The latest N Gauge releases inspired by the Rhaetian Railway (RhB) bring together some of the most recognisable locomotives and rolling stock from Switzerland's spectacular metre-gauge network. Among the highlights is Ge 4/4 II No. 631, carrying an advertising wrap for the Swiss daily newspaper Südostschweiz, published by Somedia in the canton of Graubünden.
Ge4/4-II Locomotives
The Ge 4/4 II class first entered service during the 1970s and remains an important part of RhB operations, hauling everything from the famous Glacier Express to freight trains across routes ranging from street-running sections to demanding mountain lines.
The new releases also celebrate the RhB's distinctive green heritage. Although the railway is now strongly associated with its red trains, many locomotives and passenger coaches were originally painted green until the 1980s. The GRÜN & CHROM preservation initiative is helping recreate this historic appearance, with Ge 4/4 II No. 611, the first locomotive of its class, returning to service in classic green during spring 2023 to mark 50 years since the class entered service.
RhB Passenger Coaches and Luggage Coach
Complementing the locomotives are models of the EW I passenger coaches and luggage cars, representing another important chapter in RhB history. Introduced during the 1960s, the EW I coaches became the railway's largest passenger coach class for a period and were originally delivered in green. The luggage cars were built in 1980 using body construction related to the EW II coaches. During the RhB's transition to its modern red livery, green and red vehicles could frequently be found working together in mixed consists, creating some particularly distinctive formations.
These new N Gauge models offer European railway modellers the opportunity to recreate both the modern and historic RhB, from colourful contemporary workings to authentic green-era Swiss mountain railway scenes.
The Kato 2027 Catalogue is now available to Pre-Order, Available from December 2026