The Historical Society Zwijndrecht was hosting an exhibition of antique toys and trains in its museum. The Dutch HRCA was invited to be present with an O-gauge layout for a special vintage train running day on Saturday 10th January. Alongside our layout, an 0-gauge layout with working vintage live steam locomotives was on display.
On the live steam layout there were early Bing and Carette 0-gauge locomotives and rolling stock. The layout also had a working steam driven turntable.
This video report was made showing not only the layouts but is also a virtual tour of the exhibition.
The Museum de Vergulde Swaen gives visitors an impression of the history of Zwijndrecht. To make a visit to the museum more pleasant there is also a cafe.
The day was also used for a New Year's reception for anyone interested in vintage model trains and, more importantly, in bringing something to run. Those present brought along locos and rolling stock from makes as diverse as Hornby, Bassett-Lowke, Leeds Model Company, ACE Trains, Märklin, Bing, Charles Rossignol, Karl Bub and Kraus. The layout can best be seen as a joint effort from members of the Dutch HRCA and other Dutch vintage 0-gauge collectors.
One of the participants brought along a recent, rare find. In the mid-1930s, Märklin produced an advertising 0-gauge train for the manufacturer Wybert, which could be displayed in pharmacy windows promoting Wybert throat lozenges. It consisted of an electric locomotive, five two-axle flatcars loaded with lozenge tins, track, buildings to make a village and other accessories. The complete Wybert trains, of which only 500 are said to have been produced, were supplied in a special wooden crate.
A novelty: at the beginning of the day the local radio station came by to make a live report to possibly encourage more people to visit the museum.
