The Broc Branch in Om scale - an ambitious project that stalled for a decade but is now reawakening

[Mol_PMB]

1 minute ago, MOB 2002 said:

 

Presumably you’ve already worked out how to replicate these for your miniature versions of the railcars?

 

Mark

On my model of 111, the toilet is full of decoder and electronics. But now I am inspired and I’d like a full size one for my bathroom at home!

[Mol_PMB]

After a swift trip to Broc-Village to photograph details of the station building, I have spent the afternoon photographing on the Blonay-Chamby including some more of the GFM-Historique fleet, and an interesting visitor in the shape of MOB diesel 2004. Last time I was at the BC, MOB 2002 was running, which is a very different beast to 2004. 

There were a couple of nice kettles out too, including DFB3 which is one of the few steam locos that has been to Broc.
I will return to the BC tomorrow to ride the trains. 

A couple of days of sunshine but I fear the weather will break soon. 

Edited September 8 by Mol_PMB
Corrected loco number

[Mol_PMB]

GFM Historique at the Blonay-Chamby: 141 newly repainted in original green, and the gravel hopper driving trailer it originally worked with. There ought to be a few more hoppers in the rake, but only one now survives. I got in to take some detail photos of the interior and then got whisked off to Chamby on a series of shunt moves. Never mind!

[Mol_PMB]

As expected, the rain has begun and the clouds have descended below Chamby. Here’s a damp view of MOB 2004 working a mixed train of old MOB wagons and coaches, through the viaduct work site. 

There’s a lot of money being spent here to rectify long-term problems with the foundations of the viaduct. 

[Mol_PMB]

My last day, and with continuous rain it’s not a day for hiking or photography. My regional pass includes the TPC so I’m visiting a couple of lines I’ve not been to before. 
Aigle, Stadlers everywhere of course, at least my train to Les Diablerets isn’t in the horrible putrid green of most TPC stock.

 

In fact its promotional livery echoes the original scheme seen on the vintage train:

 

Up to Les Diablerets in the clouds, this is an impressive line with great views down into the valley, and there are probably mountains to see on a clear day. 

 

The next move is train back to Le Sepey, bus to Leysin and train down to Aigle, then to the airport and home. 

[Mol_PMB]

It turns out that the Aigle-Leysin has not yet fallen to the Stadler revolution. 
My train down the hill was a 1980s Vevey power car with what felt like an older trailer. Seen here at the rather odd station at Leysin-Grand-Hotel:

But the uphill train we crossed was pushed by 301 which looked like a veteran. 

Sadly I don’t have time to wait around for a trip on 301. 
 

From the AL there are some views down onto the ASD - including a train:

 

Both lines are impressively engineered and have great views. They also both have a reversal part-way, and tram-style street running through Aigle. Worth a visit! 

[MOB 2002]

Looks like you’ve had a great trip. I really must get around to doing the Leysin line. Hopefully 301 clings on for a while.
 

I suppose it’s pretty impressive how much the Swiss are going for level boarding, which is driving most of the new stock. But a lot of the charm of individual railways seems to be disappearing too. 

I wish I’d got to the Seetal line before Stadler-fication for example. And soon it’ll be onto it’s second generation of Stadler units.

 

Mark

[chb2488]

@Mol_PMB : Bt 361 - 363 are indeed the matching driving trailers for BDeh 311 - 313, although their lower profile may be misleading.

 

@MOB 2002 : You will be familiar with the line from Sonceboz to Moutier, which afaik hasn‘t had its platforms modernised (with the the possible exception of Pontenet?). Mellingen proper on the line to Wettingen also retains its old platforms, but without any regular passenger service.

[Mol_PMB]

5 minutes ago, chb2488 said:

@Mol_PMB : Bt 361 - 363 are indeed the matching driving trailers for BDeh 311 - 313, although their lower profile may be misleading.

 

@MOB 2002 : You will be familiar with the line from Sonceboz to Moutier, which afaik hasn‘t had its platforms modernised (with the the possible exception of Pontenet?). Mellingen proper on the line to Wettingen also retains its old platforms, but without any regular passenger service.

Thanks!

The ASD is still very much in the traditional style with halts comprising small wooden huts by road crossings, no platforms to speak of at the smaller places, just a small clearing in the woods.

 

On the BC on Sunday, @MOB 2002's namesake made a brief foray outside the shed for a photocall with the MOB snowplough. I was rather hoping it would come out to play with 2004 or the gravel hopper, but it was not to be. It's clearly in working order as I saw it being driven around. Photos later once I've ploughed through selecting and processing them.

[Mol_PMB]

I'm home now, and I've unpacked the important things (the dirty washing can wait...)

So what have I come home with that rather stretched the Easyjet baggage allowance?

What I had pre-ordered was a pair of oil tank wagons, of the type owned by the Army and used on many narrow gauge lines. These are normally supplied complete and painted as MOB examples, but I wanted to represent the two GFM wagons and I'm happy to do the final painting and lettering myself. So Christian kindly did me two specials in plain grey, and with some parts not assembled to make my painting easier. They're really rather nice:

But while at Christian's workshop (potentially a very expensive place for me) I also bought some other bits and pieces. And I think I was pretty strong in not buying a lot more! I may yet have to go back...

 

The biggest item was this, an MOB panoramic driving trailer bodyshell in original condition:

Christian had his own complete one, and I think the one I bought is the only other one - certainly they've not been sold widely.

Obviously it needs cleaning up and a chassis and interior, lighting etc, but I think it will make a very nice addition to my MOB fleet, and it's entirely appropriate for the Broc Branch in the 1980s.

 

Then, I asked about wagon chassis, as Christian makes MOB vans and open wagons. The MOB bodies are different from the GFM vehicles, but the chassis with 3150mm wheelbase is suitable for several types of older GFM wagons (later wagons had a 3500mm wheelbase). I decided to buy 3 chassis, and got a fourth very slightly damaged one thrown in for free. Also 3 MOB van bodies and 6 doors were thrown in for free - I'm not sure whether I will use these.

The obvious GFM vehicles to suit these chassis and my time period are:

• High-sided opens Ek 701-716
• Low-sided opens Kkl 803-816

The low-sided opens would be ideal for a ballast train (along with the ballast hoppers I have already), while a high-sided open could be used for small logs or coal. In each case there were variants with wooden or steel sides, and different arrangements of brake gear and balcony handrails, so plenty of scope for variants. My intention in buying 3 was to make 2 low-sided and 1 high-sided. With the free chassis, maybe I could finish that as an MOB van with one of the free bodies, or I could make a second high-sided wagon.

This photo of mine shows two of the low-sided wagons with steel sides still in use in a works train on the Broc branch in 2013:

This is one of Werner Hardmeier's photos which very nicely shows the obvious difference between the GFM and MOB high-sided wagons - the GFM ones had an extra 300mm height added in the 1940s:

 

And finally, some books, at good prices and for a good cause - from the secondhand stall at Blonay:

Nothing GFM in these books but they cover some of the nearby narrow gauge lines which are also interesting.

 

So, plenty to keep me busy (as if I didn't have enough projects on the go already!)

[Mol_PMB]

The first week back from holiday always seems to be extremely busy, but I've found a bit of time for modelling today and I have started tackling the tank wagons I brought back from Switzerland.

I've dismantled them into their main parts, then masked and sprayed the black bands (which are different on my two prototypes).

I've also picked out some of the detail colours on the chassis - yellow handrails, red brake details etc.

Then I've started weathering all the bits. This is still a work in progress but I'm starting to capture the works-stained finish of these wagons in the 1980s, based on photos of each one:

There's a lot more to do, and it needs patience between each layer of gunk, so this may take a while.

 

I've also finalised the custom transfer sheet for these, which will need to be applied before long. Most of the lettering goes on separate side panels which I will fit once the streaky weathering on the tanks is complete and I have reattached the tanks to the chassis.

[Mol_PMB]

I've spent most of the weekend on these two tank wagons, and finally they're just about finished. In a couple of days I'll take another look at them and decide if they need any more weathering, touch-ups etc. I think the weathering on 1104 is a bit uneven and may need a touch more in places. But for now I'm fairly pleased with them, and they look the part.

Taking RTR wagons, then detailing, repainting and weathering them to make them my own unique things, is a particular favourite pastime of mine.

 

As a reminder, these were both built to the same design in the 1940s. 1101 was supplied new to the GFM but the other one spent about 25 years on the RhB before being transferred to the GFM becoming 1104. For some years on the GFM it retained its RhB livery with just some patches painted over the old numbers and the new numbers applied on top.

These different histories are also the reason for the size of the black band, the missing 'BTA' panels on 1104, and subtle differences like the different hazard stickers and the langauge of the 'To' and 'From' lettering on the chalkboards.

Transfers were made to my artwork by John Peck of Precision Decals, excellent service as ever.

[Mol_PMB]

In the last picture above, you may have noticed the halt building for Les Marches trial-fitted.

I have also done a little bit more on this today including some more weathering stages on the woodwork. However, there's still quite a lot to do expecially on the roof.

Another task is to complete and fit the station nameboard, and to install the lighting.

Finishing this building will no doubt keep me busy this week. Although it's only a small halt, it's an important part of the view that a visitor gets when first walking through the door, so I want it to look good:

 

It's also visible from many angles, though some of them are peering through trees:

 

These long thin LEDs have arrived recently for my experiments in miniature fluorescent lights, and may feature on the halt building in due course:

 

[swisspeat]

Superb!

 

This project is coming on well.

 

Really pleased that you have revived it and share it with us all.

 

Peter

[Mol_PMB]

21 hours ago, swisspeat said:

Superb!

 

This project is coming on well.

 

Really pleased that you have revived it and share it with us all.

 

Peter

Peter, many thanks for your kind words, and to everyone for their encouragement in getting me back to this lifetime's work! I'm really enjoying it. I mustn't forget my MSC models entirely, but for the moment my modelling time is mainly focused on the Broc Branch, and it has rekindled my interest in visiting Switzerland too. 

 

I sent the photos of my tank wagons to Christian, who produces the models I started with. He was very impressed, and responded with a photo of MOB 3004 which he has just completed for himself in panoramic livery. I don't think I'll be able to resist one of these, it does suit the Broc branch and my panoramic coaches but I'll need a bit of time to save up!

 

 

 

[7mmin7foot]

Fantastic models and stunning photo's !  

That MOB model looks  incredible... as does your layout which is  very, very nice 👍

 

Steve

[Mol_PMB]

Some progress on the huts this week, despite being busy at work.

 

The rooves have been weathered and now look a bit less garish. I've also done some more weathering on the woodwork. With the small huts I've decided to have one freshly creosoted, and the other one waiting for a new coat of preservative. Possibly a cameo of a man with a paintbrush?

These still need glazing and a few more small details:

 

The big hut (halt building) has also had its roof completed, as well as the station nameboard fitted, some more weathering, and the interior floor has been gravelled too.

 

Whilst soldering up the power pole for the halt roof, I also did the gate for the forest track in one corner of the layout. Both these are ready for painting and installation.

 

Next tasks on the halt building are guttering, glazing and lighting. It's nearly there now.

I mustn't forget I have another one of these to build in due course, for the halt at La Tour-de-Treme. It might be best to do that while the build is still fresh in my mind.

 

[Mol_PMB]

I've been soldering up some more scenic details: some level crossing signs and some building-mounted lights to suit filament LEDs.

 

I've also scanned some recent eBay purchases - old slides/negatives of the GFM. This is the most interesting one, although it's not on the Broc Branch:

GFM loco GDe4/4 102 hauls a mixed train from Chatel-st-Denis to Bulle on 6th September 1985, passing the halt at Prayoud.
The train is formed of a driving trailer in the Bt 261-263 series, and a transporter wagon of the Ua 991-998 series carrying an old goods van used by the GFM for internal traffic (X 481-487 series).
This was perhaps the last month of the GFM's use of transporter wagons. Vevey rollbocken had been in use on the Palezieux-Chatel section for nearly 3 years, and the gauge-changing station at Bulle was about to be converted to the same technology. The rollbocken remained in use until the 2010s but freight has now disappeared entirely from the network.

All these items of rolling stock are already on my list (indeed some progress has been made on all of them, though only the standard gauge van is complete) so eventually I will be able to recreate this train which would be equally valid on the Broc branch.

Having just made some level crossing signs, it's interesting that they appear to be absent in the photo above!

 

[7mmin7foot]

Love Swiss Railways, true railways in the countryside views, ( au natural) ,  people use common sense and no nanny state like in UK, to spoil it.

Lovely photo, the old square Audi shows sets the age...mid 80's 👍

 

Steve

[Mol_PMB]

An update on the various huts, which are now basically complete and ready for installation.

The halt building still needs its lighting, I'm waiting on more filament LEDs. Otherwise, it's all done including the guttering (which really was unpainted copper, and can still be seen on the surviving station buildings):

 

The two smaller huts are also ready for installation:

[Mol_PMB]

I've also been adding some more smaller details such as level crossing signs and the gate on the forest track, both of which were soldered up from brass and painted in red and white with hints of rust in places:

[7mmin7foot]

Very , very nice ... very Swiss... 👍

 

Steve

[Mol_PMB]

2 minutes ago, 7mmin7foot said:

Very , very nice ... very Swiss... 👍

 

Steve

However hard I try to dirty things up and make it look less like a chocolate box, as soon as I step back it looks neat, tidy and Swiss!

I suppose it's inevitable that a model of a branch to a chocolate factory should tend towards the chocolate box look.

As always, there's plenty more to get on with! I really ought to sort out the issues with a couple of the catenary poles on this section, then I can get the rest of the wires installed which will, in turn, let me proceed with the foreground scenery. But first I want to finish the next pair of transporter wagons...

[MOB 2002]

2 hours ago, Mol_PMB said:

I suppose it's inevitable that a model of a branch to a chocolate factory should tend towards the chocolate box look.

I don’t think you’ve got anything to worry about! It looks incredibly convincing and conveys the feel of the area really well.

 

I also think the choice of prototype helps, everyone thinks RhB and Gotthard when they think Swiss models (not that I’ve got anything against either). So showcasing a different prototype in itself will be eye opening to many. It’s what drew me to my rather stalled Seetal inspired layout.

 

Mark

[Mol_PMB]

A few more pics from my Swiss holiday earlier this month, featuring GFM BDe4/4 141 and Fadt 751. These could feature on my trainset, though the gravel hoppers would only be appropriate at Bulle, but the railcar is valid on the Broc branch and is necessary to represent the mid-1980s period correctly. Thanks to GFM-Historique for saving and restoring these unusual vehicles!