Hi! I received 3 neat Swiss passenger cars, made by LIMA (Italy). A friend at work brought them back from Switzerland for me! I also realize these are somewhat toylike compared to something like Marklin. It was the thought that counted! I don't know anything about them! Thought I would ask my friends at TB for help! #1. A DARK GREEN CAR/SILVER ROOF; SILVER DOORS. ON THE BOX IT SAYS: SBB-CFF-FFS TYP RIC #2. A COlORFUL CAR WITH A MURAL OF THE ALPS IN SUMMER AND WINTER. THE WORDS, "BLS LOTSCHBERG LAUCHERNALP LOTSCHENTALBAHN" ARE ON THE SIDE OF THE CAR. IT'S A NICE SCENE OF A BUS, PEOPLE, MOUNTAINS, A RAILROAD STATION, A CABLE CAR AND A COUPLE OF SMILING "SUNS" ON TWO WINDOWS. IT IS A SECOND CLASS COACH EW1-BLS. #3. A SILVER/GREY CAR WITH A DARK BLUE BAND ALONG THE WINDOWS; YELLOW DOORS. THE SIDE OF THE CAR SAYS, "SBB CFF FFS". Thanks for the help! Oh, two are from the "LIMA COLLECTION" in blue boxes, while the other just plain grey box says "LIMA MODELS". (Bet those two are worth a fortune!!!!!!!!!)
Sounds like they are all EW1 low roof stock. Lima made lots of these, but the better ones are Roco EW2. But I had a rake of the Lima ones and they run fine. The first one is the old standard scheme, and the second obviously one of the extravagent liveries which are sometimes applied these days! This one for the bern Lotchberg Simplon Bahn. Never seen the third one. The EW1 and 2 coaches are being phased out as more double deck mainline stock is introduced, and EW4 stock is cascaded. EW4 are great to ride! Earlier ones have pull-down windows, but later ones are sealed and air-conditioned This is an EW2 in another special livery BLS EW4 On the right is an EW2 in dark green, and on the left a mix of EW2 (low roof) and EW4 (high roof) coaches.
JT......I wish someone would bring me some passenger cars from Switzerland You must have very wealthy friends The car that Alan has not identified is probably an EW1 in "Kolibri" NPZ livery. Many of these old cars were refurbished (and repainted) and are used as intermediate cars between new-build electric driving vehicles.(see photo) The trains are known as "Kolibri" (humming bird) because of the sound they make. Incidentally I think you will find in Alan's photos that the "Cheese Express" dining car is actually an EW1. Apart from the size of the small window at the end of the car EW1 and 2 are very similar. John.
WOW! Thanks Alan and John for the info! Your photos are so cool!!!!!!!!!! John, I was quite taken back when my friend opened his desk drawer and produced a plastic shopping bag with ROCO and lot's of model trains on it! Gee, I have only been asking him to stop by his local firehouse on the Lower East Side and see if he could get a patch for me, and I was stunned to get such a surprise from him! LOL! Thanks guys again for the photos too! Beautiful! Just beautiful! Oh, my wife said she knew what the green car was. "It's the Swiss Army Knife car"! Those Americans, what are "we" going to do with them!!!!!! Oh, I must warn you guys, London is on our list of future journies...........might be a good time for a massive British TB retreat this way! LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL!
Johnny, that sounds like a plan! Just give us a bit of warning before you ring our doorbells, wouldn't want you to come all that way and find that we're all on holiday!!!
You'll know I'm in town when my motorcade whizs by, right to the Tower Of London! LOL! LOL! LOL! When was the last public execution?????
Our "Sister Cities" sure have a common bond there, Alan. Ever notice that not just the suburbs, but other more "remote" places now have more and more vehicles on their roads? Little quiet country lanes are becoming rather scarce these anymore. Small towns have more cars and trucks driving through them on a Sunday at Noon, than the have people who live in the town.
Very true, since Sunday shop opening became the norm here, we can have traffic jams on Sundays, something unheard of in the past, except in summer on routes to the coast!
