| MS |
Mr Lines, could
you briefly describe how the original idea for a large
garden railway came about? |
| RL |
I don't remember who had the original
idea. The object of being a toy
manufacturer is to make money and to incur as little investment in tooling etc
as possible. The TMNR was a comparatively inexpensive thing to tool up and
this would have influenced the thinking. |
| MS |
What was the
inspiration for the loco? |
| RL |
The railway line between Canterbury
and Ramsgate ran beside the
Canterbury factory. I think the Golden Arrow sometimes used this route.
Also, the loco was of a new class at that time and it was an easy shape to make. |
| MS |
Was there a
conscious decision not to use a third rail conduction system? |
| RL |
I can't think of a
reason for having three rails when two would do the job. |
| MS |
Where the trains
built in the factory itself, or made off site? |
| RL |
I think it was all
made "in house". |
| MS |
What kind of
plastic was used for the bodies? |
| RL |
I think they were blow moulded and
therefore presumably a polyethylene
base. |
| MS |
How well was the
railway received by the public? |
| RL |
It wasn't widely advertised. We had a job to persuade the ordinary retailers
to order any. I believe we asked them to take orders which were then sent
direct to the public with the retailer getting a commission. Because of this we
turned our attention to people like Butlins. |
| MS |
How far did the
production of the battery loco and coal truck as featured in the
sales brochure get? |
| RL |
I expect we made
our prototype by hand to test the market and then junked it. |
| MS |
Was there anything
else that you would have liked to have developed for
the railway? |
| RL |
I am sure we had
some pious ideas but the relative lack of interest switched
us off. |
| MS |
Does it make you
proud that the TMNR has still survived and proves
popular to this date? |
| RL |
Amazed rather than
proud. (Pride is one of the deadly sins). |
| MS |
What is your most
enjoyable memory about the Tri-ang Minic Narrowgauge
Railway? |
| RL |
Riding on it
around the factory demonstration layout. |
| MS |
Mr Lines, thank
you for taking the time to complete this interview. |
