Here we go.

There has not been a Maerklin sleeping coach since 4240 DB WLABm and the 4268 SBB Bcm. There were also NS and DSB couchette coaches, all in 1:100.

If you are interested in 1:87 models, there is a wide assortment, including MU Type Sleepers from Hornby (Jouef/Rivarossi) and ACME, T2 from Hornby (Jouef) and Heris (T2S). There are Couchette models from LS Models (DB Autozug/DB Nachtzug) as well as a collection of City Night Line coaches.
ACME has a selection of FS Couchette Coaches including the Artesia trains between Italy and France. Roco has a DB Sleeper (45065), Swiss and French Couchette coaches as well as CIWL, Swiss and Romanian Sleepers.

If you cannot use the exact 1:87 coaches, you may be able to find a few items in the 1:93 collection of Fleischmann, which you could add to a few of the new Maerklin 1:93 coaches.

I have many of the coaches listed above and have had no problems, although I have not tested some of the exact scale material on the tightest radii.

You can find some current configurations for Night Train Consists (through Switzerland) at www.reisezuege.ch.

www.acmetrains.com
www.lsmodels.com
www.hornby.de or www.hornbyinternational.coom
www.roco.co.at
www.heris.de (older models on eBay/at some dealers)

Regards

Mike C

Hi.

If you want to reproduce a train that comes from Germany to Italy you should use mainly DB or FS material.
Usually trains from Italy that have SBB or OBB carriages stop in Switzerland or Austria and don't reach Germany.

For the rolling stock available in HO I agree with Mike, just I remember that also Heris and LS have some beautiful couchette carriages (in 1:87). I have a Heris one and it is a magnificent model!
I also have two beautiful Heris DDm cars, if you want to reproduce an autozug.

Beware of ACME couchettes of the X series: the NEM couplers are at a lower level than the right one, and in marklin turnouts interfere with central rails. I am working on this problem and I tried to solve it increasing a little the wheels diameter and inserting a small brass washer between the chassis and the bogie. This weekend I'll make the ultimate testing.

Pietro

If you want a nice train, get yourself the Trix 23414 FS Coach Set, a few of the DB UIC-X Coaches and add one or two of the Fleischmann WLABm and couchette coaches. You could also add the LSM Type P Sleepers as they are similar to the UIC-Y in length and would not stick out as much as 30cm coaches would.

My favorite night trains are

Re 460 - Roco 44337 - Liliput 388224 - Roco45118.1 - Roco 45376 - Roco 45386 - Jouef 4243 (Paris Est - Basel - Zuerich - Chur)

Re 4/4II - LSM WLAB P SNCB - Roco Bc SNCB - LSM Bc SNCB - Roco 44650 Bcm SBB - Roco 45074 WLABm SBB - ACME WLAB FS (Bruxelles-Basel-Simplon-Milan)

Re 460 - Bpm - WLABm - WLBm - WRm - Bcvmz - Bvcmz (CNL) LSM/Heris
(City Night Line)

Re 460 - Roco 45065 WLABmz DB - LSM 46122 Bcvmz (2) - Roco 45274 Bm DB
EN 300/301 DB Nachtzug (Segment Basel-Gotthard-Chiasso)

Re 4/4II - Roco 45976 (3) - ACME 16004 (2) - Roco 44972 - RailTop 13026 (Zuerich - Bern - Simplon - Milano)

The Sections before and after Switzerland can easily be modelled by changing the Kurswagen to correspond to the railroad you want to model. A useful site that lists some consists is:

http://e.bournez.free.fr/Eurocity.html

If you want to model Holland to Italy, here's a Maerklin consist:
Lok - 42696 (Bc NS) - 4240 - 4240 (WLABm DB) - 4268 (Bcm SBB) - 4294 (Bm DB) - 4189 (Bz FS)
Most of these items are discontinued but can still be found on eBay and at auctions

Regards

Mike C

There is some nice info about Nighttrains (Germany-Switzerland-Italy) (iincluding models and photos) on the front page at www.acmetrains.com

Enjoy

Mike C

I know for sure that Huenerbein in Aachen stocks ACME products.
As far as dealers in Holland, you could check the list at www.lsmodels.com and inquire whether they also stock ACME, as LSM is the distributor for ACME in France/Benelux

Regards

Mike C

Thanks Mike and al_pignolo for your detailed replies (as usual)! It really stimutates to see there are more enthausiasts of realistic and detailed train models of the Alpine region.

Following the track mike descibed, I wrote a few suplies of LS Models in the hope they also sell ACME trains.

I hope to compose a late era IV nighttrain from Munich to Rome of 5 FS UM-type cars (rivarossi and ACME) and 1 restauration car (all 1/87), pulled by a double öbb Rh1142 (Roco).