When Triang was launched in May 1952, it was not only locomotives and rolling stock that was being designed and produced, but also a complete system of buildings, track and lineside items! The two locomotive types at the start were not pure Triang designs, the N2 tank loco was from Trackmaster, and this clockwork loco would be dropped at the first  opportunity. ( a whole range of N2 liveries were being produced by Hornby Dublo at this time).

   The Princess locomotive was improved and now in two colours, but it was an express locomotive, which was fine for coaches, but something was needed for goods trains. The introduction of the Jinty filled a vital gap in the range and stayed in the range for some 22 years! During its life it kept the 47606 running number from start to finish.

   This long life meant that the model would be constantly improved over the years and most of these changes will be seen in the pictures below. I have five black livery Jintys and each one is different and the changes allows one to date a Jinty sometimes to a single year.

Here are the main changes:

EARLY 1953- The first Jintys are in production, the first few hundred have "BRITISH RAILWAYS" decals and the rest have early BR emblem.  Mine seems to have a paper lion emblem glued on. All early Jintys have Mk2a couplings and cut out under the boiler.

1954- The cut away under the boiler has been filled in and Mk2b couplings fitted.

1956- Now made from polystyrene and brass safety valves fitted. Now with lined livery, not realistic to the prototypes, but allowed for use with model branch lines coaches.

1958- Fluted connecting rods.

1959- New couplings, late BR emblem.

1964- More realistic Safety valves and see-through wheels added. The buffers were re-tooled, The buffers were still brass, but the buffer stocks were now plastic and formed part of the buffer beam. (the original buffers were still used on the Dock Shunter until 1976).

1965- Synchrosmoke units added. This addition was going to be removed when the black livery Jinty took second place to a maroon LMS variant, but it was decided that two chassis variants would become too complicated and the Synchrosmoke unit stayed until the end in 1975. BR emblems now smaller.

Australian and New Zealand variants have a non-working lamp in front of the chimney.

   Four additional Jinty liveries will be covered later in the series. As will a re-tooled variant produced from 1978 onwards.

LEFT:  1965- Triang Catalogue

Early 1953- With Paper BR Emblem and cut out under boiler, Mk2a couplings.

1954- Cut out filled in, but still heavy warping to the cellulose acetate

1953-1955 Plastic safety valves

1956-1963  Brass safety valves

1964-1975 More realistic safety valves

1956 Variant. Now lined and brass safety valves, but still Mk2b couplings.

1959 Variant. Late BR emblems and Mk3 couplings

1953 Mk2a couplings

1954 Mk2b couplings

1959 Mk3 couplings

Top view of the Jinty

Base plate view

1954 variant chassis

1965 variant chassis with Synchrosmoke unit

Front view early Jinty

Rear view early Jinty

Early body with cut out under the boiler

1965-1975 variant. Re-tooled buffer stocks can be seen. Also smaller BR emblem.

1957- Triang Catalogue

1958- Triang Catalogue

1959- Triang Catalogue

1960- Triang Catalogue

1961- Triang Catalogue

1962- Triang Catalogue

1963- Triang Catalogue

1964- Triang Catalogue

1966-Triang-Hornby Catalogue

1967- Triang-Hornby Catalogue

1968- Triang-Hornby Catalogue

1969- Triang-Hornby Catalogue

1970- Triang-Hornby Catalogue

1971- Triang-Hornby Catalogue

RIGHT:  1972- Hornby Catalogue

1973- Hornby Catalogue

1974- Hornby Catalogue

1975- Hornby Catalogue

The last year that the Jinty would be found in the Hornby catalogue (until the re-tooled variant came out it 1978). There was no indication that the model was going to be dropped from the range, so in 1976 it would have been a surprise to enthusiasts that they could not find that iconic locomotive in the catalogue anymore. It was built in huge numbers, so perhaps anyone still wanting one may have found one in the model railway shops for several years to come.

1976- The Jinty was replaced in the catalogue by the LNER J83 0-6-0T