troubled times, your channel is a boost for morale:-)

[@oscarpaisley]

Afternoon Andrew, pleased to hear you enjoyed the video. Thanks again for watching, stay safe. Oscar

[@nathanw7114]

My dad has that exact loco, albeit rendered for the Australian market as a VR B class. Also, the carriages were sold here under the “Spirit of Progress” moniker (as they bore some resemblance to the Victorian express train that was running at the time) Nice work Oscar, you’ve got quite the lineup there!

[@oscarpaisley]

Good afternoon Nathan, great to hear you are enjoying the video. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment and share this information. Oscar

[@gordontaylor1483]

30 minutes of wonderful escapism in these troubled times, thank you.

[@oscarpaisley]

Thanks, Gordon, great to hear you enjoyed the video. Take care. Oscar

[@flippop101]

This takes me back. I got the loco, and coaches for Christmas 55 years ago. Thank you for a wonderful video this week. Kind regards, Philip.

[@oscarpaisley]

Good evening, Philip, that sounds like a great Christmas day. Thanks again for watching. Oscar

[@flippop101]

It certainly was the most memorable Christmas. Thank you Oscar for your wonderful films.

[@davidstokes8441]

My first train set,. My father was a newsagent and toy shop in the new city of Elizabeth, South Australia. He had this set for sale, and I asked if he would give it to me. He told me I could buy it. I was ten and could not see how I could raise the twenty pounds required. He told me to get a job and suggested that I ask the chaps at the local service station. They took me on as a cleaner and driveway attendant. (I was 10 years old remember). It took two years working after school and Saturday mornings and I eventually made my day and purchased that train set. I wish I still had it.

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning David, thanks for watching and taking the time to share your story of this set, that must've been a very memorable day, finally getting your hands on the set. All the best. Oscar

[@davidstokes8441]

@@oscarpaisley Sure was.

[@johnd8892]

Hi Oscar. Another informative video that I looked forward to. The 1958 catalogue illustration at 1:30 I believe shows the pilot model bodged together from the noses of two of the freelance R55 diesels. A photograph was shown of the pilot R55 based model in one of the early Continental Modeller magazines covering Tri-ang transcontinental. Possibly authored by Pat Hammond and showing the pilot model from the collection of Richard Lines. Richard Lines being very senior in the Rovex factory for many years especially the formative years and so had a collection of prototypes. At some point the twin R55 cab based design was abandoned before production and a nose more correctly having the EMD F7 shape or a Tri-ang close version of it. Perhaps this was feedback from Moldex in Melbourne to more closely match the 1952 introduced Victorian Railways B class shape or just that the B class photos showed it was a nicer shape. Many Australian locomotives were based on the General Motors Electro Motive Division F7 mechanical and nose design. The complete shaped noses were sent from EMD USA to Australia where they were narrowed by a few inches to fit the width of the Australian loading gauge. Many Australian streamlined EMD diesels are really lengthened US F7 on six axle and motor bogies often called Bulldog nose GMs. Much more information here : www.victorianrailways.net/motive%20power/bdiesel/bdie.html In Australia on release the R159 model came out with Mark 2 couplers and Victorian Railways lettering on the sides. Tri-ang likely based this on an early Victorian Railways publicity illustration used in publications like the Australian Children's Encyclopedias. This was one proposed lettering scheme before the locomotives were delivered. However this proposed lettering was never put on the real locomotives, possibly because at that time every locomotive running on Railways in the state was owned by the Victorian Railways and this was pointed out by VR staff as just an extra lettering cost. The oral history was that the R159 models Victorian Railways lettering of the Tri-ang model caused complaints from those in other states of Australia wanting a non Victorian lettered loco. We still have much of this state rivalry continuing in Australia. So another reason for it to be dropped as it was incorrect and caused complaints. Remained a very popular model in Australia. When it stopped being in production there was immediate pressure to have it re-introduced in the mid 70s for Australia. In case others might want to know more about the prototype the R159 was likely to be based on, here is some more information on the likely prototype : Our local Victorian Railways B class here : kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2Wcf3efZ52CjZI (from a video covering VR locos from 1854 to about 1987) but with the Tri-ang cost saving approach of 1958 in going with the standard production 4 wheel bogie rather than develop a correct six axle power bogie. Was very a very popular model in Australia. A search for B74 EMD should show lots of vids of one of the preserved ones and perhaps others still in secondary service. Pat Hammond comments on the popularity of the blue colour scheme causing Tri-ang to think of and act on what else they could make in blue. Perhaps this explains the popularity of the blue coaches also as well as seeming to match the R159. I am looking to find some more information on how the corrugated blue coaches were never used on the Victorian Railways but versions in silver with a red window stripe were used on the Overland and was one of the first duties of double headed B class engines. Later from 1962 the Southern Aurora train used all silver corrugated coaches. The real VR blue and gold striped coaches were smooth sided or some air-conditioned wooden cars. Pre war the gold stripe was real gold leaf on the VR flagship streamlined steam powered Spirit of Progress train. However so many of the early Tri-ang customers were not looking for extreme prototype accuracy from the Transcontinental range but modernity and excitement. Many migrants kids from the UK that I knew at school had the R159 and when they arrived to live in Victoria and were surprised to see so many B classes running on everything from the major named expresses to coal or wheat trains.

[@oscarpaisley]

Good afternoon John, great to hear you enjoyed the video. Love the workshop pictures in the links and thanks again for taking the time to share this great information the information. Thanks again for watching. Oscar

[@gord307]

Love these engines and coaches - imagine the noise if you replaced the unpowered bogies on a pair of engines! Great self-isolating viewing - Thank you Oscar, and keep well :-)

[@oscarpaisley]

Im thinking it may be something to try in one of those idle moments! we may have in the coming weeks, ear defenders at the ready... Thanks for watching, stay safe. Oscar

[@gregn.z.5790]

Brilliant as always Oscar, many thanks, Greg, NZ

[@oscarpaisley]

Thanks Greg, glad you enjoyed the video. Oscar

[@NorbertRoll]

Hi Oscar, again really beautiful locos and coaches. Brilliant.

[@oscarpaisley]

Hi Norbert, thanks again for watching glad you enjoyed seeing the models in action. Stay safe. Oscar

[@trainsontuesday]

Fabulous Oscar. Between us we've given the R 159 a good workout in the last few weeks. Again I learnt a lot from watching your detailed descriptions. Mine is the TR shield version and I must try to find a fuel tank for it. I have a set of the early series coaches with open ended axles and at present they are so dirty and clogged with old oil that the loco struggles with just one coach and wont move at all with all four on. Do take care, Regards David.

[@oscarpaisley]

Good evening David, we certainly have. Such an iconic model, John D has been telling how popular this model was in Australian the comments below and sent some great links one of them shows very beautiful black and white photographs of similar Victorian Railways locomotives some of them in the workshop. www.victorianrailways.net/motive%20power/bdiesel/bdie.html Hope you find a fuel tank for yours. Are you going to replace the wheels on you coaches with more contemporary ones? Thanks again for watching, stay safe. Oscar

[@gareththomas1027]

I had the princess Elizabeth for Xmas and my brother 3years younger had theR159 double ended diesel when it first came out lovely looking thing but stream trains were always my favourite

[@munirahmed2903]

Beautiful R159 locomotive & nice video

[@devilscoachman79]

Brilliant Oscar! I can almost smell that wonderful motor! Great to see traction that is over 60 years still going strong - amazing! Regards Kev. 😄

[@oscarpaisley]

Hi, Kev great to hear you enjoyed the video. You are right the models have a great smell when running. Thanks again. Oscar

[@jeffreymcneal1507]

An indepth review and analysis of these beautiful vintage pieces. Moreover, the careful examination of each pieces running characteristics provides an invaluable resource to the collector who wants to run the stuff; It is a boon knowing what to expect if were to be in tip-top condition.

[@nigelsabin1713]

Hi, Another excellent video! It brings back happy memories for me. When I was a lad, I had 00 gauge Triang trains, and my dad had a large collection of Triang TT gauge, on brown track.00 gauge was on grey track. My dad also had some Hornby 00 3 rail. Happy days Regards Nigel

[@oscarpaisley]

Good evening Nigel, sounds like you have some great memories of a terrific family model railway collection. I'm always very tempted by TT but have so far managed to resist. Sadly I was unable to resit Hornby Dublo! Bad habits... Glad you enjoyed the video, thanks for taking the time to watch and comment. Oscar

[@russellbenton2987]

Another good video. Never had any Transcontinental models but this is certainly one of the most important Tri-ang models of the period .

[@oscarpaisley]

Hi, Russel, I think your right. This model stays in peoples minds as part of the history. Thanks again. Oscar

[@russellbenton2987]

Oscar Paisley yes I’d say The Princess, Jinty , Brush Type 2 and Double Ended diesel symbolise Triang

[@ianmax69]

You can smell that carbon from here Wonderfully nostalgic Triang that

[@oscarpaisley]

Hi, thanks for watching. Oscar

[@PaulinesPastimes]

Just had a second look and realised how good all the coaches look in the station with their respective locomotives. Such colourful things.

[@gord307]

I like to buy wagons as souvenirs when out-and-about, and always go for the colourful ones. They look smashing all together on the track. All the best. Gord

[@oscarpaisley]

Definitely a colourful collection. Oscar

[@simonblake5563]

Brilliant Video. Your models are superb condition. I'm always amazed how well those coaches behave despite their small wheels

[@oscarpaisley]

Good afternoon Simon, great to hear you enjoyed the video, as you say the coaches behave very well on the layout. Thanks again for watching. Oscar

[@Artsweb]

Great running session Oscar - thank you

[@oscarpaisley]

Great to hear you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching. Oscar

[@paulosman3369]

Nice video Oscar and what a nice collection of vehicles, nice condition and still quite vibrant colours. Looking forward to the next instalment.

[@oscarpaisley]

Hi, Paul they are a very bold looking group of models. Very deserving of the name The Blue Streak used later on. Thanks again for watching. Oscar

[@Martin.]

Hello Oscar, excellent video as always. That was very interesting as well as informative. All the best, Martin

[@oscarpaisley]

Thanks again for watching Martin, glad to hear you enjoyed the video. Oscar

[@hughfraser1547]

Wow, memory's of that set up as a in child in 60's

[@oscarpaisley]

Hi Hugh, thanks for watching. Oscar

[@petersmith4455]

great video as usual.just serviced my r55 with 2 x04 motors in it. F7 diesel locos are classic

[@oscarpaisley]

Hi, Peter, I bet she sounds great. Thanks again for watching, glad you enjoyed the video. Oscar

[@mike59317]

A great look at these locos and coaches Oscar, as a point of interest I have a powered and dummy set made in Australia with Victorian Railways printed on the side, with fish eye glazing to the port windows. Made in 1958 with mark 2 couplings.

[@oscarpaisley]

Hi, Michael great to hear you enjoyed the video, you models from 58 sound terrific. Thanks for watching. Oscar

[@PaulinesPastimes]

Excellent fun as usual. cheers

[@oscarpaisley]

Thanks, Pauline glad you enjoyed seeing these models in action. Oscar

[@Mike-kc8rl]

Love these triang boxes and i can remember way back having two dummy locos of these, they of course never had working headlights! I always wanted the powered engine, but never got it.

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Mike great to hear you enjoyed seeing these iconic models from Tri-ang Railways. Thanks for watching take care. Oscar

[@jonathanwilson773]

A great video as usual. Very informative.

[@oscarpaisley]

Hi, Jonathan thanks again for watching, glad you enjoyed the video. Oscar

[@playpaulbee]

Thanks Oscar, very thorough, I didn't have a Double Ended Diesel until early this year and I bought a very battered one for almost nothing, the front non powered bogie looked like it had been sat in water, I had to saw through the rusted axles and replace them, I'm considering looking for a second unit as a donor and putting two power bogies in one !

[@oscarpaisley]

That should have some great pulling power. Thanks again for watching. Oscar

[@POUNCEMAN1]

I have the same transcontinental blue set and the red set too ,,, I see you have the very rare two tone green set ,,, nice ,,, i used to have the overhead wire double ended locomotive,, never should have sold that,, but it too is in my bucket list again ,,, great video,,, all the best

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Rob thanks again for watching, as you say the two tone green electric is a lovely model, great to hear you have transcontinental blue & red sets also traffic looking models. Take care. Oscar

[@davidstrains4910]

Great video Oscar the models look great

[@oscarpaisley]

Hi David, thanks for watching. Oscar

[@a1140]

Good morning nice to see another video just noticed when u run a train only one train in one direction can run two in the other direction at the same time thanks Alan

[@oscarpaisley]

Good afternoon Alan, glad to hear you are enjoying the videos. Thanks for watching. Oscar

[@Steven_Rowe]

Great stuff Oscar. One day can we see Oscar and hear the Oscar story. I can almost SMELL my first trainset from 1959 Yes the smell of newness. The UK was still making steam in 59. Loved the two tone green livery. We didnt care if it ran along side Brittania of a Month, I was a kid my mind not corrupted by adulthood. December the trainset box art work something you have captured so well. Think I could play trains with you Oscar with a glass or two of quality single malt

[@oscarpaisley]

Good afternoon Steven, thanks again for watching and sharing your memories. Oscar

[@Mike-kc8rl]

Strange but the other day i got hold of the blue streak train set. I have had the dummy R250? about forty years ago and now have it in powered form. The coaches i have, have no seats and i believe they are the mk1 type with glass vistadome and observation car, i look forward to giving it a run, the condition is great for a sixty odd year old train set. your videos bring back child hood memories, especially that groved wheel howl .

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Mike great to hear you have one of these great looking and sounding locomotives in your collection as well as the dummy, no make a terrific set. As you say the mark one type TC coaches didn't have seating as far as I know apart from the in the vista dome bubble and the in the tail end of the observation car, a loverly looking set. Thanks for watching take care. Oscar

[@johnroberts7924]

Very helpful video, thank you.

[@oscarpaisley]

Great to hear you found the video helpful. Thanks for watching. Oscar

[@forestsoceansmusic]

Love your layout. And love the low-down camera work the best (but there were cool overhead shots I haven't seen before too). Yes, my red-and-silver Australian set may've said "Trans Australia" instead of "Trans Continental". Can't remember now.

[@oscarpaisley]

Glad you enjoyed it! Oscar

[@nafs53]

I did have that engine and I believe that was around the time of the Big Freeze. Having watched a few of these YT vids, I now regret having sold off my small set up back in the 60's but there you go 😢

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Nick great to hear you had these in the past. I had quite a few of the Tri-ang Hornby items back in the 70s / early 80s all went as I grew up through my teens and left home and interests shifted. Thanks for watching. Oscar

[@briancritchley5295]

I have two of these, both trans Australia, they run fine but only because I keep up the servicing , the cars are beautiful .

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Brian, as you say servicing from time to time. I think this makes them all the more engaging and bring's a great deal of satisfaction. Thanks for watching. Oscar

[@andrewr2825]

Enjoying this “series” of the Transcontinental type locos and coaches Oscar. Again, Triang was innovative even in the late ‘50’s by introducing dummy locos. Great idea that didn’t seem to catch on over the years - apart from some limited releases. Maybe dummy locos could be on the cards again one day?? Take care Oscar, and to you and your subscribers, may good health be with you!!

[@oscarpaisley]

Hi, Andrew great to hear you are enjoying these videos, I wonder if the Tri-ang dummy locos didn't catch on as the extra weight and friction was so great, the motors already being at about the limit with four coaches at the time. I imagine now with many of the terrific continental models being all-wheel drive and reassuringly heavy there is far more scoop for the contemporary modelers/collectors and manufactures. Thanks again for watching, stay safe. Oscar

[@chorlton4]

Great stuff Oscar-who needs sound chips! lovely racket and no detail bits to drop off! 12 bob dining cars too, keep the magic coming for goodness sake..

[@oscarpaisley]

Good everning, great the hear you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching, stay safe. Oscar

[@robindow5742]

hi oscar i hope you are well i never had any transcontinental range of stock but 12 shillings would have been a lot of money in the sixties when i started work in 1961 i earned three pounds 4 shilling and three pennies

[@oscarpaisley]

Hi Robin the TC stock does seem a little more expensive than the British coaching stock listed at about that time as 9/7 for R.28 Brake & R.29 Composite Maroon and Cream , 10/7 for R.224 Restaurant Car, 9/1 for a the Suburban coaches. But the R.228 Pullman 1st was 13/4! Thanks for watching and the perspective on the pricing. Oscar

[@peterkazmierczak7273]

That loco sounds exactly like my old Tri-ang Met-Cam DMU.

[@oscarpaisley]

Hi Peter, I think apart from the side frames and the size of the ribbed wheels the motor unit is the same. Thanks for watching. Oscar

[@peterw6227]

Outside 3 rail Dublo, these R159's are the best trains/models ever made. TransAustralia.....

[@Mittagong49]

Oscar - another excellent video of an iconic Tri-ang model. Do you rewheel any of your rollingstock or do you run on original Tri-ang wheels? Keep up the great work.

[@oscarpaisley]

Hi Michael, great to hear you enjoyed the video. I do occasionally replace a wheel hear and there but normally like for like or as close to as I can find. Thanks again for watching. Oscar

[@wilks3620]

How does it run so well? Mine, which is in the VR livery can barely move without cutting out.

[@ELEB2634]

I love this stuff

[@oscarpaisley]

Thanks for watching. Oscar

[@andrewhotston983]

As Hornby are keen to exploit nostalgia for the old model trains, I wish they'd make the Transcontinental trains again, but with a modern mechanism, and the wheels that would run on modern track.

[@combatbunny9820]

Get my engineers hat on with my sandwiches packed and a thermos on with my train adventures.

[@oscarpaisley]

Thanks for watching. Oscar

[@thomasmardy2167]

When these engines were sold in Australia in the 60s they were rebranded as the Victorian railway B class model

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning Thomas thank you for the information. Stay safe. Oscar

[@southerneruk]

I have the same one, the difference is mine has the CP badge with Triang marking in the lower mid-section, also the carriages have running lights set in the plastic the size of a match stick head (no longer works because of the thin wire between carriages broken away, Mine came of the Queen Mary Toy Shop

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning thanks for watching sounds like you have some great items in your collection. Stay safe. Oscar

[@southerneruk]

@@oscarpaisley It was got for me has an Xmas present 1960 I think, I had an Uncle who was meal steward for 1st and 2nd class, most passenger ships had a toy shop in those days for the passengers, but the crew could buy end of line stuff and toys that was put on show

[@ghostseekers8492]

I'm working on getting one of these going as a VR B class it's not run for a long time

[@johngibson4641]

Hi Oscar ,, I just a couple of weeks ago purchased these same blue type of transcontinental cars but mine are in the older thicker outer ribbed style like the silver transcontinental ones in the catalogue you show but are in the blue livery brand and there is the the observation bubble open deck and there is one carriage with the observation deck in the middle and is not a closed end like the blue one you have have but mine is blu.. Sounds a tad confusing and i wish I can send you some pics of them so I can show you what i am taling about. I bought them in a job lot here in Australia and also got a R250 dummy engine as well same as yours no boxes though. I also got a few,months ago a silver transcontinental dummy loco but will have to dig oi out. How i remember this as the fellow I bought it from said to me im not sure why this one does not go ,, I said I know why ,, it is a dummy engine to go with the slilver engine and carriages and was usually sold in a set back in the late 50's just like my uncle got well before i was born. Is there any way i can get some photos to you ?

[@oscarpaisley]

Hi John sounds like you developing quite a collection here are a couple of sites which you may have already found but if you haven't I think you will find them interesting. www.tri-ang.co.uk tri-ang.weebly.com They are a great reference, you can email me at [e-mail] Thanks again take care. Oscar

[@edmundcarew7235]

Fairly close to the classic Victorian Railways' livery, and close to a B class (double ended). Great locos!

[@oscarpaisley]

Thanks for the info and taking the time to watch. Stay safe. Oscar

[@austinmilich648]

I had that triangle version but in was in poor condition, my dad and I have 2 of the modern Auscision models VR and Vline B class

[@oscarpaisley]

Good morning I think a lot of these ended up in poor condition as they were played with so much. Sounds like you have a great collection. Thanks again for watching. Oscar

[@gareththomas1027]

My brother would switch off all the room lights so we could watch the train lights in the dark

[@oscarpaisley]

They look great like that thanks again for watching. Take care. Oscar

[@milou7300a]

Hi I like very much triang train, and I got many mofel, hope to hava place to buy piece friendly Jacques

[@wardy98px1]

Can't beat triang great runners

[@oscarpaisley]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed seeing these in action. Oscar

[@jeffbutler4067]

Can you please do video of how strip down and clean the r159

[@oscarpaisley]

Hi thanks for watching Jeff I'll see what we can do about a strip down of these great looking locomotives once to move back to a more suitable track type. Take care. Oscar

[@Steven_Rowe]

Perhaps a bit of info Oscar. I always thought the transcontinental stuff was supposed to be American and indeed many ways they were loosely based on American single ended diesels. The blue and yellow double ended is based on Victorian railways b class some of which still run. I think Australia is unique in having a double ended of this American EMD design. A!so Victorian railways had L class double Enders that were electric rather like the green diesel. Also note the blue passenger cars. Whilst the B class were 5ft 3" gauge which they used in Victoria some were re gauged to standard gauge. Check out the video,I'm sure it will be of interest kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqnCqpyhgrWXe7c

[@johnd8892]

Oscar , with reference to your comment that the catalogue illustration at 23:12 looking like an artists impression. Well observed, as I came across evidence that all the catalogue pictures were, for many years, in fact painted by the Rovex resident artist : kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqnblmd4fN5ghJI So we may have been drooling over the art of Maggie Beech as well as Terence Cuneo. Loved that page when I first got the number 8 cat, but spent many years as a child trying to find it. My young brother had torn up the catalogue for all but the eight outer pages but my mother was loathe to tell me what happened. Took me about 20 years to find another number 8.

[@oscarpaisley]

Hi John thanks for the link, I wonder if any of the artwork survived after. I imagen that after separations were made much of the artwork was disposed of. It seems photography was used more widely by Tri-ang Hornby from 1970 with the price of coated papers possibly falling and print technology advancing. Great to hear you finally got a replacement copy of the cat no8. Oscar

[@lisalewis9237]

Hi Oscar, I'm happy to see the VR B class diesel locomotive featured this week. A lovely model in all it's variations. Australian trains are another passion of mine. I've always thought it strange though that Tri-ang never offered a version in Commonwealth Railways style paint scheme for use with the Silver and Red coaches. farm6.static.flickr.com/5772/21290108524_464314e951.jpg It's a shame Tri-ang didn't fit some lead weight inside. The motor doesn't run out of power, rather the wheels go into a spin due to a lack of weight for adhesion. I would say it's safe to assume that fitting a second motor would require keeping the insulated bushes on the same side of the model as the factory fitted motor? In other words, the axles would need to be taken off and flipped around along with the collection plate assembly. This would be especially critical on the catenary powered models, or a short circuit would quite likely result from fitting the second motor without flipping the wheels around. As others have noted, Please be careful and stay safe during these troubling times. Your videos are a bright spot for many of us during these troubling times. Lisa

[@oscarpaisley]

What a wonderful image thanks for the link another one of those missed opportunities for Tri-ang perhaps. I wonder how much a livery variation like this would have cost? Thanks again for watching, stay safe. Oscar

[@johnd8892]

@@oscarpaisley Lisa and Oscar. Tri-ang did not do this but it is not well known that Hornby did something improved on this in the 1977 Australian range :- www.hornbyguide.com/publication_details.asp?publicationid=46 with the Commonwealth Railways (CR) version of the VR S class appearing as : www.hornbyguide.com/item_year_details.asp?itemyearid=326 However the image is pre-production and although appearing in the 1977 catalogue. The image detracted from sales compared to the better production version of R318 and the VR S class R317. My 1979 purchased Trans Australia set of R772 did include the Silver liveried (painted?) coaches similar to the coaches livery as depicted in Lisa's supplied link. Mainly bought this as it was cheap, due to it being unpopular. The set was sold off at Kmart discount department stores for $29.95. This was similar to the retail price of a B class three years previously. However this combination of R55 in Commonwealth Railways Red and Silver with the red banded coaches would not have depicted how the Trans Australia looked in the Tri-ang era. These Silver coloured coaches only came with the new Inidian Pacific Train of 1970. From about 1952 to 1969 the mainly red Trans Australia train appeared as in this lined up clip at Port Pirie: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6TMZX-DlM6Jq9k So not too close to Tri-ang despite the Trans-Australia name. The obscure isolated towns of Port Pirie and Kalgoorlie were the termini of the Trans then. This meant that very few Australians would see locomotives of the Commonwealth Railways "desert" railway and so CR was seldom modelled by Australians. The 1970 Indian Pacific train looked like this : kzbin.info/www/bejne/e4umfqqogrSJb7s but still it would be rare to see a Commonwealth Railways locomotive as locomotives were still changed at desert towns where the Commonwealth Railways trackage began and ended. Hornby were also were being left behind by Lima providing a larger range of higher accuracy Australian equipment at lower prices. In the Triang sixties the red banded coaches most closely resembled the Overland train running on the Victorian and South Australian railways : kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6TMZX-DlM6Jq9k (from the 1960-62 era) or into the 1980s (posted just 2 days ago) : kzbin.info/www/bejne/npzEoZaCjKdpmMk Really needed more red of a darker shade which Lima provided later in the 80s. The Overland used double headed B class locos on the Victorian side of the border from 1952 until around 1959 as it was then around twenty coaches on hilly terrain, so coaches more accurate for a B class than corrugated blue coaches. The blue Victorian coaches were not corrugated but looked more like these on the Spirit of Progress : kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6TMZX-DlM6Jq9k or these on the Gippslander (behind what we wanted R257 to look like) : kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6TMZX-DlM6Jq9k In 1962 the new Southern Aurora used new silver corrugated passenger coaches on its run between Melbourne and Sydney : kzbin.info/www/bejne/q6TMZX-DlM6Jq9k or with ugly NSW locos : kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJuQnYibn6mkhbs Victorian modellers only got a bit more interested in the CR version when some were leased to overcome motive power shortages as were Western Australian locos : kzbin.info/www/bejne/gKbdp6CQi5qdqs0 So it was difficult for Hornby to keep up with all these changes and the demand for more accurate better running equipment that started with Lima and so this new range just lasted about three years. Other upheavals going on to at the time. Now we have SDS, Austrains, Eureka, Auscision, Trainorama, Ixion, IDR, Wuiske Models, Steam Era Models, Southern Rail Models and a few more harder to keep track of. All providing HO models of Australian railways to the much higher standard demanded by today's modellers. Still lots of collectors of Triang, Wrenn and Hornby Dublo though and those using current UK products to model UK railways.

[@lisalewis9237]

@@johnd8892 Hi, Thanks for the interesting link. I didn't even know this model existed in the Hornby Range, www.hornbyguide.com/item_year_details.asp?itemyearid=1080 Now I have to watch for one. Lisa

[@forestsoceansmusic]

I was given the red-and-silver set for Xmas 1963 (here in Australia, but which didn't come with the dummy extra diesel unit), which was the same livery as Australia's Federal "Trans Continental" (or "Indian Pacific") which ran from Sydney on the east coast to Perth on the west coast. I think one section of it (during its crossing of the Nullarbor Plain) is still the longest straight stretch of railway in the world. The total train distance is 4,352 km. Interestingly, the blue-and-yellow livery (at least for locos) was that of the state of Victoria (the south-east-most mainland state, capital Melbourne), and they had double-nosed diesels just like that (whereas the Indian Pacific had single round-nosed diesels just like the the red-and-silver livery). So I'm thinking they may have been developed for the Australian market? However, I don't think we had the 'canopy' carriage, whereas the Canadian-Pacific did (and still does?).

[@oscarpaisley]

Hi thanks for the information, its amazing some of those distances involved. Especially when for viewed from the perspective of a small Island in northern Europe. Thanks again for watching. Oscar

[@johnd8892]

By 1963 Triang had given up on the dummy diesel idea. Never really popular. Just extra drag on a train, not extra power.