Background

It was approximately November 2003 when I decided to have a go at a layout, a number of chance circumstances resulted in me buying a Fleischmann catalogue. Prior to this I had no interest in railways at all, in fact they left me cold; I still can't say that railways in general enthuse me, but  pre war and early fifties German railways have me hooked.

My initial foray was a bit of a disaster, armed with nothing but ignorance, I bought a selection of locos, rolling stock, and a mixed bag of buildings including some British outline. I constructed a double loop, with a simple (what I was later to discover was a branchline stoppling point) station, a series of sidings, a factory and a spur to a coalmine. All covering a space of about 1225mm x 2500mm. It lacked any sense of realism, or atmosphere, and did nothing but allow me to exercise my locos unattended, and gain some experience of scenery, track laying and wiring.

If you'd like to see a few pictures, follow this link:The old layout 

In September 2004 I had a new shed built in my garden, a concession from my wife later, I now had a dedicated railway 'room'. I then embarked on a concerted period of research. I didn't want the trains to just go round in circles with no purpose, reading magazines, and viewing sites online, I decided on an out and back style layout. This obviously leads to a branchline terminus, and all roads (tracks?) lead to a Bavarian branchline.

Although all of my rolling stock is what is know as epoch II (approx 1920 - 1945), the locos I had were not particularly suited to the region I had chosen. However I decided to overlook this small anomaly and to persevere, as locos can be replaced at  a later date, and as only I will get to see them who's to know! (It should be noted that this is a very private hobby, my layout is not for display, my wife is summoned at intervals to offer her impecible aesthetic eye over the scenery, otherwise it's just me and the cat).

My layout is based on the terminous at Hauzenberg near Passau, southern Bavaria. After much head scratching I settled upon the working name of Holstenberg. Thus retaining the 'berg' of Hauzenberg, and combining it with Holsten, indulging my other great interest, films. (Holstenwall is the name of the village in Das Kabinett Des Doktor Caligari, the classic 1919 German Expressionist film by Robert Wiene).


It is my intention to set my layout in the mid thirties, but  we may well see a V100 diesel from time to time. There will also be a few unofficial visitors too, including a fine Bavarian State Railways S3/6 Express.

(Please note I am by no means an expert in either model or German raillways, every step of the way I have had to research the details, (and as much of the information available is in German make a poor effort at translation), so I'm sure there are lots of inaccuracies and flaws to my layout. Thus I do not  present this site as a historical or technical reference; rather it is intended to show  you my  layout, so that you may enjoy the pictures, follow the progress of its construction and perhaps pick up some ideas for your own use.)

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