TRACKMASTER 1949-1951
This advertisement is reproduced from "The Model Railway News" April 1951. I am convinced that Rovex noted the "Trade enquiries" address, because some 6 months later TRACKMASTER were bought out by Rovex and formed the first goods wagons of Triang Railways launched in May 1952.
The Trackmaster range was released in November 1949 and was purchased by Rovex in December 1951, becoming Triang in May 1952..
The Goods Van in Great Western grey, went on sale for 3/6 about 75% of the Hornby Dublo price.
The brown variant in LNER "NE" Note that this wagon is using an early Triang chassis and couplings.
The grey open wagon of the Great Western Railway
The open wagon in the brown of the LNER, Coal load is not original, but added later.
Both open wagons side by side. The wagons were also available without markings for those who wanted to paint their own liveries..
Both variants of the Goods Van, there was a nationalised British Railways variant numbered B86203 in brown, but I have never seen one.
"TRACKMASTER Made in England, Pyramid Toys Ltd" Quite often I have purchased an early Triang wagon, only to find that the body is a Trackmaster one.
Left one has Hornby Dublo couplings and the right one has Trackmaster couplings. At 3/6d it was a saving on the 5/- version sold by Hornby Dublo.
Left wagon has Triang Mk2a couplings and the other has normal Trackmaster coupings.
Both open wagons have Trackmaster couplings, track is also Trackmaster.
Trackmaster couplings could run with early 1938-1939 Hornby Dublo couplings.
The Goods Van box, made of strong card and stood the test of time, lasting almost 80 years!
The Open Wagon box, like the Goods Van, both came marked GW or NE with the running number of the relevant wagon.
The box ends, if the contents contained no markings or was just the plastic body without a chassis, then this was stamped on the box end. Box on the right marked "BODY".
With war breaking out in Korea, the UK was short of various metals which hit toy production in the early 1950s. Pyramid Toys were forced to offer their products without a chassis. Plastics were not affected.
Marked "BODY" the box contained just that. (note original paper packaging). This was the reason many ended up on Triang or Hornby Dublo chassis. The bodies were sold one shilling cheaper due to having no chassis..
The Trackmaster track. One piece metal due to the locomotive being clockwork I do not have a Trackmaster N2 locomotive to illustrate, but I hope to own one at a later date..