Garfield

Hi Anto, The locos in those auctions are old Jouef engines, so I'm not sure how well they run. The detailing wouldn't be up to quite the same standards as today's models either. The models they produce now are great runners and have excellent detailing. Here are the the up-to-date models of those locos: http://www.ontracks.co.uk/index.php?page=product&prodID=115104&catID=118 http://www.ontracks.co.uk/index.php?page=product&prodID=163893&catID=118 Roco also produce models of these locos, which are a bit cheaper but may need a little bit of 'hands on' work to get them to the same standard.

I recently came across a company called Absolute Aspects, who produce rather good colour light signals in 4mm scale. They're a perfect match for the modern signals used by IÉ. Their website can be found at www.absoluteaspects.com.

Nice work, Anto! Quick question... did you use the hairspray method to get the chipped look on the cement bubbles?

The City Elefant looks similar to to the Z20900 EMUs used on SNCF's Paris suburban services... http://www.flickr.com/photos/13039838@N06/5885768170/

I had a secondhand Y8000 but I sold it on a while ago. It ran well but it was looking a bit rough around the edges and the model needs a detailing kit to bring it up to standard, in my opinion. I'll probably buy another one at some stage and detail it, though, because I do really like those locotracteurs. The 68000 is nice, but I've never seen photos of one running on Le Cévenol - at least not in the last 10 years or so - so I couldn't justify the cost of buying one at the moment. Fab-looking loco, though!

Amateur!

J Beaumont is none other than JHBAchill171, who should be here in due course.

Speaking of Penn electrics... were you tempted to pick up one of these? http://www.internethobbies.com/bac-82405.html

Quite true! Of course, the E units didn't pull it off as well as the GG1s... http://www.flickr.com/photos/thefuton/3442109288/ A loco in the NYC lightning bolt scheme will look great!

Good to see you here, Wanderer!

I think I have a new favourite! Now, what are the chances they'll turn out a loco in Penn Central colours?

Cheers, Fran! The X73500 and Inox coaches are by Jouef and the locotracteur is by LS Models, who also produce the AGC sets. Pricey, but well worth it! Nice video of the CC72000... those locos are absolute beasts!

Just posted it.

When I'm not frying my brain trying to model Irish Railways in OO or American railroads in N, I'm concentrating on modern day SNCF in HO scale. In all honesty, it probably has greater priority than the other two areas for me right now. My plan is to eventually build a layout loosely based on Langogne station, on the famous Cévenol route between Clermont-Ferrand and Nîmes (photos here). It's a lightly used trunk route that's seen better days and, although the stock is modern and the scenery is fantastic, the infrastructure looks rather dilapidated, and there's still semaphore signalling and hand-operated points in places. Added to that, the freight and track maintenance trains are magnets for graffiti artists (see photo link). Here's a rough trackplan of Langogne that I cobbled together: My layout will be a somewhat simplified version of this. For one, the yard will be smaller and there will only be one engine shed and water tower, and possibly no turntable. I also want to fit in some features found at other stations along the line. As for stock, passenger services will be handled by X73500 and AGC diesel railcars, and loco-hauled Corail coaches hauled by the venerable BB67400 diesels - all operated by TER (regional railway division) of the Auvergne and Languedoc-Rousillon regions. As for freight, the only flow currently transported over the line is timber and pulpwood, handled by a pair of EuroCargoRail MaK/Vossloh G1206 locos. Maintenance trains are handled either by the long-lived BB63000 or BB66000 locos, or by privately-owned contractor locos. Light shunting is undertaken by Y7100 'locotracteurs'. Here's some of the stock that I'll be running: X73500 in TER Auvergne livery... Y7100 locotracteur in Arzens livery... Inox coaches (to be heavily weathered and graffiti'ed and used as dormer/workshop coaches on works trains)...

Is it modern SNCF stuff? I'm about to start a thread on my own French project...

Je ne peux pas attendre!

French you say? Photos. Now.

But of course... it's imperative you have a rake of loaded hoppers and a rake of empties!

Are you sure that'll be enough?

Nice locos, Fran. Are the Bethgons yours too?

Nice to see this thread on the go here, Fran!

Each time I look at the photos the model looks better and better!

Some of the first anyway, Rich!

Agreed, the forum looks great!

Kept an eye on this layout on the old IRM and on RMWeb... it's coming along nicely! Love the TGV.