The legendary Gotthard railway model is back at the Swiss Museum of Transport - bigger, more modern and more impressive than ever. Adjustments are still being made until the end of December in preparation for its full commissioning. You are cordially invited to look over the model builders' shoulders as they work. The entire facility will not be back in operation until January 2025 and the trains will once again make their rounds from Wassen to Erstfeld.
In 2020, the Gotthard railway model had to make way for the construction of a new multi-purpose building. Now, after extensive transformation, it is back in the centre of the Museum of Transport and fascinates young and old alike with its impressive attention to detail and technology.
One of the longest model railway layouts in Switzerland
An elevated passerelle now provides unique views of the detailed landscape. Like an unfolded penknife, it unfolds along the mountain top and integrates the Gotthard Base Tunnel, which opened in 2016. The extensive transformation of the installation in Bleienbach began 55 weeks ago. The original 6 x 14 metre Gotthard railway model now measures 31.5 metres in length and 3.5 metres in width and is one of the longest model railway layouts in Switzerland. The Gotthard Base Tunnel, which opened in 2016, has also been integrated. Visitors also get exciting insights behind the scenes: A digital control system and staging yards at the rear illustrate the technical sophistication. The staging yard serves as an invisible stabling facility beneath the landscape level. Trains change here unnoticed to enable varied train sequences - for example when a loaded train is replaced by an empty one.
A masterpiece of volunteer work
Under the motto ‘Combining the old with the new’, the Gotthard modelling group, led by Emil Galliker, has further developed the Gotthard railway model with great attention to detail. The team consists of 20 dedicated members of the Lucerne Railway and Modelling Friends and the Rothenburg Railway Modelling Friends. Together, they invested over 12,000 hours of voluntary work to realise this masterpiece.
This is how you can support the project:
1 running metre corresponds to a donation of CHF 200. The zero metre is at Erstfeld station. A total of 1,000 linear metres of track will be laid. The donation is tax-deductible.
Register now and transfer your donation. The definitive allocation of track metres will take place after receipt of payment. You can make the payment online or by bank transfer.
Bank Details:
Verkehrshaus der Schweiz
Haldenstrasse 44
6006 Luzern
Luzerner Kantonalbank
IBAN CH69 0077 8143 2846 4201 1
Vermerk: Gotthardmodell
Sincere thanks
We would like to thank all our supporters, sponsors and donors for their support - including those who wish to remain unnamed.
Dätwyler Stiftung
Carplanet Garage Galliker AG
Emil Galliker
Lotteriefonds Kanton Uri
Tschopp Holzbau AG
JOP Josef Ottiger+Partner AG
Frey&Cie. Elektro AG
Martin Brunner Transport AG
Küttel AG
Leuchter IT Solutions AG
Maler Schlotterbeck AG
Lawil Gerüste AG
Daetwyler Management AG
Galliker Transport AG
Kaufmann Modellbau AG
Kanton Luzern
Neutrass AG
Schindler Aufzüge AG
Taku AG
Lions Club Luzern Pilatus
Josef Baumgartner
Joe Fässler
Anton Häfliger AG
Nicholas Benies
