1953-1969 Triang Princess Elizabeth Green Livery

The green Princess Elizabeth (R53) was released some four years after the introduction of the black livery variant and apart from the colour, was the same in every detail. From about 1955 walschaerts valve gear was added, although I do not have an example of this on my green locomotives. The green variant did not sell as well as the black one, and was in the RTR "ready-to-run" range until 1961. It is not in the 1962 catalogue, but from 1963 to 1969 it was sold in kit form in the CKD range. As the style of brass safety valves changed in 1962, it is easy to tell if a model was RTR or CKD (see below).

The locomotive has suffered from warping due to the cellulose acetate. (the same material used in making films years ago). Polystyrene was used from 1955 onwards.

There had been some difficulty at first painting the firebox black onto the green plastic.

Top view, showing clearly the four plastic safety valves. From about 1955 replaced by two brass valves, although four would have been correct.

Chassis base plate, same as the black livery variant

Early chassis 1953-54 without walschaerts valve gear

Early 1953 body shell, R.53 has still not been added to R.50 (R.50/R53)

Top 1953-1958, Bottom 1959-61 (later variants had wire pick-ups)

1960-61 variant - 8P above cab number and early brass safety valves.

No walschaerts valve gear would suggest that the chassis is from a black Princess?

ABOVE: 1953 variant, number on firebox door, screw in chimney.

RIGHT: 1959 variant, no number and Mk3 couplings, screw in front of door.

EARLY MODEL: Raised lettering, smooth connecting rods, early wheels (non-see through) and no lining on body shell.

LATE MODEL: Flat lettering, fluted connecting rods, see through wheels and lining on body shell.

Apart from the more realistic numbers on the later model, the early model has 7P on the cab, however, the later model has 8P, this change came about on British Railways in the mid-1950s and Triang followed in 1960.

IMPORTANT: The late style brass safety valves. Any green Princess Elizabeth locomotives fitted with these would have come from the 1963-1969 CKD kits.

Different coal loads, the one near the camera is from 1953 to early 1955.

1953-1955 Early type, taller and closed axle boxes, early BR emblem.

1955-1969 Late type, shorter and open axle boxes. Later BR emblem ( I am searching for an early logo variant, as the later emblem first came out in mid-1956)