Tri-ang Australian

Moldex R115A Caboose

1958 – 1967

The Australian R115A Caboose was based on the original UK made R115 TC Caboose, although the steps were modified differently to the UK version in later years. The model was loosely based on North America practice and while Australian railways used bogie guards vans, there was little resemblance between the models and Australian guards vans

1962 Australian catalogue illustration.

Moldex shared the tooling for the caboose with New Zealand . During the Tri-ang and Tri-ang/Hornby period between 1958 and 1967 they were produced in two known colour variations. They were used in various sets during this period and were also available separately.

Models were fitted with Australian diecast metal bogies of the early TC pattern with MkII couplers, sleeved wheels and open axleboxes in 1958 - 59. In 1960 a new Australian made diecast archbar bogie was introduced using MkIII couplers, sleeved wheels and open bearings. From about 1963 until production stopped in 1967, the models were fitted with Australian plastic bogies which used MKIII couplers and the unusual arrangement of sleeved wheels on a pinpoint style axle.

The tooling was originally made for New Zealand and carried ‘Made in New Zealand ’. This was modified to ‘Made in New Zealand and Australia ’ as shown below when production started in 1958.

The versions produced by Moldex are summarized in the table below.

Information and photographs Graeme Brown