|
Uses for the Triang Clerestories
by Russ Elliott

Triang Brake 3rd
The Triang GWR non-corridor clerestory coaches
can still be obtained secondhand at swapmeets and online auctions such as
e-bay. Though not to
any particular prototype, the bodies from these coaches provide a tempting
subject for hacking about into more prototypical diagrams. The following
notes by Russ Elliott provide a helping hand in that direction. On
the following two pages, I supplement Russ's notes with some of my own Triang
conversions.
These bodies are the 'old' Triang offerings,
with moulded panelling, and should not be confused with the later Hornby
longer corridor versions
whose panelling is denoted merely by the printed lining. Two body types
were produced; the Brake 3rd, and the 2nd.
Triang Brake 3rd body
- The Triang Brake 3rd is numbered '2316'. The corresponding prototype
number was carried by one of the vehicles in lot 972 (29/06/01), which
was a 5-compartment brake 3rd, cler(3) to diagram D37 (nos 2312-2316).
It was 50'0 3/4" long, and 8'6 3/4" wide. The D37 diagram
was similar to the D24s, which had one compartment less.
- The actual Triang body scales to a 46' 6" length and has one
set of luggage doors less than the prototype D37. The Triang body is
also only 8' wide, and is therefore of little use as a D37 (or a D24),
both of which were 8'6 3/4" wide.
- The body is suitable for stock that is 8' wide. The distance between
the centres of the compartments in the Brake 3rd is 23.25mm = 5'10",
and thus could be used for diagrams of 5'6" between partitions.
- On this basis, the following diagrams appear to be feasible conversion
projects: Clerestory Brake 3rd to diagram D8; Low-roofed Brake 3rds
to diagrams D16 and D17, and similar Brake Composites to diagrams E40
or E50. Other diagrams might also be feasible with further hacking.

Triang All 2nd
Triang 2nd body
- The Triang 2nd body is numbered '5017', for which I cannot find any
record. In general, this body has less potential for conversion than
the Brake 3rd.
- Again, the body is suitable for stock that is 8' wide. Distances between
centrelines of compartments in the 2nd is 26mm = 6'6" (which equates
to approximately 6'10" between partitions).
- The nearest equivalent seems to be Clerestory 2nds to diagrams C19
(50' long) or C20 (51' long).
Russ Elliott
November 2000, revised January 2002
|