American Railroadfans in Switzerland

updated: February 19, 2012

The 15th and Final Convention will be held on October 13/14, 2012. Direct Link - click here

American Railroadfans - General Info

31 Years American Railroadfans in Switzerland 1981 - 2012
We are a loose group of fans (220 people), mostly of the greater Zürich area, Switzerland and a few from all over Europe, who are interested in the North American Railroad Scene. We are definitely not a club, but a non-profit organization without member ship fees, even we do not have a main sponsor. That way, we would like to reflect "The American Way of Life". We are having our monthly Meetings for interested fans (usually middle of the month on a Friday evening starting at 19.00 h at the Zürich Water Supply Site close to Freeway A3 Exit # 33 - Zürich-Wollishofen). There are approx. 50-60 people at the meeting place. Main attraction is a slide or movie presentation about the US Railroads starting at 20.00 h, held by one of our members. In addition, we are talking about differend themes of American RR's and US travelling (cars, country music etc.). Sometimes, one of our members is bringing along his latest model to show off his modelling skills. All major American RR magazines are on display for reading and browsing.

American Railroadfans Meetings - Programm (German)

Since 1999 we offer Railfan Trips to the USA in co-operation with Maya Travel Inn.
Fall 2012 (September 23 - October 7): Eastern Railroad Highlights

American Railroadfans Railfan Trips - Programm (German)

American Railroadfans - Conventions

In the past, every 2 years in Fall, we were organizing a 2-day event (Convention for American Railroadfans in Switzerland) at Adliswil (suburb of Zürich). We were inspired thru the NMRA Conventions held in the USA. Our first convention was back in 1981 inside the facilities of Swissphone Telecom. Also the 2nd CV was held there in 1982. Afterwards, we changed the rhythem of our event to be held every other year. Therefore, the 3rd to the 6th CV were held between 1984 and 1990 at the Zürich Water Supply facilities in Zürich downtown. Since the 7th CV in 1992, we are able to use the school house complex "Kronenwiese" at Adliswil. In 1998 we were celebrating the 10th Jubilee Convention with more than 3000 visitors. For this special event, Daniel Wehrli built a real size (sacle 1:1) Cupola Caboose. No question, it was the attraction of the 10th CV and it was also used as our Ticket-Office. The 11th CV held in Fall 2000 was with 4000 visitors an all time high record. To satisfy the high amount of attendies, we were in need of a second ticket office. In addition to our Caboose we got the front end of a Santa Fe SD75M Diesel Loco (made by railfans in Schlanders, Italy, once again made out of wood - Hollywood style).
Die The 12th Convention of October 12/13, 2002 was a big success. Even the German TV "SWR-Eisenbahnromantik-Team" with Hagen von Ortloff produced a 25' show. It was proadcasted as series # 471 on November 24, 2002.

Because of the rebuilding of the "our" school house, there was no Convention for 4 years (between 2002 and 2006). But the 13th Convention (Locomotion) of October 14/15, 2006 was once again a great success. For the second time, the SWR Eisenbahn-Romantik-Team with Hagen von Ortloff and Susanne Mayer-Hagmann made a TV report about the 13th CV.
Special Guest at the 13th CV: Brian Marsh, Overland Models / Tower 55 Products, USA.
We are very pround to have the biggest importer and producer of brass models from the USA at our Convention.
Direct Link: Overland Models

After the 13th CV we decided to change our bi yearly rhythem to 3 years. Therefore, the 14th CV (Evolution) was held on October 10/11, 2009.
Special Guest at the 14th CV: George W. Kohs, Kohs & Company, USA.
We are glad to present this premium brass producer during our 14th CV..
Direct Link: Kohs & Company

Special Guest at the 14th CV: Mike Wolf, M.T.H. Electric Trains, USA.
Wir We are glad to present this producer of HO, O and 1/32 models in plastic and metal during our 14th CV. Mike Wolf presented the first hand sample of the SBB Cargo Re 482 in O scale. he even announced the next Swiss model, the legendary "Krokodil" electric loco.
Direct Link: M.T.H. Electric Trains

The 15th and Final Convention will be held on October 13/14, 2012. Direct Link - click here (English)

15th Convention Flyer (A4 size) as a PDF - click here

2009 Evolution 2012 Speed & Power

Logo by Jürg Lütscher Logo by Jürg Lütscher

Convention - Main Page (English) / Convention - History (German)

Loki Thema - Evolution
Aus den bekannten Convention Infos by Jürg Lütscher wurde das erste Loki Thema lanciert. Es freut uns sehr, dass wir in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Verlag Lokpress das Loki Thema "Evolution" (Entwicklungen in den USA) realisieren konnten. Dieses Sonderheft ist exklusiv am 10. Oktober an der 14th Convention erschienen. Hochinteressante Informationen gut verständlich geschrieben auf 124 Seiten im Format A4 hoch inkl. vielen Farbfotos.
Written in German at sFr. 30.- each.
Wir bedanken uns bei den Herren Jürg Lütscher (Redaktion), Bruno Kalberer & Martin von Meyenburg (Lokpress) und Dani Hunziker (Layout).

Also available: Foto-CD and Film-DVD of the 14th Convention: click here

below are photos of Cajon Pass incl. the construction of the 3rd main track over Cajon Pass by BNSF (English)

Links-Liste der American Railroadfans mit Beschreibung / Description of our Links

Link	Beschreibung	Description
13th CV-Guide PDF	der 13th CV-Guide als PDF	Guide of the 13th Convention as a PDF
14th CV-Guide PDF	der 14th CV-Guide als PDF	Guide of teh 14th Convention as a PDF
14th Convention Info	14th Convention Information	English Page: Information about the 14th Convention
15th Convention Info	15th Convention Information	English Page: Information about the 15th Convention
15th CV Map Adliswil	Karte von Adliswil mit Anfahrtswegen zur 15th CV	English Page: Map of Adliswil - How to find the 15th CV
Convention History	Geschichte von der 1. bis zur 14. CV (1981-2009)	History from 1st to 14th Convention (1981-2009)
Convention Main Page	Convention Hauptseite	English Page: Convention Main Page
Convention Links	Convention Links (Aussteller, Inserenten, Sponsoren)	Convention Links (Exhibitors, Advertisers, Sponsors)
CV: Pins, Fotos, Film	Pins, Fotos, Filme der Conventions	Pins, Photo-CV, Film-DVD about the Conventions
General Links	grosse Links Sammlung der US-RR-Szene	great Links collection of the US-RR-Scene
Hobby Shows	Ausstellungen (CH, D, USA)	Exhibitions (CH, D, USA)
Home Railroadfans	American Railroadfans Hauptseite	English Page: American Railroadfans Main Page
Monthly Meetings	Monatliche Meetings (Programm)	Monthly Meetings (Program)
new Layout Center LCH	LCH: das neue Layout Center in Hinwil	LCH: new Layout Center at Hinwil
old Layoutcenter ALCA	ALCA: das alte Lyoutcenter in Adliswil	ALCA: old Layoutcenter Adliswil
Private Layouts	versch. private US-Anlagen (HO, O, On30, G)	diff. private US-Layouts (HO, O, On30, G)
Railfan Reisen	Railfan Reisen mit MTI und R. Kink (Programm)	Railfan Journeys by Maya Travel Inn (Program)

Home Railroadfans 2/19/12 - English	Monthly Meetings 2/19/12 - German	Convention History 7/17/10 - German	old Layoutcenter ALCA 11/12/10	new Layout Center LCH 1/01/12	Private Layouts 1/17/12
13th CV-Guide PDF 8/22/06	14th Convention Info 11/12/10 - English	14th CV-Guide PDF 8/05/09	15th Convention Info 2/19/12 - English	Convention Main Page 1/22/12 - English	Convention Links 2/10/12
US-Railfan Trips 2/18/12 - German	Hobby Shows 2/15/12 - German	blank	15th CV Map Adliswil 1/22/12 - English	CV: Pins, Photos, Film 9/14/11 - German	General Links 2/15/12

	The World of Cajon Pass Here you can find several pages about this unique location in Southern California. There are 9 pages about the construction of the 3rd Main Track over Cajon by BNSF. Lots of photos from the 70's - 2003 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 - 2008 - 2009 - 2010 - 2011 Take a look - you will be impressed. Updated weekly
4/04/08 Old T-2 EP w/BNSF EB on new track - 524	Cajon Pass Main Page - click here	8/22/07 BNSF WB Ethanol Train w/Hill 582 - 7013

	Photo Gallery Tehachapi Pass Barstow, Daggett and more Southern California Mix Winterail Photos by Werner Meer, Dave Crammer Gary G. Gray, Andy Goodson, Marc Fournier, Bruce H. Jones Take a look - you will be impressed Updated: 6/10/11
San Diego Surfliner & Coaster at the depot 50302	See our Photo Gallery - click here	BNSF EB entering Tunnel 9 and the Loop 30621