Starter loco question 7744

[Rana Temporia]

I just received a copy of the Triang Hornby Minic catalogue 16 and was looking through it when I noticed that one of the battery sets had the blue continental tank with the cheap chassis displaying the number 7744. I have a couple of these locos as I had one in a set as a child with two of the yellow coaches, but have only ever seen black versions with that number. From what I understood, the blue one with no markings was sold in sets, and the black version with the number 7744 was sold as a stand alone model?

Of course there are many other versions of theirs loco in clockwork and electric but I am referring to the particular ones with the same chassis as the Swedish diesel and the modified NB shunter that was made to look more like a Barclay version.

Does anyone know if the blue version was ever sold with the numbers on?

[The son of Triangman]

Seen them in Blue with and without the number over the years. The blue example with numbers is very rare

[Rana Temporia]

Thanks, I thought that might be the case. I actually had one of the black versions once but gave it away as at the time I thought it was just another continental tank. I think the chassis was black instead of red.