Cut and Shut Triang Trestrol Wagon from sixty plus years ago.

[Mr T]

This is a bit of a stalled project that has been ongoing for a while, and one I wanted out the way before the GB in September. The Trestrol wagon was designed to carry steel plate on trestles where the plates would be too wide if carried flat ('out of gauge' to use railway parlance). They came in various sizes and the Triang one depicted the 55 Ton capacity wagons built in 1938 by the LNER for both the LNER and the LMS, as well as an identical design built postwar for BR, who coded their wagons as 'Trestrol EC' The Triang wagon appeared about 1960 and appeared in a variety of guises and colours. 

There are two problems with the wagon. The major one is that it is too short. The model is about 57ft long, and the original was 71ft. This can be rectified by a cut and shut of two wagons to get the right length. I bought a couple of very tatty wagons cheaply awhile ago. In itself, it makes an imposing wagon. The other problem, much less easy to solve, is that the bogies have some stretch to them to get around the original track curves. They should have a wheelbase of 5ft 6 ins between each set of wheels, but have not, and the coupling end has an odd shape compared to the original. I am making some compromises, reshaping the end to match the real thing a bit better and replacing the moulded on brake handwheels with some etched ones. I have replaced the dreadful Triang wheels with something better, running in some brass bearings. Because all Triang rolling stock was a couple of mm too high compared to Bachmann, or just about anyone else, I am going to resite the buffer beam at a slightly lower height. A couple of pictures to show progress so far

Original bogie on the right, and partially reworked on the left.

This is a project I am doing at odd times, so updates might not be very frequent

[Pete in Lincs]

Those early Triang wagons were sturdily made at least. I remember my first train set. American styling and almost indestructible!. I Didn't care about accuracy back then!

This sounds like an interesting project. Good luck with it.

[Mr T]

Thanks, they are quite sturdy. I have a bogie chlorine wagon that you could drive a Ford Ranger over with no ill effects. I already have some replacement bogies for it and new transfers. I enjoy a bit of railway modelling as a change, some different skills. I have two definite projects for the 200 years of railways GB that I am looking forward to. 

[Mr T]

Some more progress on the Trestrol. The headstocks have been placed at a height where they will buffer up to other wagons at about the correct height. Buffers coupling hooks and brake wheels have been added, as well as brake shoes in line with the wheels. The body of the wagon has had the small shackles added, used for the chains to secure the load. Ready for paint work.

[Mr T]

The Trestrol is now finished. What it really needs is a trestle to support heavy metal sheets diagonally, although they did run without as well wagons. Quite pleased with the end result. I now need a layout to run it round.

 

[johndon]

Nice work, I’m in the process of exactly the same conversion. 

[Mjwomack]

RATS!!!! Found this too late as I about to offer to look in my copy of LNER wagons for pics and diagrams. Anyhow, congratulations on excellent work; hope to see this in the Inspiration gallery for the 220 years GB in a couple of months time.

M

On 7/4/2025 at 10:04 PM, johndon said:

Nice work, I’m in the process of exactly the same conversion. 

Do you have references or shall I still see what I've got?

[johndon]

12 minutes ago, Mjwomack said:

Do you have references or shall I still see what I've got?

 

Got the references but thanks for the offer, I appreciate it.

[johndon]

Here's mine as it stands, still more work to be done including reinstating the rivets that were lost filling the seam.  Brakes blocks to be done as mine has been converted to P4:

 

[Mr T]

@Mjwomack thanks, there is a diagram and pics in vol2 of 'LMS Wagons' by RJ Essery that I have. I also came across a drawing and photo from a 1958 Model Railway Constructer of the BR version we which looks identical. It will be in the Inspiration gallery along with a couple of other things. 

[Mr T]

@johndon Looks very nice, and I now have trestle envy. Are your buffers from Lanarkshire Model Supplies? Mine came from there together with some other stuff I ordered just before they closed down. 

[johndon]

18 minutes ago, Mr T said:

@johndon Looks very nice, and I now have trestle envy. Are your buffers from Lanarkshire Model Supplies? Mine cams from together with dome other stuff I ordered just before they closed down. 

 

Yes, they are Lanarkshire buffers.