sncf231e

Don, I agree. By looking and reading outside I could compile an e-book on gauge and scale (where the photo of the 2 Flying Scotsmen was made for). It can be read here: http://sncf231e.nl/gauge-and-scale/ Regards Fred

These loco's have an extra control knob and using a special track (ramp rail) you can control start and stop: The running distance is given rather low; it runs more on my track: And about the detail; it does not look bad compared to a fine scale model: But if you are not into "Deliberately old fashioned 0 scale" you will not agree (and should not read this thread ). Regards Fred

As seen in another BL catalogue No. 5304/0 is indeed a DC locomotive: But indeed there were 0 gauge locomotives with rectifiers in the thirties. Le Rapide used rectifiers (redresseur in French) for a period in their locomotives (including the "famous" Super Rapide 4-8-4 (which was a 4-4-4-4)). See this instruction sheet: Regards Fred

I would not know about continental retailers commissioning new models. There are of course retailers that commision special liveries versions, Huenerbein from Aachen is one of these that also commissions special liveries of LS Models. Further Märklin makes some models only for a selected group of retailers (MHI - Märklin Händler Initiative); I do not know whether these retailers are involved in product choice or not. And REE Modèles is of course a manufacturer but has now also a retail shop in Paris which sells REE and other brands of trains. The shop is in the Rue de Douai (located were was formerly the very interesting shop Les Cheminots, I do not know what it looks like now). Regards Fred

Here is a collection of videos on the nice French toy-trains like Hornby France, JEP, LR, Marescot, AS, GMP ... http://sncf231e.nl/french-tinplate-trains-trains-jouets-classiques/ Regards Fred

They really look good; they might not compare with Roco..... but they look better than most commercially available German S gauge trains like BUB and Stadtilm: Regards Fred

A friend came along with an MTH Santa Fe Hudson, an MTH AA set of Santa Fe diesels and some Santa Fe GGD/Sunset passenger cars, all 2-rail. I had a run with my Weaver 3-rail Blue Goose with the same cars: Regards Fred

Don't watch this video from my garden then: Regards Fred

Nothing wrong with the LNWR livery I think : Looks good next to the GNR livery: Regards Fred

100 years ago the first "crocodile" electric locomotive was delivered to the Swiss railways. This weekend an event was organised where 3 crocodile took part in a trip at the Gotthard. My brother shot some footage which I in combined in this video: Regards Fred

Dapol has announced the DEE: https://www.Dapol.co.uk/shop/preorder/OO-Gauge-Preorder/D-class-pre-order?product_id=3612 And ACE has announced it for Gauge 0. Regards Fred

Based on remarks I received on the first version of my e-book on Gauge and Scale for Toy and Model Trains, I have made a new, updated version which can be seen and downloaded here (like all my e-books: at no cost of course!): http://sncf231e.nl/gauge-and-scale/ Regards Fred

After fifteen months of construction, I have finished building the Amati CIWL sleeper kit. It already ran last weekend but now the final details such as the ceiling of the interior are also ready. See the photos and the video. More photos can be seen on my website: http://sncf231e.nl/amati-kit-for-a-c...-sleeping-car/ With the end of the construction it is time for a conclusion: It is a very nice kit. Amati makes quality; all parts fit well and look good. Most model builders with some patience can assemble this kit. The description and drawings are also in order. And building was a long-term but enjoyable activity. Is there nothing to criticize: Yes there is something. If you are looking for a gauge 1 carriage to run on your track or a club layout then I would not recommend this kit. If you build it according to the description, it will not be able to run on a track. Furthermore, the built model, even if you make changes to make it run, is rather fragile and certainly not suitable to take to a club . Regards Fred

Amati CIWL LX sleeping car running in Le Train Bleu in the garden LX sleeping car build from a kit (finished except some interior ceiling detail, but capable of running) at the end of the train. The locomotive is an ASTER live steam SNCF 141R (with a wrong head board of Le Mistral); the further carriages are J&M Models LX sleeping car, Restaurant car, Train Bleu Salon-bar and Fourgon. Regards Fred

I "published" a new e-book today. It is an overview (with many pictures) of models of Pacific 4-6-2 locomotives from continental Europe. It can be read or downloaded here: http://sncf231e.nl/my-e-books/

For those interested in models of Continental Pacifics I have made an e-book with many pictures of models of German, French, Italian and Belgian Pacific locomotives. It can be seen and downloaded (for free) here on my website: http://sncf231e.nl/pacificseu/ Regards Fred

Now the roof is complete (note that the central part of the roof is removable to show the interior). The Amati kit did not have correct parts for the roof ends (which have multiple roundings), so I made new parts. More pictures and videos of this sleeping car on my website: http://sncf231e.nl/amati-kit-for-a-ciwl-lx-sleeping-car/ Regards Fred

The UP had 88 4-12-2 3-cylinder locomotives. Reduced wartime maintenance brought increased big-head heating and attempts were made to do away with the Gresley gear by adding a third set of Walschaert motion for the inside valve which was driven from a fly-crank on the right hand side. This was however only applied to seven of the 88 locomotives since the engines were transferred to another division were less speed and load was needed and the conversion was not necessary for all. If you really interested in UP's 4-12-2 Loco Profile 16 is a good read. D&RGW railroad M75 Mountains also had 3-cylinders with 3 -sets of Walschaert; a model can be seen at 2:10 in this video I made: Regards Fred

I only can say that I was very impressed by the railways travel in Japan. I have been there a couple of times and the Japanese Rail Pass is great (we had a Pass for the Green car (first class)). I was happily so stupid to leave a coat behind in the hotel in Kagoshima and did find out in Osaka; so instead of sightseeing the next day in Osaka (which I had done already previously) I spend a pleasant day without extra cost on a return trip to Kagoshima. Regards Fred

Hornby Dublo introduced Pullman cars in 1961. These plastic cars have interior. The cars are 23 cm long, which is a bit short for their scale of 1:76. Hornby Dublo made 3 different cars: · Aries first class with kitchen, catalogue number 4035 · Car No 74 second class, catalogue number 4036 · Car No 79 second class brake, catalogue number 4037 From 61-63 they used Gresley bogies and from 63-65 BR bogies. I assume your car no 70 has numbering and lining changed by a previous owner. Regards Fred

Last week some Dutch HRCA members came to run their coarse scale trains in my garden. The first one was the Sentinel and the question arose: what is the front of the locomotive? Is the Sentinel in the beginning of the video running forward? Regards Fred

I assume you were thinking about Brauerei Königsbacher https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datei:Kühlwaggon_Königsbacher.jpg A search with "bierwagen königsbacher " shows many models in all gauges. As far as I know most of the beer livery ones are entirely fictional. This Märklin one is fictional for sure: Many 1 gauge versions in my live steam beer train: Regards Fred

On a French forum (http://forum.e-train.fr/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=89305) a question came about this model locomotive which is residing in a French toy museum; I assume it is a 0 gauge Barry Railway G 0-4-4T. Does someone here know more about it? Regards Fred

North British build 40 ETAT pacifics (231-650 till 231-689 from the total series 231-500 till 231-783) after an order in 1915, since French orders for French builders could not be finished because of the war. They were delivered from summer 1916 - spring 1917. Later the whole series was renumbered to 3-231 C 501 till 3-231 C 783. They were renumbered twice by the SNCF, the new number depending on the changes that were made to each locomotive, most became 231D, some became 231H, others 231C, F or G (there is a full table in the La Vie du Rail book Les Pacific Regionales). Like all other ETAT pacifics the North British ones ended their life in the fifties and sixties. One ETAT pacific is still running, but not a North British build one. Regards Fred

The French ETAT also ordered part of a series (40 locomotives of a total of 283) of their (famous) Pacifics from North British https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/231_État_501_à_783#/media/Fichier:North-British_Locomotive_Company_French_4-6-2.jpg The ETAT Pacifics are well known with older modellers. Marescot/Fournereau already made in the twenties and thirties very detailed models of these in 0 gauge: Regards Fred