R11 GOODS VAN 1949-1967

First produced by Trackmaster in 1949, the tool went over to Rovex in 1951 and by May 1952 the closed van was being produced with the Triang name. In 1968 it was replaced in the catalogue by the Ventilated van using new tooling. Although the R11 was removed from the catalogue in 1968, the tool continued as the Fish Van and the BR Parcels Van until 1973. The model was produced with both white or grey roofs, but these are interchangable. There were variations in the body colour throughout the production runs.

RUNNING NUMBERS I DO NOT HAVE IN MY COLLECTION:-

(GW) 43726, (GW) 43720, (GW) 10528, (GW) 87204, (GW) 73628 and

N4301

1949-51 TRACKMASTER

Early Trackmaster, Running number GW62134, a product of Pyramid Toys. Built to run with a clockwork locomotive, the all metal wheels and axle do not allow it to run on 2-rail. Used often as a cheap alternative on Hornby Dublo.

1949-51 TRACKMASTER

Trackmaster body on a Triang 1954 chassis. Running number NE86203. Pyramid Toys sold the model with or without a chassis. I looked through all my early triang goods vans and found two that had "TRACKMASTER" under the body.

1949-51 TRACKMASTER

Box for the Great Western Goods Van. The North Eastern had its own box. Box was strongly built of stiff thick card and many have survived will over 70 years.

1949-51 TRACKMASTER

Box end, if sold without a chassis, then the end of the box would be stamped "BODY". (an example can be seen in "R10 Open Wagon").

1952 TRIANG

Only available for a few months in 1952, identical to the Trackmaster variant with the same running number. The only couplings known on the Triang produced van are the Mark 2a type. (couplings changed to Mk2b at the start of 1954). This was also the only variant of the R11 to carry NE (North Eastern) livery, although it was also available in blue-grey.

For the next four years (1953-56) the wagons were only produced with GW (Great Western) livery, the "NE" being dropped.

1952-1956 TRIANG

During these 5 years the GW goods van carried 6 different running numbers, the one illustrated has GW62134, which it carried for 8 months. The body is from 1952, however, the chassis is from 1954 (Mk2b couplings).

To be correct the van should have had closed axle boxes.

It was produced in half dozen different colours

1957 TRIANG CATALOGUE

For most of 1957 the goods van carried N4301 as its running number. However, in the catalogue it still carried the 1952 number and "GW" letters that had been dropped the year before.