Tmnr

The Broome Garden Railway 1963. © R. Lines Collection Between 1963 and 1966 Tri-ang introduced a 10 gauge miniature railway entitled the Tri-ang Minic Narrowgauge Railway (TMNR) produced at the Minic factory in Canterbury, Kent, England. Originally the brainchild of Anthony Edmondson, the Managing Director of the factory at the time, the idea was t... o produce a ride-in railway that could be run in an average suburban sized garden and aimed at working/middle class families. The locomotive was inspired by the newly introduced Southern E5001 (Class 71) locomotives that ran the prestigious Golden Arrow London-Paris service which ran adjacent the Canterbury factory and was accompanied by Pullman carriages based on the East Coast Metro Cammell sets of the time and a ride on toast-rack wagon. The original designed locomotive (T.M.N.R.1) was powered by a single series wound 3/4hp GEC DC motor and capable of a maximum speed of 8mph hauling a sizeable train and is stated to be able to run up a gradient of 1 in 25 with a light load. Sectional track manufactured from 16 gauge folded galvanised steel was screwed to Keruing hardwood sleepers with straight panels available in a 6ft length and curves in two radii twelve feet and eighteen feet. The product line was developed to include points and a right angled crossing and buffer stops. Track power was supplied by a 35v 20amp trackside transformer and with attentions turning to the commercial market, the twin motored locomotive, with internal (T.M.N.R.3) and external (T.M.N.R.4) control was developed giving 1 hp supplied by a 35v 40amp transformer. The price for the TMNR system increased greatly during its production and is clearly evident when comparing the UK Retail Price Lists between 1963 and 1964. In addition to the purchase of individual items, Sets were offered in 1963 to include The Super Golden Arrow Pullman Express Garden Layout (T.M.N.R.202) which included a single motored locomotive, two Pullman coaches, three plastic covers, twenty-four lengths of straight track, ...Read More