Anderslej, my Slovenian layout

[andersley]

Many years ago when I was needing a name for a new O scale garden layout, my wife saw a play on TV and the village name was Andersley. She thought it sounded like a good name for a layout, so I used it!

Most of my layouts since then have been called Andersley, and I use it as my username on some forums. When I had decide to make a Slovenian layout, I asked on a Slovenian forum if the name was ok to use but change the y on the end to j. I was told that was quite acceptable as a Slovenian place name.

The low level staging tracks are purely stub ended sidings.

The Black Beetle motor bogies (made in Australia) are very similar to Tenshodo spuds, but more robust. The Gomulka was designed to use the Black Beetles. I had the pleasure of meeting (and having a beer or two) with the maker of these kits and several other Slovenian friends in Ljubljana. The bo0gies are available in several wheelbases and wheel sizes. They are very smooth and quiet.

"Spanka" does mean Spanish lady, I think as they were built by Macosa in Spain.


The American diesels are named for Presidents. The first ones, class 661 are "Kennedy's" - they have 567 engines and sound superb! Only a few of these left in service now. The 644 "Reagans" are also superb and are driven quite hard so they scream when accellerating! I always have my head out the window when riding behind them! :mrgreen:

A Reagan about to depart for Ptuj - I hopped on this train after taking the picture.


The 664's are similar to tunnel motors, with open grilles at the rear