I'll kick things off with this Vectron, picked up 2nd-hand ( Fleischmann 739304 ). Red ends > blue ends, in my opinion!

Over to you then. Let's see what your modelling bugdet is being spent on!

Trio of victims candidates...

From photos, the Allegra seemed most similar to the At - the Bt stripe was higher and thicker.  I decided to do a hybrid Bt with the At paint scheme.  To be honest, when I made that decision, I'm not sure I realized the livery difference between the two versions.  Ah, well.  Marching on...

To me, the doors and roof were the obvious places to start:

Printed some paper doors (more on that later), and then I started filling in and filing off unwanted detail.  I started painting over some of the unwanted numbers/stripes.

After some filling and filing:

Some primer to gauge progress:

More coming soon!

I was hoping I might be able to get your thoughts and advice on planning a small RhB inspired layout using Kato Unitrack?

Inspired by some of the threads on here, including Paul's Bonsai RhB, I bought a Glacier Express set and then a GE 4/4 II with the basic EW 1 coach set. I also have a collection of Unitrack from a previous project and I purchased a small radius curve set with the intention of building a layout.

Last year I had the set up around the Christmas tree and it's been on the dining room table a few times but what I'd really like to do is create something permanent but fairly portable. With that in mind I bought one of the Scale Model Scenery diorama boards as a test and I'm quite impressed with it.

I have a space about 2m x 1m to play with but the boards need to be separated so that they can be packed away. I'd like to include a station and a scenic section with elements of the Albula line if possible.

This is what I've come up with so far:

This uses 3 boards laid end to end for the middle section (circa 4') and 2 back to back on the ends.

Originally the station just had a loop but that looked too bare. I have tried to get the loop long enough to accept a decent length train (5-6 coaches + a loco) whilst not having complex track work over the joints.

The blue lines indicate the back boards that come with the baseboard kits - although they could be arranged in a number of ways.

Look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Ian

I am planning on ordering a nice alpine backdrop for one of the smaller yards, and I think it will look fantastic there.  I picked up an SBB Re 460 + some nice Fleischmann coaches (because I liked them), and I decided I had room enough to add a single track behind my large staging yard to allow the SBB train to shuttle back and forth.  As such, it seemed a shame not to have a station for it, and I looked at some pictures of Chur Bahnhof and decided it would be a perfect fit!  

Here's the staging yard (I do plan to install a backdrop which is what led me to meander down this path).

The yard (randomly named St Moritz when I designed this) has a central through track with two storage tracks on each side.  In the far back is the track to be installed for the SBB line.  This will probably end up as a wye with legs going to both the front and the back in the picture to the far left wall.  That way I can shuttle two SBB trains in and out of the station.

Here's a shot of Chur that caught my eye:

I'm thinking about a scaled down version of the above - a covered platform (I think that's a bus parking area above the tracks) with escalators down to platforms and some building flats on the back wall.  From photos it looks like SBB trains use the tracks to the left, but that's ok as they will have to use the one track in my plan!

In digging around, I found this Kibri kit and thought it was perfect to make the appropriate looking flats for the backdrop:

I went ahead and ordered the station kit, and I'm drawing up some plans to see what will work in the space I have.

It would also give me a nice place for my Hobbytrain RABe 511 when it eventually shows up!

Has anyone done something similar?  I would be open to any thoughts, advice, or opinions.

Cheers!

A fairly simple question - are Rhätische Bahn stations level or does the gradient continue through?  I'm sure I've seen steep railways around the world where the gradient is made obvious by a siding on the level whereas the through lines are still on the incline, but I can't remember if the RhB is like that or not?

Cheers

Rick

Is there a known restriction on which carriages are allowed on the Bernina line?  I know there are short carriages that are for that line, but are the longer ones specifically banned?  There are also some 'medium' length EWs, and odd carriages that have been shortened, so I'm not sure at what point they are decreed too long to go up the Bernina?

Cheers

Rick  

Having packed up the Neuburg layouts pending going to some exhibitions, lots of space in my shed. The plan is to have an extensive Nm9 layout but with sections that fit the modular brief and can be free standing for exhibition use as well. The first part of that project is derived from Untervaz as a basis for the track plan. Not the chocolate box scene but very much Zona Industrial through which the RhB works extensively and transits.

It is build on 2 boards 1.8m X 0.5m each, a size which in part is driven in that they will fit side by side in the back of my estate car so no more van hires needed for this one. Layout permits through running with end plates to the module specification, extensive goods and shunting opportunity and round and round if wanted. Track from the scenic level drops with a spiral at each end to sidings below.

SWMBO very kindly bought me an Anycubic Mono X and a wash and cure station for my birthday and I am amazed at the level of detail this is capable of producing and limited finishing that is needed to get an acceptable result. I fornd this out by printing an Nm Schoma based on the work I had done before.

Since Kato don't (currently) produce goods stock, I set about developing a range of the wagons I would want. Some of these are nearing completion, they use Kato bogies and 4 wheel stock the Peco chassis. To see them in context, I made up a short photo plank and this is the result - the Ge 4/4 III being from Kato - 

There is a fairly random selection of WIP here - including a track plan. https://www.flickr.com/photos/148810032@N02/albums/72157718910649589

What's on your Swiss-themed wishlist? It can be big or small, realistic or far-fetched. I'm interested to know what you're hoping for.

Here are my top 3 for N scale:

1. Re 620 in SBB red (Fleischmann)

2. High speed EMU of some description, possibly the RABe 501 Giruno? (Piko? Kato?)

3. Tm 234.2 (Hobbytrain?)

This is the first of what hopefully will be a series of posts on my efforts to build an exhibition HOm depicting a 'what-might-have-been' branch of the Rhätische Bahn (RhB). Having sold my previous layout 'Hacienda Avenue' I felt the need to address the crate of BEMO and D&R stock that accumulated over the last 10 years or so......

Background

In 1909 the Rhätische Bahn (RhB) proposed constructing a connection from Zernez on its’ St Moritz – Scoul line out of the Engadine valley over the Fuorn Pass (or Ofenpass) and into Val Müstair area to Müstair and over the Italian border to Mals where it was to connect to the Italian standard gauge network. In reality, due to the First World War, the scheme never came to fruition. However, with the application of a little modellers’ license we will suppose that the line was built and, despite a suspension of service for two World Wars, serves the Swiss National Park (est. 1914) to the east of Zernez and on to Italy.

My Proposed Model

My planned model is of an imagined RhB station serving the real-life settlement of Santa Maria and it’s near neighbor of Valchava. As well as the regular passenger service the station also sees some timber traffic loaded in the station yard and also a small rail served distribution point (based on the Vaslar depot at Ilanz). To add a little more operational interest it is assumed there is a through freight service to Müstair and Mals.

The period of operation portrayed is between 2006 (when I first rode on the RhB) and 2008 to allow a good mix of regular loco-hauled trains as well as NEVA push-pull trains along with a mix of loco / coach paint schemes (and no Glacier Express!) Train formations (usually 5 coaches) are based on those running on the Lower Engadin route that I saw and photographed on my visits.

Baseboards will be Grange and Hodder kits - I've used these before for my US modelling and I have found them to be excellent value and a great time saver esp as I'm not the world's greatest carpenter. Track is PECO and catenary from Sommerfeldt. Train control will be DCC so there will be a few locos to convert over ;-).

Below is an outline trackplan with a rough indication of buildings. Each square represents 1ft (metric equivalent)

More to follow.........

AB Modell recommends removing the lettering, but I do plan to completely strip the paint and prime the shell.  The suggested base coat is RAL 9003 Signal White with RAL 7012 Basalt Gray for the undercarriage and skirts.

I also have the needed gloss (decal prep) and matt (final finish) oversprays.

Here is the disassembled shell ready for paint removal.

I think I will also add AB Modell's handrail set while I have this torn down.   I did order several sets along with the drilling template.  The new shell does have some molded on handrails which should not be too difficult to remove.  Famous last words, I know!

This body shell, when completed, will be used on the chassis with the newly upgraded motor.

More to follow once the decals arrive and the shell paint has been removed.

If so, what would they have been powered by and what cab cars would have been used with them?

I'm afraid I'm not very knowledgeable on the matter but I seem to have a vague memory of the small yellow and/or blue diamonds painted on the coach ends meaning they could be used in this way (very happy for someone to enlighten me!) and have an even vaguer memory of seeing some of these coaches featuring these 'diamonds'...

Naturally, my next question is would they have ever been mixed in with EWIVs/hauled by re460s?

Cheers,

Michael

https://www.20min.ch/story/bahnunterbruch-brand-im-bahnhof-lausanne-fuehrt-zu-erheblichen-behinderugen

Suggestions that the cause was a flare or similar thrown from a ‘fan train’ of what appears to be Servette supporters travelling back from Lausanne.

For it to have been thrown from the train I assume that means opening windows. I thought even the fan trains were EWIV and EC stock these days?
 

Are there still some UIC-X held back for such trains?

As an aside, the only time I’ve ever seen real trouble in Switzerland was on the streets of Luzern after a match against Servette.

Mark

Very very early stages of building a German layout in N scale (see signature) but I’m looking for some assistance on SBB coach recognition.
 

There is (or was) a Eurocity service that ran from somewhere beyond Koln, I think Hamburg, into Switzerland, in both directions each day, usually with a Class 101 in Germany - although I think there was a time in the 2017-2019 period when it had a DB Class 103 on it for some reason (can anyone confirm)?  It was always formed of SBB coaches when I saw it.

Would these N gauge vehicles from Hobbytrain be the correct kind of coaches for the service - can anyone give any insight into what the make-up was? Presumably there was a buffet/restaurant and a brake coach?

https://www.modellbahnshop-lippe.com/Sets/Passenger+car+set/Hobbytrain-H25503/gb/modell_411981.html

Cheers

Some people may have seen this layout on another forum. I have only recently joined RMWeb so I thought I would share it here.

This is one of a number of layouts I have built which fit in a large trolley case. Tirano is modeled exactly to scale, with the buildings made in card based on Street view images.

It is being exhibited this weekend (27/28 September) at the Dorking model railway show. This is only its second outing after the SRS AGM in 2023.

I did batch order (to save shipping) some motor upgrades from SB Modellbau, and I upgraded one of my Kato Allegra sets.  Wow!  Super low starting voltage and very smooth running!  The upgrades are not cheap, but I later ordered two more to install when I get time.

I am prepping a Ge 4/4 III shell for new decals (coming from AB Modell), and I decided to try one of the SB Modellbau motor upgrades.  In case you are wondering - I had swapped the chassis from this new loco for one on an older loco with some issues (I don't think it would be worth upgrading a loco with the newer motor).

Here's the motor waiting for the epoxy to dry:

I will post a follow up once the I've reassembled the chassis and done some testing.

I would love to hear from anyone else who has upgraded their Kato RhB locos.   

Cheers!

https://www.anvalo.nl/dcc-kato-ge661/

The instructions are great (easily translated) and the accompanying pics are very clear.  I am converting mine this weekend, although I'm using an ESU decoder vs D&H.  As pointed out, Kato has already built in the needed wire pathways to the light PCBs as well as where to cut the PCB traces.

Kudos to the author!

Cheers!

Ive been interested in Swiss railways for quite some time, in partially the narrow gauge (1 meter) Rhatische Bahn (RhB) and also the standard gauge BLS.  I had a collection of RhB loks and stock in HOm scale and planned a layout in this scale, however the space I had would not give me the greatest of runs so a decision in December 2020 was to sell the majority of my HOm stock and using the raised funds together with xmas and me birthday pressys the following month gave me a good start into the Kato N gauge world of Swiss meter gauge stock.

Ive been reading through many threads on RM web and decided that I would build an 8 x 4 layout.

So day 1, 8th Jan 2021 I started to build the frame work (in the conservatory) as this was the biggest flat space in the house. 2400mm long by 1200mm wide and each square is aprox 300mm

https://www.hachette.de/de-de/krokodil/

Signs for Interlaken Ost and Lauterbrunnen would help.

Is there a source for these signs?

Michael

What non-Swiss stock would have been seen beyond Lausanne on the route to Brig via Vevey etc in the 1980s and 90s (Pre Cisalpino I guess)?

I’ve seen plenty of photos of Italian through carriages, but were there any others that appeared along that route in the era? 

Thanks in advance 

Mark

Planning a fictional RhB terminus, started a few plans, this is the one I'm preferring at the moment. Although fictional it is inspired largely by Scuol-Tarasp with a few bits of Disentis/Mustér in there. It will be set around 2010-2015, I have enough stock to run a service similar to Scuol with longer terminating trains which will run round in the island platform and pendelzug with steuerwagon which will use the bay platform. I also have quite a bit of freight stock so want to include some facilities to run a few different wagon types.

Anyway here the plan I have in mind, any thoughts, suggestions most welcome. The curve will be hidden under a town/village scene and the layout will be L shaped with a fiddle yard to be added. I had considered putting the turntable/small depot at the other end inside the curve to have the station approach looking like the West end of Disentis before the layout was updated in the 90s but think I prefer it as is here, similar to Scuol.

I have decided to create a bespoke thread for  discussion of N 1:150 (aka Nm9 aka Nn etc) rolling stock, separated from the thread on my layout, in the hope that other people's 1:150 Swiss N rolling stock purchases, modifications, weathering , kitbashing etc  might also be placed on this thread by other forum members  rather than within each of our layout threads.

A lot of my early creations for use with the then thin selection of Kato RhB items were placed on this forum, but got lost in the forum 'crash' a couple of years ago, so I am planning to start populating this thread with some of the older photos of my early efforts to supplement the Kato products. I will gradually come up to the 'present day' with my current fleet which in many cases includes items that have been superseded by RTR from Kato. On the other hand a large part of my collection has products sourced from the Shapeways marketplace but not yet produced RTR, so some is currently irreplaceable.

Having been influenced by the baseboard construction of one 'ovine' contributor on here, I thought that I would get a couple of  IKEA 'Lack' coffee table sets to play with! (Thanks Rob!)

The first idea was for a Plymouth based  BR(S) layout (Cattewater/Turnchapel area, which may or may not subsequently come about...!)

After seeing this u-tube film. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsVR1OjygHo Well, I have one of these locos in the shape of a Hobbytrain Ee6/6. These were monster shunting engines. I believe that they're all gone now.

The Baron gave me three locos to sell for him but when I saw one of them I just had to buy it from him!

Then I found this video of the other one that was to be sold! I checked it out on the DRAG test track and it ran faultlessly for such a tiny thing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=SsZvy25b68w&feature=emb_logo

In the meantime I had acquired the railcar that would pass back and forth across the front. I know that it's a 'Seetal' unit so it would be 'out-of-area' but hey.....!

There will be a 'virtual' museum off to the right with 'museumsloks' occasionally trundling across the scene. All very improbable but fun I think!

Most of the track off the main and loop will be embedded in concrete and made from copper clad and probably with phosphor-bronze rail to match the Tillig code 83 plain line and the ballasted pointwork that will be used. I always find copper clad track building very satisfying. Thought was given to building it in P87 but with the wheel turning down work that would be needed, sense prevailed. Anyway The Baron could play with all his unconverted wonders that he has!

The main and loop will be wired and maybe a small amount of the yard. The rest will be plain line so the little battery tractor will earn its keep shuttling stuff around. The premise is that the warehouse will be a storage and distribution warehouse for commercial building insulation (Celotex type of product) and other building materials. One such company exists called 'Flumroc' (from Flums in Switzerland, near the Lichtenstein border) and the bonus is that Roco did a 'Flumroc' decorated High Capacity van Hbbillns one of which I have acquired, Being that near to Austria maybe an excuse can be found for some OBB stock!

Some SBB OLE has been supplied by Blackwells of Hawkwell from their most fortuitous 30% discount (or thereabouts) sale!

The 'current' track plan (very much subject to revision!) is ongoing and will be posted when minds (there are several of them!) are made up!