Alegra

[madharry]

[madharry]

[madharry]

[madharry]

Some pictures of my new exhibition layout Allegra based on the Rhatische Bahn narrow gauge railway in Switzerland.

The new layout is n-scale 1:150 using Kato rolling stock. The board is 5ft long by 2ft wide.

[madharry]

[madharry]

[madharry]

Kato locos are DC and as a result this is the first layout of my six exhibition layouts not to use the excellent Digitrax system.

The track is Peco Setrack code 80 with first and second radius curves. Manual turnouts are used in the fiddle yard at the rear of the modelled scene.

The backscene was formed with a sheet of Foamex to which I affixed a mountain scene by ID Backscenes. The Foamex iwas curved and glued to the side walls using a hot glue gun. Being curved it ensures there are no corners in the sky.

[madharry]

[madharry]

The side walls were set back 3 inches from the leading edge to leave room for a waterscene. I painted the board with Cerulean Blue acrylic paint. Once this had dried I stippled on Mod Podge. This dried overnight clear depicting a nice waterscene depicting a Swiss lake.

I then added a 1 inch sheet of Celotex (Household insulation) to the board. The track was laid depicting the winding nature of The Bernina Express line between Tirano in Italy and St. Moriitz in Switzerland. The track was ballasted using fine Chinchilla Dusting Powder.

[madharry]

[madharry]

I then added some 2 inch Celotex foam to form hills merging into the backscene. I used a craft knife to create some interesting rockwork. I then painted this with some ready-mixed Artex (ceiling plaster). After this had dried I brushed the hills with chalks using a make-up sponge to accent the rock faces.

The shoreline was accented with some talus. The small girder bridge is by WWScenics. The track disappears into the backscene via two Woodland Scenics tunnel portals.

[cuse]

Very Nice!

I really want to get that N scale Glacier Express...but I'm afraid of what it would lead to  

[madharry]

Snow was added using products from Deluxe Materials and Woodland Scenics. The catenary masts are by Kato. The more than 70+ trees came from a stash of trees from my previous home layout which was dismantled due to a house move.

I applied a realistic snow effect to the trees using a Modelmates snow spray.

A few examples of local wildlife can be found lurking in the forest. I completed the scene with two scratchbuilt ski chalets with a group of children playing in the snow (Woodland Scenics).

[madharry]

Hi Cuse,

The models are superb. Once you buy one you will need the lot!



Mike

[madharry]

The layout has it's own self contained lighting pelmet and is easily transported in one car. The whole layout took just 6 weeks to complete as I had a deadline. 

It has appeared in the February 2026 edition of Continental Modeller. 

Currently I have four locos all by Kato.

ABe8/12 Allegra 3 car unit
Ge4/4 mark 2 #620 in RHb Club livery
Ge4/4 mark 3 #643
Ge6/6 mark 1 #414 Crocodile

These are augumented by a set of Bernina Express panoramic coaches, a set of Glacier Express coaches and a rake of EWI coaches.

Mike