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The American Railroadfans in Switzerland are a loose community of interest (220 people) mainly from the Zurich area, but also from the rest of Switzerland and even from abroad, dealing with the American railroad scene. We are not a club. This informal form we want the 'American Way of Life' reflect.
Every month we meet on a Friday evening for a meeting in Wollishofen near Zurich. As each photo and film presentations are shown by members of the travel to the railroads in North America. Every three years we carry out the largest U.S. railroad convention in Europe.
For more information or visit our www.americanrrfans.ch or the site from our Train Masters, Werner Meer: www.trainmaster.ch
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15th Convention of 13 / 14 October 2012 "the final convention"
On weekends in October 2012 was the last big convention of the American Railroad fans held in Switzerland. The majority of the assembled members decided this major event in the future lead to thousands of visitors to stop by. The effort for the organization is hardly feasible in this framework.
As a conclusion, I decided to set up a 27 m long switch layout with the topic "Steam in the West". As focal points I showed the model of the Coaling Tower (see page INDOOR LAYOUT, bottom Coaling Station) and four bridge modules of Timber Howe Truss Bridge of Bonners Ferry. (See page HOWE TRUSS BRIDGE).
The driving with two powerful Articulated Steam Engines and Rolling Stock of the 50tees action has brought to the facility. I have made a number of simple modules on which were confined to the issue the track mounted. Of rubble and gravel and stone material and the greens were only loosely applied and removed after the convention.
For more information on the website of our Train Masters, Werner sea: www.trainmaster.ch / convention.htm |
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..In the accompanying picture, the "loose" landscaping can be seen. First I laid the tracks on the module, which I have used as far as possible flex track of 3 m length. Between the points I used shorter remaining tracks from my bed, which was using a cutting disk unceremoniously cut to the appropriate length.
Then the tracks are balasted with 3 mm split, which is in the winter months to buy in bags in the Landi.
Then customize with different gravel and rocky terrain material. And finally, a little model greens.
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The whole concept with relatively simple "exhibition" modules together with the modules and the Tower Bridge module has passed the test. The layout was second to set up in about 3 hours and the track assembly on the 27 m length (minus Bridges and Tower module) I had to spend about five hours. The ballasting of the track and the landscaping has then with my two helpers, Tschabold Andreas and Markus Hintermann, also took about 3 hours.
The layout was already completed on Friday afternoon and we were able to start driving. So there was also time to enjoy the exhibition. The driving with the two big steam engines and the diesel has then worked smoothly while whole convention. Thanks to the, to the Zimo system Lok's digitized was a realistic operation are shown.
As a definite highlight, I must mention the over one meter high Coaling Tower of Minturn, CO on a scale of 1:29, (see page INDOOR LAYOUT -> Coaling STATION). The GP-9 diesel locomotive with some Coalhopper supplied the Tower to the "required" coal. With two powerful Mallet steam locomotives of the 2-8-8-2 wheel arrangement, called Articulateds, we have demonstrated to the visitors including the so-called Help heritage train. In this mode, it is a second locomotive to the end of - the prototype - sometimes several hundred meters long train, and from there makes for a well-measured extra boost. This extra energy it had to be controlled as the original, so sensitive that. Neither cars nor derail the locomotive brakes and spinning wheels will not come from the place Who here could see this technique in the model is capable of operating, only to celebrate the achievements of the former engineer who! This technique decades ago, and every day without any electronics and mobile phones, are only accessible by whistle the locomotives dominated perfect.
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13th Convention in October 2006
My first convention with the big track. (At previous conventions I took in part with the models H0 and bridges.) As exhibition theme I chose a workshop for building the Howe Truss Bridges. On the weekend 14.-15. October 2006, we had approximately 3,300 visitors. The exhibition can be seen as a great success! |
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My modules of the indoor layout, I show each of exhibitions, with possible integration, for example, in a large temporary facility of US G-Scale Friends of Switzerland. The first occasion was on 14-15th October 2006 at the 13th Convention of the American Railroadfans result in Switzerland. In two days we had about 3,300 visitors. The exhibition can be seen as a great success.
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The theme of mine was a workshop. I showed during the two days the development of the Howe-truss bridge element.
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The 14th Convention in October 2009 is now also history. She was a complete success, but could never be won as many Super-exhibitors, as of this weekend 10/11. October 2009. For more information on the website of our Train Masters, Werner Meer: www.trainmaster.ch/convention.htm |
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My issue was again a topic of workshop: Howe to build a Trestle.
I showed the development of a Trestle, the left half of the Trestle was already built. Was able to see the visitors from the beginning to the finished result.
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I also added a little switch-display on which I regularly driving demonstrated with a diesel locomotive, with realistic sound.
On this "display" all my diesels of the Southern Pacific were issued for this convention theme evolution.
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| October 2012 / themountaineer |
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