A Look Into The History Of Model Trains - As Seen By BBC

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

A few years ago, the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) ran a series on the history of model railways.

Worthwhile watching and quite entertaining!

Part 1:

Part 2:

Part 3:

Part 4:

2

That was quite enjoyable, Ulrich! Thanks for posting it! [:D]

Is the “Trix Twin” brand where the gauge “TT” came from?

Tom

3

Very interesting.Thanks for posting.

4

I am not 100% sure, but to my knowledge “TT” stands for “Table Top”. Hardly anyone knows that TT gauge was “invented” in the US, where it never made it to the fame and glory it received in Eastern Europe, mainly the former GDR.

5

“The Beeb” could do a documentary on watching paint dry and they would make it entertaining!

Thanks for posting these interesting and enjoyable views.

Regards, Ed

6

Hey Ulrich!

I had seen the series before, but it was very enjoyable to see it again.

Thanks!

Dave

7

IMHO, BBC makes the strangest yet entertaining documentaries there are!

James Mays, Mr. Top Gear and Mr. Toy Stories, once made a documentary on building an OO scale train along the route of the closed railway line from Barnstaple to Bideford, some 9.5 miles of 16.5mm of Hornby flex track put on the cycle path they made out of the right of way after Dr. Beeching axed the route.

8

Hi all

In this instant TT means table top, it certainly made Hornby sit up and take notice.

The Trix Twin system was rather interesting in that you could run two trains on it under independant control later three if you had an overhead electric train and the wires.

Que Adams Family theme music I would imagine there where a few Adams Family train moments.

It Trix Twin was very nominaly OO scale 4mm to the foot.

What I find the most interesting is they could and did light up there manual semaphore signals ( I have a couple of them) something which to days manufacturers don’t seem to be able to do, and a lot of model railroaders would want.

regards John