Der MOROP Kongress 2020 in Koblenz ist abgesagt
Le Congrès MOROP 2020 à Coblence a été annulé
The MOROP Congress 2020 in Koblenz has been canceled
May/June 2019
62nd General Assembly of the BDEF in Hamburg
The General Assembly of the BDEF took place this year from May 29 to June 02, 2019 in the Hanseatic city of Hamburg. The MOROP was well represented by the president Peter Briegel, the technical director Wieland Zimmer (also as president VOEMEC) and the interpreter Urban Ruegger (also president SVEA / ASEA).
Here are a few impressions of the very well organized and executed program points during the days in Hamburg.
Pictures by Peter Briegel
April 2019
Assembly of Delegates of the SVEA / ASEA in Balsthal / CH
On April 27 and 28, 2019, the annual delegates' meeting of the Swiss Association took place in Balsthal - Canton Solothurn - in Switzerland. At the Assembly of Delegates, 66 out of 87 member associations were present and, as every year, the discussions were stimulating, interesting and the results were satisfying for all. During this time, the escorts visited a very interesting comb museum. During a very good dinner as always interesting discussions were conducted and a group of drummers (multiple Swiss champion and runner-up) delighted the audience with a fantastic performance.
On Sunday at 09:00 all met for an interesting excursion program. With a special train of the Oensingen-Balsthal Railway with 2 saloon cars and the steam locomotives, we first went to the Balsthaler Papierfabrik. During a guided tour, we were able to find out about the production of the special paper produced there in front of the running machines.
Back on the train we went on to the tunnel construction factory Marti. There we got an insight into the tunnel construction with all possibilities and visited a tunnel boring machine under construction.
Back in our special train and after a short drive we landed in the canteen of the Intercantonal Fire Brigade training center in Klus. An interesting lecture about the history and origin of the Oensingen - Balsthal railway and the Roll'schen metal goods factory drew all railway enthusiasts into its spell. With a good lunch and many discussions and the return to the station Balsthal this exciting trip was decided.
The next delegates' meeting of SVEA / ASEA will take place on 18th and 19th April 2020 in Matten bei Interlaken.
124th session of the TC in Palma de Mallorca
From 05. - 07.04.2019 the TC meeting took place in Palma de Mallorca. We thank the FCAF and especially Alex Mitjans and his team for the excellent preparation and execution of this meeting. Likewise the model railway club of Palma de Mallorca - AAFB - for the provision of the meeting room and assistance with the planning.
Work programm for the seesion:
Revision of the NEM 102 "Clearance of clear space with straight track guidance"
NEM 641 control and revision
SMV application for a new standard NEM 10x working title "Grenzzeichen"
Dealing with incoming "requests" >> Requests from "outside" TC or MOROP at all.
Quo Vadis MOROP TC? >> Discussion about future standards, next work, brainstorming, etc
But there was still time for a cultural and tourist program. On Saturday afternoon we take the regular train to Manacor and from there by bus to the emerging "Historic Railway Museum of Mallorca" in Son Carrio.
In the evening, we all met for a Mallorcan dinner in a traditional restaurant in Palma de Mallorca.
The highlight of the program was on Sunday a ride on the Tren de Soller (red lightning) from Palma to Soller. There a competent guide in three languages explained the beauties of the city before we took the "Tram de Soller" to the harbor.
Preaparation for the TC session |
In the museum at Son Carrio |
Dinner at the restaurant Celler de Premsa in Palma |
Tren de Soller station in Palma |
Soller |
Photo stop before Soller |
Tren de Soller station in Soller |
Tram de Soller in the City |
Port de Soller |
Tram de Soller passing a beer garden |
Before the return trip to Palma |
Cathedral of Palma |
As the representative of MOROP I visited the general assembly of the BDEF from May 10 to 13; 2018 in Berlin. The most important part of this assembly was the 60th anniversary of the BDEF. Thursday was marked by several events and on Friday the were offered several visits during the morning. I visited with several participants the Drive Simulator of the ODEG railway company right in the middle of the city.
We had the opportunity to drive a KISS train in the simulator and discovered that the job of an engineer on a train includes much more then push the accelerator forward or backwards to break. Unfortunately we could not enjoy the full time available because the next program called us to the “Kaiserbahnhof” (Imperial Station) to Potsdam.
Inside this traditional building – wonderfully restored by the Deutsche Bahn and used as the academy for the leading echelon – the annual assembly of the BDEF took place.
After a smooth assembly we all got an inside look at the building and afterward assembled in the “Glashalle” for a reception by the Deutsche Bahn. Accompanied by imperial weather we could use the exterior and interior parts and the restored coaches of the Imperial Train added to the wonderful surrounding.
Saturday was – as every year – reserved for the “große Rundfahrt” (great journey). We took the historical fast train – Zwickauer Traditionszug – pulled by a 218 from Lichtenberg to Wittenberge. There we visited the engine shed of the Salzwedeler Dampfbahnfreunde und ene engine shop ot the Potsdamer Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft. With an excellent guided tour and a great lunch the time passed much too fast. But the return journey offered us another highlight.
Special train before the return trip at the Wittenberge station.
From the main line from Hamburg to Berlin the train departed before Gesundbrunnen towards the south in the direction of Potsdam. Accompanied by wonderful weather we passed the Kaiserbahnhof again and passed on the centre line from Wannsee – Westkreuz – Hauptbahnhof – Ostbahbhof through the whole city centre to our destination Lichtenberg.
It was a special experience to pass that line with its multiple stations without any stop.
A wonderful buffet dinner in the hotel concluded in appropriate style the 60th anniversary of the BDEF.
A Schienenbusfahrt on the VT 95 to Basdorf was the final touch to the meeting on Sunday.