Prototype Les Convers

[bantam61668]

I'm still planning my next layout with far too many ideas and potential layouts in my head and roughly sketched out and I'm still not decided whether it should be standard gauge or RhB.  Whilst researching possible ideas I came across some photos of the former station at Les Convers near Le Locle in the Jura.

https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC1AVWN_le-creux-les-convers-une-ligne-oubliee?guid=b8097d7c-f769-44c5-8a88-d07f9ac7a687

 

This was a small junction station squeezed between two tunnels, looks like it has great modelling potential and would fit in a relatively small space. Looking at Google maps the site is visible along with the former branch although a motorway now passes nearby, the distance between the two tunnels is only 130 meters so would easily fit in 6ft space in HO gauge. I'm thinking of a what if layout, bringing it up to date, possibly an L-shaped scenic section featuring the mainline on one side and the branch on the other with the hidden area completing an oval.

From the photos I have found it looks like it was originally a passing loop with the two turnouts just within the tunnel portals but was later simplified to a single track, whilst the branch had a couple loops and sidings. A map form 1921 shows the trackplan as it once was, I'm starting to think this could make a nice layout with quite a bit of operating potential.

Edited December 4, 2021 by bantam61668
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[JimFin]

Certainly has potential. Not a part of the country I have visited but having looked on the map - may well go that way at some point - https://www.chaux-de-fonds.ch/musees/mih looks fascinating.

 

[Gordonwis]

The Jura is 'my part of Switzerland', so happy to give tips on landscape etc.

 

The station was generally known as simply Convers. The branch north east from the station closed in 1895! It originally made a direct route into the St Imier valley.

 

The line has frequently been traversed by BLS stock in 'modern times' so you can use BLS brownie electrics and BLS units on a modern representation