Tri-ang Deeley 3F loco

[Rana Temporia]

I recently found one of these in a box of spares with the funnel missing and logos worn off the body although the tender is near mint. I had no idea I had it so it probably came as part of a job lot a long time ago.

Looking at photos online it doesn’t look as though, like the Jinty, this a class ever received the mixed traffic lining in BR days so loco and tender should be just plain black. Did any members of the class ever receive the lining?

Also, i can’t find a single photo of one of these locos with the type of tender as supplied by Tri-ang. As I believe it was made for this loco it must be prototypical. Any info would be useful in getting it back to an operational loco as it runs perfectly and I already have a near mint original version.

[threelink]

So far as I am aware the tender is a Fowler, not a Deeley - this is Triang we are talking about and they never bothered much about protypical realism. They will have gone for whichever tender would have the widest application. I think I am right in saying that the same tender was even used on the L1. I do not believe that the prototype loco ever sported lining. Good old Triang, I love them to bits.

[HornbyinNC]

The tender most definitely better represents the Fowler type and would be more suitable for a 4F locomotive. Honestly, suprised Tri-ang didn't make the locomotive more representative of a 4F; that would not have been too difficult, as only the buffer beam would have needed correction to make it "look the part".

I am not sure pictures exist of lined examples, I have never seen one and have looked out for them for many years, without luck.

Either way, the model was always a favorite of mine, especially in the later maroon MR livery.

[threelink]

I'm not so sure that Triang did not market the loco initially as 4F even though it plainly is not. As a matter of interest does any one know of a source of Deeley tenders because I have a number of these locos and it would be nice to pair them with correct tenders.

[Anglia998]

There were 3 versions of the 3F, all with the ref of R251. Four if you count R251S, which came with smoke. The tender in every case was an R33.

The first 3F appeared in 1958 (cat.No.4) The tender carried the early BR logo.

The following year, the tender had the later BR designed logo.

In both cases, the tender was sold as a separate item.

The 3F did not appear again until 1964 as R251S (i.e. with smoke) The tender was,once again, a separate item and had the late BR logo.

1965 saw 43775 as part of a set - RS61

In 1968 R251 appeared for the final time in Midland maroon as No. 3775.Once again with the option of purchasing the tender as a separate item!

When used in the set, the 3F became R661S. I guess, with this revised No., the tender came with the set - nuff said!

[The son of Triangman]

The very final appearance of the Tri-ang 3F tender loco moulding was as James in the Hornby Thomas range, Hornby modified the loco mould in the 1980's to make James, and coupled it to a ringfield Schools tender. The original Tri-ang tender went on to see service with the L1 and 1973-1974 issue 2P

[Anglia998]

Hello Rana

Here are pictures of R251 from catalogue No. 4(1958) and No.5(1959) - top

[The Doc]

@Threelink

Does the Bachmann 3F have a Deeley tender? It certainly isn't a Fowler one. Whether you could get one as a spare is another matter.

[Rana Temporia]

Those old catalogues are fantastic, and not just the Tri-ang and Hornby ones.

[atom3624]

I love the old catalogue photo there.

One thing I recognise with how times have changed, is how 'vague' the description is.

Now it needs to be the precise model, era, and specific shed even!

Al.

[Rana Temporia]

As they only generally made one version of each loco it was take it or leave it so no need for additional info. If you wanted a different version you had to adapt it yourself as many people did. Much more fun!

[Anglia998]

Thank you Rana

My efforts to collect all the old catalogues have been worth it!

[Rana Temporia]

Anglia, they certainly have. I am just missing a couple of the very early Tri-ang ones but also have lots of 50s/60s/70s Jouef, Playcraft, British Trix etc. Also the ones I grew up with from Mainline (Palitoy) Lima and Airfix. I have a few modern ones but they don’t have the same feel as the older ones.

[threelink]

@The Doc

Thanks for the suggestion. I shall make enquiries