Trix
Twin Exhibition Layouts from around the World
© Copyright 1998-2012 Garry Lefevre
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Trix
Layouts from 1999 to 2012
England
- USA - Germany
Adrian Cassidy’s Monstrous layout |
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Shown
at Twickenham TTRCA get together in 1999. 24 feet
x 8 feet (
8 meters x
2.7 meters ) |
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For some Years Bruce Jordan has been exhibiting his
layout in his native England, as well as in Holland and Germany |
Seen at Plumpton in Sussex, England In 2001 |
The
layout measures 16 feet by 4 feet, or 5 meters x 1.2 meters. A
feature is his ability to run three trains under independent control on the
same track at the same time. This is
achieved using operating cantenary. By it is quite an achievement to be able to
prevent them crashing ! The
layout uses modern nickel silver TE track |
Above picture by Steve White |
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Seen at Banbury, England April 10th 2004 |
3 layouts were on
display |
Specially
made this DC version of the famous TTR US Pacific has the stretched tender
similar to that seen in photos of the prototype but not put into
production. The loco in production
used the Trix Express 20/57 with a short tender. |
An
aerial view of Geoffrey Robinson’s layout with a close up on the left |
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Clive
Parker demonstrates some of his Trix collection. A close up view below shows a Portsmouth
train, a compound loco, the blue meteor and in the background a diesel flier. The
photo on the left shows the rare pre-war level crossing with operating
barriers. These were being raised and
lowered during the show to let trains pass. |
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The
largest layout on display was by a recent new member –Mark Biffen A further view is shown below |
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On the
left a video clip from an earlier Banbury show on Keith Hayman’s layout |
Keith Jones’s * * Now showing in the USA !!
Built in 2003
The layout is a slightly enlarged
version of the “Master” layout of the pre-wired table-tops available in the
‘50’s. It is expanded slightly to add more longer sidings with
a passing loop for the dump line. Total
dimensions are 6’x4’
( 2 meters x 1.3 meters). All components are TTR or
Trix Express. The latter contributed the Transformers/DC controllers,
some point switches and nine 2-pole relays. True to the table top scheme, the two pairs of points that link
the two loops are protected by block signalling/indicating check switch
combinations. |
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All other points are switched normally, but the control signal
also switches a TE 2-pole relay per point. The relay isolates the relevant
siding and (where installed) controls the colour light signal. |
The most complex part was the logic for the three points that
control the ‘between loop’ siding and the station accesses. The relays
are connected such that ALL must be switched to main line for the signals to
be green and the dead section powered. Any one of these switched to the
side line results in a red signal and dead section to prevent trains running
the point |
On Show in Southern Germany - 2004
Peter Berg, is a keen model railways enthusiast who exhibits in
Southern Germany. The layout on the right was shown in
April 2004 in Achern (in the northern black forest) and combines both TTR, Trix Express and Marklin. More pictures can
be seen at Peter’s Home page – see
links on main page. Below are two
photos from the Gaggenau show in 2003 Above are 3 ultra
rare disc wheel locos from 1935; the original TE for the English market ( top), the German equivalent ( middle) and one intended
for the Swiss market ( bottom). A glimpse of the
TTR blue Meteor alongside two Marklin locos in the
middle a ST 800 and on the right a TWE 700. |
The layout is just for shows and measures 6 meters long, nearly 20 feet |
2012
At a special show at
the Swindon Steam Museum
To celebrate 20
years of the Bassett-Lowke Society,
the
TTRCA put on a display of Trix Twin from 1935 to 1960
on April 21st and 22nd
2012.
Organised
by Adrian Cassidy, Steve White and others.
The layout was built on “Vono”
table tops made for Trix in the 1950’s.
Track consisted on a mixture of Bakelite and fibre base with 4 circuits
each able to run “twin” trains and an out and back loop line.
This led to some exciting running
as a pre-war Diesel Flier chased a Princess on one loop with a Meteor catching
up a Coronation on another circuit.
On display and running were the
first two disc wheel locos from 1935 as well as Portsmouth sets, diesel fliers,
Coronations, Scotsman and Princess up to the more modern 1960’s diesel and a
double headed Bo Bo pulling 30 goods wagons.
The ever popular coal conveyor was much in use to the delight of younger
visitors.
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The
owners of Bassett-Lowke and Trix had a close
connection and frequently co-operated in the design and manufacture of model
railways in both HO, 0 and 1 Gauge from the 1920’s to the 1960’s. More can be read about this relationship in
the history of Trix Twin on this site or by clicking here “ The men who made Trix”
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