Does Anyone Model/Run European Trains?

I don't.

I do not.

I am with Hot Water on this one. 

As do Roco, Fleishmann, Marklin, Trix, Bemo, LGB, etc.

There's a US based organization devoted to them, the European Train Enthusiasts.

Here's some images from the All American Railroad Show 2014 where the Chicagoland Chapter exhibited:

And they can run Marklin stud AC, conventional 2 rail DC, DCC, and off overhead all on the same track.

They keep trying to rope me in...

Rusty

To clarify my previous post, I much as I would love to have one of the new MTH German "BR-44" (when ever it comes out), 2-10-0 3-cylinder locomotive models, having witnessed the real ones, the "European" models are NOT 1/48. The "European" models are something like 1/43 and thus look noticeably larger when placed next to a U.S. model steam locomotive at 1/48.

I do. But in HO scale.

No, but I have considered some of the MTH, European Freight or

Passenger Cars.

  Click MTH page to enlarge. Page 146-147 • 2015 Volume One 

well, only if Marklin three rail ho counts...

Not me -- although I confess to a great fascination with German narrow-gauge trains.  Back in my HO years, I had a lot of Liliput HOn30 equipment.

Well, MTH sells models (usually 1:43 scale) of European locos.  I have a lovely French 241.A (a 4-8-2) Chapelon, which is one the best models I have and has the best whistle of any loco I have ever heard, a wonderful reproduction of the very shrill, penetrating Eurpoean steam loco whistle.

But that is still an American product, if of a Europoean loco.

I have only one European O-gauge model train.  A Darsted 2-6-2, tinplate tank engine. Even though it is tinplate, it is really much more model than toy - it looks quite real.   It is 1:43 scale and quite nice to look at.  It was delivered as a 3-rail DC loco - a weird thing indeed, although I converted it to AC with a rectifier installed, and has no electronics or sound and is by far the noisiest (gear and rolling noise) toy loco I have ever heard.  I don't run it, but just display it here in my study.

As of right now, no. HOWEVER....I have always loved the look of European trains and have always wanted to build a small layout with Marklin in Z or HO or even LGB. Only issue is time and (more importantly) money........one day......!

My original concept for a layout when i was into G scale was to create a fictional US Army RR operating unit, stateside. The other half of the layout would take place at the end of WW2 In Germany and would get the use of all the LGB german stuff.

For a short while, when I went to On30, I considered the same concept, which meant I could have used a lot of 1/48 scale stuff for military modelers, but never did so.

I've chased trains in Germany and the Netherlands years back, so I will always have an affinity for trains from those countries.

But no, I don't model European, though I see the appeal.

the only thing i've got is my lionel hogwarts express.  the engine was nicer than i thought, considering the horror story reviews i read online.  but i think this'll be the only european item in my collection.  didn't plan on buying it, but found the whole set for $60 on ebay, so i couldn't pass it up

I bought two Lionel Harry Potter sets one year cheap. I moved all the coaches to one set, painted the other loco green (still not finished) and bought some Lima British freight cars. I also bought a few British freight cars kits and built a few myself. So now I have two UK trains I can run on 'foreign' day!

I run European and have a ten by twenty foot modular two rail layout. I have Lenz, MTH, Rivarossi, Lima, Brawa, and lots of other European brands running on it.(I posted some pics and videos of it quite a while back.) I also collect tinplate French Hornby in addition to my Lionel Postwar trains. All the best, Miketg

I don't mainly because of space and budget limitations. However, I would imagine there are many that do. I believe MTH European trains are selling well both here and in the European countries.

Here are the videos I said I'd post:

As a bonus, I will include this clip from 2012 of the Shakespeare Express:

I like European trains. I have MTH, ETS, and Merkur Euro trains, and I have bought a number of steam-era 1/43 die-cast cars and trucks so I can make my layout look more European when I'm running them. 

I have three MTH Euro locomotives and matching trains - the French 241A steamer with the Orient Express, a Swiss Crocodile with 4-wheel boxcars and beer reefers, and a modern Swiss Cargo electric with a string of tank cars. 

I also have a fairly extensive collection of ETS 3-rail trains, which come from the Czech Republic. These are tinplate and include some prototypes that you cannot find anywhere else, such as the Beyer-Garratt steam engines and the Seetal "baby" Swiss Crocodile. ETS makes a large assortment of nicely decorated beer cars and wine barrel cars, which are among my favorites. 

 ETS Beer Train

ETS Seetal Crocodile

ETS with Wine Barrel Cars

Top: ETS Czech diesel switcher with beer cars. Middle: ETS Garratt with wine barrel cars.

MTH electric with Euro tank cars

I have the MTH Orient Express Set pulled by the 2-3-1 Chappeon  and a ETS Passenger Set circa 1920s that I bought at the factory in Prague from Gustov Taus the owner.

Presently, I am modeling a modern freight/passenger type layout. Nothing remotely European about my railroad. However, I did a modern European railroad in "G" gauge and had 5 modern Taurus locomotives. Two of which ran counter opposing. I had one 8 foot track and one 6 foot track. The Piko Taurus can run minimum 6 foot and is quite impressive when pulling a modern consist of German freight cars. I had some of the best of the best as far as that goes. Piko, LGB.

I wanted to model in O, but found little in the way of really modern. I even had one ICE (Inner City Express) high speed train in G on that layout. It was really quite impressive. With snow covered fur trees it looked like a typical Austrian/ German ski village scene.

I love all trains period regardless of where they originate from.

Pete

I've got some Riverossi and Pola-Maxi O scale trains that I picked up in Germany back in the 70's, also some Marklin HO.  I'd like to have a MTH Krokodil or the 2-10-0, but the budget is taken up by layout construction right now.  Maybe someday.  

BTW, the scale size difference is minimized by the smaller loading gauges of Europe and the UK.

The layout I work on with my daughter is British prototype "OO" scale (1:76) equipment. I've always been kind of an Anglophile, and it just appeals to me. I even have one of Hornby's live steam Mallards in OO. That's a pretty cool piece of engineering. (My unboxing video here if you're interested, and a rather wobbly one of it running here.)

I also have several pieces of British N, though no layout to go with it. Someday I will build a small shelf layout with it.

I've seen some really beautiful British O (including these amazing Mallards) but they are too rich for my blood. I've been tempted to build a couple of the wagon kits from Parkside Dundas, as they are reasonably priced, but then I'd have nothing to pull them. Maybe sometime.

Fred

Id love a Kroc. So would the toy soldiers on the layout. They are going to be testing European WWII machinery regularly.

None.

We have a few in our club that purchased the MTH European steamer in the German and French versions. Both engines are really great pieces and the detailing  far exceeds the catalog pictures.

I have some European cars and small trucks and have considered setting up a small trolley diorama with a European theme. The MTH single truck bump and go trolley is very close to trolleys still running in Portugal.  But this time the general nostalgia urge and lack of extra space has kept the idea stillborn. 

Thanks to everyone for this topic.  I thought I was the only one.  Although I haven't yet set anything up, I have British OO, Ace & Darstaed O, and some ETS, and I subscribe to Railway Modeller.  I'm thinking of building a small British-style OO layout - not just British prototype, but designed in a manner similar to what is popular in England.

For me, it started with visits to the National Railway Museum and several heritage railways in England and Wales.  The amount of passion that the English have for trains is amazing. 

Although I am primarily US oriented, I have locomotives by Hornby and Bassett Lowke, rolling stock by Hornby and Bing, as well as structures by Hornby, Bing and Karl Bub. I also have the Ace Coronation set with the A4.

I always thought they were interesting to look & I like them, but my layouts are heavily based on local railroads, industry, & whatnot, so that stuff would not fit in at all. I like all the videos on Youtube from guys overseas that model their own trains & I also like their interpretation of modeling US subjects. All very interesting. I wouldn't mind displaying a beautiful British steam engine or something, but they're too nice & too expensive to let it just sit there.  

European trains have never really appealed to me. When I was very young in the hobby, one of my friends was into Marklin and me being a loyal Lionel fan, never had the least bit of interest in them. This opinion has styed with me at least till now. 

Yes, I like foreign railways. In N scale, I have British and a few pieces of continental equipment. In HO, I have a representative roster of models of Italian prototypes and in OO I own several Irish locomotives from the range of Murphy Models, a company specializing in models of Irish prototypes.

Bob 

we built this for a guy that does

http://youtu.be/vQJ0WYm6-v0?li...szLj4bp4fP-se2SRv9-A

WOW!! stunning....  

I do HO scale Marklin.

Stuart

I have the Hogwarts set, mostly for the novelty of a UK-style excursion train amongst my fleet (There was a UK steamer whose name escapes me at the moment that toured the US in the 1970's). I have extended my HE out to 9 cars in order to mimic the look of the excursion trains operated in the UK.

I also have a pair of the TRAXX electrics play-acting as a freight electrification demonstrator. If any of the European high-speed trainsets were released in O' Id go for one, even though it would strain my storage capability.

---PCJ

The Flying Scotsman toured the US and Canada in 1969-70 or 71.  Unfortunately, it almost didn't make it back to Great Britain, so as much as I would love to see a British steam loco visit the US, it would probably be too risky.

It's not as cool as having one operating, but there is a British streamlined 4-6-2 in the Green Bay railroad museum. It was used by General Eisenhower during WWII. 

The Eastern New England chapter of the European Train Enthusiasts is a group that shows a European modular layout every January at the Big E Show in Springfield, Mass.  They're always in the hall that's the closest to the parking lots.

Their catenary system is incredible:

The layout is in HO, but it's excellent.  I look forward to visiting it the whole day while walking the rest of the show.  They're nice guys, too.

If you're into European trains, be sure to look for them next time you go to the Big E.

Steven J. Serenska

Visited UK a couple of times, fell in love with LMS and predecessor lines. Have several pieces in OO. I look longingly at the MTH LMS Coronation 4-6-2, but I have too much equipment in O already.

Maybe in another life

Nice job lads! That was absolutely beautiful artwork!!!

Reminded me of a similar mural that was in an old department store downtown.

A show stopper! The crown area layering, skyline tint, and lighting blend is awesome. Pink, or peach fluorescent? or is it all it the paint.   

On another note: from what I understand, modeling in Europe is a bit more exacting in that they model specific places more. Even on fictional railroads they will keep architecture, and trees etc. area correct for its more localized there.

I think we call it 'scale' model railroading in the USA. I know guys that model a exact date, month, day and time!!!! It is more in HO than O with our mix of traditional, semi scale, high rail and 3RS folks.....but still very common. My O 3r layout is set in 1954-57 in WV....so all buildings, trees etc etc have to fit that location and era.

Hi everyone, just thought I would post a video of my Flying Hamburger.

All the best,

Miketg

What scale is that Flying Hamburger?

I have a collection of HO European engines and cars.  I usually picked up a car or engine during travels to Europe.  I have several friends who are members of the European Train Enthusiasts (ETE).  They run Marklin HO and are very active in the SF Bay Area.  

There was a very nice O gauge 2-rail layout exhibited at O Scale West for a few years.  The builders had moved to the USA (or perhaps Canada) from England.  I have several friends who run European G gauge trains.  Again, most of these people immigrated from Europe.

Here are some photos of the O gauge display at O Scale West in 2010.

At McDonalds, there is 1/4 pound on scale before cooking   ....oh..

started out as mahogany to match the room. then all paint, the artists paint backdrops for the movie industry. also there are NO lights, it is all paint 

Wow you doubled my liking this. And after seeing the stain, I think I remember posts on the build now too. But painted mahogany!? If it wasn't so "right" as is, Id have issue with that. Having done mahogany libraries, you don't sand it, you stroke it gently. I couldn't accept the scholarship for theater lighting I earned, had to go with the one for art. I thought the molding might have been gutter lighting, really hard to tell, it looks like planes of peach, and pink light. I didn't want to zoom, and see. It might spoil the memory of this absolutely awesome shoot   

The Flying Hamburger is two rail 0 scale by Kesselbauer of Germany. There were approx. 15 sets produced. I added the interior lighting and needed new casting for the trucks as the originals just did not stand the test of time. This is one of my best all time pieces. 

All the best,

Miketg

Yes,I've got Fleischmann and Marklin HO from the 60's and 70's. I also have a small collection of modern Marklin I gauge. I've bought some of the MTH O gauge items. I travel to Germany a lot on business and always attend a train show or two and always visit the incredible train shops. Trains are much more popular and visible than in the US. Every German toy shop has a massive model railroad department. It's a whole different world and I like it!

Yes, please do share! 

I have a Rivarossi German diesel and coaches, and a Pola-Maxi steam 0-6-0T with several freight cars.

I also have a number of Marklin HO engines & cars.

I used to have a OO gauge British layout but I sold all my stuff when we got into 3-Rail O gauge. 

 My youngest son has a few Hornby OO gauge engines such as Flying Scotsman.

We also have the Lionel Hogwarts set and Thomas, Percy and James.

I would like to see a Lionel Legacy LNER Mallard. I could go with a ACE or Darstead model. It would be nice though to see what Lionel could do after the nice GWR Hall.

Nick

I think many of us would enjoy that.

Beta Nu Sigma Phi:

Are there any models of Finnish trains, preferably in 0 scale but if not, in any other scale? I don't think I have ever seen any - maybe Marklin or Fleischmann makes them? I've ridden trains in Finland but never seen any models. I took the auto carrier train once up to Rovaniemi and drove back to Helsinki in my Calibra. 

The Rautatieasema (Railway Station for the English speakers) in downtown Helsinki is one of my favorite places. I used to walk around the shops a lot. There were some good music shops where you could get a nice variety of Finnish rock and roll. My favorite Finnish bands are Leningrad Cowboys, Kolmas Nainen, Hanoi Rocks, Hurriganes, The Flaming Sideburns, Freud Marx Engels & Jung, Lapinlahden Linnut, Hassisen Kone, and Eppu Normaali. When I was living in Helsinki they also had some great rock and roll TV ads for Koff beer. 

By all means post your videos.

I have an ETS set that gets running time on the Seattle & Yakima RR.

    Bill T

You must forgive the lack of a tender but here is the most aged engine I have. A Bing 0-4-0 pulling some Hornby with floral wire. I also have an ETS set, some Exley coaches, Leeds M C and Bassett Lowke. I have some MTH LMS coaches and several Lionel Shakespeare Express and Hogwarts sets. I have yet to get the Albert Hall set but I don't like the lighting set up on the engine it is closer to Hogwarts than Shakespeare. I do really like this stuff and and am on the look out at train shows most people have no idea what it is or is worth I have found.

Boomer, since you are familiar with German railroad models, I'd like to ask if there is much available in O scale German narrow gauge.  I've always been fascinated by the German NG lines.

I messed around with 2-rail O small-prototype British scale for years, and still have several items of rolling stock that I wanted to keep. The layouts were a typical Brit small-space branchline theme. Continuing in European O scale or HO scale is such an expensive proposition these days, that even Lionel Vision Line prices look attractive. It's no surprise that the vintage Euro market seems pretty busy on that auction site.

Over the years I gradually became more tinplate collector-ish, then got myself a Polar Express 0-27 set , then a Lionel docksider, then a MTH EP5, and now enjoy the electro-mechanical chunkiness of modern North American 3-rail.  Operating barrel cars don't go well on sleepy British branchline layouts.

My current European interest is chasing down Marklin HO catenary wire to run my EP5 under, as per our helpful forum member's ideas.

If there's a layout that makes me want to drop everything and go Euro, it's this one, even though the locomotives are miraculously running with pantographs down.

Yes, there are, but limited editions, some are photo-etched brass kits, some are  bodyshell molds on Roco underframe and some are 3D prints. For Finnish N scale 1:160 models ask www.n-club-finland.org and for Finnish HO scale 1:87 models ask www.fremo.fi but the expert manufacturers in both mentioned scales are www.mestarimallit.com...

Among other European O gauge projects myself I am designing currently Finnish passenger coaches (pikajuna, intercity) and Russian passenger coaches (RepinExpress, TolstoijExpress, TransSiberiaExpress) as frequently observed on the Helsinki Cetral Rwy.St.

...video clips next time!

I have the Lionel Hogwarts (want another one in green) and also have an MTH Crocodile. I like it enough I'm looking at the new versions (more like a box) that MTH came out with this year.

I added MTH European passenger/baggage cars to make it 7 cars long in multiple but complimentary paint schemes.

I have LGB outdoors in European style. I enjoy the contrast to my Lionel O Gauge postwar and the newer TMCC/Legacy era trains. 

Here's what I'm working on this weekend. 

On the below video you can see a 2-rail DC analog operated Lima/Rivarossi train and another 3-rail AC conventionally operated train consisting of a converted European diesel and scratch-built EuroFima type passenger coaches of various European state railways. The coaches can be equipped with MTH truck and 3-rail couplers or with Atlas trucks and Darstaed/ACE/Merkur-compatible metallic hook couplers (alternatively also with plastic Lima/Rivarossi-compatible "Buck Eye" couplers).

On the inner track you can see a Finnish diesel with Russial fuel tank cars and Finnish gas tank cars, all scratch-built O gauge...

Now, back to the European passenger coaches, here few explanations about the differences. Roughly there are three lengths of modern European passenger coaches:

- Rivarossi 59cm (approx. 23") exact scale but too long for tight curves

- Lima 48cm (approx. 19") slightly reduced length, fits on O-80 Gargraves curves

- Merkur 42cm (approx. 16½") extremely reduced length, fits on O-72 Lionel curves

- Merkur 39cm (approx.15") pre/post-war coaches, fit on O-63 Gargraves curves

- Darstaed 35cm (approx.13¾") pre/post-war coaches, fit on O-48 Atlas curves

I prefer 42cm length for my scratch-built projects, because the express trains looks sufficiently realistic while pulling 7 coaches.

Thank you for taking the time to make me smile

The Finnish loco looks great. That was the one I found myself waiting to see again, and again, each time it came around.

Fleischmann had a line of On30 trains, their Magic Train line.  Unfortunately I have heard that it has been discontinued, but they can still be found on German Ebay.  I have a nice little side rod diesel switcher from them, and I might get the little 0-4-0 steamer that they did. These smaller narrow gauge trains are often called Feldbahnen. There are also some models of Swiss meter gauge Alpine trains out there.  Back in the 70's Marklin had a line of AC powered On30 trains running on their center stud rail track.  Pretty hard to find those though.

On the 8th and 9th page of an old online catalog http://issuu.com/johannis_likos/docs/catalog2011v1

you can see my Finnish scratch-built flatcars and logcars for wood/pulp industries.

On the 10th page of the same catalog you will see my self-designed covered freight cars of the Finnish state railways.

On the 3rd page of another old online catalog http://issuu.com/johannis_likos/docs/catalog2011v2 

you will see the same type of covered freight cars, which have been vandalized to display modern Finnish era.

 When the Engine in the first video dropped its load, I went into panic mode and raised my arm for a transformer like I was going to stop it

You do some incredible work. Its hard to know what is, or isn't hand made without knowing Rivarossi work too. Your posts are the only clue really. Bravo!

Not yet, but I'm tempted. Even if I don't, if MTH does the Mercibox car set -- 48 cars (one per state) from France in gratitude for US-Led liberation in WW2 -- I'm buying them. MTH has a compatible box car that's very close. They could be done in eight blocks of six cars.

The reason is that the MTH coupler failed after pulling 9 heavy metal passenger coaches around an O-72 curve. Naturally the scratch-built full metal tinplate coaches are much heavier than the plastic-mold Rivarossi/Lima coaches. The heavy weight prevents the coaches from derailment when doing rounds 8 hours uninterrupted and continuously in one regular public exposition day. The European engines are made of Rivarossi/Lima bodyshell and MTH underframe+motorization. So, I have learned from this mechanical failure and from now on I let my engines pull only 5 or max. 7 coaches.

Very nice work!  The VR cargo wagons are very slick.  Out of curiosity, are you located in the States or Europe?  It would be nice to see your layout at a show. 

Our location is in the United States of Europe. In our club we play primarily with American toy trains. Additionally I have my own European O gauge collection with rather exotic rolling stock.

I do now,in G scale.My Dad left me some beautiful European trains made by LGB.I am getting ready for some outdoor train running that my Dad loved.

Dan

Does the Hogwarts Express count?  

I still have some LGB European-style narrow gauge locomotives (Austrian and one French).

I do have a Lionel Hogwarts Express that I acquired piece by piece. I want to add another GWR Hall class 4-6-0 and a couple of GWR-painted cars.

I do wish that I'd been in O earlier and had the foresight to buy Lima's BR MK-1 coaches either in BR Maroon or in Great Western livery.

I don't know how big the market is for European-style O in general and British-outline O in particular here in North America, but I think Lionel wouldn't have to worry so much about competition as they would in years gone by. The long 2008 (and forwards) recession shut down a lot of British O scale production.

Hi everyone,

If anybody here reads the German magazine MIBA, my two rail o scale layout, Georgenstadt, is on page 72 of the December 2014 issue.

All the best,

Miketg

I have a collection of 1960's-70's vintage Marklin and Fleischmann HO. I also have several Marklin Modern Era I Gauge trains. I have the Swiss Crocodile and MTH DB BR44 in O gauge.

Yes, because it is a fictional train set of British style steam loco and few coaches.

Do you display at German shows?  I come to Germany usually every two years to visit my wife's family.  We always go to Düsseldorf and Idar-Oberstein, and sometimes to Cuxhaven and Fürth, near Nürnberg. 

Hey John the ohm symbol at the top of the post screen has some additional symbols.

I cant use them right  but they are there Íƒ Ü ΨãΠΤ τÖ £ØÓΚ

Added this sweet NOS ETS car to my Euro collection today. In keeping with the rest of my Euro collection the couplers match nothing else I have, part of the fun. These are American style knuckles.

Note it is spotted outside the Cafe de Flores.

Maybe 8 years ago around Christmas time some drug stores used to have battery powered O scale sets that were made in gauge. The quality was usually very low. I got a SP GP9 led set and this neat DB S-3 pacific that has been mostly painted correctly but for the new road-name. It is a piece but I might try adding some postwar guts and some weight for fun.

Thanks!!!  I fixed it!  

Our club would like to participate 2017 near Frankfurt at the

www.us-convention-brd.de

but the transportation of our massive club layout and our limited resources and budget are a challenge. We have to think about it...

Where is your club located?  We have European Forum members and some of the US/Canadian members do travel to Europe.  I'm sure some here on the Forum would like to see it.

I collect and operate Bing, Hornby, and Bassett Lowke O Gauge together with MTH, Lionel,

Right of Way etc. etc. etc.  You can find my website at lewrail.jalbum.net.

Attached are a couple of photos showing Bing Super Clockwork and Hornby.

lewrail

Our club is located at Porvoo in Finland (approx. 40 kilometers/30 minutes drive east of Helsinki on the motorway in direction to St.Petersburg).

In this small province town someone can find an abandoned RR yard with station building and shed of historical heritage architecture.

Our club's video channel is 

https://www.youtube.com/user/P...ModelRailways/videos

Most probably our club will participate mid October at

http://www.nukkekotimessut.fi/suurisnadi/index2.html  

Myself I have two locations, Helsinki/Finland in the north (mostly when working) and Thessalonica/Greece in the south (occasionally when relaxing in my olive garden). 

I intend also to participate at the pre-Xmas model railroad event on November 21st and 22nd in the central Rw. Station of Helsinki, because on this weekend will be officially announced the opening of the Santa Claus season, a special occasion for kids with original Santa riding on real museum steam engine (no fake Hogward).

Ah, I should have guessed.   It is good to see that this hobby is enjoyed in Finland too.  Your club has a nice layout.  The museum operation looks interesting too.

BTW, where I live in Northern Michigan, are many descendants of Finnish immigrants.  Some towns have Finnish names. 

These two arrived today, they are Lima 2 rail that were made in Italy back in the 1970's & have been converted to 3 rail 12vdc.Are very light weight so will have to add some lead. L.M.S.4F's

Nose to nose with a Hogwarts. James

My great-grandfather was from Hancock, MI, the home of Finlandia University, formerly known as Suomi College, and many Finns immigrated there to work in copper mining. There was a lot of interesting railroading there, some of it narrow gauge, much of it supporting the mining industry.

Curiously, people of Finnish heritage in Upper Michigan are known as "Finlanders" rather than Finns. The version of Finnish spoken there is archaic, reflecting the lack of contact with the mother country since the wave of immigration in the 19th century. 

There is still a distinctive accent in the Central UP several generations later.  I lived in a town with a large Finnish population and picked it up.  Still have a bit of it yet.

One of the narrow gauge locos still operates in the summer, at Lake Linden.  Three others still exist at Hancock.  One original mining railroad still operates, the Lake Superior & Ishpeming.

Those are nice engines.  I like the buildings in the background too, scratch-built or kits?

I'm enjoying the reads, but keep the pictures coming! I'm seeing some great stuff here! Thank you, Terry

To confuse even more...

- Finnish speaking Finns (like Savonians, Carelians, etc.) --> Suomalainen...

- Swedish speaking Finns (in coastal area like Vaasa and on Baltic islands) --> Finlander...

- Sami speaking Finns (from Lapland/Lapponia/Lappi) --> official Santa Claus Land

- Gipsy/Roma with varying Finnish dialect

Over generations skilled Finnish ex-patriats settled in industrial areas of North-America on both sides along the Canadian border, like mineral mines, wood mills, pulp industries, steel mills, etc., where branchline and narrow gauge railroad was involved.

This is also one reason for the existence of our model RR club: to honor the Finns who helped building America's industry.

John I believe they are scratch build, bought them on line ready made.

James 

 Being a bit more like home, it was a natural fit climate wise for the people of the more northern European nations to settle in the north.

Pines, Pike and its big brother the Muskie , similar game, and sandy soil for rye didn't hurt the Great Lakes chances of becoming home for many of them either.

But mainly I think they came for lots of wood to heat the sauna with.

Hornby "Princess Elizabeth" and "Caerphilly Castle", Leeds 4-6-0 tank engine and 4-4-0, Acetrains A4 "Golden Eagle".

Hi John,

Obviously we must be twins separated at birth.  Who else besides us has the Hornby

P. Elizabeth, the Ace Mallard, a bunch of MTH PCC trolleys, and a Western Hobbycraft trolley to boot.

Lewrail

Woops. I see it's the Golden Eagle not the Mallard. Did you get the full Golden Eagle passenger set?  Here is another photo of my European madness.

Lewrail

I would but there is no ICE train in O gage.

I have an HO GG_1 made in yugoslavia!!
does that count as a european!
HA

Yes, I do.

Beautiful engine!!!  You should include the photo in the body of the post, so everyone can see it easier.

I see it. Its a close up. The engine is white. But I cant tell the make. Too close.

Or is it blue grey?

Darn this is worse than that blue/gold dress.

Hogwarts stable mate.James

.......and of course there is Percy!

Thank you John.  Wasn't sure how to do that and agree with your comment.

Still waiting for the completion of DCC and sound install; taking much longer that I had hoped for.

I don't know if I would call it "modeling" European trains but I'm about to purchase the Orient Express set from MTH as these are things of absolute beauty. And we've always intendEd to make our smaller layout town have that Teutonic/European feel to it. I find the structures, cobblestone streets and squares to be so picturesque. 

Peter

Hi Jay Jay and others.  Yes, I see your Corgi trolleys, and am happy to report that I

have 6 of them on my shelves.

Naturally I am happiest with my Hornby, Bassett Lowke, and Bing British trains, but

I'd like to put in a plug for Lionel's Shakespeare Express (son of Hogwarts).  The heavy die cast locomotive runs well and the whistle certainly captures the spirit of the GWR. Purists will question the scale, but I find that the locomotive works beautifully pulling

the Hornby #2 Corridor coaches.  Enjoy the photos.

Lewrail

None.

Jack

For those of you who plan to visit Europe here is compiled a list of sources (organizations, publications, clubs, forums, etc.) in various E.U. countries...

DENMARK 

http://www.spor0.dk/da/klubber.html

http://omjk.dk/web/index.php

FRANCE

http://www.cercleduzero.fr/

GERMANY

http://www.argespur0.de/

http://forum2.argespur0.de/forum2/viewforum.php?f=9

http://www.spurnull.de/

http://www.alte-spur-0.de/

http://www.0ec-koeln.de/

http://www.busecker-spur-0-tage.de/1.html

http://www.012-express.com/

http://www.spurnull-magazin.de/

http://www.fremo-net.eu/moduls...oesse-0/0-regelspur/

LUXEMBURG

http://www.amfl.net/

NETHERLANDS

http://home.kpn.nl/rkievit1956...weekeinde/index.html

http://nulspoor.blogspot.se/

SWITZERLAND

http://www.spur-0-expo.ch/

http://www.fremo-net.eu/moduls...ur-0-in-der-schweiz/

UNITED KINGDOM

http://www.gauge0guild.com/

http://www.classicogauge.net/forum/index.php

Sorry, if dealers/retailers/distributors/manufacturers are excluded, because I tried to avoid overloading this list with adverisements. Also Z, N, TT, HO, S, 1, G sources are excluded from this list.

This list is just attempt to map specifically the European coarse scale O gauge (vintage and modern tinplate) and O scale (1:43,5 and 1:45) situation, which can be extended by any forum member, if you happen to have some more European sources.

Please, keep in mind to get in contact with the mentioned clubs in advance and ask for an appointment, because most of them are small clubs in private premises with irregular opening hours. Some of the clubs attend at scheduled public events during weekends.

Thank you for this great resource - especially organized by nation. 

I do not.

Jeff Davis