The model railway club where I am a member usually goes on an annual trip abroad to visit some of the larger model railway exhibitions in Europe, and usually visiting some other (model-) railway related places nearby as well. We usually visit different exhibitions and places each year, and last year we were in Göpping at 'The 38th Internationale Modellbahn Ausstellung and Märklin days'.
This year we went to Southern Germany to visit the exhibition 'Faszination Modellbau' in Friedrichshafen. Since Friedrichshafen is located by the Bodensee (Lake Constance) and close to Switzerland, we decided to combine this trip with some railfanning in Switzerland, where there are several narrow gauge railways operating. Some of the same Swiss railway companies which also are operated by some of my fellow mrc members during garden running sessions.
Faszination Modellbau
9 large halls filled with all kind of different aspects of scale modelling:
This Gauge 1(1:32 scale) German military layout really caught my interest:
Inside one of the coaches
Some impressions of other layouts:
Small N-scale modules by Kato
Landwasser viaduct from the Albula bahn in H0m
More Swiss H0m
N-scale
H0e
G-scale/ IIm by LGB
TT scale (1:120)
N-scale
0e scale
A Gauge 1 ferry layout
H0f
H0
Z-scale (1:220)
A small modular Z- layout
'Model of the Model'
Swedish H0 scale layout
This exhibition also shows several other categories of scale modelling, and too many to show them all here. Here are some few impressions though:
Very very large scale, with a military load too
One is made from plastic kits and the other from Cobi 'Lego'. Can you tell which?
It's a RC-ship which is more than 4 meters and 400kg (!)
Also a RC model
Book Nooks
It's incredible that the following models are made of paper:
Bernina bahn
We went with Berninabahn from Pontresina to Tirano in Italy for lunch. It's a very scenic Journey in spectacular scenery crossing the Swiss Engadin alps. The gradient is about 7% steep.
Pontresina
On the way to Ospizia Bernina railway station, the highest station located on 2253m above sea level
The railway runs in the main street through several villages
Brusio spiral viaduct
Tirano, Italy
Albula bahn
Another spectacular railway which cling it self to the mountain side through steep scenery, crossing it self several times. It's also on the UNESCO's list of world heritage sites.
Landwasser viaduct
The Albula railway museum
There were several model railways in different scales at the museum, but none of them were operating while we were there unfortunately.
Gornergrat bahn
The Gornergrat railway links the village of Zermatt located at 1604m with the summit of Gornergrat at an altitude of 3089m and is the second highest railway station in Europe. Traction is by cogwheel and the incline is about 11%.
Zermatt
Matterhorn in the background
Gornergrat and the best view for Matterhorn unless you wants to climate it
The original and the 'model'
We had an awesome week in Switzerland, Italy and Germany and I highly appreciate the travel companions from our club!
