Are you into European trains?

No interest here... Doesn't it all go back to what you grew up with??

Love Maerklin Maxi and gauge 1. I also have LGB. MTH has nice product in O, but I wish they had some in 1.32. Best, Mark

Hi all,

yes I am into european trains, especially German branchlines.  No surprise, because I was born in Germany.  I live in New Zealand now and I can relate to some of the things mentioned in previous posts.  No local dealer, mail order issues, long waiting times ....

 

But it is still fun and a longer wait does bring a bigger surprise in the end

 

Cheers

Stefan

 

Yes, in a rather limited way.  I have the MTH French 241.A and love it, and have vague plans to build/bash a model someday of the one 242 (a Northern) that Chapelon built from it in which he doubled the HP and made it the most powerful steamer in Europe.  For the rest, I'm like Doug Murphy, into English locos which I realize folks in Europe do not entirely look at as "European."  I have the Darstead 2-6-2, some of the Lionel Hallos Eve and Hogwarts Express repainted, a Thomas or three, but only on repainted and detailed.  I very much want a non-tinplate, detailed Gresley A3 Pacific, and a Mallard. 

I was really excited to see MTH train offerings. Some beautiful stuff there indeed. I have some 031 curves that they will not run on. If they offered some that would navigate my tracks I would definetly buy them. Future plans include widening my turns by the zoning officer hasn't approved yet. Lol. 

Yeah I am in gauge 0 tinplate trains and trams too. There are some tinplate gauge 0 manufacturers who make very nice models. A lot special for the UK markat like Darstaed and Ace but also firms like MERKUR, ETS and Lehnhardt.

I know tinplate is a niche market. But take a glimpse on my website www.blik-en-speelgoed.nl

I have a lot of British and European locomotives in HO (Marklin) and Large Scale, but nothing in O gauge at the present time.  However, I very much like those locomotives and like the way the folks across the pond take care of their engines.  Some are also quite colorful, even the black ones with red drivers and trim.  I also like the shrill whistles on some models.

Absolutely.  The whistle on the MTH 241.A is the single best model train whistle, horn, or bell I have ever heard.  I often run that loco just for the whistle. 

In O scale I have only ever had North American equipment.  But, I also have a large collection of Marklin Z scale which is all German with some Swiss equipment. We lived in France for a year during my childhood, but no French trains now.  I did have a single Jouef HO train that year but lost interest after we moved back to the US.  Must have been because we then lived only blocks from Madison Hardward.

 

-Duncan

My favorite the Voith Maxima 40

 

Regards,

Swafford

 

Nope... I find them to be unusual in their styling and appearance. Probably the same way the Euro's look at our trains! 

My Graham Farish by Bachmann N scale "Black Five":

 

 

This is 45110, a preserved locomotive.

 

Bob

I have a substantial collection of OO gauge British outline trains. These are almost exclusively models of the BR Southern Region that I remember from my childhood.   

I like them. A nice change of pace from the norm. I don't have one but the MTH Euro steamers are beutiful!

MTH choice to pay attention to our trains is a real chance for us Europeans.

 

In France we had the choice between only 2 kind of O scale stuff.. post-war Tinplate trains or High End Custom Super Expensive Trains.. ( talking of O scale only ) When you think that a good looking French steam loc - like a 2-8-2T - is over 6000$ ...( first price) Yes there is a huge market for MTH in europe... Concerning the next productions of MTH ... I would love to see O scale models of the following loks

 

 

Exotic isn't it? I just can't help to imagine the fun with runing such an engine with steam and sounds on a O gauge layout... and concerning Electric locomotives I would love to see one of those : 

 

 

And my fav the E71

 

 

I can stand too an articulate E91 (Marklin has made a 1Gauge model of this lok)

 

Every York I stare at the MTH European Steamers available , they are gorgeous!!! But I have yet to date had a weak moment and pulled the trigger, they bring back visions of the movie -The Train with Burt Lancaster. They for us American modellers are a hobby within the Hobby and who knows maybe one day I will do an American Rail fan tour on the Bellevue and Schenectady RR of these global RR legends!

Here's another of my Farish locomotives. This is 5MT 73082 "Camelot."

 

 

 

Bob

I think they are awesome since they are unique.  I remember growing up the 'wealthy' family down the road (meaning each child had their own bedroom and they had a second car) had maarklin.  I still have the brochure from about 1977.  Very cool!

Off topic... I read some of the mth/lionel patent broohaha they could not find an old marklin borchure or something ...hmmm.   Should have called me.

An 0 scale three rail version of the E91 was made by Huebner, back before they went to making Ga 1 models exclusively.  They did "tinplate" [ = high flanges, center rail pickups, 'Maerklin' couplers, and somewhat simplified ] versions of their E91 and E10/E40 electrics and the V188 double diesel;  I acquired three rail versions of the V188 and E91 a number of years ago, even though I'm a 2 rail person.  A three railer I knew had a two rail V188, so I did a "while you shop" swap of the wheel/drive units at my table at York.  The E91 is waiting for similar treatment, but in this case I have the two rail unit also;  the latter is just the "wrong era".

So you may also run across a gently used one, pidjy.  I hope you do.

 

With best regards, SZ

Back in my HO days, I was very much into European-prototype HOn30.  But although I've always rather liked German and British standard-gauge steam locomotives, I've never been motivated to buy any models of them.  To each his own, I suppose.

My Rivarossi HO Trenitalia E444R in Eurostar City Italia livery:

 

 

Bob

Not at all. I collect and run US, European, British and only a few Australian trains. It's the exotic that gets my imagination going.

I just received my new MTH Crocodile, what a beautiful thing. I love the pantographs operating.

Me neither; I'm fascinated by European railways but I've never visited Europe.

 

Bob

 A thing I was wondering about if in the US they have the MTH European trains in stock/on display or are these special-order only? Last week I went to a shop in Germany and basically they had almost everything in stock from Lenz and Brawa) ; from MTH they only had the EANOS cars in stock (other items available via order). 

 

 In a little bit more than a month the biggest 0-scale exhibition in Germany is held in Buseck:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWzYKbCqtQM

I'll make sure to post some pictures if people are interested. 

 

1. Nope..dont care too..think there ugly..US trains got more style and better looks and WE got the biggest steam engines in the world

The cover of Rivarossi's 1955 catalog featuring the FS E424:

 

 

Bob

I agree with that. I grew up with Lionel, but I now have items by Hornby, Bassett Lowke, Leeds, Bing, Triang and Bub. I haven't been to Europe in 20 years, and when I did visit there in the 80's and 90's, I wasn't into trains as much as I am now. One of the things that rekindled my interest, in the late 80's, was a book I found that had photos of steam all over the world. I am mainly US-oriented, but I made room for a good amount of European stuff.

Not at all.

Tinplate UK steam is paramount but I have reigned in the range of what I buy. Some are tempting..that is, as they say.. if I had money burning a hole in my pocket. My range of interests are too wide as they are.

I'm now enamored with Ivor the Engine, and am enjoying developing a layout along that theme. I am impressed with what MTH and Lionel have put out... NQDY, nothing finer than the 'real' Southern.

Southern Railway 850 "Lord Nelson":

 

 

Bob

No. Not at this time or any other.

Mainly a US tin guy, but a few French & British Hornby, Mettoy, Distler, Wimmer, Paya, ETS, Kibri, British Marx etc have quietly found refuge in my garage.

I have few English and pseudo-Australian HO trains, nothing fancy. Some day I would like to build a small operating layout for the smaller items.

 

Ace, I can see a pair of NSWGR suburban cars. Second shelf down on the left.

You certainly know how to make an old bat smile Bob. Thanks. 

My pleasure.

 

Now, how about West Country Class "Eddystone":

 

 

Enjoy,

 

Bob

...but not the fastest electric of the world in 1954!

The Lima SNCF Class 67000 diesel electric is a good entry point into European 'O' gauge modelling.   Although 35 years old, they have a well-moulded body, and are relatively inexpensive, cropping up regularly on that popular auction site.   They only have one powered bogie (truck) but up-grading them is a fairly straight-forward procedure. 

 

Although Lima's coaches are not scale length, unlike the equally ancient ones by Rivarossi, they are a good representation of the prototype, and will suffice until something better is available.  One by Lima and one by Rivarossi shown here.

 

Ed

 

 

Hi John,

Just go to this link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AW2bLuAwNM

It has a good overview of the show from last year.

also if you go to You tube and put Spur 0 Grossen Busseck into the search nox you will find quite a few entries.

All the best,

Miketg