Railway eras, finally clear
« Era III » on a box is not catalogue jargon: it is the promise that this machine really did meet those coaches. Six periods — and your layout becomes a true story.
The six eras
| I · ~1835–1920 | Pioneers and private companies. Steam, brass, axle coaches. |
| II · ~1920–1945 | The great state railways. In Switzerland: mass electrification — the age of crocodiles. |
| III · ~1945–1968 | The post-war years. Steam and electric side by side; in Switzerland the Ae 6/6 with cantonal crests. |
| IV · ~1968–1985 | UIC numbering on bodies, international traffic, TEE. |
| V · ~1985–2006 | Advertising liveries, Re 460, shuttle trains — colour arrives. |
| VI · from 2007 | The modern era: multiple units, current logos, 12-digit numbers. |
Why it matters
- Coherence — an era III Ae 6/6 in front of standard coaches: plausible. In front of an era V advertising wagon: anachronism.
- Freedom too — your layout, your rules. The era is a compass, not a policeman.
- When buying — the era appears on every serious product sheet; it is the collector's first filter.
In doubt about a specific machine? Bring the box to the shop — we love those questions.