Voie Libre international

Discover every three months in this international issue of Voie Libre in english, new products reviews, layout descriptions, model building, historical information on secondary lines and prototypes...

Voie Libre International

Editorial #111

What's New

What's New

What's New

A NEW SHOP OF AXEL'S BAZAR

A T 50 IN 0–16.5 FIRST ENGINE IN THE P'TITS KITS RANGE • Following on from the successful release of wagon consists in H0-9/00-9, the P'tits Kits Voie Libre range has quite literally moved upscale with its very first model and very first engine: a Billard T 50 in 0!

The Krähenberg Bahn in H0-9 • We discovered the Krähenberg Bahn, a splendid H0-9 creation, in the entrance hall of the Kaeserberg layout at the first edition of Passions Ferroviaires during the spring of 2022. What we did not know was that there was more to it than met the eye. Andreas Spahni, its creator, tell us the full story.

1915, a turning point • After the German offensives in Belgium and on the Marne, and the race to the North Sea, 1914 ended on a cruel conclusion for Europe. The position war that followed would probably be a lengthy one. The role played by the artillery having become dominant, general staffs became obsessed by the question of ammunition supply. On the French side, 60cm field railways, designed for this specific purpose, were called to the rescue. But this required a new way of organizing them on the frontline, for which they had not been originallly designed, as well as the use of innovative equipment.

Champagne 1915, the early years of 60cm gauge on the frontline • In 1915, as soon as its became obvious that artillery was going to play a major part in what was turning into a protracted war, moving the huge amounts of ammunition required became a major concern for the general staff. Designed for this purpose, 60cm gauge railways were soon found to be essential.

FÉLIX LEPRINCE-RINGUET

SCHNEIDER LG MINITRAINS: even better! • The guest presence of the LG type Schneider tractor at Uxegney fort during the inauguration of the « Train des forts», last May, gave Bernard Junk the opportunity to take a second look at the scale model produced by MinitrainS.

The Schneider LG tractor at uxegney

The Schneider tractor, A NEW TOOL FOR MILITARY 60CM GAUGE • The experience gained during the Champagne campaign convinced the French general staff of the major role that could be played in the war by 60cm gauge railways. However, this required a modernization of the system imagined by Prosper Péchot.

THE HALTS, small CFD buildings • The CFD company built a variety of structures. Station buildings with or without semi–detached goods sheds, self–standing goods sheds of various sizes, engine sheds, water tanks, all these are well known, Halts are less familiar.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

A VINTAGE TRAM just for us! • LR Presse has decided to market a tramway set specifically created for us by Halling Modelle. Whether it is a topic unto itself or a feature complementing an existing layout, give it a go!

THE DRIVING CHASSIS

Tramway Connection • The availability of an attractive vintage tram consist from the LR Presse shop prompted me to share my enthusiasm for a small layout, linking the main line and urban transport.

A BOGIE WAGON for Abreschviller • With two P'tits Kits bogies, Bernd Irion has built a flat wagon for its forest network. Whatever the bogies, the approach remains the same!

A CHILD OF VOIE LIBRE! Somua/Duton railcar • The Editorial Team recently received a pleasing message, from an enthusiastic reader who sent us what he had created while reading… Voie Libre. Hooray, a kitchen table project!

MAKING WATER using inclusion resin • Gilbert Gribi describes a few recipes for enjoying...