FLMJ-Nytt.

StrömstadStrömstadStrömstadStrömstad

Nürnberg 2011Nürnberg 2011Nürnberg 2011Nürnberg 2011

FLMJ locosFLMJ locosFLMJ locosFLMJ locos

And all the usual regulars…

Adnalms Förlag (Järnvägar) Edition 2/11 80p

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FLMJFLMJFLMJFLMJ----NyttNyttNyttNytt Edition 2/11; April 18th, 2011.

Published by Adnalms Förlag (Järnvägar). Copyright © 2011 to Adnalms Järnvägar. All rights reserved.

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EDITOR: Adrian Allum.

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E&OE.

Front Cover: T43 233 arrives at Strömstad with a TGOJ passenger train. This was the locomotive’s last duty before finally being sold; but conversely, it was the coaches’ first proper run since being purchased, many years ago!

Photos by A. Allum, unless credited.

Edition Press-stop Published

3-11 June 17th June 27th

4-11 August 26th September 5th

Next couple of Editions:

Readers are welcome to copy parts of “FLMJ-Nytt” provided that such copies are not used to harm the welfare of Adnalms Järnvägar or any of its associations. Annual Subscription (for 2011) costs £4, post-free to UK addresses. Elsewhere at cost. All views expressed in this publication are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the official views of Adnalms Järnvägar or any of its subsidiaries or associations. All information is published in good faith; no liability shall be accepted by Adnalms Förlag (Järnvägar). This journal is also available online at our website; www.adnalm.org.uk (as PDF).

Contents: 3 Editorial / Infartssignal 4 Strömstad 6 Nürnberg 2011 review 10 FLMJ locos 12 DVD Review 13 Website Questions 14 News from the Swedish Railways and Model Railways Including FLMJ Stock Reviews 16 And Finally / Utfartssignal

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Infartssignal…

In our previous edition, there was a comment about a coach that had been incorrectly delivered. In fact, it was the second coach from consecutive orders to be incorrect, and this time I felt that something needed to be said and done. (The first one was not such a great issue, so I merely passed comment.) The service that I received in sorting out the matter was absolutely first class, and a shining example of what customer service is all about. MJ-Hobbyexperten in Stockholm is certainly guaranteed my continued custom, and I do not hesitate to recommend them to other modellers of the Swedish railways! Whilst I am thinking about customer service, I have recently changed my telephone provider for one of my two lines. One or the other line will fail on average once a year, and I did warn my new provider that they will be called upon to deal with such issues. Sure enough, this happened late January. With my previous provider, it would take 20 to 30 minutes from the moment when I picked up the (other) phone to report the fault, to actually speaking to a real human being, having gone through an impersonal automated service! With my new provider, it was less than 20 seconds. Once the reason for my call had been explained, they apologised for the inconvenience that this must be causing me … yes, an apology! After talking me through a few user-checks, they said that they hoped to have it fixed within 7 days, but it took 8. However, my previous provider would usually take about 1 month, and continually make accusations against me during that time, saying that the fault must be dodgy equipment that I am using. It never is; the fault is always found to be their equipment, and they never fix it properly each time! Also, they never apologise for the accusations nor inconvenience. There are some businesses that are surviving the current global economic downturn; there are some that aren’t. It’s not difficult to see why!

Adrian Allum.

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Strömstad

At the end of February, some FLMJ models appeared on Patrick Grace’s “Strömstad” layout, at an exhibition in Eastleigh. The timetable operated by Patrick is the Summer 1965 one, so we were careful with the models that we chose to take; the new F electric loco, the Du, the 1960s NMJ coaches and a few wagons. We also took the green TGOJ coaches and Lima T43 to operate as a ‘special’ train.

In practice, the Du-loco worked a single-coach train (with ABo2) to replace a faulty railbus, and the T43 with TGOJ train worked the regular local passenger service. The F-loco saw very little service, being used to see how well such a model would go around the curves on the layout. There were some areas out-of-bounds, and Patrick intends to correct those areas when the layout is overhauled in the near future.

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The express passenger train was worked by Patrick’s Ra-10 and a collection of typical 1960s and 1940s coaches, including through coaches (to Stockholm) and a sleeper. Patrick had his own model of T21 64 to work the goods train, so although we took ours, it stayed in the box, along with the various goods wagons that we took! Our T43 had been for sale for quite a few months, and on the day, it was purchased by a member of the Scandinavian Railways Society. _

Left Upper: Du 373 with a single-coach train, arriving at Strömstad. Left Lower: F 701 with a test train about to depart Strömstad. Above: Rapid-10 with Patrick’s express train. Below: Do you recognise it? The station building at Strömstad is made from the same kit as the station building at Lövhöjden on the FLMJ; Heljan’s model of Åmål. However, to suit the Bohuslän area, Patrick has tastefully repainted it.

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Nürnberg 2011

As usual, we report from the Nürnberg fair of new models suitable for the Swedish scene, and in English! [Photos from the Internet!]

For the first time in many years, Fleischmann has Swedish news. They will do a model of Hector Rail's modern electric locomotives type “Taurus.” HobbyTrade is advertising the Multi Purpose Double-Wagon type Laaeilprs061/081 with three SJ number variants; hopefully with NEM coupling boxes placed correctly! Also, they are advertising the SJ Sdgmns832 in one Swedish version (and many others), but we do not know what livery the containers will have.

Jeco has finally been able to release their T43 model, with delivery date having moved back many times! Early indications with the FLMJ’s model

are that it was worth waiting for. Despite its disappearance from the printed catalogue, the TGOJ Bt-lok remains on the listings. It is believed that the Rc-lok will be the next main ‘push.’ A building model of a Konsum store has been added to the range, but this is not plastic or resin, and is thus, unsuitable for the FLMJ!

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NMJ has added to their range the three Tågab coaches (AB3, B1 and B5S) in the white with broad red stripe livery; but it will be interesting to see if the interior of the B5S is reproduced correctly. They appear to be produced in conjunction with Jeco. The 1960s restaurant and baggage coaches appear to be deleted from all lists, but NMJ has proposed sleeper and restaurant coaches in their 1940s series, and the prototype photos suggest with the later style gangways. These would be suitable more modern replacements for the ex-Lima models, the R3 and WL2. At least six versions of each type are suggested! With wagons, the ‘tysk’ version of the ‘Gbls’ has appeared, with the well known ‘Gbs’ (as previously modelled by Lima) to follow. The ‘Ibblps’ insulated van, which will be offered in two versions plus two as the older ‘Grf’ has also arrived recently. Piko is offering a modern electric locomotive of TRAXX-type from the German company MGW Service. The locomotive is used in Sweden by TX Logistik. Piko as also offering the GreenCargo ‘Re,’ but the show model was in completely the wrong shade of green! One hopes that production models will be better!

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This year's German news from Rivarossi has been presented by Hornby International. Despite the focus on German models, there are a few interesting "Swedish" models; “Nordwaggon” registered German (DB) ‘Lis’ and ‘Habillss’ wagons, from before the company was sold to Transwaggon.

Roco has put a new livery on their Rc6, this time the silver-red-grey SSRT, which does actually look quite smart. Also, the loco appears in the final orange livery that these locos carried. The Da-loco, as reported before, is now available in a second version with spoked wheels and sealed up end doors. Their version of the Re-loco has recently been released. Roco will also offer a mass-production model in H0 of Hector Rail's latest addition, the “Taurus,” which is also used by a number of other European rail operators. Trix has released their ‘Taurus’ locomotive in “HectorRail” livery in a set with three wagons. However, one FLMJ club member reports that the packaging is very poor and that his model was badly damaged as a result! Green Cargo's new electric loco type ‘Re’ also comes from Trix. It is a much simpler design, robust and attractively priced to compete, about half the price of the equivalent model from Roco or Acme. Brekina produces new models at all sorts of intervals. There are no new designs (of Swedish cars), but a few new liveries have appeared, such as

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the Volvo Amazon in ASG livery, and the P210 in “Bilspedition” livery. Also two of the 144 versions are available in differing Taxi liveries, as well as one as a police car! It wouldn’t be at all surprising if more new liveries appear during the year. There are no known new liveries (or body versions) for their model Saab 96, though. Motorart is not so well known in these pages, and are not likely to be! However, they have recently announced a very modern Volvo bus into their range, but in a Volvo promotional livery rather than a Swedish operator’s livery! We understand that they have produced this in conjunction with Volvo for promotional purposes! (Picture from “Modellrallaren”). Neo Scale Models has recently submitted its first models in 1:87. The first one was actually a model of a SAAB 900 Convertible — a dream for many when it began in 1987! (Neo already has a range of model cars in scales 1:18 and 1:43. What is perhaps most interesting about this move is perhaps the fact that it has plans to make several models of H0 from Swedish Saab and Volvo. The initiative also includes models from Jaguar, Opel, Ford, Mercedes and DAF.) In the spring of 2009 Neo planned to produce models at a scale of 1:87, and that several Swedish cars were included in the next range. Then it all went quiet. Now, the first model has apparently arrived, a model of a red Saab 900 Convertible from 1987. The model is moulded of plastic with etched details. According to the website Mo87.de, models will cost around €14 and they are expected to hit the market at the end of the year. Rietze has announced no new Swedish liveries again! _

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FLMJ locos

Arriving in the new year, our F-electric loco has seen some use on the FLMJ. The F-steam loco hasn’t however; we’re waiting for a more readily usable layout before we start attending to that one’s needs! (We need to be sure that any irregularities with that loco’s performance are due to the loco and not the railway. We are still having issues with the various relay block sections, which we hope to resolve before the summer!)

As we have suggested in our review of operations at Strömstad, the F-loco has limitations to the tightness of radius that it can negotiate. The tightest radius that the FLMJ has is about one metre; and the loco is OK with this. There is very slight (barely noticeable) resistance on Peco medium radius points, but their short radius point is really too tight. We are also cautious taking it through the shorter radius on their (streamline) curved point; it manages, but with more noticeable resistance! It is not really a goods loco, so the short points in our industrial area are not going to be a problem for it (and electric locos are not permitted into that area anyway)! Acme’s name is ‘mud’ here at the FLMJ. They do not practise Customer Service, and it appears that a lot of traders are also fed-up with their incompetence. Recently a Roco model of the GreenCargo Re-loco was photographed alongside the Acme one, and each of them had areas where they favoured over the other. The Roco model was the better runner, but like all modern Roco models, the lights were too dim.

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As this edition was closing for press, Jeco’s much awaited T43 arrived at the FLMJ. It was deployed on engineers’ and test trains on April 9th (officially one day after we closed for press; but that doesn’t matter), and like the Du-loco, it is a bit quick-off-the-mark! However, it has the correct body profile, and sits straight. (The Lima model had a ‘crab-effect’ of not sitting straight on the track, and it had inauthentic bulges in the bodywork to make room for the large motor-bogie to turn!) However, there is very little difference between the Jeco and Lima models in terms of other body details, and we wonder if one influenced the design of the other? One should argue that they have both been modelled authentically, so ought to be the same, but compared with Jeco’s T44, which has an exhaust opening, the T43 has, like the Lima model, just a ring on the roof where the exhaust openings should be! It has correctly placed NEM coupling boxes, and unlike any of our Lima models, has therefore been fitted with Roco close couplings. There are likely to be two of these operating on the FLMJ because a second one was ordered at the same time for one of the AJK members. _

Left: F701 at Lövhöjden alongside Rc5 1344. Above: Two GreenCargo Re-locos, Acme nearer the camera, Roco alongside. Right: T43 227 brings the engineers’ test train along the newly laid track between Lövhöjden and Gärde.

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DVD Review.

Tjustbanan från Förarplats LEG Video, Citronvägen 4, SE-293 33 Olofström, Sweden. Web: www.legvideo.se DVD, 110 minutes, format 16:9, Swedish narration. © 2010. Colour. Cab-ride films are something that you either love or hate! To some, they are like watching paint dry, but to others they can be therapeutic, educational, or just enjoyable as if being in the cab with the driver. In this respect, LEG’s latest cab-ride is quite a disappointment. It covers the route from Västervik to Linköping in an Itino train, but there are many breaks, and the journey actually starts beyond the station limit. These breaks detract from the sense of anticipation of reaching that goal, the destination. Also, we were hoping to get a good look at one station’s track layout, but the departure was again edited out, and our research was not satisfied. It appears that there were two cameras in the cab, and several times the view changes from one to the other. This makes the viewer feel as if they are just in the way, and not actually part of the journey. It made the whole presentation seem quite unprofessional; and this is probably the first time that we have been so negative about an LEG product. Hopefully, future productions will be back to their usual high standard. As for the journey itself, the first few kilometres are on dual-gauge track, as the route is shared with the 891mm gauge railway to Hultsfred (formerly part of the VHVJ), and there are standard colour-light signals along this route, in pairs … one applying to standard gauge trains and one applying to narrow gauge trains; essential understanding for the gauge splitting point at Jenny! After Jenny, most of the route has RETB (Radio Electric Token Block), with signs that are very similar to those used on the CTRL in the UK, for example! The journey is filmed at 100 minutes, and there is a 10 minute bonus, a feature about the Itino trains; but much of this is taken from the recent “Svenska Tåg 29” DVD. We have recently received quite a few new DVD of Swedish railways, mostly cab-rides, and as we go to print, three more are on order! Maybe in our next edition, we’ll have a bigger review … or we’ll end up a long way behind! _

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Website Questions.

The website at www.adnalm.org.uk asks for your opinion on a number of subjects, and we have some more to report from. If you would like to look at the poll, it is toward the bottom of the home page, just read the question, select an answer and ‘click!’ In January, we asked: Roco has issued their Da-loco (slightly retooled) with a new number. Interested?

• 2 people said, "Yes, as a second (or more) in my loco fleet," • 1 person said, "Yes, as my first," • 1 person said, "No, one is enough," • 1 person said, "No, just not my thing." The FLMJ is interested in one of these alternative versions, but funds need to recover, first! In February, we asked: Roco is advertising their Rc6 in SSRT livery; will there be coaches to match?

• Nobody said, "Yes, Roco will produce the A7 and B9 authentically" or "Yes, NMJ will issue the AB3, B1 and B5 authentically,"

• 3 people said, "Yes, Roco and NMJ will release the above models," • 1 person said, "Maybe, but not necessarily authentic in detail," • Nobody said, "No, not enough interest." The NMJ coaches are now available (see our Nürnberg report in this edition), but no word from Roco as yet! In March, we asked: 1940s style sleeper (WL2) and restaurant (R3) coaches are now advertised by NMJ, but the 1960s style baggage (DF28) and restaurant (R1/R2) are no longer in the lists. Is this good?

• 4 people said, "No, they should produce both designs to suit their other models," • 1 person said, "Either design would be good enough for me," • Nobody said, "No, the newer coaches would be more popular," "Yes, the older

coaches will be more popular" or "Yes, they need to beat Hornby to it (with their ex-Lima models)."

This has been quite disappointing for the FLMJ. We had wanted the DF28 (and sub-versions) and especially the R1 and derivatives, especially because there are very few catering coaches available in any epoch, and these would go beautifully with the 1960s models already produced! _

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News (Svenska & Modell Järnvägar) Contributors: Dagens Nyheter, SJ, The Local, Bo Gillberg.

SJ News. Last winter's train chaos cost SJ an estimated 360 million kronor. Presenting the company's annual financial report for 2010, Director General Jan Forsberg explained how last winter's extreme cold snap had shaken the company. Last March, 30% of train departures were cancelled with 10% of the figure during the busy Christmas period in December. The buses didn't do much better; up to 1 million passengers were affected when bus services in Stockholm county shut down completely on Friday February 11th due to slippery conditions caused by heavy snowfall and strong winds. The Swedish Railway Museum in Gävle has expanded its collection with a Y1-diesel railbus. This is part of the museum's efforts to preserve the present for the future. It is Y1 1343, whose last owner was Inlandsbanan. It is the last in the country with the original Fiat engines and original furnishings. The museum conducted an asset swap with the Inland Railway which got in return T43 233. Specific plans on how this loco will be preserved and possibly repainted, have not yet been agreed. Tågåkeriet (TÅGAB) began in mid-January to run one daily train pair between Karlstad and Stockholm. The first weeks they were running the train only Thursday and Friday, but from 30 January they extended the

Stock Revisions.Stock Revisions.Stock Revisions.Stock Revisions.

[SJ] Rc6 1408 Roco electric loco sold March 19th. [SJ] T43 227 Jeco diesel loco delivered March 24th. [SJ] T43 233 Lima diesel loco sold February 27th. [NSB] EL.16 2212 Roco electric loco sold March 19th. [USA] AEM7 4902 Loco (derived from Rc4) withdrawn and sold February 13th. [SJ] AB2 4855 NMJ 1st/2nd class coach delivered March 2nd. [SJ] B1 4733 NMJ 2nd class coach delivered March 2nd. [SJ] B1 4890 NMJ 2nd class coach passed for service. [SJ] B12 5051 Lima 2nd class coach sold March 19th. [SJ] B12 5053 Lima 2nd class coach sold March 19th. [NSB] B3-2 25569 Lima 2nd class coach sold March 19th. [NSB] BC-3 21240 Lima 2nd class children’s coach sold March 19th. [SJ] 21 74 156 4 134-8 NMJ Gbls-u wagon delivered March 13th. [SJ] 21 74 156 4 519-1 NMJ Gbls-u wagon delivered March 13th. [SJ] 21 74 156 5 576-0 NMJ Gbls-u wagon delivered March 13th. [SJ] 11 74 805 8 600-9 NMJ Ibblps wagon delivered March 13th. [SJ] 11 74 805 8 626-4 NMJ Ibblps wagon delivered March 13th.

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traffic and the train now runs Monday-Friday and Sunday. At going to press Tågab would run the trains until 25 February. The trains consist of one Rc6 locomotive hired from SSRT and three sixties trailers: B1, BS5 and AB3 (see our Nürnberg report for suitable models!). A flood of complaints from disgruntled commuters have forced the operators of Malmö's new City Tunnel to educate local residents about the dos and don'ts of travelling on a big-city transit system. The opening of the City Tunnel was heralded as a huge step for Malmö's transition to a major urban area, but two months after its inauguration the local transport operator has felt obliged to explain big city etiquette to new riders. "We have had a large number of people getting in touch, with a number of demands for how one should behave. It is a question of etiquette and was worthy of addressing," Ulrika Mebius at local transport operator Skånetrafiken, said. Train manager Fredrik Adolfsson complained that travellers in Malmö are "lazy" and that all want to get on the first carriage to save the walk up the platform. "There is a wide perception that the trains are packed, but in fact the problem is that many have not bothered to move further up the platform and use the carriages in the middle of the train which are often empty." When the application period for the open access on Swedish tracks expired on Tuesday April 12th, 47 applications had been submitted. Three of these are new players in passenger service on trains. The opening up of rail traffic was free for newcomers to apply for a service on the track. "We are now continuing the process of analysing the applications. (We are evaluating) what are the companies that have submitted an application to operate and at what times," said Transport Agency Director General Gunnar Malm in a statement. The working timetable is the basis of train traffic scheduling and carrying out engineering works in 2012. A proposal will be completed July 1, and the start of services is 11 December this year. Of the 47 railway companies and other operators who have applied, there are eight that only apply to the City for parking on the yard, and two with times for track maintenance. MJ News. Our main Model News is contained within the Nürnberg report. We could also list the various TRAXX locos that are appearing in Norwegian liveries, as these are frequently seen in Sweden…! _

In the NewsIn the NewsIn the NewsIn the News

The old Pocher Swedish wagons now have their own fan-club, complete with newsletter! In their day, these were exceptionally good wagons and still change hands for ’healthy’ sums. _

Utfartssignal…

About time, too…

SJ has been given clearance by the Swedish Data Inspection Board (Datainspektionen) to open a "graffiti database" in order to assist police r e p o r t s a n d damages claims. SJ had applied for an exception from the rule in the Data Protection Act which stipulates that only public authorities have the right to manage personal data relating to crimes and suspected crimes. In its application SJ, which is a state-owned limited company, argued that the costs incurred for cleaning up graffiti and other vandalism are considerable. Furthermore the firm argued that currently few of the cases are subject to legal proceedings and compensation claims are rarely successful. The lack of a means to collect information was cited as an underlying reason. SJ plans to use its database to expedite police reports and also to identify preventative measures, such as increasing surveillance at rolling stock depots. The database will contain images of the graffiti or vandalism, as well as incident information and costs incurred. Personal details of suspects will not however be permitted to be included in the database. The only information pertaining to the graffiti artist's identity would thus be their initials or "tag" included in their handiwork. SJ will be permitted to retain information in the database for up to two years or until such time as the matter has been dealt with by police and other authorities.

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