Lone Star Treble-0-lectric(surprisingly long)
Andrew McIntyre
I wonder if this will provoke a discussion. I spent a very enjoyable
and relaxing day yesterday operating Lone Star 000 scale models, dating
from the late 50s and early 60s. I'd previously heard about Lone Star
models on this newsgroup, mainly due to the unusual drive system, but
I'd never seen any, working or not, until yesterday when I was asked to
assist in the operation of a layout of the stuff.
I guess there may be a few of you reading who don't know much about Lone
Star. Am I right? If you don't, read these few paragraphs. Lone Star
models were made by DCMT(standing for Die Cast Machine Tools or
something?) back in the 1950s. The scale was 2mm/foot, which later
bcame 'N' scale. The first range was 8mm gauge push-along models, then
followed a 9mm gauge push-along range. These featured an English
Electric shunter and about half a dozen other locos, plus plenty of
rolling stock. There were also North American steam and diesel models,
for the larger North American market
A little later came the electric models. The British models consisted
of English Electric and BR type 2s, Mark 1 coaches and plenty of
different wagons. Again, there were also the North American models, a
F7 class diesel and a Baldwin 0-8-0 steamer, plus saloon/dome coaches,
boxcars, tankers and cabeese. Green locos and maroon or green coaches
made the British stock fairly predictable, but the North American models
were released in a wide variety of liveries, representing the many
different roads that existed at the time, both in the US and Canada.
There were also plenty of accessories, including the track itself,
points, buffer stops, elevated railway sections, buildings, road
vehicles, footbridge and so on. All in all, quite a wide range and
fairly detailed for its size at the time.
All the stock had die-cast bodies and chassis. All the locos had the
same drive unit - a sizeable centre motor with a long drive shaft at
each side. Coupled to this were four rubber bands, each running to an
axle. This was the infamous drive system, which provided a decent
reduction ratio with the aid of thick axles and also allowed the bogies
to pivot freely. The rubber bands also held the motor and wheelsets in
place, so that removed a rubber band, a wheelset would drop out with it.
Remove all four bands and the motor would come out quite freely.
The drive unit was shortened slightly to fit into the steam locos'
tender. The loco bogies were of split-frame construction to enable
current pickup. The detail on the locos was reasonable for a die-cast
model. There were never any buffers or glazed windows, but what do you
expect? The locos would run quite fast on full power and would haul
about 3 coaches once they got going. Acceleration was fairly poor, with
no traction tyres and just those puny rubber bands as drive train.
Lone Star models were only produced for 4 or 5 years, production ending
in 1964. The Germans had come on the scene with 'N' gauge and the crude
British models wasn't of the same standard.
Operating Lone Star models today is still feasible, as these were built
as toys, meant to be played with. The locos need some care, but
derailments are quite rare due to the weight of the die-cast stock.
Slow speed control is very hard, but can be done, even over points.
Once started, the locos will run for a long time, although they do heat
up considerably. Once in a while a rubber band will snap and it needs
to be replaced. Ensure it's placed on the drive shaft and axle
correctly, otherwise you will find three axles going round one way and
one axle in the opposite direction.
So, that's about all I know. I hope everything I've written here is
correct, I'm not old enough to know the history of these models first-
hand. I'd be happy to try and answer any questions you may have.
--
Andrew McIntyre
http://www.mcintyre0.demon.co.uk
email: and...@mcintyre0.demon.co.uk
George
Andrew McIntyre <and...@mcintyre0.demon.co.uk> wrote in article
<kmRR0AAL...@mcintyre0.demon.co.uk>...
> I guess there may be a few of you reading who don't know much about Lone
> Star. Am I right? If you don't, read these few paragraphs. Lone Star
> models were made by DCMT(standing for Die Cast Machine Tools or
> something?) back in the 1950s. The scale was 2mm/foot, which later
> bcame 'N' scale. The first range was 8mm gauge push-along models, then
> followed a 9mm gauge push-along range. These featured an English
> Electric shunter and about half a dozen other locos, plus plenty of
> rolling stock. There were also North American steam and diesel models,
> for the larger North American market
Fascinating stuff but . . .
<nitpick> I think it was Die Cast Metal Toys </nitpick>
Mark Fielder
----- Original Message -----
From: Andrew McIntyre <and...@mcintyre0.demon.co.uk>
Newsgroups: uk.rec.models.rail
Sent: 24 October 1999 14:20
Subject: Lone Star Treble-0-lectric(surprisingly long)
> Hi everyone
> I wonder if this will provoke a discussion. I spent a very enjoyable
> and relaxing day yesterday operating Lone Star 000 scale models, dating
> from the late 50s and early 60s. I'd previously heard about Lone Star
> models on this newsgroup, mainly due to the unusual drive system, but
> I'd never seen any, working or not, until yesterday when I was asked to
> assist in the operation of a layout of the stuff.
...snip.
Actually, the rough chronology is:
from 1957, the push-along range ("Lone Star Locos") were made, being exact
half scale replicas of the then current OO Rovex and Hornby range, even down
to replicating 8.25mm gauge.
from 1960, the Treble-O-Lectric range came in, using 9mm gauge, as the
designer, Stuart Goss, did some research with the local De Havilland mrc and
found the most accurate gauge in common use was EM. The range was made to a
constant 2mm scale, so the US models are larger than the UK models. Design
is very clever and construction is robust. Drive bands were cut from ½"
neoprene rubber tubing. The Baby Deltic and Derby Type 2 are actually very
accurate in outline. Production continued until the late 1960s. DCMT were
certainly advertising often in the 2mm Scale Association magazine until
1968ish. The only steam loco in the range was a Baldwin 0-8-0 which had a
powered tender.
In the late 60's the 9mm gauge push-along range appeared using a mix of some
of the electric models and some of the older "Locos" range. 9mm was chosen
to be compatible with the new fangled N gauge. US locos appeared in
pseudo-BR livery, the Type 2 appeared in Rail Blue. Most the range was sold
off in Woolworths very cheaply.
This info is based on what Denys Brownlee told me, but as he and Stuart Goss
are now deceased, it's harder to check all the facts.
There are some fairly avid collectors, and some more laidback, like me. I
have an electric layout and also some "locos" in need of renovation. Prices
are not yet (and hopefully will never be) astronomical, despite some
optimisitic dealers at swap-meets.
Fascinating stuff, I saw it in the 60's as a youngster and was hooked. It's
a neat antidote from 2mm Finescale. One of these days, I'll set up a Lone
Star web site. In the meantime, you can find some catalogue images at:
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/MOF/
Where was the Lone Star layout on show?
regards
Mark.
Mark Fielder
Bill Foote
Treble-0-lectric at the Big Southern Toy Fair at Reading yesterday
(Sunday 24/10/99)
Anthony New
>
(snip)
>
> There are some fairly avid collectors, and some more laidback, like me. I
> have an electric layout and also some "locos" in need of renovation. Prices
> are not yet (and hopefully will never be) astronomical, despite some
> optimisitic dealers at swap-meets.
>
> Fascinating stuff, I saw it in the 60's as a youngster and was hooked. It's
> a neat antidote from 2mm Finescale. One of these days, I'll set up a Lone
> Star web site. In the meantime, you can find some catalogue images at:
> http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/MOF/
>
> Where was the Lone Star layout on show?
>
> regards
>
> Mark.
Yes, and worth reading twice, I think! <g>
My cousin and I had the metal push-along series in about 1960, I think,
and soon tired of pushing the locos along the track. However, we still
played with the toy every time we could - with some building bricks for
support, it was fascinating how far you could get marbles to run along
the track . . .
--
Anthony
The price of safety is the same as the price of Freedom - eternal
vigilance.
--------------------------------------------
Swap "no junk" with "co uk" for e-mail reply
Bill Foote
models were not their primary product)
Andrew McIntyre
<MarkF...@email.msn.com> writes
>Actually, the rough chronology is:
Thanks for that, I knew some of what I had written wasn't very accurate.
>Where was the Lone Star layout on show?
Belper, at a vintage toy trains day.