<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000099235 <NAME> TRANSCO REALTY TRUST <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1996 <CASH> 14,315 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 87,189 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 0 <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,736,105 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,517,848 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 1,000,000 <COMMON> 4,147,196 <OTHER-SE> (4,703,939) <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,736,105 <SALES> (299,576) <TOTAL-REVENUES> (299,576) <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 47,474 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 11,210 <INCOME-PRETAX> 0 <INCOME-TAX> (347,050) <INCOME-CONTINUING> 0 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 0 <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.58) <EPS-DILUTED> 0