Dock Shunter
This section is dedicated to the happy memories of
MARTIN J WALLS
a friend of many on the Tri-ang Railways E-group whenever we run our DSs we will think of you
Dave |
Martin's Red DS No. 5
Martin's collection
His original caption for this photo
'An
Authority of Dock Shunters'
Part of Martin's recollection of his early Tri-ang days My parents realised how much I enjoyed my Hornby O gauge clockwork set as a 4 year old in 1964 , so for Christmas 1965 I received a Tri-ang electric train set with a P5A transformer ( always called a transformer in those days' never a power controller or any other accurate descriptions). The set contained an oval of Super 4 track, power clip, uncoupling ramp, the quaint miniature corked bottle of Shell oil, an R10 open wagon, R14 fish van, R16 brake van and ... ( can you hear a fanfare playing ? )... a beautiful red R253 Dock Authority shunter (DS).
Dad explained how
the transformer supplied electricity to run the loco, but I spotted the
wires inside in the DS and wondered how they would be long enough to reach
the terminals of the P5A . It was a magical Christmas Day when Dad set up
the track and soon had the little red diesel hurtling around the circuit
at breakneck speed, with the operating headlight throwing out that
characteristic yellow-orange glow (which was a big deal to a 5 year old ).
The roar of the power bogie and the smell of the oil and ozone (?) from
the motor are vivid memories. |
Earliest version