Collectors’ Corner

At the bottom of page 21 of the 1975/76 Minitrix catalogue, the silver driving trailer has a detail that is easy to miss: its lights change with the direction of travel. No. 3040 is described as a BDnf coach with a driving cab and lighting. The small yellow lamp symbol beside it marks a working feature, rather than another printed detail on the body. The catalogue gives the model a…

In 1979, a Dutch department-store catalogue could offer a surprisingly complete start in model railways. HEMA’s train booklet shows a steam goods set on one page and an NS passenger-and-goods set opposite it. The steam set includes a locomotive with tender, a goods van, a tanker and a car transporter. The NS set combines four goods wagons with two passenger coaches. Both are described as 1:87 H0, with a transformer,…

Among the tracks and signals in Jouef’s 1973 international catalogue is a small container terminal. No. 9320 is a blue gantry crane, with its long frame spanning the space beneath it. A separate lifting attachment is shown beside the crane. The containers below carry different transport-company markings, including Danzas. Long rectangular loads could travel on a wagon, wait beside the line or sit under the crane; the accessories give a…