THE DOCK SHUNTER MOST POPULAR LOCO EVER!

[Forum-1211528]

The Triang Dock Shunter is the most popular loco ever more were sold than anything else in its British, Australian and Americian liveries! It had the big light on the front ive got twelve Dock Shunters i love this little loco i think HORNBY should revive it with a new underframe there is scope for a cheap little shunter as there have not been any made since the seventies so i feel HORNBY should bring the Dock shunter back into the Hornby range we need our friend back it would be popular as there have been enough SMOKEY JOES made over the years so come on HORNBY please lets see the return of the Triang Dock Shunter!

[poliss]

No. Flying Scotsman is the most popular loco. That's why it's still being made and the Dock Shunter isn't.

Very few people would want the fictitious Dock Shunter with it's lack of detail. People aren't even happy with the Class 90 because of it's old design.

[Wobblinwheel]

The use of punctuation is very popular these days too...

[Howbi]

Would that be in the U.S. of A. or U.K., wobbly?......... 😀..........HB

[Wobblinwheel]

Would that be in the U.S. of A. or U.K., wobbly?......... 😀..........HB

You know what I mean.......

[81F]

I wonder if the popularity of the dock shunter might wee be down to  the fact that it tended to be in the cheaper end of the trainsets and would therefore appeal to the parents of "Little Johnnie" around Chritmas time?

 

Thankfully my father spent hours watching the trains at Cripley Meadow wasonce allowed (unofficially) into the cab of a pannier t have a look, which meant it was the GWR goods set for me. - I was "offered" the dock shunter set but it was pointed out how much less you got and worst still it was a Diesel!

 

Having said that I did eventually obtain a dock shunter and do feel they have a charm just like Nellie.

[Fishmanoz]

Punctuation Wobbly - isn't that the term to describe when a loco comes to a STOP on an insulfrog turnout?

[Wobblinwheel]

Punctuation Wobbly - isn't that the term to describe when a loco comes to a STOP on an insulfrog turnout?

Of course it is... Dummy ... 😉

[JeremiahBunyan]

I would in a way agree with you Colin, I don't know which is the most famous loco, but when I was a small chap in the early 2000's an old uncle of mine gave me all his Hornby, Tri-Ang Hornby and Marklin catalogues. I saw this Dock Shunter in one and instantly wanted it. In those days with no access to the internet I didn't know it was long gone.

 

However I can still say I really want one, but it's going to have to be upto today's standards atleast for a RailRoad model. The detail is way to basic even for today's RailRoad standards.

[JeremiahBunyan]

No. Flying Scotsman is the most popular loco. That's why it's still being made and the Dock Shunter isn't.

Very few people would want the fictitious Dock Shunter with it's lack of detail. People aren't even happy with the Class 90 because of it's old design.

 

Couldn't agree with you more. You'll probably see my post above. As for the Class 90, I a huge fan of the real one. At the moment Hornby is the only company that offers one. So I will get it and I will detail it as there is a wonderful kit out there.

 

I now the blue box brand is making one. Announced 2 years ago and not even finished the CAD stage, moreover I've had horrible models and service from them. So I'll be happier sticking with my life-long favorite - Hornby.

[Buz]

 Hi colin_flowerday

HMM?? Triang dock shunter but only if its yellow with wasp stripes  with decent wheels, not to mention a bit tamer than its great grandfather 😆

And with bi directional LED lighting and cab interior as new feature's

That sounds good to me.

On a side note perhaps big indistrial shunter type buffers might be a good idea too.

I think part of the Triang Popularity comes down to things that can't realy be measured like railway feel.

HMM may be we should ask for the Victorian / Edwardian station buildings as well only this time with the roof slates moulded the right way round certainly they where lacking a bit of detail.

But they just ooze railway feel particularly when the apropriate era for the layout adds time tables etc are on them just something about them that is just so.

I am sure there are some minor improvments that could be done to them??

regards John

[Jimbo1707820979]

Newbie I may be but I agree with Colin about the attractiveness of the Triang Dock Shunter. I have 2 of them, one black, one red and they are good fun.

Certainly they are lacking in fine details but on the positive side have a nice headlight, something missing on  small Hornby locos, are heavy and stick well on modern track and above all are CHEAP. This is an important factor for some people, especially those with small children and limited spare cash.   Re the lack of fine detail, well, if that is the criterium then the RailRoad and Branchline models shouldn't they also be a taboo for the sticklers for authenticity ? After all, the layouts we see featured in magazines and at shows have fictitious names and model a fantasy world, based on past realities albeit very expertly. So I feel there is room in our hobby for all levels of skills and aspirations - some people are absolute purists, others, less skilled perhaps, just enjoy having a layout and use a bit of "poetic licence" in choice of rolling stock and scenery. The main thing is enjoyment, isn't it ?

It would be nice if Hornby introduced an AFFORDABLE small loco with LED lighting to bring things more up to date. Some folks enjoy directional lights, and coach lighting esp. on a darkened layout. so please don't knock the poor little R253 too hard. 😢  It fills a gap in the market.

[poliss]

The Railroad models of today would look super-detailed back when the Dock Shunter was made.

A ficticious location is not the same thing as a ficticious model.

The Dock Shunter might appeal to a couple of hundred that go in for the good old days of Tri-ang, but that's about it.

Maybe people want Hornby to go bust by making models that won't sell?

[Jimbo1707820979]

@ poliss

Maybe you have a point.  I have always been a bit of a sucker for lost causes and underdogs. 😛 Certainly don't want Hornby to go bust. The story of model train makers seems to be littered with bankrupcies. Losing Woolies and T J Hughes bad enough, not to mention many famous British locomotive manufacturers.

[Ruffnut Thorston]

The Dock shunter (1957-19778).

 

I have seen somewhere, a photo of an Export Hunslet Shunter that was very much like the Dock Shunter Body...

Also there has been reference to a Bagnall Shunter, that has coupled wheels, but the body style was very similar to the Dock Shunter...

 

So "Fictitious" may be a little strong, more "freelance", which is quite acceptable (Like "Nellie" and a few other models. BM also make "freelance" models...see the "Junior" range!)

 

The body was made to fit on the Transcontinental Series Mk 2 motor bogie, itself based on a General Motors "Electromotive Division"  "Bloomberg" design. (albeit a trifle over-scale in its proportions...).

 

It was made in two main versions, R.253 "British" Dock Authority (Black and Red, with buffers, numbered "5" and "3" in various versions.) and TC Series as the R.353 "Yard Switcher", in yellow and red, no buffers, and various lettering and "TC Shield" options, some numbered "TR 20071".

 

In a way, today's equivilent may be the Hornby R.9683 "Dart" Diesel Shunter from the Thomas series?

 

Some variations...

 

No.5 Black. MkIIb (Open Loop) Couplings. Open space behind cab steps. (C1958)Possibly No.5 Black. MkIIb (Open Loop) Couplings. Open space behind cab steps filled in.No.5 Black. MkIII (Closed Loop) Couplings. Open space behind cab steps filled in.No.3 Red. MkIII (Closed Loop) Couplings. Open space behind cab steps filled in.No.3 Black. MkIII (Closed Loop) Couplings. Open space behind cab steps filled in.No.3 Black MkIII (Closed Loop) Couplings. Open space behind cab steps filled in. Plastic Buffer Shanks moulded on the buffer beams. (C1978)Yard Switcher. (I am not so sure on the details of these.)Yellow. TRI-ANG RAILWAYSRed. TRI-ANG RAILWAYSRed. TR Shield Logo.

 

 

[poliss]

Freelance is a synonym for ficticious. There never was such a loco.

Hornby can't just release the old model. The moulds will be worn out, if they still exist, and the motor is no longer made. They'd have to release a completely new model, and as they already have the Bagnall Shunter (based on Dart) and the 06 in the Railroad range which serve a similar purpose, there would seem to be no point in re-releasing a loco where a full sized version never existed.

[Buz]

Freelance is a synonym for ficticious. There never was such a loco.

 

Not sure I 100% agree with that statement because for a freelance model railway to work it has to have a strong foundation in reallity.

However there are certain Triang products that where better than Hornbys current models 

and that list starts with every Triang train set building being better than the current totaly flat pack

completly devoid of any relief buildings.

There is even a very important feature that every Triang locomotive had that the modern no matter how super detailed Hornby does not.

A fully comprehensive repair and spare parts  service, and you can still repair them if you know where to get the parts from.

At the price Hornby trains are that service should be avalable. so change is not always good.

Of course people hanker for the Triang models they are the trains of our childhood and certain models that once where some of which should still really be avalable.

But I don't think any one wants Hornby to go broke just fix what they each see as gaps in Hornby's product range.

Stopping making orphan goes with nothing else products would help that a lot.

regards John