https://www.20min.ch/sto...z-kommt-weg-618754392760

I first saw the layout as a 9 year old when the family visited Luzern while living in Switzerland. I was there again in 1985.
I remember watching as an employee opened a door and entered the layout. You could see the spiral loops that were used to increase the elevation of the tracks. On the real Gotthard, the trains made 3/4 to a a full circle to gain altitude. On the model, the trains often went around many loops in order to exit the tunnel at the next track level.

When I first saw the layout, the rolling seemed to be a mix of Hag, Fleischmann, Trix Express and some Maerklin. When I was there in 1985, it was a mix of Hag, Roco, Lima, Liliput and other brands. It was cool that the trains were a little updated compared to 1971/72, but a little disconcerting to see exact scale, 1/93 and 1/100 models combined in consists.

The last time I went there (2004), the rolling stock was mostly 1/87 and it looked better. I was, however, disappointed in the way that the layout had been moved. It seemed to have less impact in it's new setting.

It is with sadness that I read that the layout is being phased out. Switzerland still has Smilestones, Baumgartner and Kaeserberg, but it will not be the same.

Regards

Mike C

Yes that is correct Alan §
"Sicher aber bleibe das beliebte Modell erhalten." : it is sure that the beloved model is being preserved!
Where it woill be displayed again is under evaluation.
I could not have seen this emblematic and inspiring layout disappear!!

This is a great layout and i took in as many as I could when i visited Europe. I signed the petition as it allows non-residents to sign. I hope it will be around for all to visit when they get the new building complete.

Signed petition above.

H0 Gottard railway system returns to the Verkehrshaus!

The H0 Gottard railway system from the Museum of Transport, safely packed in a wooden box, was transported to Rain after temporary storage in Bleienbach, in a hall on the Daetwyler AG site, where the system is being comprehensively refurbished and expanded. The model will return to the Museum of Transport from August 2024.
The Swiss Museum of Transport had spoken to various organizations across Switzerland about loaning the Gotthard railway model including operation. However, the numerous negotiations did not lead to any success. The system will therefore not be given away and will remain at the Swiss Museum of Transport. The Gotthard railway model will probably be on display again in the Verkehrshaus from August 2024, as the museum confirmed to the Luzerner Zeitung [see article on Zentralplus that can also be read without a subscription].

Until then, the 64-year-old, 15-ton, 75-square-meter system will be overhauled by a voluntary working group. In the future it will be presented in a “contemporary form”, as it is said. We are talking here about current digital control and further development in the sense of contemporary museum education. For this purpose, the system will be cut into three parts and presented along a line in the future, following the original course in the Reuss Valley. A Ticino section will also be added.

“It is important to the Museum of Transport to preserve this unique object, which is part of the childhood memories of countless visitors to the Museum of Transport, and to make it accessible to the public.”

The Swiss Museum of Transport expects the entire project to cost around half a million francs.
On October 7, 2023, the Gotthard model could be viewed in its unchanged form at its storage location in Bleienbach. There was driving, an insight into history and an outlook on the transformation.

link
I downloaded some pictures of works on that fantastic layout

For the sake of transport, the layout is divided into 3 parts, each of which has about 5 tons!

The size and weight can be understood from this picture


Numerous decoders are connected for digitization