From the Dome Car: Train 3 Track 2 (November-December 1992)

 

Anyone out there modelling TT scale? When I was helping clean out Morgan’s train stuff after his death (to sell for his widow), I came across a TT scale CN locomotive among his model railroad belongings. I had never seen anything like it before, and I wondered how Morgan got it. Maybe he bought it after writing this editorial where he introduced the arrival of TT scale in North America. 

At the time, Morgan was enthusiastic about the entry of a new player into the model railroad market, but from what I can tell not much ever came of it—in all my years working with Morgan on the magazine, I can’t remember a single article about TT. (I may be wrong; my memory isn’t what it used to be.) 

As he said, the arrival of TT on these shores heralded a change in the global political situation—one that seems so distant after the fall of the former Soviet Union. It’s hard to remember those times now, what with everything going on in the world. 

With all the talk we're hearing lately about our global economy, it was only a matter of time before something new and exciting happened over here that would affect the model train industry directly. Not that we don't already have train products being sold here that are from overseas countries: Hungary, Austria, Denmark, England, Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, just to name a few. 

There's a new kid on the block with not just a new product, but a new scale too! I'm talking about a compa[1]ny called Berliner IT Bahnen USA. The new scale known as TT, or as I've heard it called, the Double-T scale, is not exactly new. It's been around eastern Europe for years. But it's new enough because of its lack of availability and popularity thus far in North America. At a 1/120 scale, it's half way between HO and N scale which makes it a very interesting size. 

The story of Berliner TT Bahnen begins in Berlin, Germany where the ever-changing face of eastern Europe, and the world for that matter, has opened up new challenges and markets for this company. They have been in business since the 1940s, producing quality model railroad products in 0 scale in East Germany and in 1958, thanks to a Mr. Hal Joyce, TT scale was introduced. 

But as the company was a state-run organization, as all companies were under the Soviet Union influence, export licences were rarely granted to export TT gauge trains to 'capitalist markets'. The new scale was a great success, but distribution was limited to countries of the Soviet Union such as Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Romania. 

Now, of course, that's all changed. With a new North American address in Darien, Connecticut, I'm told that finally we are going to see the Double T scale over here and that the company has production plans to produce high[1]quality, North American locomotives and rolling stock items. Not to mention the track and accessories that will now be available. I can see it now: a CP Rail SD40-2 ... a pair of CN F units ... a TH&B Geep - all in TT scale. You gotta love it! I can hardly wait to see this stuff! 

If you check out page 10, you'll notice a new department called 'Fred's Mailroom'. This is our new column where readers can ask those proverbial questions about that technical stuff that the editor knows nothing about! (Or so they tell me.) Now, don't be too hard on poor Fred, his ability is only limited by the size of the car he drives! 

Seriously though, if you have a question that you think we may be able to help you with, drop Fred a line or two. Any longer than that and HE may be asking the questions! 

Articles: We're looking for the usual. Algoma Central, Ontario Northland, GO Transit etc. And of course, rolling stock articles. Who's doing up a set of Gundersons that can share with us? Anybody working on a steam locomotive this winter? 

On a sad note, I wanted to acknowledge the loss of a dear friend and fellow railway modeller, Frank McNairn, who passed away on November 21, 1992. Frank was in Winnipeg last summer and when I took him on the grand tour of the Winnipeg Water District, in return for the tour he gave me the year before of GO Transit, he was in his glory. We're all going to miss you, Frank. 

Well folks, that's about all for this issue. We'll do it all over again in the next one. Catch you then.



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