sncf231e

Who needs DCC when you can double head with clockwork Regards Fred

I found some more Regards Fred

Regards Fred

From my e-book http://sncf231e.nl/gauge-and-scale/: " It is generally acknowledged that the Bing Table Railway, introduced in a clockwork version in 1923 and in an electric version in 1925, was the first 00 railway. The terminology H0 was not then used. The scale of this table railway was undefined, but the size was such that a circle of track could easily be laid on a, not too small, round coffee or dinner table. The gauge was half of 0 gauge (32 mm) at approximately 16 mm. Later 16.5 mm was taken as standard gauge size for H0/00; the reason this figure is believed to be the profile of the wheels of the Bing Table Railway. These had a huge root radius which was fine on round-topped tinplate rails, but when modellers started making hand-built track, using brass bar for the rails, it was necessary to spread the gauge slightly to ensure the flat part of the tread was running on the flat rail surface (see also 3.1.4). " Regards Fred

That is a story which is often told, but is doubtful. Already in 1924 Greenly set this standard: He choose for the smaller gauges (1, 0, 00) a larger scale. As I remarked in my e-book on Gauge and Scale (http://sncf231e.nl/gauge-and-scale/): "One could question whether the gauge and the length, width and height of a train should all be scaled with the same proportion. Since wheel width and flanges in model trains are in general oversized, it might be a choice to “undersize” the gauge." A choice Greenly made. Regards Fred

Kitmaster made a French coach (Kitmaster 29) which was H0 and thus the same size as an H0 model made by Europolitrain to a scale of 1:87, see https://www.rmweb.co.uk/topic/180210-kitmaster-french-coaches/?do=findComment&comment=5220634 I assume, but have not checked, that all continental European Kitmaster models were 1:87. Regards Fred

A train of (Swiss) Darstaed CIWL coaches with two coarse scale locomotives made from French Atelier de Chataeau d'O kits: Regards Fred

Some size comparisons here: https://www.stummiforum.de/t218672f2-Flying-Scotsman-2.html#msg2602663 Regards Fred

Regards Fred

The Märklin H0 British locomotive which was released recently is not an attempt of Märklin to conquer the British market. They recently issued a range of H0 expensive metal steam locomotives from around the world and the Flying Scotsman is one of these. These are made in one run and the Flying Scotsman has already sold out from the facory. Continental Märklin collectors will add it to their collection and might never have heard of Hornby etc.. There is no sign that Märklin is ever going to make matching rolling stock or expanding on a British range in H0. Regards Fred

As far as I can think there is no answer to the question raised by the OP. I am interested in all scale and gauges and all model and toy trains from any country or era. So I became a subscriber to Classic toy Trains and member of the US TCA (Train Collectors Association) but I gave up after many years because their interest is mainly US 3-rail 0 gauge. Some cultural differences are just there and cannot be explained, I assume. Regards Fred

The Märklin Flying Scotsman is delivered today to the shops (in Germany) and already shown by proud owners on German forums. Regards Fred.

The CD version of this: Regards Fred

Regards Fred

Regards Fred

Excuses for my broad view on railway modelling. Regards Fred

Of course I will not give up: Regards Fred

I do not think there will be more to come. DeAgostini started an N gauge project and issued some track, this sleeping car and a Swiss electric loco. Then it stopped, presumably since it was not a success. These sleeping cars and the locomotive are available very often via eBay under the manufacturers name Darstaed, and of course I have one as can be seen in my e-book on models of the CIWL: http://sncf231e.nl/ciwl-carriages-by-fredsmall/ The RivaRossi N gauge version of this LX sleeping car is better, and the Kato version still better. Regards Fred

Awful wheels have nothing to do with 3-rail track. Further: do you really notice the difference between the 2-rail and 3-rail track ? Regards Fred

I have different tracks in 2-rail and 3-rail and can assure you that the 3-rail track, including the Märklin, needs much less cleaning than the 2-rail track: Regards Fred

On October 4, 1883, exactly 140 years ago now, the first Orient Express left Paris going east. I'm celebrating with a video of models of the Orient Express in the larger gauges 0 and 1. Regards Fred

Regards Fred

I never clean my track (when I am running clockwork trains😉) Regards Fred

Regards Fred

Regards Fred