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R.116 Gondola variations

UK, Australia and New Zealand
images and information Courtesy George Thomas and Peter Sandford

George Thomas said, "I recently acquired six R116 Gondolas from a fellow collector. I bought them because they were all interesting, but one is "unique". And anyway you can never have too many Gondolas.The reason I call one "unique" is visible in the first picture. Can you spot it ?The three blues ones are all early versions that had transfers. Before they started using heat printing circa 1955. Two are English and the other made in New Zealand. It is interesting that NZ was producing with transfers so early.Two of the green ones are made in Australia. The other a later UK version. Note the Aussie ones have brass rivets. They apparently did not start using silver rivets until later. And at least one batch of blue R.116 were made in UK but assembled in Oz using silver rivets.Now the "unique" one. Note the difference of the heat printing on the two green Aussie models. I believe only one batch was made before they realized their mistake and made a new heat print tool. They are not super rare and turn up occasionally. I think it is the only time this happened in Tri-ang production".

 
 
     
 
     
   

Peter Sandford Gondola's. First pic shows 4 slightly different green Australian versions. Second pic shows ones Made in New Zealand and the third pic is of 4 different UK made versions.
 
     
   
     
     
 
 

George Thomas said, here are two R116 Gondolas I recently acquired. Both NZ made of course. I have included two photos with the light behind to highlight the translucent nature of the pigment. NZ Lines were very economical at times with the pigment.😄

The green gondola has a distinctly silver lettering rather than the normal white. Hopefully the photo will show this
 
 
   
     
     
     
 

George Thomas says, my latest acquisition. An Australian made R.116 Gondola in red. Note the use of locally made metal bogies with open axles and silver rivets. They used these up until they stopped production in 1967.

Interestingly Moldex never made a blue gondola in Oz. Only green and red. They did assemble some UK made blue ones though.
     
     
   

George Thomas found a red UK made R.116 Gondola, not the best of conditions, but considering it has early transfers, and not heat printed lettering, it is amazing that anything has survived, and boxed. You do not see these everyday !
   
 

Australian Gondola Section
New Zealand Gondola Section
     
UK Gondola Section