Haddock51

The coal train on my track is quite extreme but this is a notch worse IRL...

Yes, there are eight 9V engines (10153) mounted on four wagons (wagons # 1, 2, 5 and 8). That's what is needed to get this long and heavy train all the way up to the top. No engines on the Garratt.

The main challenge was actually not the climbing spirale with approx. 6 percent graded curves, but the humps in combination with a rear bogie movable laterally (which had to be replaced with a fixed liftarm connection).

Yes, it consists of eight 9V engines due to its weight in combination with grades up to 8 percent. Maybe you should have a look at my Swedish Iron Ore Train with 24 wagons and 13 (!) 9V engines: W.r.t. power supply, a majority of my Lego Train 9V Speed Regulators (4548) have been modified in order to provide enough current: * 0.3A diodes replaced by 3A diodes * LM317T regulator replaced by LM350T regulator * inside "heatsink" replaced by outside heatsink with a thermal resistance of approx. 1.3 degrees Celsius per Watt * minifan mounted outside to keep inside temperature constant All speed regulators are connected to EP-925 Voltcraft Laboratory Supply Units (3 - 15V). All in all, the power supply for the entire track consists of six modified speed regulators, three standard speed regulators and two EP-925 Voltcraft Laboratory Supply Units.

Thank you very much for your clarification @Kalahari134 ! Quite embarassing indeed. I will refrain from additional speculations in the future ... I have read many books about railways and its history in Switzerland but never came across Garratt articulated locomotives, at least not for the standard gauge of 1435 mm. The NG G13 Beyer Garratt of the Schinznacher Baumschulbahn (SchBB) with a gauge of 600 mmm must have been a rarity in Switzerland: There has always been a need for powerful locomotives in Switzerland, not at least due to heavy freight and passenger trains on the Gotthard and the Lötschberg/Simplon lines. The Swiss invested early in electrification and powerful electric locs like the world famous Be 6/8 (Ce 6/8) "Crocodile": This legendary locomotive is also part of my train collection:

It is highly unlikely that Garratts were cruising in the midst of the Alps IRL. Plenty of water available up there ...

The "poster" is a photo wallpaper with a 360 degrees view of the Swiss Alps around Zermatt, incl. the world famous Matterhorn. Probably one of the most beautiful places in the world ...

What you can see on pic #3 and #4 is a Swiss IC Train with an Re 460 locomotive:

Some years ago, I built a coal train with @HoMas Express Steam Locomotive BR10. Later I learned that this locomotive was primailiy used for long express trains like the Riviera Express. Recently, I decided to go for a Garratt Steam Locomotive which was mainly used for heavy freight trains in southern Africa and Australia. The choice fell on a Garratt designed by Tony Sava and built by @LeifSpangberg. This spectacular locomotive needed some modifications in order to cope with the challenges in my track, in particular humps. The train consists of ten fully loaded coal wagons, equipped with eight 9V engines. And this is what it looks like:

Thanks a lot @supertruper1988 ! Yes, I found RAILBRICKS edition #10 with Benn Coifmanns article, a phantastic train indeed! A quite sophisticated construction that would require more building details. Are there other Superliner models available?

Hello @zephyr1934 Your Eurobricks logo with a front page picture of RAILBRICKS - probably issued in 2011 - showing an Amtrak train together with the text "Building Superliner Cars with Benn Coifmann" has indeed caught my interest, particularly when considering options for my next train project. Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to get access to this RAILBRICKS edition. How can I get access to your article?

Please find the addition at the end of my first post.

As of today, the topic "Lego #21344 - Orient Express" has close to 125 000 views (!) and 867 replies!

The only realistic alternative right now is my wife. It appears that she is willing to do it but that will require quite some training... The filming has to take place at full day light, a time when most people - except us - are still working. And weekends are always busy times.

No problem @zephyr1934. It was probably more the intense discussions around the Lego Idea Orient Express that caught my interest. To me it showed the tremendous interest in the Lego train community for a new sophisticated train like the one that was submitted, and the high expectations on the set to come. As for myself - and like for many others - I was rather disappointed by the final result. By the time this set was launched in early december 2023, my own project had already progressed quite far, i.e. there was never an option to eventually go for the Lego version. The guy who helped me with my previous videos, a true professional, has recently become a father again, so I don't have high hopes to see him filming again at my home in the near future. I will continue to work on it.

Already back in May 2018, I exchanged ideas with @ElectroDiva and some others on the theme Venice Simplon Orient Express. But the project never got started. However, to build an own Orient Express has been on my wish list for many years. A year ago, I received pictures from my brother in Switzerland of one of the two remaining Class 241-A express steam locomotives exhibited at the Railway Museum in Mulhouse, Alsace/France. That triggered the start of this project, primarily by creating models in Studio 2.0. Lego set #21344 has not been a source of inspiration at all. My expectations and ambitions re. the Orient Express were and are much higher. I need to find some help w.r.t. forthcoming videos because I can't drive a train and film at the same time.

The Orient Express has always been one of my absolute favorite trains, with all its history and fame. Unfortunately, I have never had the opportunity to travel with this iconic and mythic luxury train that celebrated its 100th anniversary a couple of years ago. However, to create this spectacular MOC and watch it moving up and down my 9V extreme track is a decent compensation, to put it least ... My Orient Express consists of a steam locomotive with tender, a restaurant coach, two sleeping coaches and a baggage coach. The locomotive has some similarities with the legendary french Class 241-A express steam locomotive which appeared on France's rails in the early Thirties and pulled heavy express trains in the golden period of train travel before WWII. In those days, the Orient Express was operated by "Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits et des Grands Express Européens", a company founded by Georges Nagelmackers from Belgium. Back to my MOC and some technical details: The locomotive and tender are built 8-wide, with a total length of approx. 60 studs. The electric headlights are connected to a 9V battery in the tender. Each coach is 7-wide and 48 studs long. The train has a total length of approx. 2.1 meters. This OE is equipped with six 9V engines: two on the tender and two on each sleeping coach. Like for many of my other wagons carrying "coal", I have used a piece of net stockings to prevent "coal" from dropping off. Quite amazing tu use and classify net stockings as Lego train accessories ... Last but not least, I would like to thank Selander for all his advice and support. Much appreciated! And this is what my Orient Express looks like: Bon Voyage! Addition: Shortly after finishing my own OE, I watched the movie "Murder on the Orient Express" with Kenneth Branagh acting as Hercules Poirot (2017). Nice pictures of and breathtaking scenes with the classic Orient Express! All of a sudden appeared a coach at the end of the train that I haven't seen before: a lounge coach with a porch! I decided right away to build this coach as well, and this is what it looks like - crowded, incl. piano player and waiter: My wife and myself. This is what the extended train looks like with five coaches, eight 9V engines - and my wife & myself on the porch, enjoying and toasting to the magnificent views over the Alps and over My Own Lego World! Finally, we got the opportunity to travel aboard this magic train! Cheers!

@zephyr1934 , are you planning to offer tailor -made rods for the TLG OE locomotive?

This topic was my second large topic about my Lego room after Lego Trains 9V Extreme - ready! which was published on June 6th 2017 A lot of things have happened since then. Attached are pictures and links about additions: New Lego Trains 9V since june 2017: Two Swedish Passenger Trains with Rc- and Da-locomotives (built by Selander) Additions to My Own Lego World since June 2020: Tivoli: Loop Coaster Space: NASA Apollo Saturn V International Space Station (ISS) (together with Space Shuttle Discovery) Famous Attractions: Colosseum Eiffel Tower Famous Historic Aircrafts: Orville and Wilbur Wrights Flyer (Kitty Hawk) WW1: Sopwith Camel and Red Barons Fokker Dr.1 147/11 Triplane Other Lego Sets: Motorized Lighthouse Piano Piano Typewriter Chess Brick Moulding Machine MOCs: Bistro chez Daniel (with mini loudspeaker) Waldenburg Castle

To build a medieval castle from my home districts in Switzerland has been on my mind for a long time. Last year, I initiated some searching. This resulted in discovering Ruin Waldenburg Castle which is situated approx. 30 km southeast of Basel. Based on excellent pictures and references provided by the archaeologist of Baselland, I decided to build a Lego model of this castle as it may have looked like in the 16th/17th century. Waldenburg Castle has a long history which goes back to the 13th century. During the uprisings in January 1798, the castle was put on fire by leaders of the Baselbiet Freedom Movement. Today, only ruins remain. And now – after just over 300 (!) working hours – this Lego model is finally ready! A long journey from idea to reality has come to an end. The virtual work with format and design in Studio 2.0 has taken most time, almost 200 hours. Inventory and procurement of all Lego parts – with orders placed at 32 BrickLink stores in Sweden and other Europe – were also very time consuming. To build the model itself took me approx. 70 hours. This has indeed been an exciting and rather challenging project. I am very satisfied with the result. The model is 85 cm long, 40 cm wide, with a maximum height of 47 cm above the baseplates. It is built in three levels and consists of approx. 5 300 pieces. Lego LED 9V accounts for the interior lighting. I would like to thank the Office of Archaeology of Baselland for their excellent support, without which this project would not have been possible at all. Attached are pictures from “my” Waldenburg Castle and its placement in my own Lego world.

Thank you so much for your feedback @HoMa ! It's always a great pleasure and honour for me to hear from you who has been - and are - one of my greatest sources of inspiration and support when it comes to Lego trains in general and Lego trains 9V in particular. My decision to build the BR 10, and ultimately a complete Riviera Express, is based on the history you are referring to in your reply above. Just like the TEE VT 11.5 and the vintage train with the Swiss Be 6/8 Crocodile. Thank you so much! And yes, I learned early about your "large curves" using straight tracks. I successfully tested it on the floor of my new hobby room back in 2011 before building the new layout. Now I simply lack space for any kind of large radii. Best regards, Daniel PS: What about your plans to bike to the Nordkap and step by in Knivsta, plans you had to abandon (postpone?) back in 2019 due to the Corona/Covid pandemic?

Great to hear from you again @Toastie ! It's been a while since last. I totally agree with your comments above. Yes, I expressed a lot of frustration and anger over the past years about TLG's abdication when it comes to Lego trains in general and the 9V train concept in particular. Instead of wasting energy on TLG, I enjoy sharing with and learning from train nerds like you, @HoMa, @Selander, @alainneke and many more around the world! What a fantastic experience and joy - and what a wonderful feeling of belonging to a family with members dedicated to Lego trains! And sadly, TLG is no longer part of this family, I "mourned" them a long time ago... Still hope to see you at my home in Knivsta some time in the future, now the Covid pandemic being (almost) history ... Best regards, Daniel

I just added some more pictures.

No, I haven't uppgraded any curves to FX bricks wide radii, because there is simply not enough space for larger radii. I had to chase millimeters on this layout anyway... And no, there is no Y or any other facility for turning a full train on the lower loops, simply because lack of space. The only way of turning trains is to park them on the train shelve that is temporarily connected to the layout at the very front of the display, disconnect it, lift it (eventually park it on the trolley), turn it around 180 degrees and place it back again. The longest train shelves have a length of 272 studs, i.e. 2.18 meters. To turn these shelves is indeed quite an exercise .... To be honest, so far I haven't seen any need to turn trains once they are deployed on the layout. For some long trains like the Swedish Iron Ore train - and based on experience of running these trains - there is only one way/direction of operating these. PS: I am very happy with your rods that I have mounted on several of my locomotives! Later this year, I will start my next train project - the Orient Express - with a French EST Class 13 Express Train Steam Locomotive with a 4-8-2 wheel arrangement, even this one with rods! https://www.maerklin.de/en/products/details/article/39243?cHash=a2f3bd9577a5ede3553bd7a16e9d0b83

Even though it's almost five years ago I finalized my Lego Train 9V Extreme track, I still get high pulse each time I run my trains up to the high level and pass the Swiss alps! I still remember the feedback I got from TLG when I contacted them back in 2010 re this project: just forget about it, this will never work ... After I published this topic back in june 2015, I received many feedback from all around the world, but still nothing from TLG - the lines have been and are silent ... And yes, it was quite a challenge to get all these doors. The challenge to find all necessary parts has been a common denominator for basically all my train projects, in particular the TEE VT 11.5 and the Swiss Be 6/8 Crocodile, which both are built based on @HoMas originals.