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INTRODUCTION TO LONE STAR TRAINS #1

The information offered is my own opinions based on previously published materials and observation of Models in my Collections. Details of Dates and Nomenclature of Packaging, Etc, may not necessarily reflect what other Collectors are using to Catalog their Lone Star Trains.

With any Collectible Series, it is quite difficult to present information properly, without the aide of many Photos. Even though the Entire Production Span of the three (3) Series of LONE STAR TRAINS was only about 15 Years, the number of Casting Variations, Paint Colors, Packaging, etc. was very extensive. The total number of Individual Collectible Items could be as much as to one-thousand (1,000) or more pieces.

I guess the best way to accomplish my quest for sharing information about LONE STAR TRAINS is via a WEB SITE. I have been reluctant to do a WEB SITE, because every time I think I have enough information and photos, I come across some Casting Variation that throws my whole Numbering System out of whack. I am also on a fixed income, so any money related to trains goes to Buying Trains. LOL !

LONE STAR Diecast Trains were produced in three (3) Series.
LONE STAR ‘LOCOS’
LONE STAR ‘TREBLE-O-LECTRIC’
LONE STAR ‘TREBLE-O-TRAINS’

The Die-Cast Parts are made of a Zinc Alloy (Mazak).
Mazac (Zamak) is an alloy of Al (aluminum), Cu (copper), Mg (magnesium), Pb (lead), Cd (cadmium), Sn (tin), Fe (iron), with a trace of Ni (nickel)
and Si (silicon).




LONE STAR ‘LOCOS’ - Gauge – 8mm - Scale – 1: 152 ( 2mm = 1 Ft. )
LONE STAR LOCOS was introduced in 1957 by the Die Cast Machine Tools Ltd. (DCMT)

The LONE STAR 'LOCOS' was a Primarily Die-Cast (EARLY) "Push-Along" Series. There are a very few exceptions to the Die-Cast,
which will be discussed at a later time.


LONE STAR ‘LOCOS’ Series was Packaged in Boxed Sets, Individual Boxes and Blister Packs.


LOCOS – Very, Very Early Catalog – Illustrations (No Pics) and NO Model Numbers.
A one (1) sheet, one (1) page, one (1) sided Catalog showing Models 1 thru 11.
This Catalog was included, along with each Model, in a Color Cardstock Box.
This (Type I ) Very, Very Early Box had the NAME only of the Model Stamped on both end flaps, no Model Number.
( Model Name may have been Stamped in All Capital Letters ?)


LOCOS – Very Early Catalog – Pics and Illustrations; NO Model Numbers.
A one (1) sheet, two (2) sided Catalog, Folded to create a four (4) page Catalog showing Models 1 thru 21, 24 and 25.
This Catalog was included, along with each Model, in a Color Cardstock Box.
This (Type I ) Very Early Box had the NAME only of the Model Stamped on both End Flaps,
no Model Number. ( Model Name may have been Stamped in Lower Case Letters, with the First Letter of each word being Capitalized ?)


LOCOS – Early Catalog – Pics and Illustrations; Model Numbers Shown.
A one (1) sheet, two (2) sided Catalog, Folded to create a six (6) page Catalog showing Models 1 thru 33.
This Catalog was included, along with each Model, in a Color Cardstock Box.
This (Type I ) Early Box had the NAME and MODEL NUMBER Stamped on both End Flaps. ( Model Number and Name may have been Stamped in
Lower Case Letters, with the First Letter of each word being Capitalized ?)

An EARLY Blister Pack was also associated with this Catalog.
It consisted of a rigid clear plastic shell (to show the Model) loosely fit into a Color Card (Folded at the Top and Stapled at the Bottom).
This (Type II A ) Blister Pack had No Catalog included, but the NAME and MODEL NUMBER for Models 1 thru 28 were printed on the Back of the Card.
The Model Number was also Stamped in a White Circle on the Front.


Note: No’s 34 thru 42 are not shown in any Early Catalogs ?. I have no examples or have seen no examples of Type I Boxes for
Model Numbers 34 thru 39 and 41 & 42.


LOCOS – Late Catalog – Pics and Illustrations; Model Numbers for Blister Packs – No’s 50 thru 84 and Boxed Sets – No’s 1241 thru ( 1245 ? )
No’s 50 thru 84 are a substitute for the Early Numbers 1 thru 42. ie: No. 50 is a substitute for Early No. 1, etc.
These Number Substitutions are not in Consectutive Order with the Early Numbering.
A LATE Blister Pack was also associated with this Catalog.
It consisted of a Vacuum-Formed clear plastic (to show the Model) over the entire Face of a Color Card.
This (Type II B ) Blister Pack had No Catalog included, but the NAME and MODEL NUMBER for Models 50 thru 84 were printed on the Back of the Card.
The Model Number was also “Stamped” in Black or “Embossed” on the Front.
( Some models were combined with other models or track to "Provide a Better Value" )
( Although the #84 Station is Printed on the Back of the Blister Pack, it is not known if it was ever Packaged this way )
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


LONE STAR ‘TREBLE-O-LECTRIC’ Gauge – 9mm - Scale – 1: 152 ( 2mm = 1 Ft. )
LONE STAR TREBLE-O-LECTRIC was introduced in 1960 by the Die Cast Machine Tools Ltd. (DCMT) as LONE STAR PRODUCTS ( Treble-O-Lectric Division )

The LONE STAR ' TREBLE-O-LECTRIC’ was a Primarily Die-Cast "Electrified” Series, Rubber Band Drive and the first to make Reference to ‘N’ Scale.
There are many exceptions to the Die-Cast, too many to mention at this point.


TREBLE-O-LECTRIC Color Catalog – Illustrations; Model Numbers Shown.
A one (1) sheet, two (2) sided Catalog, Folded to create a eight (8) page Catalog showing the Basic Line of Boxed Sets, Engines, Passenger Cars, Freight Cars, Track and Trackside Buildings and Accessories.

There were many Catalogs printed, too many to mention at this point.

The Range of Numbering for the TREBLE-O-LECTRIC Series is as follows:
EL-50 thru EL-56 – Boxed Sets
EL-60 thru EL-68 – Powered Engines
EL-60A thru EL-65A, EL-67A and EL-68A – Unpowered Engines
EL-70 thru EL-79 and EL-130 thru EL-133 – Passenger Cars
EL-80 thru EL-99 and EL-140 thru EL-143 – Freight Cars
EL-100 thru EL-117 - Track, Switches, Crossovers, Re-Railers, Track Power Connectors and Uncouplers
EL-150 thru EL-169 - Buildings and Accessories

There are many Spare Parts and Equipment with Individual Numbering, too many to list at this time.


Typical Packaging for the TREBLE-O-LECTRIC Series is as follows:

Boxed Sets – Cardstock Box with Divided Line and Color Lid
( Various Sizes depending on contents ).

Powered and Unpowered Engines – ( Type I ) Cardstock Box with Blue & Yellow Diagonal Stripes or ( Type II ) Blue & Yellow Cardstock Box with
Cellophane Window (“Window Box”) ( Various Sizes of Both Box Types were Produced).

Passenger Cars – ( Type I ) Cardstock Box with Blue & Yellow Diagonal Stripes or ( Type II ) Blue & Yellow Cardstock Box with
Cellophane Window (“Window Box”) ( Typically Produced in one (1) Size).

Freight Cars – ( Type I ) Cardstock Box with Blue & Yellow Diagonal Stripes or
( Type II ) Blue & Yellow Cardstock Box with Cellophane Window (“Window Box”) ( Various Sizes of Both Box Types were Produced).

Track, Manual Switches, Crossovers and Re-Railers ( Type II ) Blue & Yellow Cardstock Box with Cellophane Window (“Window Box”)
( Various Sizes were Produced).

Buildings and Accessories came in a Wide Variety of Packaging, too many to mention at this point.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


LONE STAR ‘TREBLE-O-TRAINS’ Gauge – 9mm - Scale – 1: 152 ( 2mm = 1 Ft. )
LONE STAR TREBLE-O-TRAINS was introduced in 1966 by the Die Cast Machine Tools Ltd. (DCMT) as LONE STAR PRODUCTS
The Line was rebranded as “Impy” in 1968

The LONE STAR 'TREBLE-O-TRAINS' was a Primarily Die-Cast (LATE) "Push-Along" Series. There are many exceptions to the Die-Cast, too many to mention at this point.

The LONE STAR 'TREBLE-O-TRAINS' were Packaged in Boxed Sets, Individual Blister Packs and Boxes.


TREBLE-O-TRAINS Catalog – Pics; Model Numbers Shown.
LONE STAR CATALOGUE SUPPLEMENT showing TREBLE-O-TRAINS
( FLYERS, COWBOY GUNS and TUF-TOTS are also Included )
( First ??? LONE STAR Catalog to display the Logo with: White Star in Blue Square; Red LONE STAR with Blue Lines over and Under )

The Range of Numbering for the TREBLE-O-TRAINS Series, Individual Models, is 74 thru 97 for the ( Type I ) Blister Packs and
774 thru 797 for the ( Type II ) Cardstock Boxes. (No Numbering, is apparent to me, for the Boxed Sets)

The Blister Packs were Produced in three (3) Types:

Type I A – Yellow and White on Front of Card with LONE  STAR TREBLE•O•TRAINS; Model Numbers on Back of Card 74 thru 86.

Type I B – Yellow and White on Front of Card with LONE  STAR TREBLE•O•TRAINS; Model Numbers on Back of Card 74 thru 92.

Type I C – Red and White on Front of Card with LONE  STAR Impy TREBLE•O•TRAINS ‘N’ GAUGE COLLECTORS SERIES and Devil Logo;
Model Numbers on Back of Card 74 thru 94.

The Cardstock Boxes are Red and Yellow.
( First LONE STAR Packaging to display the Logo with: White Star in Blue Square; Red LONE STAR with Blue Lines over and Under )

A big thank's to Alan for this first installment of a very fascinating subject. I can see he has put a lot of time, effort and research into this and I hope he can continue with further installments.

D.C.M.T. was (and in a diluted form!), still a major engineering company we can thank for bringing so many toys and games etc to market through it's various brands.

This clearly is work of some importance and I propose it is made 'Sticky' so collectors and enthusiasts of these models can come back to it easily.

GHOSTHUNTER.

What a great look at lone star trains , I'm not a traditional collector but I can appreciate these fine model's.... I hope I don't start going down this branch of lone star alongside my impy and flyers
Thanks Alan

Thank you to Ghosthunter and Fixer for their encouraging replies.

Now that I have a taste of how to insert photos, I can re-post each LONE STAR Series individually with more photos to go along with the Narrative.

Once the three Series have been re-posted, I can go into more details. Now to figure out how to present all this info so it makes sense to everyone. It's easy to get into the trap of Jumping Around from Series to Series to Series.

I would like to eventually present a series that compares the LONE STAR TRAINS Models across all three Series.

LIVE for DIEcast

GHOSTHUNTER wrote:This clearly is work of some importance and I propose it is made 'Sticky' so collectors and enthusiasts of these models can come back to it easily.

I wondering whether we should create a new area for this, but that's Nick's call. If so, perhaps we should decide on a structure before going any further?

Just to say that at as a Lone Star train collector thanks for this Alan.

I have more information, I can add, especially as last year I purchased some very rare prototype models for the Treble-O-Lectric range, and to whet your appetite I have hopefully (I am new to do this off my phone) been able to upload a shot of some unusual variations of the OOO RF Bus including the never before seen "Greyhound Bus" livery, these all came without decals the red one would have had "London Transport" on and is very rare, the green one would have "Green Line" or "School Bus" and the yellow just "School Bus"
I note the moderators are deciding whether to open another section so I wont post anything more yet

Regards
Clive

Hi Clive. Please do carry on posting here as it can be moved at a later date with all that you see above into whatever new section is created. I'd rather see it here 'In Print' than wait for that new section to happen.

Ghosthunter.

Just my opinion but I think this is the logical place for lone star trains and accessories

Thanks to Clive for the unusual Lone Star Bus paint schemes.

I will be sure to add these to my e-journal.

I have not had the time to post any additional information on Lone Star Trains, but hope to have something to post in the coming months.

One of the problems I have is every time I procure another piece, I seem to find another variation of Body, Chassis, Trucks or Wheels. It seems to never end!

LIVE for DIEcast

Alan

Yes Alan, don't be a stranger, please post more stuff on the Lone-Star trains.

You must have catalogoues or other paperwork you could post, I' d like to see them. What about pictures of boxes and instructions, all good stuff and ideal for this thread.

As long as the pictures are sharply focused, don't worry too much about the sizes, exposure or composition, these can be adjusted once they are on the forum.

Ghosthunter.