My Tri-ang Minic Tale (Part 2

My Tri-ang

MIKE CLEMENT continues his two part article describing his history restoring and selling Tri-ang Minic Railways. Part 2

AFTER I sold my refurbished Minic engine and coach (TMNR Times 13) and still being in possession of a large quantity of Minic track I wondered if there was a potential opportunity for operating a 10¼” miniature railway at any local open air events.

I can not remember as to how, but somehow, I acquired a rather battered Minic engine with the intention of 'stretching' it to make it wider and perhaps a little longer to accommodate myself and a Honda engine. After many enquiries I located a medically retired police officer living on Merseyside who had made several 7¼” railway engines.

I contacted him, an Arni Bimpson, a very friendly person living in a modest semi, but with a wonderful mechanical workshop in his ex tended garage. He showed me work under way in his work shop, pictures of completed models then running at commercial enterprises and 7¼” double slip point track work under construction.

What struck me was his ability to technically draw freehand detailed designs and then skilfully assemble high quality scale models. What he did not appear to be too interested in, was the final detailed cosmetic finish application to his engines and coaches, which was where I knew I could use my skills. We agreed that once the design was finalised, that Arni would build the framework of an enlarged Minic railway engine, a toast rack carriage and a Pullman style carriage and I would finish off

Minic Tale

the fabrication with the lights, horn, cushions, paintwork, logos, brass work, etc. Arni wanted to build to 7¼“ gauge, but soon appreciated that I needed it in 10¼” to enable me to use my track. So the build was started and I paid for the work stage by stage – r a w m at e r i al s , f l a m e c u t t i n g , b u s h e s , s p r in g s , engine, etc. Labour and part s in total came to just over £1000. Work was delayed for a while following one of his n e i g h b o u r s reporting him to the

T h e p r o c e s s o f increasing the length of the original TMNR locomotive.

MIKE CLEMENT

Inland Revenue and Arni's deteriorating health.

Eventually after s everal months the three units were delivered to my home and run into my double garage. I then spent several enjoyable weeks sourcing the fittings and fixtures, from flags to switches necessary to finish my project off. Again I used m y c o nt a c t s f r o m t h e Electronics Department at the University of Liverpool to contacts at vehicle breaker's yards.

Then there was the issue of insurance and public limited liability. One of the clauses was that my engine had to be fitted with a horn. This was not a problem as I had fitted a car battery under my driver's seat to power the forward and rear lights. A friend said he could supply a set of horns and compressor from a scrapped vehicle. The only snag was that they were t wo-tone, hav ing be en recovered from a police vehicle - So some tweaking was necessary. BR logos and lettering on the sides of the coaches were no problem as a Merseyside company had all necessary template copyright images, the Minic's Golden Arrow metal name plate lettering was readily available and I was able to track down the supplier of paints for the BR green locos and for Orient Express Pullman coaches.

The TMNR being widened by Arni Bimpson along with an attractive 7¼” Class 66. MIKE CLEMENT.

button. For ward, backward control and acceleration were operated through a 'joy stick' mechanism.

The engine driver and coach cushions came from a local furniture manufacturer, Lime Street Station supplied me with a scrap flashing light unit as fitted to the rear of a line of carriages. I fitted the engine with a handbrake that operated on the rear axle wheels, whilst the engine could be suddenly stopped by a 'dump' So then we were ready to do some trials, first for my neighbour's charity event, then for a local primary school. The latter proved to be somewhat of an experience as I had to query as to why do boys want to lie on the track as the train is moving towards them. I realised that my insurance company had failed to stipulate that the track should be protected by some type of

high visibility plastic safety barrier to minimise accidents. Transport to the two local events was no problem as Arni used his double axle trailer. An electric screwdriver hastened assembly of the sections of Minic track, but was still hard work, lifting the units on to the track was in essence a four man operation - A real struggle.

I was then so convinced that it was going to be such a money making scheme at 50p per head per ride that I started to source lightweight aluminium track and a double axle box trailer to move everything around in. I went to see a couple of possible trailers but then the unforeseen happened, a major health issue resulting in me having to have extensive r a di o t h e r ap y a c c o mp ani e d b y a w ful medication. My strength departed and my days of moving anything of any weight were over. I knew I had to sell the whole set-up - loco, carriages and track.

It was advertised at £6,500 and there were several enquiries and a Manchester club owner expressed an interest as he said that he had a business on part of the abandoned Colwyn Bay Railway Station. I went to see the premises which housed several retail outlets and a converted restaurant car set out as a diner. The club owner's idea was to set out my track and operate the train on a daily basis charging 50p per passenger, or for special events such as weddings. The engine driver was to be a local, interested elderly gentleman. The club owner said that he would give me a cheque for £2000 and pay me off 'on the drip' at £250 per month to which I foolishly agreed without drawing up any form of contract.

A week later the Minic was collected and I banked the £2000 cheque, although it was only then that the trouble started. The cheque bounced, then bounced, then bounced and finally cleared. In my weakened state he fobbed me off by saying it was just a glitch by his accountant. The first monthly £250 arrived late, followed five months later by the second £250 giving the reason that the train was taking no money.

The time had come to take action so I drove up to Colwyn Bay with my wife and met the elderly driver, a nice old gentleman who assured me that he had been taking substantial revenue each day, probably in total already amounting to several thousand pounds, but he had also not been paid as promised and anything I could do to reimburse him would be much appreciated.

Below: The interior workings of the finished

widened Minic locomotive. MIKE CLEMENT.

I returned home and contacted my solicitor - “Mike”, he said, “Possession is nine tenths of the law go and seize the train”.

Undeterred I rang the rail authorities then based in the Midlands and explained that I needed to recover my train from their leased premises. Back came the reply “No problem”. Then I rang British Transport Police and again, back came the reply “No problem”. I then rang the Police Inspector at Colwyn Bay, but his reply was less than enthusiastic, “No way can I condone your intended action”. I expressed utter dismay to which he asked as to whom it was who had failed to pay me. I mentioned the name and the inspector's response was immediate, “Oh him, he already owes so many people here in Colwyn Bay, go and recover your property”.

A week later on a clear Friday evening with a hired Luton van, a four wheeled buggy to move the very heavy rolling stock from the elevated railway station down to the promenade, some heavy weight mates in a separate vehicle, we arrived nervously on site to find 'surprise, surprise' , the premises unlocked and the burglar alarm inactive. Three hours later the units were back home. Saturday morning arrived quickly followed by an irate phone call from the Manchester club owner threatening my life, police action, imprisonment and County Court action. I calmly read out my solicitor's prepared statement and offered him the Police Inspector's telephone number if he wished to discuss his fraudulently making out of cheques knowing that there were insufficient funds. I recorded the conversation and still have the tapes.

The units languished in my mother's garage until she had to sell the property to pay for nursing home fees and I knew that I then had to sell. So, sadly last year, having nowhere to run the train in my own garden, the engine went to a new home and the carriages to another.

So, the moral of the story is, get paid in full and make certain all cheques are cleared before handing over any goods! Hindsight is a great thing! But yes, given the opportunity I would still be prepared to restore and run a Minic railway.

Mike Clement