A couple of very interesting European layouts, two Swiss and one Austrian

[Dixie Dean]

I have been a bit of a lurker on a European (mainly German speaking) forum called https://stummiforum.de/ for a few years now.  I can speak a bit of German and French but mainly I use Chrome as the browser and you can right click and select Translate to English, and mostly it makes it quite readable.

 

There are a couple of really great HO gauge layouts on there and another which I found on YouTube which I thought I'd draw to your attention to.  

 

Two of these are large Swiss layouts based on the BLS Lötschberg route, one called BLS Nord- und Südrampe (literally BLS North and South Ramps) (ramp being a climb to a mountain pass) (https://stummiforum.de/viewtopic.php?t=72298) whose main YouTube page is here: https://www.youtube.com/user/Suedrampe/videos, with the second layout by a YouTube user LaVueDesAlpes whose main page is here:  https://www.youtube.com/user/LaVueDesAlpes/videos.  There's also a great pair of overviews here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZNsl-mpO5o and here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpvC9ZooPl0.

 

The other is an Austrian layout based on the Semmering and its northern approaches, called Neustadt an der Südbahn (which literally means Newtown on the South Railway) https://stummiforum.de/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=125158.  This layout is only 3m x 2x (i.e. a box room) but it is wrapped around the room about 5 times up to the ceiling space where there is a reversing loop.  It truly is amazing how the builder has made what looks like an alpine pass layout with trains climbing up to the top of the pass, fit in such a small room.  It reminds me in some ways of what the Hillside Central layout has achieved for OO gauge in a domestic garage.  His main YouTube is here: https://www.youtube.com/user/FlashbackAustria85/videos with a great cab ride over the layout here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GZM-h-UIVY.  This is the builder's (Michael Lang) first video with English subtitles (his others are just in German).  I told him that I was sure that there a quite a few of us out there who would enjoy watching them, so please comment on YouTube if you find it interesting.  To read the captions you just need to click on the subtitles/caption button in the bottom right corner of the screen next to the resolution settings cog wheel.  When set to "on" it will have a red line under the symbol.

 

I hope some of you find these layouts interesting!

Edited January 19, 2020 by Dixie Dean

[woodenhead]

I looked at the first layout and went, steel angle, that looks interesting as a base for a layout - no issues with bowing and such like with steel.

[gordon s]

Just started reading the Alpine pass layout and was struck by this interesting take on OHE.......

 

 

[gordon s]

Has to be the first time I have ever seen a layout literally run from floor level to the top of a door frame. Some of those gradients are huge and yet his trains just carry on as though there is nothing there......

 

Amazing design....

[duff man]

I have been subscribed to both of these guys for a good while, both excellent layouts. As for traction, most continental model loco's will cope with a gradient with ease, traction tyres are fitted to most models.

I spent years looking at the continental scene eventually severn years ago I jumped in and have spent that time working on 30ft x 12ft Austrian tail chaser.

enjoying every minuet.

[Dixie Dean]

44 minutes ago, duff man said:

I spent years looking at the continental scene eventually seven years ago I jumped in and have spent that time working on 30ft x 12ft Austrian tail chaser.

enjoying every minute.

 

Is that on this forum duff man?  I'd be interested to "read all about it"!

[duff man]

Sorry to say no, but If you join the Austrian railway group the layout which go's by the name Wolfstatt is well documented in the journal. This is a work in progress exhibition layout which should be on the exhibition circuit in around two years time.

If you are the slightest bit interested in all things continental then membership of the ARG and the Swiss rail society is a must, there are others. You will find everyone to be most helpful and friendly, also everything is in English.

Craig,  (duff man)