Steve White's Trix Twin Model Railway Website (established in 1999)

Trix Twin Railways (TTR) made in England and Germany between 1935 and 1970

Trix items for sale

OPERATING & SERVICING: wiring, servicing, AC and DC locos, Meteor, Pacifics, Coronation, and more

TRIX MODELS: a collectors' catalogue of the products made by Trix 1935 - 1971

CLUBS AND WEBSITES: including websites for Trix enthusiasts in the UK and Europe

Scotsman, 1950's BR version

German BR01   

Princess, 1930's model

MODEL RAILWAYS

70 years ago, most boys either owned or wanted an electric train set. The main manufacturers were Hornby-Dublo, Triang, and Trix. These companies made model trains in 00 gauge (00 being half the track-width of the older clockwork 0 gauge).

     BR green Scotsman loco and BR maroon scale coaches
 

TRIX TWIN

Both Hornby-Dublo and Trix trains ran on 3-rail track. The Trix 'Twin' system powered one engine from the centre and one outer rail, and a second engine from the centre and other outer rail (the three rails being mounted on an insulated bakelite base). Twin running was not possible with Hornby Dublo because both outer rails were connected via a metal base.

Trix and Dublo engines were constructed in die-cast metal; rolling stock was tinplate. Triang used plastic for engines and rolling stock, which ran on 2-rail track. In the late fifties, Hornby-Dublo changed from 3-rail to 2-rail, followed by Trix in the sixties.

     0-4-0 Tank loco with a train of pre-war wagons

The electric supply for Trix Twin trains differed from the others as it was 14 volts AC. Hornby-Dublo and Triang both ran on 12 volts DC. Eventually, in 1957, Trix changed their motors to 12 volts DC.

Because Trix wheels have large (coarse) flanges, Trix track points are unsuitable for other manufacturers' rolling stock. In the late fifties, Trix started making 'Universal' points which were suitable for all makes. 

   1930's LMS Coronation loco and matching coaches

I hope this website will be of interest to anyone who owned a Trix model railway, or to the enthusiasts worldwide who collect, restore, and run, these vintage trains. My original Trix train set was bought as a Christmas present for me in 1956. For some unknown reason, I started to collect Trix Twin items 20 years later. If you have any Trix items to sell, or want an idea of their value, please email. Pass on your comments and suggestions about this website too.

Steve White

www.TRIX.co.uk