Navemo Model Trains

Founded in Zurich in 1996, the Swiss firm NAVEMO (a German acronym for Local Transit Models) focuses on producing urban transit models in HO scale. While plenty of models exist of mainline Swiss railroads, models of trams and streetcars (also known as light rail) were lacking. NAVEMO was formed to fill that void.

Though models so far have depicted vehicles from various Swiss cities, models based on equipment operating in other countries could be offered in the future. (The range of Swiss models — depicting both modern and vintage equipment — is typical of streetcars operating in most European cities. So, NAVEMO models would still be at home on a layout depicting any fictional European city, even if that city is not located in Switzerland.)

NAVEMO’s HO models represent transit operations in both standard gauge and meter gauge (HOm) as are found in various cities.

Despite the more limited (compared to mainline models) interest in transit models, NAVEMO has managed to produce a substantial assortment of products that even includes work equipment used in the maintenance of streetcar lines. To keep prices reasonable, the firm is operated on a part-time basis by the five co-owners and much of the work of producing molds and other major components as well as surface printing of the models is contracted out to major model manufacturers. Only final assembly is done by NAVEMO.

A prime example of this is the Luna Tram track system, developed by a NAVEMO staff member, but produced in cooperation with Tillig, a much larger model railroad manufacturer.

NAVEMO continues to develop new models and Reynaulds is excited about importing these unique and highly detailed models.