Vi har arbetat mer med vår modell av Åmåls stationsbyggnad under juli. Fönsterbågarna har limmats fast och sedan har glasmaterialet lagts bakom dem. Vi satte sedan ihop basen och satte ihop de fyra sidorna (stående på basen) hålls ihop med ett elastiskt band! Vi bestämde oss då för att lägga till en liten detalj som inte ingår i satsen, och med hjälp av 0,5 mm mässingsstång har vi nu en målad ledstång vid stegen.
Vi besökte LennaKatten (Uppsala Lenna Järnväg) för att ha en trevlig dag ute och forska i signaleringen där, speciellt den gamla ställverket vid Lenna, som har varit föremål för en kort bruksanvisning. Men det lämnade oss med fler frågor än svar. Vi hade även ett bra och lärorikt samtal med en signalkille på järnvägen. De flesta av våra frågor är nu besvarade, men några finns kvar. Vi skulle vilja återskapa detta på vår eventuella nya layout, därav det extra intresset.
Vi har skaffat en annan dressin; inte ännu en ‘modifierad Volvo’ utan en specialbyggd MDR 125. Det är en statisk hartsmodell (och kan inte fås att fungera), men den kommer att se bra ut bara parkerad i ett sidospår någonstans! En av de vanligaste servicefordonstyperna genom tiderna är MDR (MDR = Motordressinen). Många hundra dressiner tillverkades från 1920-talet fram till 1960-talet. Dressinerna användes för bland annat persontransporter och inspektioner, men även ambulanstransporter på Malmbanan. Många har senare skrotats, men en del används än idag. De har dock i allt större utsträckning ersatts av dual-mode-fordon (bilar som kan användas på både väg och järnväg) som har fler användningsområden. Vår, nummer 3245, är från satsen MDR 125, nr. 3244-3309, med fyra dörrar, byggda av Bergbolagen Lindesberg 1956. De gick på bensin, och var även kända som ’köttbullar’ eller ’ärtor’ beroende på vem man frågar!
Andra intressanta nyheter
Vi har nyligen införskaffat en bok från 1979 om servicevagnar med UIC-nummer. Av den har vi lärt oss att UIC-bokstäverna för servicefordon inte följer samma regler som de flesta andra vagnar. Till exempel betyder ett “a” som andra tecken inte att fordonet är monterat på boggier. Även om detta förklarar hur vår ‘Qab’ bara kan ha två axlar (och ‘Qbd’ är på boggier), har det väckt en fråga om vår ‘Qab’, en Heljan-modell. Enligt boken gällde ‘Qab’ en typ av plog som aldrig faktiskt användes (en tilldelad kod). Tidigare FV1 skåpbilar visas som en typ ‘Qae’ (Q5) Impregneringsverk, senare Ogräsbekämpningsvagn, ‘Qgb’, lagervagn, ‘Qgg’, släpvagn, ‘Qlh-h’, städvagn (“-h” med torkning rum), och så fortsätter det. Det finns en nummerlista och vår vagn 945 4 229 ska vara en ‘Qgb’ fram till slutet av 1976, då den byggdes om till typ ‘Hvös’. Det var en före detta FV1, nummer 25770. Nu tog nyfikenheten verkligen överhanden och vi tittade i SMJ:s bok om 1930-talets vagnar. Nummer 25770 var en av de första, byggd av AB Svenska Järnvägsverkstäderna, Falun 1937. Här får vi dock veta att det efter en tid som ‘Qgb’ blev ‘Qfa’ (1986, efter att boken publicerats). Vi förstår att vagnen fortfarande finns i Nässjö, där det finns ett järnvägsmuseum, men detta är inte bekräftat. Däremot är våra ‘Qbd’ barlastvagnar (Roco) modeller av en typ som tidigare känd (pre-UIC) som ‘Q32b’, och byggdes av Talbot, 1957-58. Lätt!
Work continued on our newer replacement model of Åmål station building during July. All window frames were glued into place, and then the glazing material behind them. We then mounted the platform onto the base, and the plinths onto the walls; and put the four sides together, standing on the base, held together with an elastic band! We then decided to add a little detail not included in the kit, and using 0.5mm brass rod, we now have a painted handrail by the steps.
The four walls held together with a band, and mounted onto the base.We have added a handrail to our new model of Åmål station building. (The poor-fit gaps are due to the model not being glued together at this stage!)
A visit to the ‘LennaKatten’ (Uppsala Lenna Järnväg) seemed a good idea, at least for research purposes; but it was a nice day out in good company, anyway. The research element focussed around Lenna station, where the very traditional signalling (read: locking frame) has been the subject of a short instruction manual; but which left us with more questions than answers. Sadly, the passing loop there is not used in normal service, so observation of the procedures was not possible (it is “switched out” for automatic signal operation). But having a look around the site did help; and this was followed by a lengthy chat with a signalling guy at the railway. Most of our questions are now answered, but a few remain.
Loco 5, “Thor” at Marielund.Diesel-hauled trains on the ULJ are just as interesting.
We may present an article about this subject at a later date, but for now, a brief overview; and readers who are not interested in railway signalling can skip this paragraph! The locking frame type used at Lenna has keys. These keys are used in the point levers (in pairs) and one or the other can be removed depending on point position. This removed key is inserted into the frame to unlock slide bars, which in turn can unlock the signals. If the Station Master has key type K3 in his possession, he knows that all points are in their normal position. Inserting K3 to a point lever, enables him to change the point, thus releasing a key type K1 or K2. In some instances, this key goes into the locking frame; in other instances the K1 or K2 goes into the lever at a corresponding point to release the other (K2 or K1), which is the one inserted to the locking frame. There are 16 different types of key, but only five are used at Lenna. We would like to recreate this on our eventual new layout, hence the extra interest.
This is the Locking Frame at Lenna; the levers operate the locking slide bars.Key K¹ is locked into place in the frame. K² is for the ‘other’ point. ‘A’ is one of the home signals. Note the different key profiles that are required.Key K³ is locked into the point and cannot be removed until the ‘other’ key has been inserted, and the point changed.Key K³ has been removed, locking this point in its position. (We know it’s a ‘K³’ from the profile.)
We have acquired another dressin; not another ‘modified Volvo’ but a purpose-built MDR125. It is a static resin model (and cannot be made to work), but it will look good just parked in a siding somewhere! One of the most common service vehicle types of all time is the MDR (MDR = Motordressinen). Many hundreds of dressines were produced from the 1920s until the 1960s. The dressines were used for, among other things, passenger transport and inspections, but also ambulance transport on the Malmbanan. Many have later been scrapped, but some are still used today. However, they have increasingly been replaced by motor trolleys and dual-mode vehicles (cars that can be used on both road and rail) which have more areas of use. (There is no direct English translation for Dressin, so this and the plural Dressines have been spelt accordingly to aid pronunciation, notwithstanding any misinterpretations!) Ours, number 3245 is from the batch MDR 125, nos. 3244-3309, with four doors, built by Bergbolagen Lindesberg in 1956. They ran on petrol, and were also known as ‘meatballs’ or ‘peas’ depending on who you ask!
Internet photo of the MDR 125; but these did not usually stand off the rails.Internet photo of MDR 125 3245 on the track; a nice addition to any siding!Three assorted MDR at a location somewhere along the Inlandsbanan.MD 0091 on the Inlandsbanan; typical of the quintessential Dressin.
Other News
We have recently acquired a book from 1979 about service wagons with UIC numbering. From it, we have learned that the UIC letters for service vehicles don’t follow the same rules as most other wagons. For example, an ‘a’ as the second character does not mean that the vehicle is mounted on bogies. Whilst this explains how our ‘Qab’ can have only two axles (and the ‘Qbd’ is on bogies), it has raised a question about our ‘Qab’, a Heljan model. According to the book, ‘Qab’ applied to a type of plough that was never actually used (an allocated code). Former FV1 vans are shewn as a type ‘Qae’ (Q5) Impregnation works, later Weed control wagon, ‘Qgb’, stores wagon, ‘Qgg’, trailer, ‘Qlh-h’, cleaning wagon (“-h” with drying room), and so it goes on. There is a number list and our wagon 945 4 229 should be a ‘Qgb’ until late 1976, when it was rebuilt to type ‘Hvös’. It was a former FV1, number 25770. Now, curiosity really did get the better of us and we looked in SMJ’s book on 1930s carriages. It was one of the first, built by AB Svenska Järnvägsverkstäderna, Falun in 1937. However, here we learn that after a time as ‘Qgb’, it became ‘Qfa’ (in 1986, after the book was published, so the type isn’t listed). We understand, but this is not confirmed, that the van still exists at Nässjö, where there is a railway museum.
The ‘Qab’ is a former Fv1 (F5).
By contrast, our ‘Qbd’ ballast wagons are (Roco) models of a type formerly known (pre-UIC) as ‘Q32b’, and were built by Talbot, 1957-58. Easy!
Behind the Scenes
Mini-Series around the FLMJ; H: The Website
As mentioned earlier in this mini-series, we were not the fastest to go online, and justifiably so. There seemed little need, and everything was ticking over nicely. But, we were often asked if the Railway had a website where people could follow its progress, and ‘put like that’, it seemed a good idea. One of our Friends created both of our websites; the original one using the technology that was available at the time, but was cumbersome to maintain; and the current one, which is closer to basic desktop publication, and can be regularly updated with ease by other members.
The website was naturally intended to bring news about the Railway, and how everything was progressing. It was like a blog, and to some extent remains as such. However, with so much research being necessary, and wanting to share this hobby as much as possible, the website also became a repository of articles relating to the Swedish railways, be they features about locomotives, wagons, signalling systems, or whatever else we have needed to research. And this seems to be the main attraction today (well of course, whilst the FLMJ is closed, there’s not much else to write about)! Much of our research material can be found on the internet, in Swedish; so we present it in English. Only our own updates are available in both languages, and this is something that needs to continue if the Railway is to truly ‘belong’ here.
Nevertheless, there is a genuine fear among railway groups that too much information on the internet is having a backlash, and membership numbers in societies catering for special interests within the hobby are dropping. These specialist Societies have been reporting an average of 20% loss in subscriptions. The British based Scandinavian Railways Society is suffering this effect, and both their former website and our website, may have been contributing to this effect; by giving away so much information online, that there seems little need to join a society, no matter how friendly! They have reigned in their website so that it promotes the Society without giving away too much general knowledge, but will soon have a members’ area where the articles can be placed. We will follow suit, but with edited copies of the articles freely visible, and the more detailed articles available to our Friends. We identify ‘Friend’ (note upper-case ‘F’) as someone who is actively involved with the Railway’s development, maintenance and operation; someone who would be if they weren’t so far away, or have other barriers (but, including regular guests); and someone who has shewn significant interest and with whom we have regular correspondence. So, we feel that this is a suitable way to move forward in this digital age without causing the specialist Societies, the SRS especially, to suffer.
Next month: the Special Reports and Local Promotion
Vi har köpt en vagn typ Bo14a, modell av Piko. Det är en typ som skulle ha byggts för en privat järnväg och senare förvärvats av SJ (vilket numret, 3867, antyder). Denna vagn kanske inte ens är 100% äkta, men den är en bra representation av typen och har likheter med standarddesignen från 1930-talet. Liksom Rocos Bo8a från OKB och absorberad av SJ har den delvis öppna fönster! Det är en snyggt byggd modell och jobbet för juni var att eftermontera NEM-kopplingsmekanismer. Vi använde den vanliga Symoba-enheten och med förbehåll för testning verkar allt ha gått bra. Men hjulen…! Nej, inte som vissa andra senaste köp, dessa är inte ac, men deras flänsar är inte lämpliga för kod 83 räls! Men vi har kunnat trimma dem!
Vi fortsatte vårt arbete med modellen av Åmåls stationsbyggnad. Den emaljmattsvarta färgen hade verkat ha torkat blank, och verkligen ljus lyste igenom! När vi letade igenom en “modelleringslåda” som vi hade fått, hittade vi lite mattsvart akrylfärg, och detta fortsatte med bättre resultat. (Rännorna och stuprören lämnades dock blanka.) Vi målade även fönsterbågarna (Humbrol) Aircraft Blue. Åmål station hade blå fönsterbågar vid vårt besök (för ca 20 år sedan(!)), men vi bestämde oss för att detta var för mörkt, och den valda färgen är ganska populär i Sverige för fönsterbågar!
Tillverkarens Nyheter
Med så korta somrar är det typiskt att de flesta företag här lägger ner i en månad eller två! Så det finns inga nyheter från tillverkarna.
Andra intressanta nyheter
Vi har lagt till en länk till Model Railway Forum, som är baserat i Storbritannien, och vänder sig mest till den brittiska järnvägsmodelleringsscenen. Ändå finns det lite kontinentalt innehåll där och det hanteras av en av våra vänner!
På vår kommande evenemangssida har vi tyvärr varit tvungna att markera en som “inställd”. Järnvägsevenemang med europeiska tema i Storbritannien minskar i antal, och detta hade varit ett stort evenemang för Scandinavian Railways Society (tillsammans med Global-Rail, som brukade hållas på Didcot). SRS kommer att ha sin reklammonter vid French Railways Societys evenemang i augusti och vid det stora Warley-evenemanget i november. Dessutom väntas några av deras medlemmar med danska eller norska modelljärnvägar till Bridport i slutet av juli, Comberton i början av september (ej bekräftat), Willand i mitten av september, Aldershot i oktober och Westbury i november.
For our heritage fleet we acquired a carriage type Bo14a (a Piko model). There is quite a long history to this type of carriage, and it would have been built for a private railway and later acquired by SJ (which the number, 3867, suggests); indeed the designation seems to relate to various different designs and bodies and so on. This carriage might not even be authentic, but it is a good representation of the type and has similarities with the standard 1930s pattern. Like Roco’s Bo8a from the OKB and absorbed by SJ, it has partially open windows! It is a nicely made model and the job for June was to retrofit NEM coupling mechanisms. We used the standard Symoba device, and subject to testing, all seems to have gone well. However, the wheels….! No, not like certain other recent purchases, these are not ac, but their flanges aren’t suitable for code 83 rails! But so slightly, that we were able to spin the wheels and use a file to marginally trim them! Job done; a bit of a bodge, but not unsightly and no compromises.
We returned to our work on the model of Åmål station building. The enamel matt black paint had seemed to have dried glossy, and indeed light shone through! Searching through a ‘modelling box’ that we had been given, we found some acrylic matt black paint, and this went on with better results. (The gutters and downpipes were left glossy, however.) We also painted the window frames (Humbrol) Aircraft Blue. Åmål station had blue window frames at the time of our visit (about 20 years ago(!)), but we decided that this was too dark, and the colour chosen is quite popular in Sweden for window frames!
Piko Bo14a 3867, retrofitted with NEM coupling sockets.Light blue window frames (right) and acrylic matt black (left) for our replacement model of Åmål station building.
Manufacturer News
With such short summers, it is typical that most manufacturers in Sweden shut down for a month or two! Not just model railway manufacturers, but across the country. People naturally want to make the most of the short period of very good weather! (But firmly imprinted on the memories of some club members is a holiday to Sweden, which included a trip to Öland, Sweden’s primary holiday destination, to find nearly all of the restaurants shut for the summer! This seemed a little strange, and greatly inconvenient.)
Other News
Shortly before India’s devastating train crash, there was a high-speed derailment at Arlandastad, very near to where Adrian lives. Fortunately, it was the rear of the train that left the tracks at 150kmh, and only two people needed to be taken to hospital. Had it been the front, the consequences would have been more catastrophic. Already, poor permanent way has been identified as the cause; and just like in the UK, concerns had been raised by workers, which were ignored by managers. It is our understanding that the section is a little peculiar in that it is privately owned and maintained by the company whose train derailed (which is why they can charge a fortune to customers to/from other train operators to use their platforms at Arlanda); and for the endangerment to life, there is a possibility of criminal charges being levied. Of greater hope to all passengers who use the airport is the possibility that they will lose their monopoly; and then travel to and from the airport can be without the extra charges. But, time will tell. Until then, we continue to urge all passengers (as we did even before the derailment) to take the local SL bus to the railway station at Märsta for onward travel, or the direct busses to Stockholm or Uppsala cities.
We’ve added a link to the Model Railway Forum, which is based in the UK, and caters mostly for the UK railway modelling scene. Nevertheless, there is a little continental content there and it is managed by one of our Friends!
On our forthcoming events page, we have sadly had to mark one as “cancelled”. European themed railway events in the UK are dropping in number, and this had been a big event for the Scandinavian Railways Society (along with Global-Rail, which used to be held at Didcot). The SRS will have their promotional stand at the French Railways Society’s event in August, and at the big Warley event in November. Additionally, some of their members with Danish or Norwegian themed layouts are expected at Bridport late July, Comberton early September (not confirmed), Willand mid September, Aldershot in October and Westbury in November.
Behind the Scenes
Mini-Series around the FLMJ; G: The Articles
Köpingsvik, the KRBJ, the FLMJ, and even Steninge, all featured in glossy railway magazines around the world. Peco Publications’ magazine, “Continental Modeller” is a companion magazine to “Railway Modeller”, but as its title suggests, it’s for non-British railways. The editor has nearly always been grateful to receive articles, and generally does a good job as editor. Köpingsvik was featured as a special feature, a stand-alone railway for indoor use, which was also part of a garden railway. We didn’t write a full article about the KRBJ as we had just extended to Röjeråsen (at the time of the Köpingsvik article), and there wasn’t much to show for it; yet we didn’t want to keep delaying! There existed, for a short while, a similar magazine in the US, catering for non-American layouts. This is a very low-interest area and sadly the magazine did not last for long; but the publication of a similar article about Köpingsvik was well received. In Sweden, the newly built FLMJ was featured in an edition of “Tåg” before they dropped all modelling interest, and much more recently in “Modeljärnvägsmagasinet” (“The model railway magazine”)! A very good dialogue is maintained with the editor there; and he has been keen to translate our English submissions to Swedish, given that it will be a while before Adrian is fully fluent! (Other themed articles have been sent also, hence the plural!) Returning to the UK, it is natural that the Railway has featured in “Skandiapilen”, the journal of the Scandinavian Railways Society. Without doubt, articles about a new railway will be sent to all relevant magazines, when the time is right to do so.
How the FLMJ was seen in Sweden’s primary railway magazine, ‘Tåg’.
Vi har målat mattsvart på insidan av några hussatser för att blockera interiörbelysningen från att lysa igenom plasten. Vi kommer då att montera fönster och dörrar, men inte faktiskt montera dem; så att vi kan lägga undan dem i deras lådor tills ett permanent hem har hittats åt dem. Vi började med modellen av Åmåls stationsbyggnad (vår Lövhöjden, som behövde bytas ut efter att ha skadats av så mycket väder). Under denna månad har vi även tagit del av några bra priser på Joswood laserskurna kit och två har köpts in, redo för samma behandling.
Tillverkarens Nyheter
HNoll har kommit med fler nyheter. Förseningar beror som vi redan vet på problem i Kina med Covid, och problem i Sverige med räntor och generellt stigande priser! B4/BF4/BF7 väntas på sensommaren. Resten av A7/B7 och specialvagnarna väntas strax därefter. A11/B11 skulle vara nästa, men för närvarande finns det inte tillräckligt med intäkter från befintliga modeller för att betala för deras produktion. HNoll befarar att folk kommer att ge upp att vänta och behålla sina Roco-modeller, men när HNolls överlägsna kvalitet väl uppskattas tror vi att de flesta modellbyggare kommer att välja att ändra dem. Första generationens A7/B7 och BFS9 finns på ritbordet/CAD. Förutom ett omnämnande av B2/B10 finns det, klokt, inget vidare utvecklingsschema. (Vi hoppas på följande modeller: A7 (första serien), B7 (första serien), B2, B4 och UAF7, alla i brunt, två av varje utom UAF7 (en). Om HNoll skulle producera R4 i brunt utan InterCity pil skulle en av dem också vara trevlig.) Utöver 1980-talets vagnar överväger HNoll 1940-/1970-talets BC2 liggvagn, 1960-talets R1 restaurangvagn och 1960-talets WL1 sovvagn. (Alla dessa skulle passa oss väldigt bra.) De skulle vara dyrare än befintliga modeller eftersom de nästan inte har några designdetaljer som kan “bäras över” till/från andra modeller! (Varken R1 eller WL1 finns i NMJ:s 1960-talsvagnar.) HNoll planerar fortfarande att tillverka ett Ma-lok i toppklass, även om Jeco har en befintlig modell; och vi befarar att detta skulle hamna i priskategorin Brimalm och locka så få köpare att det inte skulle vara en klok investering. (Varför inte bygga en acceptabel modell av Mg-loket; det skulle vara mycket mer användbart och populärt?) Dessutom vill HNoll producera X10-enheten och alla dess derivat. De enda aktuella modellerna är satserna från SWB/UGJ, men med ett Byggsvenskt chassi fungerar dessa fint; skulle X10 locka tillräckligt många köpare för att vara värd att producera? Vi skulle föredra X9; aldrig gjort färdig att köra tidigare, men en bra representation av SJ:s rullande materielhistoria.
Andra intressanta nyheter
Vi har återställt en länk till det Storbritannien-baserade Scandinavian Railways Society, nu när deras webbplats är tillbaka under samhällets kontroll och ser mycket bättre ut; snyggt, läsvärt, relevant, osv…! Vi har också lagt till en länk till Model Train Prices på vår hemsida. Priser på modeller jämförs mellan butiker, inklusive 20 i Sverige; men det är inte bara för svenska modeller. Prova och se.
It’s been a low-activity month, again. We won’t bore you with the saga of finding a suitable home for the Railway, because it is just about buildings. But this has taken up a lot of time recently. Desperate to do some model-related activity, it was decided to open some of the housing kits, paint matt black on the insides to block interior lighting from shining through the plastic; and then fit things such as windows and doors. Stopping at this point means that the kits can be put back in their boxes, for assembly once in situ in the eventual location. But we can also use a very low-tack adhesive if we want to put them together for photography or other reasons! During this month, we also took advantage of some good prices on Joswood laser-cut kits, and two have been purchased, ready for the same treatment. We started with the Heljan model of Åmål, as used at Lövhöjden. Our existing model is quite badly weather-damaged, so having found an unbuilt kit on Tradera (the Swedish ‘eBay’) some time ago, we decided that it would be good to replace it. In addition to the insides of the walls and rooves, we painted the gutters and downpipes, chimney tops (and insides), and small details on the main base plate. Looking further ahead, we are intending to not use the printed paper curtains, because the interior lighting shines through the curtains but not the space in-between. Instead, we intend to fit home-made interior walls, basic interior details suitably painted, and have a more authentic appearance. Quite how well this goes will be determined as we do it!
The Joswood summer house and school buildings, as kits.Matt Black (looking glossy whilst wet) has been applied to the insides of this model to prevent the light from shining through the plastic!Åmål station building, by Heljan, seen here at the old Lövhöjden.
Manufacturer News
HNoll continues to keep modellers up to date with developments, and despite all the problems being experienced, Rickard remains up-beat, which is good to know. The problems are of course, the delays in China due to Covid; and an enormous hike in interest rates and utility prices, affecting people’s ability to buy the models, and subsequently HNoll’s ability to produce the next round of models. a) The B4/BF4/BF7 are expected late summer. b) The remainder of the A7/B7 and the Special carriages are expected soon after. c) The A11/B11 would be next, but currently there is not enough revenue from existing models to pay for their production. HNoll fears that people will give up waiting and retain their Roco models, but once HNoll’s superior quality is appreciated, we think that most modellers will choose to change them. d) First Generation A7/B7 and the BFS9 are on the drawing board / CAD. e) Other than a mention of the B2/B10, there is, wisely, no further development schedule. (As a point of interest, we are hoping for the following models; A7 (first series), B7 (first series), B2, B4 and UAF7, all in brown, two of each except the UAF7 (one). If HNoll were to produce the R4 in brown without the InterCity chevrons, one of those would also be nice.) There are however, mentions of other, non-1980s carriages; either to accompany the proposed ‘InterCity’ concept train or as requested by modellers. These are the 1940s/1970s BC2 couchette carriage, 1960s R1 catering carriage, and 1960s WL1 sleeping carriage. All of these would suit the FLMJ very well. They would be pricier than existing models because they have very few design details that can carry over to/from other models! (Neither the R1 nor WL1 are in NMJ’s 1960s carriages range.) HNoll still plans to produce a top-of-the-range Ma-loco, despite Jeco’s existing model; and we fear that this would end up in the Brimalm pricing category and attract so few buyers, that it would not be a wise investment. (Why not build an acceptable model of the Mg-loco; that would be much more useful and popular?) And on top of this, HNoll wants to produce the X10 unit and all of its derivatives. Fair enough; the only current models are the kits from SWB/UGJ, but with a Byggsvenskt chassis, these work fine; would the X10 attract enough buyers to be worth producing? We’d prefer the X9; never made r-t-r before, but a good representation of SJ’s rolling stock history.
The Märklin R1 (with reduced scale length) is seen in a train on the old KRBJX10 3149 (the prototype for the FLMJ’s model) at Kungsängen.X10 3149 at the original Köpingsvik station.
Other News
We’re delighted to re-establish a link to the UK-based Scandinavian Railways Society, now that their website is back under Society control, and looking much better; tidy, readable, relevant, etc…! We’ve also added a link to Model Train Prices on our website. Prices of models are compared between shops, including 20 in Sweden; but it is not just for Swedish models. Try it and see. As a rule of thumb, there is very little price competition between the shops for Swedish models. (Customer service says a lot, here in the Nordic territory.) Swedish models are produced in small batches to match the smaller demand than for other countries like the UK, Germany, US, and so on. Smaller quantities lead to higher prices, so there is very little margin for shops to compete, knowing that the prices have to be low enough to attract customers, but without putting themselves (or the manufacturers) out of business. Look above at the problems being experienced at HNoll, for example.
Behind the Scenes
Mini-Series around the FLMJ; E: The Stocklist
Additional to the Year Book, and with a similar cover photo, we have produced a printed Stock List every year. Its purpose was simply to catalogue all locomotives, units, carriages and wagons that we have here. Even after a computer program became more relevant, this provided a good back-up, quick and easy to read. But only one copy was ever printed, and kept on file. This has been maintained, but this year’s list (as always, correct to January 1st,) could be the last. We also have this information in other formats, formats that are more useful to us with regards to operating the railway; such as a service schedule in Excel. A simplified list is produced in Word and is taken to all events and places where there might be an opportunity to acquire desired models; its purpose is to ensure that we can avoid duplicating existing models! And this copy is sufficient for our insurers. In our previous updates, we considered the future alternative for the Year Book. It could include elements from this book; if we feel that it makes interesting reading.
A lucky opportunity saw the purchase of a copy of the model that we have used at Lövhöjden station, Heljan’s model of Åmål station building. It is a good representation and very typically Swedish, but our model was very weather-beaten, and we had wanted to replace it for some time. Done!
The paved area, grass, trees, and more gave the entrance to Lövhöjden station building a nice atmosphere.
We have also used our spare time without a railway for research, and will clarify an irritation with certain wagons. We purchased a ‘Kbps’ last year, thinking it was the ‘missing one’, but in fact we had recorded one with a completely wrong number onto our database with the correct number as it should have been, with the intention that we would correct it later on. So, the duplicate will either be sold or renumbered completely. NMJ’s ‘Kbps’ wagons have either 335 or 370 as the fifth to seventh digits. 370 is completely wrong, it applies to the ‘Os’ wagon. Interestingly, the latest wagon has the usual incorrect UIC control check digit, but it would have been correct if NMJ had printed 335 instead of 370; so arguably it has the correct control digit, just a wrong wagon type number! Our duplicate wagon is article 602.107, but the one that we need is 602.106, which the advertising suggests also has the incorrect 370! It does seem a shame that after all the effort that NMJ went to, to produce these wagons, they failed at the last hurdle, in not getting the number right! (We have made a list of 24 of our wagons with incorrect control digits, and 15 of them — yes, more than half — are NMJ!)
The Kbis from NMJ comes in two slightly different versions, shewn here!
Manufacturer News
HNoll is increasingly frustrated with the Chinese production lines. It seems now that the A7/B7 carriages will not be produced before the Chinese New Year, and with the delivery schedules as they are, we may not see them this side of midsummer! As for the B4/BF4, photos of a prototype model have circulated on social media, but it would be foolish to make any estimates for a date to arrive into the shops! We certainly appreciate HNoll keeping us informed; we have quite a few on order, not just for the FLMJ, but for friends, also!
This is the time of year when there is a bit of a frenzy of announcements of newly proposed models. Here are the ones that we know about — obviously many of these new items are too modern for the FLMJ, but we thought maybe some of our readers would like to know about them!
An Rc4 in SJ blue with Green Cargo branding is proposed from Roco (a revised livery on a standard product).
A black liveried Rc6 is proposed from Märklin/Trix as a completely new model, digital, metal, and even gets heated mirrors!
The BR 185.2 is to come from two manufacturers, but different in detail. From Piko, it will be DB-AG red livery but branded for “Green Cargo”; and from Roco it will be in Green Cargo’s green livery (the 185.2 is the same as the ‘Re’, a TRAXX loco).
The Hector Rail G6 diesel loco (a very modern looking V5, in essence) is to be produced by Piko. As with many modern diesels, it is a standard European design, so it is easier (and cheaper) for the model manufacturer to produce than before.
A replacement motor for the NMJ Y1 and YF1 has been announced, using the Faulhaber 1624 with specially made flywheel, and a new engine mount from Winterzone. Construction description in Swedish is included. We are unsure of the producer of this ‘kit’ but hope to know more, soon.
Sadly, in order to give Märklin’s black Rc6 a train to pull, Märklin is also releasing a set of four black carriages of their standard 1960s designs, which is totally inauthentic as these carriages were withdrawn before the black livery was introduced!
The ‘DV30’ by Märklin is back in Epoch-IV condition. (If, unlike the previous one, it comes in a box that will accommodate a close-coupling head, then one could be procured for the FLMJ!)
The ‘Eaos’ wagon will also be produced by Märklin/Trix, in a set of three with a scrap load.
The ‘Sdggmrs’ articulated container wagon is to be released by Roco, labelled for DB-AG, but carrying two “Bode Spedition” containers.
A set comprising two ‘Zacns’ bogie tank wagons in “Pure Performance” (Green Cargo) livery is proposed from Roco.
Brawa does not produce Swedish models, but they are to produce the VTG Gigawood XXL, a non-Swedish timber wagon that is used by Hector Rail in Sweden, today. But it is not due until 2023.
Behind the Scenes
Mini-Series about the FLMJ, 2: Lövhöjden, Månstorp and Ålunden
Lövhöjden, representing the central area of Sweden, was naturally the centre point on the Railway. (At least it would have been, once the projection to Fjällnäs had been completed!) But it was designed to be a major station with several passing loops and three platforms, two of which were later split into halves by a crossover in the track. The control panel was designed so that the local controller could control the whole railway (well, maybe not the industrial sidings). Lövhöjden also had the most developed scenery, as much as we could manage given the weather damage (and cat damage)! Naturally, Lövhöjden became the most photographed location, and in the final days, the most was made of this. Even with forthcoming closure confirmed, development continued until the very last day.
A general view of Lövhöjden from 2011.
The main road through Lövhöjden, with grass embankments, pavements, trees; scenic details that the railway needed.
Månstorp, representing the southern area of Sweden, needed a more modern look, and the buildings could be more European in style. Unfortunately, it became very modern in respect of being truncated, losing passing loops and becoming just the essential layout for passing trains. This had become necessary due to the vulnerable location of the station; at the front of the garden, near the gate, where things could be ‘uplifted’ by unwholesome people! Nevertheless, we made the most of what little we could have here. The track sections were switched from Lövhöjden, and a CCTV overlooked the area. The crossover points here were the first to be remotely controlled. An almost amusing fact here is that the model cars on this area of the layout were of the ‘toy’ Eko brand; no great loss.
A nice model of Diö station building at Månstorp; but the road vehicles were vulnerable, so were of the lowest standard!
The modern black Rc-loco and train clash with the heritage railbus. This loco was probably the shortest-owned model on the FLMJ!
Ålunden was our shadow station. This was the encouraged location for placing models on the track and removing them. It gave the railway a sense of purpose; the trains arrived onto the FLMJ through a tunnel (hole in the wall) from anywhere on the SJ network. Ålunden therefore, determined the length of the trains, and the tracks would accommodate seven carriage trains (so they were seldom used to capacity). One track was set aside (by virtue of a point midway, and then a long curved section) for extra long goods trains. As a secondary line; longer passenger trains would be out of place.
Both Rc2 locos, an Ma and a Da, line up at Ålunden, ready for their next duties.
The shelf above the control panel stored empty stock boxes by day, and the model buildings by night!
Next month, we’ll look at the Siljansbanan and the areas that it served.
Ett lyckosamt tillfälle var att köpa ett exemplar av modellen som vi har använt på Lövhöjdens station, Heljans modell av Åmåls stationshus. Det är en bra representation och väldigt typiskt svenskt, men vår modell var väldigt väderbiten, och vi hade velat byta ut den ett tag. Gjort!
Vi har även använt vår fritid utan järnväg för forskning och ska reda ut ett problem med några vagnar. Vår nyaste “Kbps”-vagn är faktiskt en kopia av en som vi redan har! Numret är fel och vi har antecknat rätt nummer, med avsikt att ändra det som står på modellen. Så den här vagnen kommer antingen att säljas eller numreras om helt. NMJ:s “Kbps”-vagnar har antingen 335 eller 370 som femte till sjunde siffran. 370 är helt fel, det gäller ’Os’-vagnen. Faktum är att den senaste vagnen har den vanliga felaktiga kontrollsiffran för UIC-kontroll, men det hade varit korrekt om NMJ hade skrivit ut 335 istället för 370; så man kan hävda att den har rätt kontrollsiffra, bara fel vagnstypnummer! Vår dubblettvagn är artikel 602.107, men den vi behöver är 602.106, som reklam antyder också har den felaktiga 370! Det verkar synd att efter alla ansträngningar som NMJ gick till, för att producera dessa vagnar, misslyckades de vid det sista hindret, med att inte få rätt antal! (Vi har gjort en lista över 24 av våra vagnar med felaktiga kontrollsiffror, och 15 av dem – ja, mer än hälften – är gjorda av NMJ!)
Tillverkarens Nyheter
HNoll blir allt mer frustrerad över de kinesiska produktionslinjerna. Det verkar nu som att A7/B7-vagnarna inte kommer att tillverkas före midsommar! Vi uppskattar verkligen att HNoll håller oss informerade; vi har en hel del på beställning, inte bara för FLMJ, utan även för vänner!
Det här är tiden på året då många nya modeller tillkännages av tillverkarna; här är en sammanfattning, än så länge (de flesta är för moderna för FLMJ, men DU kanske skulle vilja veta ändå)…
¨ En Rc4 i SJ-blått med Green Cargo-märke föreslås från Roco (en reviderad färg på en standardprodukt).
¨ En Rc6 i svart föreslås från Märklin/Trix som en helt ny modell, digital, metall, och får äntligen uppvärmda speglar!
¨ En BR 185.2 ska komma från två tillverkare, men olika i detalj. Från Piko blir det DB-AG rött liv men märkt för “Green Cargo”; och från Roco kommer den att vara i Green Cargos gröna färg.
¨ Dieselloket Hector Rail G6 ska tillverkas av Piko. Som med många moderna dieslar är det en europeisk standarddesign, så det är lättare (och billigare) för modelltillverkaren att tillverka än tidigare.
¨ En ersättningsmotor för NMJ Y1 och YF1 har tillkännagivits, med Faulhaber 1624 med specialtillverkat svänghjul, och ett nytt motorfäste från Winterzone. Byggbeskrivning på svenska ingår. Vi är osäkra på tillverkaren av detta “kit” men hoppas att få veta mer snart.
¨ Tyvärr, för att ge Märklins svarta Rc6 ett tåg att dra, producera Märklin också en uppsättning av fyra svarta vagnar av deras standarddesign från 1960-talet, vilket är totalt oäkta eftersom dessa vagnar skrotades innan det svarta livret introducerades!
¨ ‘DV30’ av Märklin är tillbaka i Epoch-IV-skick.
¨ Även ‘Eaos’-vagnen kommer att tillverkas av Märklin/Trix, i ett set om tre, var och en lastad med skrot.
¨ ‘Sdggmrs’ ledade containervagn ska släppas av Roco, märkt för DB-AG, men med två “Bode Spedition”-containrar.
¨ Ett set bestående av två ‘Zacns’ boggivagnar i “Pure Performance” (Green Cargo)-liveri föreslås från Roco
¨ Brawa tillverkar inga svenska modeller, utan de ska tillverka VTG Gigawood XXL, en utländsk timmervagn som idag används av Hector Rail i Sverige. Men det kommer inte förrän 2023.
