2nd February 2022.

The Story of Triang Trains - Dave Angell.

Dave gave a very interesting talk on the history of Triang, illustrated with lots of slides and information about the company in all its different forms.

Lines Bros was already a toy making company who produced a huge range of toys.  Three of the Lines brothers set up the new company and the name came from three lines forming a triangular logo called Triangtois.  They bought Rovex in 1951 who were already making injection moulded model railways.  However, they tended to warp badly until they switched to polystyrene.  They also acquired Trackmaster trains and moved to Margate in Kent in 1954.  They introduced a Transcontinental range which sold in North America, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.  They also introduced the XO4 motor which was pretty universal for a number of decades.  They also introduced TT gauge trains at 3mm to the foot which were produced from 1957 to 1968 when they were usurped by N gauge.  Magnahesion was an innovative development which involved a magnet attracting the loco to the steel rails, thus improving adhesion.  They also had smoke units, Seuthe originally, they their own, puffing versions.

The well-known Liverpool-based firm of Hornby folded in 1964 and Triang took them over becoming Triang Hornby.  This involved merging some aspects of Hornby Dublo including convertor wagons with Triang couplings on one end and Hornby on the other!  My own interest in Triang came when I was given a Big Big Train set; a battery-powered 0 gauge system on red, plastic track.  This included a very nicely made Hymek diesel, BR coaches and 16 ton steel mineral wagons.  Triang integrated road and rail and building models together with Minix, Minic Motorways, Architex building kits, Spot-on models etc.  They introduced their System 6 track standards with code 100 rail, which is still made today by Peco and other manufacturers.

Lines Bros collapsed in 1971 and the Triang name was separated from the model railway maker which is now known as Hornby; a bit ironic!  The last models were built in the UK in 1999 when manufacturing  moved  to China.  Hornby is still in the building in Margate.

Dave has a book which you would be encouraged to read to learn more about this iconic British model (or was it toy?) railway company.

Nick Coppin.