Brian’s been in touch with his Orient Express model train layout:
“Having more or less finished my n-gauge layout a while ago, although of course as we all know a layout is never really finished, I decided to start a OO gauge layout in the loft and
venture into the world of DCC operation and sound.
Although the various sounds of steam and diesel for each locomotive are incredible, I hadn’t foreseen the problems of working and running a model railway in an environment with extreme temperatures in winter and summer (yes, even here in the UK).
Anyway, I won’t dwell on that, especially as my finance manager won’t approve the budget for a full loft conversion or even roof insulation, funny that!
Moving swiftly on. With a friend and his little boy coming around to see my n-gauge layout recently, I thought I’d better tidy the shed up, and consequently sold quite a few items on e- bay. As the star of my layout is the eight coach Kato Orient Express (with lights), I decided to purchase another more up to date loco to pull it, the Fleischmann SBB-CFF-FFS Re460 (popularly known as the Lok 2000).
There are several manufacturers who have produced this locomotive in N gauge including Minitrix and Kato, and all are very fine models, but Iopted for the Fleischmann and haven’t been disappointed.
It’s interesting that the Swiss Federal Railways decided to benefit from the revenue generated from advertising on the Re460’s, and that the model manufacturers have faithfully reproduced some of these.
However, finding the fantastic photograph of the VSOE (Venice Simplon Orient Express) crossing the Luogelkin viaduct in Switzerland double-headed by the SBB Re460’s in standard red livery (see my video), I had to have this version.
The Orient Express coaches that you see in the video are one of the two CIWL (Compagnie Internationale des Wagon-Lits) coach packs produced by Kato to celebrate the 1988 record breaking ‘longest railway journey’ (15,000km) Paris to Hong Kong via the Soviet Union and
China, staged by Japan’s Fuji Television.
After arriving in Hong Kong the train was shipped to Japan for a three-month schedule of promotional journeys. The quality of the Kato models is exceptional. Mouldings are crisp and the detailing of door handles and windows is outstanding. The lettering and CIWL badge are so good, that through an eyeglass one can read the lettering in the logo.
Unlike the early Lima CIWL cars, the Kato models have detailed interiors. The Pullman saloon car is supplied with table lamps that light up as standard, and the other cars (in my set) have been fitted with the Kato lighting kit that gives a general level of lighting to each car.
I think you’ll agree that the complete train looks just great on my layout, but it failed to take the ‘star spot’ in my friend’s little boy’s opinion. That was taken by Tomix’s Thomas the tank engine with Annie and Clarabel. Now, there’s a surprise.
Just out of interest, I wrote a detailed article for the N Gauge Journal (N Gauge Society) and the Pullman CIWL Newsletter (Terry Bye) a couple of years ago on the 1988 Paris to Hong Kong Orient Express. If anyone is interested in a copy of it, please contact me at my e-mail address: plymouthrockey@gmail.com.
Brian, Berkshire, UK”
Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.
A big thanks to Brian for sharing his Orient Express model train layout video and narrative – wonderful stuff!
That’s all for today folks.
Please do keep ’em coming.
And if today is the day you get started on your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.
Best
Al
PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.
Great video, very well presented, gave the ‘feeling’ just right.
Would have liked to see more of the layout, but the atmosphere was captured beautifully.
Well done Brian , sure looks great …Dangerous Dave
Wonderfully clever presentation. Music helped set the mood. Enjoyed your detailed write out also. Thanks for sharing.
Gorgeous layout. I envy your skill. Sometimes it was not easy to distinguish between the model and the reality. Well done.
GaryOC Australia.
Great layout and awesome video Brian
Very well done. Peroit would have been glad to ride that train.
My wife and I took the “Orient Express back in the sisters from Paris to Stuttgart Germany. Then they stop it but they started up again. I think Paris to Istanbul.
Well played Brian the video was amazing and obviously so is your layout congratulations on a job well done and also good luck on your OO scale needless to say you set the bar pretty high so can’t wait for the next video.
Well done!!
This is a great video. Well done.
My first thought when I read the write up was Murder on the Orient Express: and then there they were! Excellent work of using live and model pictures. Very well done.
Brian,Truly Amazing video and layout. Alistair, this website just keeps getting better and better. How can we amateurs ever catch up? I took the real Orient Express 50 years ago from Frankfort Germany to Munich, Germany. The next stop was Istanbul. I stood in the doorway with my suitcase the whole trip. This brings back the memories.
Thanks,
Mike Schulze
Great layout great movie well directed and WHO done it?.
What a great layout and video, Brian! Thank you for sharing, and thank you, Al, for posting.
Superbly done video. Thanks for sharing!
Great “feel-good” video – I’m so disappointed that I can’t download it.
Is it supposed to be protected?
Well done. Would like to see you post to YouTube with more of the layout featured. It is really great to see someone having so much fun with his layout and train operations.
question,i have a 12x 20 layout which im finding difficult to maintain,considering my age 70.im thinking of dismantling.would i be mad to do so.as i know zero about electrics,and start all over again.