That'll be excellent Geoff.
Even if there are no trains running it will keep people amused and or baffled. Let me know if you need me to do or try and obtain anything.

If anyone's thinking of coming.
The two hotels nearest are:

Hotel F1

Approx 29€ per night but no toilet or shower in the room (but a sink) and no restaurant.

and

Campanile

Approx 60€ a night, with a restaurant.

Both are in the same road:

RUE PIERRE DE COUBERTIN
95300 PONTOISE

just round the corner from the exhibition hall.

Geoff , ideas for bell coding system.

- Maybe only signal one track in one direction so operators don't get confused
- Split into only 2 section with a single home guarding each
- Only codes would be can accept/yes/no
- No electronics
- Manual bells
- No interlocking
- I have some Hornby 0 gauge signals if you want them

David

Hi Carl

So far, taking advantage of a senior citizens fare, I've booked myself return to Paris Montparnasse Early 23 Nov thro late 25th on the TGV.

Any suggestions on travel and hotel thereafter, I'll be available to help in any way you think best?

Cheers Brian

It'll be good see you twice in one year Brian. A pity we couldn't have been able to bring the MOMI modules together at Railexpo.

For onward transport I think the easiest would be to take the metro at Montparnasse line 12 and 13 to Hausseman (Gare) St Lazare and then take a surburban train to Pontoise. It's not far and still within the Paris zone (5) system. There are other ways to go including arriving at Cergy le Haut which is the end of the RER line A3.
I would say Pontoise is slightly nearer and easier to walk to the exhibition place, 10-15mins or a local bus.
You might get free or half price travel for OAP's in Paris, check the RATP website.

Accomodation as per the links in previous posts. There are two hotels within easy walking distance and of others about 10-15 mins walk.

We have really all the physical help needed to operate the layout so just come and enjoy. If you can bring something to run all the better.

Thanks Carl

I've booked into the Campanile for Friday and Saturday nights.

As last year, we will pop in on the Saturday on our way South...

Marmite again?

Yes please....

I'm very sorry to say this but despite my earlier promise I had to deside not to come to France this year.
I've send you a PM Carl. Hopefully next year I'll be there again.

PM received and replied to.

So if you can't come your trains could......We'll look after them.

That's true... How can we realize that? Post them?

Carl,

I need to get my locos packed for the journey to Pontoise, with a kindly volunteer carrier.

If you can accomodate I will bring a tank loco and a bogie diesel both set up for 45mm. Or do you already have a surfeit of locos ?

Can you remind me of the back to back setting for the 45mm exhibition track.

Test run for RailExpo after an intermediate service. I added a 2.4Mg receiver, a chuff pipe , removed "les vis tete fromage" and added a few detailes like lubricators etc.

Your locos will be made very welcome David with or without cheesey heads.

So that's about 14 steam locos to appear now - excellent.
It promises to be a good show.

Your garden railway looks very neat too David.

Tx Carl.

Would a b2b of 40mm be about right, I cant find any standards anywhere for "G"
scale and LGB, if that is what your switches are.

David, 40mm seems just a bit tight. Most of my LGB wheelsets measure about 40.5 with some IP engineering metal wheelsets at 41mm.

Live steam at Railexpo.

There is a possibility that there may not be as much live steam at Railexpo as I anticipated earlier this year.

The passing away of Gilles Barret and the withdrawl of Atelier Vaporiste compounding that situation.

It is with that in mind that I shall be focussing more on providing an entertaining 'live' show of steam and of course a bit of diesel rather than too much electric. There will be some of course but as a second or third choice of running.
The layout will be totally non-scenic and just for 'playing' trains. Next year things maybe rather different (see scenic modules threads...)

So I'm gearing up for this at the moment.

I will have 9 steam locomotives available:

Regner - Max, Fanny, Emma, Hanna, Chaloner, Chiemseebahn, Reppingen - EKB20, Accucraft - Edrig and Caradoc.

I will take all 3 diesels (it is unlikely that a 4th will be ready).

David you are bringing your Roundhouse 'Lady'.

Troy you are bringing your 'Superior' and 'Excelsior'. and diesel ?

So that makes 12 steam locos plus 3 or 4 diesels.

I would like to try and have 2 steam and or diesels running at any one time if possible which will mean each locomotive running for about an hour each day. Then electric as a third train running.

I will keep the passing loop clear this year. It worked quite well on Sunday at St Aubin - thanks Troy.

Also my Fanny ran about an hour at Saint Aubin (make what you like of that innocent statement....) on just one filling of gas.

Is anyone else coming and bringing a steam locomotive to run?
Brian are you bringing your Edrig on the train?
I also understand there is a cracking collection in Alsace that would like to visit Paris I'm sure.... )

There may also be a few other French owned machines turn up on the day.

If you do come with a loco to run then entry and lunch will be paid for.

Please don't bring any gas, water or oil or tools. All those will be in abundance. A choice of water will be demineralised or filtered (Normandy) rain. Plus gas either butane or butane-propane mix. And oil too, either the Regner treacle or lower viscosity Roundhouse type more suited to Accucraft.

I will have 3 rakes of short wheelbase wagons to run so if you wish to bring some stock feel free but I would avoid large bogie items. The radii are 75 and 90cms.

I think this year will be the best and busiest ever given the size of the halls and the accessibility.

Hi Carl,

I'll leave others to comment about your Fanny, but I'd be happy to bring the Edrig particularly if I don't have to lug the gas/water/oil paraphernalia. It now has 2.4G r/c and a steam whistle. I'll leave all my electric locos at home.

Will you be sending entry badges? I shan't be there til the Friday, or do I, as in the past blag my way in?

Good that's 13 possible steam locos.

No need at all to blague your way in. There never should have been.

I don't usually get badges until I arrive on Thursday.

The badges are (for all exhibitors) primarily intended for those who arrive on Thursday to set up and leave after dismantling on Sunday.
There are nominally 3 badges including me but that can be a little meaningless. Whether you have 'badge' or not just denotes if you are representing or presenting the stand and thus can arrive by the back door.

There is no privilege with parking or other facilities.

As I said before, ALL those coming with locos to run will get free entry and lunch.
If you are stuck outside with the visitors and I am inside then call me by phone and I will come and meet you with a complimentary ticket or I'll tell you how you can get in.
If by chance you had to pay for whatever reason it will be refunded.

What time do you expect to arrive on Friday?

I think I need to make a list of expected people and times....I very easily get lost with these matters....

Hi Carl
I arrive in Montparnasse at 10.46 so allowing an hour to get up to Pontoise I'll be there around Midday!
Cheers