Info. tinplate in France & switzerland

Hello,

May i suggest you make a visit to the best french museum of toy trains and scale models in O gauge and larger ones; the Rambolitrain is in the town of Rambouillet, a very easy access from Paris by car and train which takes 30 minutes and a short walk.

Their website is here :

http://www.rambolitrain.com/

Not of very good quality but you will find all the informations you need to visit.

If you want to have an overview of what you can see in the museum two very good videos to look at with great tinplate and scale models :

http://www.railtv.fr/Players/RunVideo.aspx?Id=4096

And :

http://www.railtv.fr/Players/RunVideo.aspx?Id=4176

What you will discover in those videos is a very small part of the collections. At first a huge Marklin collection from the beggining of toy trains, really of excellent quality; many models from french manufacturers also, JEP and Hornby mainly and some other ones less known. All are displayed in reproductions of the most famous french sellers shops.

In all the second floor of the house you will discover a great layout featuring high quality scale models in O gauge representing  the french railways in the 30's.

Definetely worth the visit, you can spend a whole afternoon there. In my opinion the best french museum for toy trains. Different spirit of the TCA museum in Lancaster PA. 

Finding shop is really less easy but if you want i can geave you some adress it depends also of where you are going in France.

Enjoy the visit and videos,

Very best,

Daniel

You might want to post your request on the main 3-rail forum as well. There are a couple of Swiss guys who are regulars on that forum who can probably provide some good information.

Hello  Daniel, "Frenchtrains",  thanks for the suggestions.  Just starting to plan the trip so I will definitely visit these.  This is a great help, looking forward to visiting these.  thanks again.  (walter)  Ontario, Canada

Hello Southwest Hiawatha,  Thanks for the suggestion, I'll give it  go.

There's a small toy train display in the Luzern transportation museum which is an incredible place.

The best place to see tinplate is at the Technorama in Winterthur.

http://www.technorama.ch/ausst...ielzeug-eisenbahnen/

The Technorama houses the collection of the late Dr. Alois Bommer and it is one of the best in the world. I visited the collection in 2004 and was impressed beyond belief. The displays are excellent and here you will see more one of a kind items than you could imagine. If you want a good preview just punch in Alois Bommer or Technorama on youtube. Again, an absolute must see.

All the best,

Mike

Hello Walter,

You are welcome.

As you will stay in Paris i think, don't miss a visit to the world's biggest antique market just on the side of Paris at Saint Ouen. A very easy access from everywhere in Paris. Just keep in mind that it is open only three days a week, saturday sunday and monday.

It's a huge place to visit with several markets side by side. The best ones are the Marché Paul Bert and the Marché Serpette. In Paul Bert you will find a very good shop with old tinplate but there is also some other ones who regularly have old trains . Also Vernaison is very nice to visit.

Web site here :

http://www.marcheauxpuces-saintouen.com/1.aspx

and more especially here

http://www.marcheauxpuces-saintouen.com/4.aspx?sr=10

http://www.marcheauxpuces-saintouen.com/4.aspx?sr=13

http://www.marcheauxpuces-saintouen.com/4.aspx?sr=15

Also not far from Paris in Poissy you can visit a nice museum of old toys. Not only trains, they have a nice little layout, but all kind of hold toys.

Website is here

http://www.ville-poissy.fr/fr/.../musee-du-jouet.html

There is also some specialised shops in Paris selling old trains but i don't have the adresses with me. If you want to have them just let me know i will search. I don't go to see them very often as prices are very high.

As you will also visit Switzerland there is the french railways national museum of Mulhouse which is near the Swiss border :

Website  http://citedutrain.com/

And also a very nice toy museum 35 miles south of Mulhouse in Colmar

Website   http://www.museejouet.com/

I hope you will enjoy to visit those places.

Very best,

Daniel

FRANCE

Daniel,

Thank you for posting the video links above!  The first one in particular is really interesting to me, as it shows so many beautiful early tinplate models in action, including live steam and clockwork!

I've never been there, but you might be interested in Toggenburg:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuJcgr9BTH0

but maybe without the music.