ETE Modules

In 1995, I joined a European train club (ETE) that was primarily based in the Bay Area of California. Member's interests ranged from rail travel to socializing to collecting and operating model trains of various scales and gauges. Within ETE, a special interest group had designed and constructed modules for HO scale trains, either AC or DC powered, which were shown at local model train shows and occasionally at club meetings.

The age old reason of not having enough room for a HO layout plus a growing interest in Swiss narrow gauge suggested that modules were a good compromise. However, I wanted a complete, stand-alone narrow gauge layout when I was not connected with other ETE modules and thus ensued the following craziness. The construction lasted roughly 1.3 years working 40+ hours a week on it.

The basic ETE module is 2 feet by 5 feet by 10 inches high. By using two adjoining modules, I could just squeeze in a HOm layout within the modules.

The HOm modules (i.e. my layout) consumed about 15 meters of HOm code 83 Bemo flex track with only about 40% of this track exposed. Seven Bemo turnouts were completely reconstructed to improve electrical and mechanical capabilities as well as two dual gauge branches and one dual gauge turnout were constructed (all three were Märklin 3 rail compatible) to integrate the two railway lines.

The catenary was also specially constructed to allow Märklin AC digital voltages to be picked up off the overhead while DC voltages for the HOm engines could also receive power from the overhead. This involve meticulous cutting and epoxying of the catenary wires into the insulators to act like real insulators.

The modules were finally sold in early 1998 to another ETE member so that I could focus exclusively on HOm (and HOe) modules and trains.


		ETE Modules In 1995, I joined a European train club (ETE) that was primarily based in the Bay Area of California. Member's interests ranged from rail travel to socializing to collecting and operating model trains of various scales and gauges. Within ETE, a special interest group had designed and constructed modules for HO scale trains, either AC or DC powered, which were shown at local model train shows and occasionally at club meetings. The age old reason of not having enough room for a HO layout plus a growing interest in Swiss narrow gauge suggested that modules were a good compromise. However, I wanted a complete, stand-alone narrow gauge layout when I was not connected with other ETE modules and thus ensued the following craziness. The construction lasted roughly 1.3 years working 40+ hours a week on it. The basic ETE module is 2 feet by 5 feet by 10 inches high. By using two adjoining modules, I could just squeeze in a HOm layout within the modules. The HOm modules (i.e. my layout) consumed about 15 meters of HOm code 83 Bemo flex track with only about 40% of this track exposed. Seven Bemo turnouts were completely reconstructed to improve electrical and mechanical capabilities as well as two dual gauge branches and one dual gauge turnout were constructed (all three were Märklin 3 rail compatible) to integrate the two railway lines. The catenary was also specially constructed to allow Märklin AC digital voltages to be picked up off the overhead while DC voltages for the HOm engines could also receive power from the overhead. This involve meticulous cutting and epoxying of the catenary wires into the insulators to act like real insulators. The modules were finally sold in early 1998 to another ETE member so that I could focus exclusively on HOm (and HOe) modules and trains. Click a smaller image for a larger image.






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