Holzroller Ae477 - O Gauge
19 (ex DR 142) Ae477 locos were bought from the DB by Lookop AG for use on the Mittelthurgaubahn (MThB) and Südostbahn (SOB) I have recently become the proud owner of this unique Gauge O model.

Hi Alan, Good looking loco, whats the construction and Drive? David

Hi David, The loco was scratchbuilt by Paul Deboni, one of the most talented modellers in our club. He also built the replica of Wohlen station, before it was renovated in 1983, as seen in the background. Each bogie is driven by it's own Faulhaber motor.

Hi Alan, That is one very nice loco. It is also a mouth watering glimpse of what is obviously a very nice layout. Is there any site where one can see more? European modelling in O scale to that standard is not something we get the chance to enjoy every day! Best wishes, Richard

Hi Richard, I belong to two model clubs with O Gauge layouts. Belonging to a club is the only way to enjoy that scale, because very few have so much space at home. These are the websites of those clubs.... http://reppischtaler.eisenbahn-amateure.ch and http://feac.ch Under 'Bilder' you'll find some photos.

Hi Alan, Having checked out the exceptionally enticing photos on both sites I now do not know, if given the choice, whether I would decide I wanted to own all those O Scale trains or live in Switzerland (OK - I would ask for both)! I have honestly never seen a collection of European O Scale stock like that, and to see it actually working on a layout rather than in a display case is something very, very special. It is now in my list of "Favourites". Living in Australia it is even getting hard to see European HO layouts "down under" now ( or simply buy the item you want - there used to be quite a market for it once - now Roco and Liliput in particular are virtually impossible to buy locally) so I am relying more and more on the web lately to look at layouts. So, to see a working main line European O Scale layout is a first for me - after over 45 years in the hobby! It's funny, but I have often thought that given the space, the ability and the access to European O, I would have gone down that track. The closest I have ever got, unfortunately, are the pages in Continental Modeller reviewing the new 7mm scale Nurnberg items - none of them to my knowledge ever make it to Australia (though we do get British tinplate models and occasional items of Marklin and Aster Gauge One). Has your club thought of showing the layout on "YouTube"? (Yes - I know I am being greedy). Seriously, thanks very much for the links. Richard

Hi Richard, You should look at comming to Wellington In November then you could view the Gauge 1 display layout "Istein" Not a lot of European Spur O that I am aware of in NZ but lots of European HO, but Mainly Marklin Orientated. John

Hi John, Hope all is well with the storms and flooding you are having there at the moment. I've been fortunate enough over the years to have had three extended holidays in New Zealand. It is a truly beautiful country with so many variations in scenery. Unfortunately due to business commitments I won't be able to get there before Christmas, but if the "Istein" layout is still on the exhibition circuit in 2009 it is quite likely a visit I will make. To anyone who is reading this and has never had the opportunity to research New Zealand railway history, it's something I would recommend if you like the combination of some of the most brutish and powerful narrow gauge steam locos ever engineered (with wheel arrangements up to 4-8-4), intense gradients and spectacular scenery (in parts on a par with Canada, while in other parts you could easily feel you were in England or Scotland). Unfortunately with the withdrawal of steam and the increase in road transport, the "Golden Age" of New Zealand railways, like here in Australia, is now probably behind us. Having said that the scenery is still the same. I am glad to see European modelling is still going well there - in fact I may be sourcing spare parts for Marklin from New Zealand as the availability range there seems excellent. Best wishes, Richard

Hi Richard, Istein will be on the exhibition circuit in the lower North Island for a few more years yet. It may get down to Christchurch at Easter 2010, but we will see what happens there. It is actually quite surprising the depth of European modelling in Wellington, although it does only really cover Austria, Switzerland and Germany, with scales z, n, HO, HOe, HOm, 1 gauge, and I suppose you could say Oe as well. John