GAZETTE
TTRCA
No. 147
TRIX TWIN RAILWAY COLLECTORS’ ASSOCIATION
June 2012
SWINDON
EXHIBITION
• 8 TTR Baseboards
• AC and DC
• 2-Rail and 33-Rail
• PrePre- and PostPost-war
• Bakelite and Fibre
• 5 Circuits
• Twin Running
• Operating Conveyor
■ SWINDON ■ BANBURY ■ MIJDRECHT ■ FLIER ■ NORD ■ DC CONVERSION ■
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TRIX TWIN RAILWAY COLLECTORS’ ASSOCIATION
www.TTRCA.co.uk
Founded in 1975 by Allan Hinchliffe and Stewart Bean, the TTRCA is a non-profit making
organisation devoted to the collecting and operating of TTR, Trix Express, Trix ‘00’ and Minitrix
‘N’ gauge model railways.
Honorary President: Mr. E.L. Rozsa, formerly of
Trix and Liliput (UK).
Materials published in the TTRCA Gazette may
not be reproduced without the permission of the
Trix Twin Collectors’ Association.
Cheques for subscriptions and Association
spare parts should be made payable to TTRCA
unless otherwise requested.
ASSOCIATION OFFICIALS
OVERSEAS REPRESENTATIVES
Gazette Distribution
John Hills-Harrop
Membership Secretary / Treasurer
Subscriptions and membership enquiries
Brian Arnold
6 Ribble Avenue, Oadby,
Leicester, LE2 4NZ,
Tel 0116 271 5943
brian@oadbytrains1.orangehome.co.uk
Publicity
Helen Dawson
ttrcapublicity@yahoo.co.uk
Secretary
Correspondence other than for the Gazette
Geraldine Steele
secretaryttrca@uwclub.net
Spare Parts
Martin Drayson
Canada and USA
Keith Jones
Tel (586)-786-1474
kaydeejay9@yahoo.com
France
Marc Danen
Germany and Austria
Franz Nowack
Tel/Fax +49 (0) 8141 818537
Franz.Nowack@t-online.de
Holland and Belgium
E.W. Kegge
Tel +31 (0) 15-3640669
Mobile +31(0) 6-51215363
e.w.kegge@planet.nl
Pacific Anniversary
Around The World Of Trix
Restoration of a Nord
No Magnets - Magic!
Scratchbuilt
Spares Notes
Flier Prototype?
Trix Heaven
Trix Express Steam Cavalcade
Check Your Check Switch
Beckenham Train Show
Swindon Exhibition (& front cover)
A Trix Experiment?
Princess Prototype?
Dates For Your Diary
Constitution Amendments
Points Of View
Boom Time For Trix
Arrivals and Departures
Looks Like Trix
Cartoon
Banbury
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SUPPORT SERVICES
Armature Rewinds: Derek Gibbs
Loco and Rolling Stock Repaints:
John Hopkinson
Manyways roofs, windows, and
posters, loco crank rods, plastic
loco, coach and wagon parts, etc
John Hills-Harrop (see left column)
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Gazette and Website Editor
Gazette letters, articles, notices, advertisements
Website articles, notices
Steve White
steve@ttrca.co.uk
Australia
Peter Grant
Tel (03) 5367 5551
trix33@bigpond.com
Gazette Contents
Overseas Liaison
David Holmes
dc712holmes@btinternet.com
Special Projects Co-ordinator
John Brown
New Zealand
Colin Fraser-Davies
Fraser-davies@infogen.net.nz
South Africa
Ian Sutherland
ilsutherland@cybersmart.co.za
Switzerland
Jean-Patrick Enz
Tel +41 (0) 44 341 6121
jean-patrick.enz@bluewin.ch
Reproduction Boxes:
David Johnson
Spares and technical advice:
Martin Drayson (see left column)
White metal castings for TTR and
Trix Express:
Franz Nowack (see centre column)
List available free
Yellow Trix loco boxes and train set
card infills: David O’Brien,
Repairs and servicing:
Duncan Bell
Keith Hayman
Gazette Back Numbers
Geraldine Steele (see left column)
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TTRCA GAZETTE
No. 147 June 2012
O
ur thanks to Adrian Cassidy for providing a superb
Trix display for two days at the GWR Steam Museum
in Swindon (see page 14 and front cover).
Copy deadline for the September edition: 5th August 2012
Remember the long noisy goods trains on British Railways in the
1950’s? Two EM1 BoBo locos double-head a train of more
than 30 wagons on the giant Trix display at
the Bassett-Lowke show at Swindon’s
GWR Steam Museum.
Thanks also to David
O’Brien in anticipation of
his two day event in July (see
page 17).
Dieter Weissbach invites TTRCA
members to attend the two-day Berlin event
in October (details below). David Holmes will be
attending, and has agreed to co-ordinate the UK
members’ involvement regarding provision of rolling
stock and layout operation.
If you are not able to attend any of these Trix treats I hope that
the Gazette keeps you informed and involved. Talking of being
involved, David Holmes has received suggestions from several members
for improvements to the TTRCA Constitution (see page 17). Your copy of the
current Constitution is included with this Gazette.
Please note our Australian Representative, Peter Grant, has a new address and
phone number (see page 2).
• 20 vintage model train layouts
(TRIX EXPRESS, BING, etc.)
• Rare items, expert panels, lectures, special tours
• Spare parts, private model train swapmeet
Friday 12th Oct:
setup layouts, exhibitors only
Saturday 13th Oct: 10:00 – 18:00 open to the public
Sunday 14th Oct: 10:00 – 16:00 open to the public
75th Anniversary TRIX EXPRESS
Pacific Locomotive 4-6-2
Historical Model Railway Show in Berlin
Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th October 2012
Gustav Heinemann-Oberschule
Waldsassener Straße 62, 12279 Berlin, Germany
At the Leipzig Fair in autumn 1937, TRIX presented a new
collection of scale table top model trains. Only two and a
half years after the start of TRIX EXPRESS, the four-wheel
toy locos had developed into scale 4-6-2 precision Pacific
locomotives, along with scale coaches and trucks.
#
Information: www.trixstadt.de
Email enquiries: trixstadt@web.de
Dieter Weißbach +49 177 5906 239
TRIX EXPRESS Friends Berlin
TTRCA MEMBERS ARE WELCOME
TO BRING AND RUN TRIX
types, scale coaches, presentation boxes and so on from
1938/1939.
The Berlin TRIX Friends will supply tables, AC & DC power
supplies, bakelite track and other basic requirements. Like
the Berlin meeting in March 2010 we will support our UK
TRIX made the very first table top Pacific locomotive. This is guests with help and advice so they have a good time in
the reason for the next great historic model railway show in Berlin.
Berlin, similar to the anniversary exhibition in 2010. This
David Holmes will co-ordinate the TTRCA layout:
exhibition will include 20 historic steps of model train evoludc712holmes@btinternet.com 01273 890 191
tion. We will have interesting layouts from German and international exhibitors.
We are allowed to sell and buy at a private swapmeet.
Franz Nowack will bring his excellent range of spares and
other friends will offer special tools.
The TRIX EXPRESS Friends Berlin invite our British TRIX
friends to attend in Berlin and be part of the show with their
own layout. A suitable matching theme would be British
TRIX TWIN Pacific locos, including brass Pacific proto-
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AROUND THE WORLD OF TRIX
South Africa
News, information, and gossip from our overseas representatives
Ian Sutherland
Recently I was contacted be someone who had a small collection of TTR for sale. We met and I was able to offer what
I thought was a very fair price, but shortly after that he was
offered a figure 50% higher than mine. The buyer, from Johannesburg, was not a model railway person, but intended
to sell and hopefully make a profit - good luck to him!
There have been two other sellers of Trix, but both were
offering Continental collections, however I will keep in touch
with them, just in case they are unable to sell at their asking
prices.
I had intended to make a brief visit to the UK during June
and July to attend the GTG at Shipton and the Sandy exhibition. When I was told what the air fare would be, and the
fact that the visit would be in between the Queen's Jubilee
and the Olympics, I made the decision to leave it to the
same time in 2013. Also, we are flying to Australia during
December to visit family and will have to save a lot
of pennies for that trip !
I am also very sorry that I would not have been able to
attend David O'Brien's function during July, even if I had
been able to come over.
And finally, and at very long last, I am making progress on
my layout board, but which requires selling off another
model railway system, which in its day was a competitor to
TTR, Playcraft, made by the French company Jouef. Fortunately, I do have a possible buyer.
Switzerland
well but the rolling stock required attention to run smoothly.
A lesson learned; we’ll be better prepared with rolling stock
serviced before the event next time.
April 7, 2012 was the Dutch TRIX EXPRESS Club event,
held again at Mijdrecht. A two-man Swiss delegation attended this event. I think it was our 15th or 16th show. It’s a
must for any TRIX enthusiast, either from the continent or
the U.K. John Hopkinson must have known this, as we had
the pleasure of meeting him. No doubt Ed Kegge will report
with more details about the event, which celebrated the famous Dutch electric flier, the class ELD-2. TRIX EXPRESS
produced this model in green and red livery. We hesitated to
bring "coals to Newcastle" as electric fliers bought in Switzerland look the same as those bought in the Netherlands.
We ran a small layout of TRIX EXPRESS fibre track with
unusual DC rolling stock. This included a 20/55 DC loco
from the Swiss COOP program and also two rare TTR
"Paris-Strasbourg-Basle-Zurich" passenger coaches, which
I was very glad to have found on a table at the event!
Jean-Patrick Enz
On March 17, 2012, a TRIX event took place in Backnang
(near Stuttgart in Germany) organized by an enthusiastic
group of German TRIX enthusiasts in the local town hall.
The event was well attended and was covered by local radio
and video crews. Among them was a team sent by MÄRKLIN to see how active TRIX EXPRESS enthusiasts are, with
the intention of including their report in the bi-annual MÄRKLIN-Club DVD.
At the show four Swiss enthusiasts provided a large bakelite layout running DC rolling stock. The layout consisted of
two main lines, including an island station, with an additional
third branch track. All points were hand-operated, due to
insufficient time for the respective wiring. The layout worked
Backnang
4
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Mijdrecht
Also of interest on our layout was a transparent transformer / controller, once sold to dealers for demonstration
purposes, and a TRIX EXPRESS depot for tipping wagons,
previously produced especially for kids. The layout and rolling stock ran smoothly during the opening hours. As always,
the event was a great pleasure to attend, including the
chillout with small talk and a welcome pint of beer.
And now news about the International Summer GTG on
August 4th in Zurich. We received notice from the local
Town authorities that during the same weekend the nearby
Limmattal road will be completely closed for the replacement of the Line 13 tramway tracks. Subsequently, access
by car will be very restricted. I’ve added alternative routes to
the information on the TTRCA website, or if you don’t have
internet access please contact me.
Thanks to Felix Menzi and Peter Beer of the IG TRIX EXPRESS for the
photos.
Friday, July 20, 2012 13:12
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USA and Canada
Keith Jones
TRIX at THE GREAT BRITISH TRAIN SHOW April 2012
www.theplatelayers.org
For the fifth time, Trix was represented at the
Great British Train Show, held every other
year in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. This
event, in a de-iced hockey arena, was organized by “The Platelayers”, a group of model
train enthusiasts in Southern Ontario. It is specifically intended for British equipment, so
there was a Hornby layout and several scale
layouts depicting British stock. In addition to
HO layouts there were several “scale” layouts
running a mix of stock including Standard, O,
S, N and P4 gauges. Many vendors of Peco,
Graham Farish, Hornby, Triang etc were also
in attendance.
As Mike Walton is part of the Platelayers organization running the show, we arrived around noon Friday to help mark
out the floor and run power extension leads to where the
exhibits were going to be positioned. The arena was then
opened for exhibitors to set up at 3pm.
We had Mike’s Tinkertown layout (see March 2012 Gazette, page 4) in the car, in addition to my rolling stock, so
once the arena was ready we set up and by 3:30 on Friday
afternoon we were ready for Saturday morning.
The show opened at 10am, Mike and I were joined by one
of our other Canadian members, Richard Careless, who did
a great job running the layout for much of the day and
seemed to enjoy it immensely. Reinhold Schuele from near
Niagara Falls also joined us for a short while. On Sunday,
Mike and I were joined by one of our regulars, Chris Ricketts,
who lives not far from the show location. He mastered the
coal loading and unloading activities. We also saw Peter and
Pat Greenhill.
We were pleasantly surprised at the number of families
who visited and we commented that there were a lot more
kids attending than two years ago. There was always someone who wanted to operate the coal conveyor and we encouraged them to do it. As previously, we used one of my
Ruston shunters on half-wave DC to manoeuvre the dump
wagons for loading and unloading. We ran other trains, including my blue Pytchley with a rake of blood and custard
short coaches, but the coal train ran for most of the show,
with a goods train headed by an 0-4-0 running around the
outside.
We did run in “Demolition Derby” mode with some older
0-4-0 locos that didn’t matter if they got another scratch or
two, but we must be getting better as we only had a couple
of spills on the diamond crossings! (See the video on YouTube: search ”Trix Twin Demolition Derby GBTS 2012”)
As in previous shows, we had a good supply of past issues
of the Gazette available for people to look at and take away.
4pm Sunday arrived quickly and it was time to pack up for
another two years. We were loaded and leaving in 30 minutes thanks to the limited amount of work needed to get
Mike’s layout ready for travel. We have been invited back in
2014 – it seems the GBTS is going to live on for a little while
longer at least.
TTRCA Gaz 147 web vs.pub
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Richard and Mike
I dropped Mike and his layout off in Acton, Ontario and
headed home after a quick snack. 200 miles and 3½ hours
later I arrived without incident and returned my rolling stock
to the permanent layout in my basement.
A good weekend, estimates were that more than 800 people attended the show and, as noted, there seemed to be a
lot more youngsters. We found that rather encouraging.
Holland … and Banbury!
Ed Kegge
#
Thanks to the spare Gazettes supplied by Steve White when
I attended the Banbury GTG, we can welcome another new
Dutch member to the TTRCA. He became so enthusiastic
after reading the Gazettes that he immediately became a
member. A warm welcome, therefore, to Fred Nederbragt
and we hope he will become a long term TTRCA member
like the rest of us.
Speaking of the GTG, it was nice to meet many members
I’ve known for years, although 10am to 2pm was too short to
have a proper chat with everyone. The table holders were
already packing up before I could work through the membership list with Brian Arnold. David O’Brien kindly spared a
place on his table to show my prototype R2 bakelite curve
(see page 20) and recently renovated Blue Pytchley.
David had some interesting Anfoe boats on display. I don’t
think anyone knew about their existence until now, at least I
didn’t. The large ones are well known, these rare smaller
clockwork boats have survived well.
(Continued on next page)
Anfoe miniature boats
5
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(continued from previous page)
I took the opportunity to ask John Hopkinson whether my
blue Pytchley was repainted by him. He denied it, but
thought it was a superb job. Geoff Robinson showed me his
Dinky Toy / Trix Express BR 80 loco (see page 20). I asked
him whether the Dinky bodies are hard to find, so he gave
me a spare one and wished me luck with the modification.
Strolling around the tables, I found some 0-4-0 chassis to
repair the two American locos in the Twin Train Set 9/356 I
recently obtained in Holland thanks to Gary Lefevre. The set
is far from mint but possible to renovate. Besides some body
damage, the wheels are fatigued and need to be replaced.
With the set came a boxed Country Through Station 3007
with nearly every window missing. Thanks to John HillsHarrop, who had the window sheets for sale, I took some
very good replacements home.
After a tea break with David Wood, I saw a peculiar loco on
the adjacent table. It was a Garrett built on two Trix
0-4-0 chassis (see previous Gazette). I complimented the
builder on the nice job he had done.
At Dixon’s table I found a box with Trix Express colour
light signals mounted on track. I never expected to find
these in England. As the box was absent from my collection, we made a deal.
As my holiday in the Cotswolds was about to begin, I did
not buy anymore TTR!
Mijdrecht
Just two weeks after we got home from the UK (where we
had the best weather one could wish for), it was time for our
Dutch annual club day in Mijdrecht. To my surprise, John
Hopkinson appeared in front of my table. As the only representative of the TTRCA he was a smaller delegation than
we had last year. I got the impression he enjoyed the event
with us.
Our theme was the Dutch railcar ELD 2. Coert van Dijk
and Wim Aerts, who always share their tables, extrapolated
the theme by putting all kinds of Trix railcars on show. In my
opinion, it was one of the nicest displays of the day.
I set up my usual track plan with three types of Trix Express track. All day my Blue Pytchley ran on the inner circle
without fault. For many Dutch visitors, this is a type of loco
(4-4-0) they have not seen before as they are not familiar
with TTR. On the outside track, a Trix Express V100 pulled
a train of TTR goods wagons on which I had swapped the
TTR thick axle plastic wheels with Trix Express metal
wheels with needle point axles. The wagons ran with much
less friction. To make coupling easy, I replaced the TTR
(Peco type) couplings with modified Trix Express diecast
couplings.
Gerd Piek set up a layout on a so called Trix Express
Toporama and furnished it with the appropriate scenery.
This Toporama was manufactured by Trix and is a printed
sheet with track plan, roads and space for Faller buildings.
The catalogue numbers of the buildings are printed on the
sheet. After many years Gerd finally completed it.
I was interested in a futuristic layout which resembled a
Trix Nürnberg toy fair layout of 1955 and was stocked with
many Trix ELD railcars
The number of members and visitors to Mijdrecht was very
satisfying, so by the end of the day our TEC broke even with
the costs for hall and table hire. Besides the 100 members
behind tables, we had 233 visiting members and 155 paying
(not member) visitors. So, altogether nearly 500 attended,
which is about 50 more than last year.
As with previous GTG’s, we had attendees from Germany
and Switzerland. At the bar afterwards I was able to review
the day with Ralf Siewertsen, Gunther Kraus, Felix Menzi
and Jean-Patrick Enz. There were many more from abroad
but by then they were homeward bound. The date and place
for our winter GTG is not set yet. The next event will be our
DIY day at Geldermalsen, also not scheduled yet.
Coert and Wim’s railcars,
including a UK Intercity
Pytchley and V100 with
large radius bakelite curve
and Blue Benelux ELD
(non-original) nearby.
Gerd Piek with Trix Toporama
Futuristic layout stocked with Trix ELD railcars
6
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I
RESTORATION OF A NORD
Richard D. Oates and Keith Hayman
originally purchased this Nord along with a collection of
half a dozen other locos, some of which were not Trix,
from eBay. The small collection cost £220, and some of
the other locos, mainly Hornby, have been sold for £60, so
the Nord cost £160. The other locos had very little value.
I was undecided whether to have the Nord repainted, but I
sent it to Keith Hayman to have the electrical and mechanical faults rectified, and after some discussions with him I decided to go ahead with the repairs and a full repaint. Keith
kindly supplied the following notes about the restoration.
with ten Trix Express wagons in tow, ensuring that the reversing mechanism worked every time.
I now have received the fully restored and repaired loco
and tender, and am amazed and delighted how good it looks
and runs. It sure is different to any other Trix loco I have. My
thanks go to Martin Drayson and Franz Nowack for supplying the spares and to Keith Hayman and John Hopkinson for
a superb result.
All I have to do now is to save up for the coaches!
The first job was to strip the loco down to its separate components, to see which would be serviceable, which would
not, and make a list of the work to be done, plus make a note
of any parts which were missing.
The loco body and tender top were swiftly dispatched to
John Hopkinson for a full repaint and new transfers.
As regards the mechanism, the wheels were loose on their
bushes and had, unfortunately, chopped through the armature wires to the commutator. Fortunately, Martin Drayson
was able to supply a replacement, along with new motor
brushes and springs, and coupling rod screws, the originals
of which were long past their sell-by date.
The old bushes were removed from the wheels, and replacement TTRCA 3mm bushes were fitted with their inside
flanges cut off to allow them to fit entirely inside the wheels.
The bushes were fixed using Loctite 603 retaining compound. A 15 thou. plasticard washer was placed on the axle
between each wheel and the chassis, to prevent shorting.
The front bogie was missing, so an e-mail was sent to
Franz Nowack requesting a replacement, and it arrived a few
days later. However, the fixing bar supplied was made of a
white-metal type of material. It seemed a bit soft, so a replacement was made using a piece of sheet nickel-silver.
The bogie was fitted with some early pre-war wheels and
axles from the odds and ends box.
The motor unit was then reassembled, fitting the replacement parts and reconditioned early collector shoes. It was
necessary to ensure that all threaded holes were cleaned
out, and electrical connections were cleaned and polished.
The motor was connected to a 14v AC supply and the
wheels were cleaned and polished. The front bogie was then
attached to the motor chassis. This is done via a ”longer than
average” collector shoe plate fixing screw, the bar being
fixed in position with a nut, secured in place with Loctite.
The tender chassis was in pretty poor shape having a
bodged drawbar, and bogie detail castings missing. Two bogies, obtained from a scrap pre-war coach, were fitted to the
chassis with the normal hollow rivets. The leading bogie was
modified and fitted with a spring-loaded sliding drawbar from
a scrap pre-war 0-4-0 tender.
Once the painted parts were returned from John Hopkinson, the whole thing was rebuilt, then given a good test run
#
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NO MAGNETS - MAGIC!
Conversion is fairly simple and does not involve irreversible
changes, unlike the bar magnet solution. All that needs to be
done is to remove the reversing shaft and to disconnect the
Electronic conversion of 14V AC
reversing magnet coil where it is soldered to the rear collecchassis to 12V DC operation
tor shoe mounting plate. As can be seen from the photo, the
coil, reversing arm and ratchet wheel are left in place. The
bridge rectifier fits in front of the ratchet wheel and is wired
Martin Drayson
as shown in the circuit diagram. The + - ~ ~ symbols are
marked on the rectifier body. I sleeved two of the wires to
s I have previously expressed reservations about
avoid short circuits. Care must be taken to keep the wiring
Neodymium magnets, I thought I should put my theneat because there is very little clearance to the inside of the
ory to the test. Referring to Steve White’s article
“NEW LOCOS FOR OLD” in Gazette No. 74, I fitted a bridge loco body. The photo shows the side frame from a conveyor
rectifier to an old AC chassis which was already running well motor but the rectifier can be soldered just as well to the
on AC current (see photo). Low speed control and accelera- brush contacts on a standard motor side frame.
tion from standstill using a Trix or H&M 12V DC controller,
are at least as smooth as with normal AC. This is what I sus- Parts required:
1.5 Amp 200V Bridge Rectifier from RAPID ELECTRONICS
pected and wanted to prove. The clicking of the reversing
W02M (Cat No. 47-3192) or similar @ £0.24 each
button and the tendency for the loco to stop or reverse on
http://www.rapidonline.com/SearchResults.aspx?kw=W02
poor track are eliminated.
takes you to the online ordering page.
While an Alnico magnet is widely used in DC motors, most
1mm Black PVC Sleeving
Beatties conversions were done without the extra turns of
wire on the armature that Trix intended. The magnet initially TTRCA Part No. SA7/1 @ £0.10 per metre
exerts a locking force on the armature and the DC supply
current has to be increased until there is
enough magnetomotive force (MMF) to
overcome the permanent field and start the
armature turning. The motor then tends to
start suddenly at around half speed. It can
then be slowed down but if it stalls, the
jerky start has to be repeated. A Neodymium magnet is so strong that it can only
make things worse. The argument that the
current consumption is reduced, the
stronger the magnet (due to increased
back-emf) is valid but there is no back-emf
until the motor is turning. The major reduction in current consumption results from
disconnecting the reversing magnet coil.
My test chassis takes between 0.3A and
0.5A depending on the load being pulled.
A
The advantage of the bridge rectifier is that
the field pole pieces don’t have to be cut,
so the chassis can be returned to its original state. The field coil is still in series with
the armature, so the field MMF is proportional to the armature MMF as the speed
controller setting is increased. This does
much to eliminate the “locking” effect
caused by a bar magnet, resulting in
smooth acceleration and deceleration.
As can be seen from the circuit diagram,
the rectifier always feeds the armature (via
the contacts on the motor side frame) with
the same polarity. Only the field polarity
reverses when the track supply is reversed.
FIELD COIL
BRIDGE RECTIFIER
ARMATURE
MIKE DODSWORTH adds:
The rectifier available at my local Maplins store was bigger
than the one in Martin’s photo and square, so I took out the
ratchet wheel and pawl assembly and that left a space for it.
The chassis I used was ripe for conversion as the top contact spring was bodged with tape at one end (a common problem I think) and the ratchet wheel was really chewed up - can't
imagine how!
8
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SCRATCHBUILT
Bill Jones
A
s I wrote previously in the Gazette, the next scratch built
loco needed to be TRIX scale so I designed a small
0-4-0 shunter. Note that in this one I “reversed” the motor
in the loco body which then gives a clearance in the cab for
crew and/or additional weight if required. I saw no reason why
the motor should not be fitted the opposite way round.
The scratch-built wagons have been made to fit the short bogie
coach chassis. The photos show two different types of hopper
wagons and a log wagon. These have been made based only
on photos. The hopper wagons are probably about scale length
but the log wagon seems to have worked out shorter than the
prototype.
Incidentally, some readers may have seen a train of around 15
log wagons which operated from the loading area at Kingsmoor,
Carlisle down the Settle – Carlisle route to the Cheshire factory.
The loco was normally a Class 66, so for a Trix layout I can envisage a Western chassis fitted with a Class 66 body. That
would be a spectacular sight on a Trix layout – a diesel loco and
15 log wagons.
#
To mass produce the wagons, the hopper bodies could be cast
in resin with detailing left to the modeller. I haven’t added much
detail to mine, not only because I have not sufficient information
but also to fit in with early Trix rolling which lacks the fine detail
that later Trix and today’s models have.
As time and ingenuity permit there could be more scratch built
models to come.
(To be continued in the next Gazette)
SPARES NOTES
Martin Drayson
POSTAGE AND PACKING COSTS
I have previously sent UK spares orders by first class post.
Due to the large increase in postal rates I propose to send UK
orders by second class post in future unless first class is specifically requested. Tracked services may be used for higher
value orders. While there is no minimum order value for
TTRCA spares, it is helpful to avoid a succession of very
small orders which each incur the same postal cost as a single larger order.
VALVE GEAR
John Hills-Harrop regrets that he is currently unable to offer
assembled sets of 4-6-2 Pacific valve gear (Part No. V8 in the
Spares List). Both complete and partial sets of components
(for repairs to original valve gear) will continue to be available,
so contact John to discuss your requirements. 0-4-0 and
TTRCA Gaz 147 web vs.pub
page 9
4-4-0 valve gear is still available fully assembled. If anyone is
able to assist us with the task of riveting these assemblies,
we would very much like to hear from you. The Association is
the whole membership, not just the Committee!
LARGE ORDERS
We sometimes receive requests for unusually large numbers
of particular spares. Like any organisation, our stocks are
based on average sales, so it is not always possible to meet
these requirements. I have a limited time to send out orders
and re-order stock; even assuming that it can be replenished
at all, so I would ask for your understanding in this matter.
Due to tax regulations spares are for members own use and
not for resale.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
Progress continues with the moulding tool to produce wheel
bushes W4 and W5 and wheels W7 and W9. Samples were
shown at Banbury. Minor adjustments are under way and it is
hoped to have the first production batch shortly.
9
Friday, July 20, 2012 13:12
Composite
FLIER PROTOTYPE?
A
Garry Lefevre
t Leipzig in September 1937 Trix Express presented
to the public a range of new models including the
2058 DMU, later known in England as the Diesel
Flier. This model, with its changing lights by direction of
travel, quickly became popular among Trix fans. Over the
years right up to its final production run in 1953 no less than
seven variations are known to have been made. So, as a
collector, it is always worthwhile keeping one’s eyes open for
something perhaps slightly different.
A short while ago I was contacted by an American who
was selling some Trix his father had acquired in 1945/46. He
had been with the US army, first in England in 1944, then
fought his way across Europe to Southern Germany where
he was based in Nuremburg in 1945 and 1946. His son remembers getting a Trix 2058 as a Xmas present in 1945
from Germany. He only played with it for a short time as he
wanted a Lionel set like his friends, so his father kept it as a
souvenir of his time in Germany. His father died a few years
ago but now the son wished to sell it.
The photo sent to me showed it to be a normal pre-war
model with the Eagle on the side of the coach. It appeared to
be the first version, with the single hole in the trailer coach
for the wires connecting the coaches. Because of the angle
of the photo and the lighting, the bogie side frames were not
clearly visible. When it arrived I was in for a surprise.
Immediately on unpacking it I spotted that the bogie side
frames were ones I had never seen before. The design is
quite different and they are made of brass. The overall structure is the same with two tabs into which a screw is fixed to
hold the frame to the chassis of the bogie. However, the difference is in the detail on the side of the frames and the way
in which the buffer beam is attached to the frame.
Comparison
Comparison
The photos show the brass frame compared to a regular
moulded production frame used on the 1937 model. Looking
first at the side, the long thin brass bar connecting the two
wheel axle boxes is held in place only where it touches the
boxes, leaving a space between the bar and the rest of the
side of the frame. This is quite weak and two of these must
have broken off at some time and have been re-soldered.
The rest of the detail on the side is also slightly different.
The buffer beam is held in place by two struts fixed to the
side of the frame, also making these weaker than the solid
plate-like fixing on the production moulded version we are
used to seeing. Another change is there is no step on the
side of the buffer beam. On the production model this step is
in line with the running board down the side of the coach.
The buffer beam is slightly larger. All four frames are identical and made to a high standard.
Soon after it arrived I was lucky to see Franz Nowack, who
examined it closely and confirmed his opinion that they are
made by Trix Express. He knew of other examples of Trix
making components of brass, particularly for pre-production
models.
A likely explanation is that this is a prototype which Trix
used in the development of the 2058 but was changed in the
final design sold to the public. We do know the 2058 is
based on E. W. Twining’s design for the Portsmouth EMU.
This was launched seven months earlier in February 1937. It
is possible these brass bogie frames were first used on a
prototype of the Portsmouth EMU. The long bar between the
axle boxes is exactly like the bar used to pick up current from
the third outer rail on Southern Railways.
10
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Friday, July 20, 2012 13:12
Composite
The photo alongside shows a typical
bogie on a Southern EMU. Assuming
these were made for a prototype of the
Portsmouth, which was constructed
almost entirely in Nuremburg, the
brass frames would have been available when work began on designing
the 2058.
Thus, using these brass frames
would save time for the designers to
concentrate on developing the rest of
the Diesel Flier. Only at the very end of
the process attention would have
turned to the more robust moulded
frames. As September 1937 approached, pressure would have
mounted to produce a model in time to
show at the Leipzig Fair. To delay to
the next fair would lose 6 months of
sales. So it is possible that this design
was used on the model shown at the
Trade Fair but not put into production.
This has happened before, for example, the first English outline locomotives were shown in March 1936 with
disc wheels whereas none were produced for the public in this form. All
production models had spoked wheels.
If the above is correct, Trix would
have made at least two and possibly
more for the Fair in case one stopped
working. So there may well be one or
two more still to be found!
The only way of knowing for sure is
to find a photo of the 2058 at the September 1937 Fair. Perhaps someone
has a photo of the prototype or a
newspaper picture showing the model
at the event. I have been in touch with
the State Archives in Leipzig. They
have a photo of the Trix stand but only
showing the construction sets. Can
any of our German members track
down trade newspapers of the period
which may have a photo?
However, it may be simply that this is
just one of a series of prototypes that
evolved into the final model and that it
was never shown at the Fair. Indeed
there could have been more than one
experimental design.
In the 1937/38 Trix Express catalogue the picture of the 2058 shows a
model with a shield or valance on the
front of the Flier, apparently attached
to the buffer beam. I have never seen
a model with this feature. However this
may be just an optical illusion, as the
photo has clearly been retouched. The
struts supporting the buffer beam have
been brushed out and the front of the
frame lowered so this may never have
actually been made.
One cannot exclude the possibility
that these brass frames were produced with the 2058 in mind. If so,
what is the basis for the design.
Franz Nowack wrote an interesting
1937/38 Catalogue
DRG 137 138 - BOE VT 171
copyright W. Greiffenberger
Hamburg
Original box
article in the December 2011 Gazette
on the origins of the Diesel Flier, naming the VT 137 as the candidate, from
which one can deduce there are a
large number of alternative models to
choose from. I am grateful to Ludger
Willenbrink who suggested the brass
frames look like the ones used on the
DRG 137 cars used on the Bremervoerde-Osterholzer Eisenbahn. This unit
was in service between 18 November
1935 and 6 September 1949. It is now
in the vvm-museumsbahn in Hamburg.
This is a good possibility.
Looking closely at the bogie frames
on the VT 137 BOE, the long bar between the axle boxes appears to be
part of the structure of the frame,
whereas on these brass frames the
bar is attached to the outside similar to
the Southern EMU. In other respects
this version of the 137 could be the
original Diesel Flier.
In conclusion, the most likely explanation is that the brass frames were
originally used on a prototype for the
Portsmouth and subsequently in development of the 2058. The design was
then modified to strengthen the frame
on the production model. For some
reason Trix decided to leave the
frames unchanged for the 2058 from
those used on the Portsmouth. Only
the material they were made of was
changed from fibre bakelite construction to cast.
A final question is, how did a GI get
hold of this in 1945? We know the Trix
factory was destroyed at the end of the
war and almost all the records, plans
and prototypes were lost. But the explanation could be quite simple. I know
from various sources that Trix in England followed the practice of either giving test models or prototypes to directors or selling them through the Bassett-Lowke shop in Northampton.
Since both companies were run by
Stephan Bing, and not wanting to
waste money, he probably did something similar in Germany. Thus in 1944
this prototype was not destroyed because it was not in the factory but in an
individual’s possession. Perhaps in
1945 he needed money and sold it to
our American GI. This frequently happened at that time.
An interesting find.
11
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#
IN TRIX
HEAVEN
Colin Marshall
T
he last edition of the TTRCA Gazette was very user-friendly for an owner
who, until the last few weeks, had not had a railway in use and is not very
technically minded.
It was with considerable excitement that a small circuit of the Trix equipment I
still own, plus one loco, was persuaded into life one Sunday morning in March
after more than 50 years of lying idle - most of the time tucked away in our loft.
Encouraged by my wife, Janet, and a daughter, Clare, with two sons, the set was
rescued from the loft.
Cleaning of the rails allowed a de-electrified 0-4-0 tank loco to be used by the
two grandsons, Raul and Rudy, to propel original pre-war LNER coaching stock
around a simple layout.
Aided by a pre-war Trix guidebook, experimentation with one of the transformers and a post-war controller revealed the circuit was live, although the original
LNER 0-4-0 tender loco would not move.
A further week of cleaning track allowed the layout to be extended and the
Pytchley to be removed from the austerity post-war leather case in which it had
been stored with other stock and materials. This loco appeared in even better
condition than the other one - perhaps it should, dating only from the 1950s! Following some oiling and responsive noises after being placed on the track, it suddenly burst into life, producing such noisy delight from myself that my wife, another daughter and her daughters all came rushing to see what on earth had happened. The answer was that the Pytchley was making very slow progress around
the track. This progress steadily improved as things settled down, and all the
track laid proved satisfactory, so much so that I soon reversed the loco into a siding to collect a coach.
Delighted grand-daughters, Maryam, Mutyat and Zahra and their mother,
Karen, soon had ‘closely-supervised’ turns at driving, as did the grandsons and
Clare when they turned up later in the afternoon. The Pytchley eventually ended
up comfortably hauling all three LNER carriages and then three trucks, one of
them a cattle truck, much to the amusement of my grandsons.
So a very rainy Sunday turned into a day of delight for those of the family who
were able to participate, and a deliriously happy grandad who was totally amazed
at getting so much of it working after lying idle for those 50 years plus!
One of these fine days I shall actually get along to one of the meets where Trix
collectors get together. Help will certainly be required to take the project much
further forward, but I have already extended the circuit and added another set of
points, recovered from a very rusty condition but now working perfectly.
Incidentally, it was Clare who purchased membership of the Association for me
as a Christmas present in 2010 and her investment to give me a shared interest
with her two boys has now paid off.
A TRIX EXPRESS STEAM CAVALCADE
picture by Bill Jones
12
(L to R) 757 DC Pacific, 20/57 AC Pacific, 20/56 Continental Tank Loco for UK, 20/54 0-4-0 Tank, and another 20/56.
TTRCA Gaz 147 web vs.pub
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Friday, July 20, 2012 13:12
Composite
I
CHECK YOUR CHECK SWITCH
Arthur Holl
n 1953 Trix introduced an indicating check lamp switch,
catalogue number 439, which was available until 1965.
The function of the switch was to feed a section of track
that was isolated from the rest of the layout. When the switch
lever was pulled back full power was fed to the section of
track and the locomotive would run under normal control. If
the switch lever was pushed forward a bulb was inserted in
series with the locomotive motor. When the controller was
energised the bulb would glow and the locomotive would remain stationary. The bulb was rated at 13 volt 0.3 amp and
worked satisfactorily with the 14 volt AC system that Trix
used then. Movement of the switch lever would allow the locomotive to start or stop on the section of track selected.
Now we come to the DC switchover and the use of more
efficient locomotive motors. These newer DC motors required
less current than the AC motors so that use of the Trix check
switch results in a locomotive in a sectioned siding inching
along when the switch lever is pushed forward and the lamp
glowing.
I have experimented and found that by substituting the
original bulb for one available from motor car factors rated at
12 volts 2.2 watts the system works perfectly. The new bulb
has the same screw fitting as the old bulb and the same
physical size. This higher resistance bulb limits the current to
the locomotive, effectively stopping creep.
So now all those AC Indicating Check Switches can be
used on DC circuits if the bulb is changed. (The 12V, 2.2W,
L.E.S. bulb is available from Maplin, Part No. WL81C @ 99p.)
Additional notes and diagram by Steve White:
OPERATION
With the switch in the ‘Off’ position, the centre rail of the dead
section is live, so the train travels normally.
With the switch in the ‘On’ position, the small bulb inside the
switch is connected in series with the centre rail. The bulb
acts as a resistance, so the train slows down and the bulb
lights to show a train is in the dead section.
The dead section can be several lengths of track, a siding,
main line or a passing loop.
BLOCK SIGNALLING
The Trix ‘Block Signalling Set’ adds two colour light signals. A
‘Distant’ signal is placed at the start of the dead section to
warn that the train be required to stop, and a ‘Home’ signal is
placed at the end to show ‘stop’ or ‘all clear’. These signals
are controlled by a Trix yellow switch that is ganged to the
Indicating Check Switch.
Insert slips of paper between centre rails to insulate and create a ‘dead’ section
INDICATING
CHECK
SWITCH
Connect this wire to centre rail using either:
1. A TTR Centre Rail Connector
2. A Terminal Rail (centre connection)
3. Solder or tie wire to centre rail contact
#
Connect this wire to the main terminal
rail centre, or ‘C’ on the Master Switch
member, who needed to replace the elevator belt on his coal
conveyor and was keen to join, having seen what the
David Holmes
TTRCA can offer. We also had another gentleman who
brought in a very nice small collection of Trix in very good
t last year's Sussex Vintage Model Railway Colleccondition. Unfortunately, all were standard items and I could
tors’ (SVMRC) show, we were invited by Tony Penn
not really offer anything for them. However, if anyone is interto take a Trix layout to one of his shows in South Lon- ested, I have his contact details and can pass these on. We
don. This was the first time for the Beckingham venue and
also had the usual enquiries and interest from many of the
my wife and I set off with some trepidation at 5.30 in the
visitors.
morning to negotiate South London with a trailer in tow. All
Once set up, the locos (all AC) ran very well and we had a
went well with good directions given and we arrived at the
trouble free and very enjoyable day. The day ended with a
hall just after 7am.
quick exit (required by the organisers), and with the weather
I had made some alterations (again!) to the baseboards to holding, a dry run home.
make set-up quicker and a bit easier. The wiring looms were
connected in place to points and terminal rails, with the latter
items secured to each board with standard Trix clips. This
proved very successful and speeded things up well. It would
still be nice to get the track pre-installed on each of the four
baseboards, but I have yet to find a good way of connecting
bakelite track across the boards. If this can be solved, it
ought to be possible to add another one or two baseboards
and still keep within a reasonable set-up time
Theme for the day was LMS, but also shown and run were
the London Transport locos with two suburban, John Hopkinson repaint coaches - very appropriate for the venue location. We achieved twin running on the outer circuit using a
Coronation and an LMS Compound - it goes without saying
that a strict eye was kept on both! All the buildings used
were ManyWays, but I did divert from Trix a little by using
Crescent signals. During the day we enrolled a new TTRCA
BECKINGHAM TRAIN SHOW - April 2012
A
13
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SWINDON
Adrian Cassidy organised a superb Trix display for the Bassett-Lowke Society anniversary event at the Steam Museum of
the GWR in Swindon. Pictured l to r : grandson Robert, son Jonathan, Dixon Upcott and Adrian preparing the rolling stock.
The dozens of locos included AC, DC, 2-rail, 3-rail, with all vintages from 1935 up to diecast DC represented.
14
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Friday, July 20, 2012 13:12
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The Museum is housed in the former GWR Swindon railway
works. Garry Lefevre, Adrian, Alan Richmond, Dixon, and
Steve White took seven hours to assemble the layout the
day before (pictured below).
Steve
#
Garry, Alan, and Dixon
Helpers included Peter Berry
(servicing a loco, lower left),
Geoffrey Robinson, Roger Baker
and David Wood as several operators were needed to keep the
trains running on five separate
twin circuits. John and Linda
Hills-Harrop provided many yards
of black drape to smarten the
Peter
front and sides of the baseboards.
Adrian and Dixon provided Trix illuminated dealers’ signs
and many valuable locos such as Coronations, Portsmouth
electrics, and a London Transport to run. Garry brought his
replica wooden Trixburg station.
The Coal Conveyor performed faultlessly for the two exhibition days. The operating dump wagon train was pulled by
either a Ruston shunter or WR 0-6-2 tank. Double headed
EM1 Bo-Bos hauled a train of over 30 goods wagons (see
page 3). There was the excitement of "cat & mouse" twin
running and blue and red Coronations at full speed being
outstripped by a Meteor.
The photo on the right shows the hall, formerly part of the
railway works. The Trix layout is at the far end, with the
TTRCA display boards positioned alongside, and a generous
supply of TTRCA Gazettes available to interested visitors.
Although our layout was impressive, you can probably see
that the larger Bassett-Lowke gauges occupied a massive
amount of space. Clockwork, steam and electric were all on
view in the centre, with trade stands around the perimeter.
15
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Friday, July 20, 2012 13:12
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Leaf spring
A TRIX EXPERIMENT?
Hans-Hasso Meyer
D
uring a conversation with Franz Nowack
some time ago, I came to hear about a
possible experiment by Trix, concerning
the uncoupling mechanism of the German AC
Crocodile E94 20/60. Franz told me that he had
acquired a Crocodile loco which had the uncoupling mechanism of the 2-4-2 BR71 20/56 tank
loco built into the rear bogie.
Some time later, I was lucky enough to buy
some parts for the 20/60 and amongst them I
found the middle part of a rear bogie which contained the 20/56 uncoupling mechanism.
A comparison with the other bogie showed
that nothing had been altered and that the
parts of the 20/56 fitted exactly. It had only
been necessary to file space for the axle into
the brass lever, which resembles the space
in the lever in the front bogie of the E94; the
rear of the lever was cut off.
The brass lever of the 20/56 which moves
the coupling hook up and down has a leaf
spring riveted to it. This brings the hook
back to its normal position after the uncoupling process.
I wonder why Trix did not pursue this, in
my opinion, much simpler mechanism? Perhaps other Trix Express experts have an
explanation?
As regards the tension of the leaf spring, I
think this should be a little stronger to ensure a positive upward motion of the hook. I
will try to emulate a successful experiment
myself.
16
TTRCA Gaz 147 web vs.pub
page 16
Hook (unchanged) Space for axle
End cut off
Original piece
PRINCESS PROTOTYPE? All will be revealed in the September Gazette.
Friday, July 20, 2012 13:12
Composite
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 2012
ALRESFORD, HAMPSHIRE
Saturday 16th June
20th Vintage Train Show, Perin’s Community School, New
Alresford, SO24 9BS. Contact David Holmes
SHIPTON, YORK
Saturday 23rd June
The 29th annual joint TTRCA/HRCA event. Community Centre, Shipton, near York on A19, with sales tables.
10am - 4pm, Admission £2, children free. Contact:
Dave Norville
SANDY, BEDFORDSHIRE
Saturday 7th July
The big TCS vintage train event at Sandy Upper School, Engayne Avenue, SG19 1BL. Contact 01462 682747 or
www.traincollectors.co.uk/sandy show
GAYDON, WARWICKSHIRE
Saturday 14th July and Sunday 15th July.
TRIX GAYDON SUMMER EVENT
LAYOUTS
LEECHPOOL, HORSHAM, WEST SUSSEX
Saturday 15th September
Leechpool Primary School, Leechpool Lane, Horsham, RH13
6AG. Information from John Boorn 0140 321 7125 or Chris
March 0129 351 4737.
CHICHESTER LION’S TRAIN SHOW
October (date tba). Contact David Holmes .
BERLIN, GERMANY
Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th October
75th Anniversary of the first scale table top Pacific Loco, the
Trix Express 20/57. TTRCA members welcome. See page 3.
NUNEATON, WARWICKSHIRE
Saturday 27th October
TTRCA AGM and GTG at The Catholic Church Hall, off
Coton Road, CV11 5TE. 10am – 4pm. The AGM (members
only) will be at 2pm. Trix layouts in action and sales tables.
Contact Helen Dawson for sales table bookings and Vic Holloway for layouts
LEICESTER
Saturday 3rd November (date tbc)
TCS Autumn Show, Trinity Methodist Church, Narborough
Road, corner of Hallam Crescent. Leicester LE3 2RD.
E
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A
S
L
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A
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B
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Bishops Itchington,
S 2SL O M
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TTRCA
T
Warwickshire,
CV47
T
L A
AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION
SALES
SPARES
MUSEUM
A special two-day event with layouts and Trix sales in a marquee next to the Trix Museum. A wonderful opportunity to
meet fellow Trix enthusiasts on Saturday 14th from 10am until
7pm, and Sunday 15th from 10am until 2 pm. Trader and layout set up on Friday afternoon from midday.
Bring a layout !
Bring Trix to sell !
Contact David O’Brien to reserve your space now.
If you’d like to meet for dinner at “The Malt Shovel” on the
Saturday evening call or email David to make a reservation
(deposit payable). He can book up to 35 people, first come
first served. See menu / booking form on www.TTRCA.co.uk.
KNOWLE RD, PRESTON PARK, BRIGHTON
Saturday 14th July
Just off the A23, a few minutes from Preston Park Station.
SVMRC event. Contact Philip Cooke .
ZURICH, SWITZERLAND
Saturday 4th August
20th International Summer GTG for TTR and Trix Express.
A one day event at Zurich – Hoengg at the Restaurant
‘Sonnegg’. GTG, swap market, expert talks, spares and
sales. Refreshments, sandwiches and barbeque. Contact
Jean-Patrick Enz jean-patrick.enz@bluewin.ch or
+41 (0) 44 341 6121 and check for updates on
www.TTRCA.co.uk.
TTRCA Gaz 147 web vs.pub
page 17
Contact Helen Dawson if you are exhibiting Trix
ttrcapublicity@yahoo.co.uk
Dates believed to be correct at time of going to press. It is advisable to check
the relevant website or with the event organiser before travelling.
Also see the German TRIXSTADT website for information of European
events: http://trixstadt.de
#
TTRCA Committee proposals for 2012 AGM agreement
At the time of the 2011 AGM, a few suggested amendments
were submitted in writing to the Committee. There was not
time to put these to the AGM, but they have now been
looked at by the Committee and the following additional
changes are recommended to be considered at this year’s
AGM.
Numbering refers to the appropriate section of the
Constitution.
5.
Heading :- amend to read “OFFICERS and COMMITTEE”
5. (a)
Add extra sentence at end. “These Officers shall form the
TTRCA Committee”.
5. (b)
Add at end of sentence “and any Officer may be an
Ordinary or Honorary member”.
14. (c) (ii)
Delete existing paragraph and insert “A Meeting of at least
three TTRCA Committee Officers shall then be called to
consider the individual’s reasons for appeal. In addition to
the Officers, the Meeting shall be attended by one other
impartial Association member (Ordinary, Honorary or Associate), acceptable to both parties. The individual concerned
shall have the right to attend and speak on his/her behalf
and to be supported by one other person of his/her choice”.
17
Friday, July 20, 2012 13:12
Composite
Letters
emails
Points of View
Cabinets
I went to Buxton train and toy fair recently and discovered a chap selling
hand made cabinets. I explained that
the distance between shelves is critical
for Trix locos and trains standing on
Bakelite track so that the distance must
not be less than 66mm.
I bought a cabinet for £48 which is
18" wide and 25" tall. It is made of
slotted wood to take the glass cover
which slides in grooves and is held
by two steel pins at the bottom which
are covered by the frame so none of
the screws or fixings are visible. Brilliant workmanship.
I ordered another one which is the
same depth but 25" wide to take my
scale length coach collection. The cost
of this was £65.
The maker, Mr Tremlow, does not
have a computer, so if you would like
details please let me know as these are
the cheapest cabinets of good quality I
R
have been able to track down. Delivery
could be a problem, but they can be
picked up from his home in Ashbourne,
Derbyshire DE6 1BP, or perhaps meet
up somewhere convenient.
Email: steveparrott@hotmail.com
Steve Parrott
A Different View of Points
Trix points can be adapted for other
manufacturers systems reasonably easily. The postwar points have substantial
moulded check rails to which I stuck
strips of aluminium. 00 rail with one bottom flange filed off will also fit the bill.
You can then run Triang, Airfix and
Jouef. I have no Dublo so don’t know
about that, but Bachmann (typically finicky and over-detailed!) will not run.
I have also modified Peco couplings to
use with wire link by gluing or soldering
a lip on top of the coupling to stop it
riding up when you reverse.
Mike Dodsworth
BOOM TIME FOR TRIX!
Garry Lefevre
ecently I was contacted by the Woolworth Museum, (I did
not know there was one). They are writing a book on the
history of the group and came across an advertisement
for Trix Construction sets for which they needed more information. This is a full page ad and highly unusual for only one product was shown. An advertisement of this size would require main
Board approval which would only be given for highly successful
products from their 3,000 items they carried in stock.
Board minutes showed a lot of attention would have gone into
the copywriting and design. In 1932 evidence shows sales of
335,600 sixpenny sets per week for the 20 weeks of the year
when toys were sold in-store in the UK, Germany, the USA and
Canada. Profits were estimated at £57,780 from these sales, or
about £3 million in today’s money.
Furthermore, the cost price paid to Trix was £109,520. Based on
average manufacturing profits in those days it would give Trix a
profit in today’s money of almost £1 million per year, just for the
construction sets and just to Woolworths (my estimate).
18
TTRCA Gaz 147 web vs.pub
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Woolworths had set up a buying office, warehouses and shops in
Germany in the early 1900’s. Sets were purchased from both
England and Germany. The proportion from each is not known,
but in Tony’s book on page 16 it states 10,000 sets were dispatched a day from the Northampton Trix factory. Add in sales to
other shops and, from 1935, train sets too, it is clear that Trix
was a highly profitable company before the war.
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ARRIVALS and DEPARTURES
FOR SALE
FOR SALE
TRIX for Rivarossi BR52 2-10-0 Loco
(as seen in the 1968 Rivarossi catalogue)
This model was made by Trix in Germany with fine profile
wheels for sale by Rivarossi, and is virtually identical to
Trix's own offering. These locos were sold as assembly kits
to build an unpowered loco, with a second kit containing the
parts to motorize the model. This is an assembled unpowered model, believed to be complete. It should not be
too difficult to power.
For sale in very good condition - £65
4-4-0 BR Compound in AC.
Lovely runner, in repro box £65.
Also available streamlined Coronation Scot locomotive (as
seen running at Swindon, Bassett-Lowke celebration) with
working headlight and uncoupling mechanism.
Many other rare items available including original TTR
backgrounds, Pre WW2 Scotsman and BR Green Compound.
SAE or e-mail for NEW SALES LIST
Dixon Upcott
Anthony Eastwood
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FOR SALE
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Postwar Swiss Electric
Fully repainted, all new wheels, fitted with Franz Nowack
non-working pantographs. £150 plus postage
FOR SALE
TTRCA Gazettes
Issues 88
(September 1997)
to 146
(March 2012).
Offers
Alan Orbell
WANTED
Yellow and red (418)
switches,
also remote control
uncoupler rails
David Clarke
LOOKS LIKE TRIX
Recently spotted on
eBay by Garry Lefevre: this impressive Gauge 0 copy
of a Trix Manyways
Clock Tower and
Main Building.
It wasn’t cheap.
Keith Hayman
.
FOR SALE
Locos, wagons, coaches, track, controllers, accessories,
and TTR literature including:
Let's Play Two Trains £2.50, 4-4-0 Instructions for use
£1.50, Trix Cadet Set £4.50, Trix Yearbook 1954 £5, '00'
Track Layouts book £5, Designed For Action (large) £4,
Designed For Action (yellow small) £2, World's Finest
Miniature Railway leaflet £1, Catalogue 1967/68 £4, Instruction Book, 10th Edition, £3.50, Postwar TTR Gazettes:
Nos. 11,12,13,14,15, £4 (set), Nos. 12, 13, 15, £1 each
Nos. 7 and 8, £2 each Permanent Way Manual: 4th edition
Sept 1938 £3, 7th edition June 1948 £2, 8th edition June
1949 £2, 13th edition April 1951 £3.
www.TRIX.co.uk
From Patrick Wright’s Off The Rails (1985).
TTRCA Gaz 147 web vs.pub
page 19
19
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#
BANBURY
The track next to the Pytchley is GEM, and is contemporary to Trix fibre track, which it can be connected to using a
Trix Express plastic sleeper / Fibre track adaptor rail.
The 2012 Banbury event was well attended and featured
plenty to watch or buy. Geoffrey Robinson’s layout featured a 5-car Meteor, a humble Trix Junior goods train, and
(top right) a rare wooden Manyways Span.
Clive Parker’s heavily weathered Britannia is fitted with a flywheel motor for smooth slow speed running on his layout.
Ed Kegge has made a large radius bakelite curve to provide the same layout possibilities as fibre track. Picture
shows small radius fibre at top and large radius below.
On the left is Geoffrey’s Trix Express BR80 chassis with a Dinky
diecast toy body, and on the right is John Brown’s experiment
using a TTR Ruston chassis fitted with a Hornby plastic body.
An AC chassis was too big (not allowing the reversing solenoid
flapper to work), and a DC chassis catches where the brushes
and suppressors are located. All modifications were restricted to
the body, with no changes made to the chassis, enabling the
chassis to be returned to its Ruston body.
20
20
TTRCA Gaz 147 web vs.pub
page 20
In addition to Martin and Penny Drayson’s table of TTRCA
spares, John and Linda Hills-Harrop brought a selection of
the ‘new’ plastic parts that are available to TTRCA members.
These include bodies for Western diesels, Flying Scotsman,
Intercity DMU, coaches and wagons.
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