The German Part of jwb's Layout

[jwb]

I've made a couple of posts here and elsewhere of photos I took when I went to Germany in 1971 looking for steam. (This was on a summer vacation from graduate school, when you could get a charter flight for a few hundred bucks and stay in youth hostels for a few bucks a night -- in retrospect, a real bargain to go see steam when nothing like this was possible any closer to home. I could also justify it by saying I was polishing my German for schoolwork.)

I finally got around to scanning the photos I took on that trip, over 40 years later. I came back from Germany with a strong interest in European railroads, and I built a small German prototype layout at the time. I've kept the Sommerfeldt components I used at the time, along with rolling stock, and I've desultorily picked up pieces here and there ever since. When I designed the "lifetime layout" I started in the 1990s, I included a certain amount of what would be German prototype trackage, complete with catenary. However, so far, while I've made a lot of progress on the North American parts of the layout, the German part still has only about 90% of its track laid, wiring incomplete, and no scenery. Scanning my 1971 photos has rekindled my interest.

I should mention that one thing I always wanted to avoid in designing my layout was the idea of saying "I was a big HO PRR fan, but I'm ripping that all out and going Sn3 D&RGW" or whatever. I've lived in a number of places and traveled to more, and I knew I was never going to settle on one prototype or approach to the hobby. Instead, I decided I wanted to suit myself, and I didn't want to go ripping stuff out every few years (or another approach that has me scratching my head, the UK guys who build a layout and sell it a year or so later).

So my intent was to find a way to include ways to satisfy all my interests, even recognizing that individual foci could well wax and wane over time. This has been the case for me with German prototype. Here is a track plan, not to scale, and without a whole lot of detail:

   

So you can see that I designed an inner double track loop intended for German prototype on the left side of the layout. However, one idea I've worked with on this layout has been "dual use" trackage. Connectors have been built in from the North American main line to the European loop that will theoretically allow trains to leave the North American line and loop around the European section, especially if I choose to switch locos from diesel to electric to do this. Also, there is an industrial spur that can be served from either North American or German prototype. So far, the spur and trackage that leads to it is in use, exclusively for now by North American models. However, as I complete wiring on the German section, this will likely change. No German trains have so far made the full loop around -- again, interests wax and wane, and I'm providing for this in a "lifetime" layout.

Because I'm still laying German track, I'm going to start there. I've been back to Germany several times since 1971, and I began to become acutely aware of the differences between North American and German track. (Swiss, Austrian, and Italian track is also similar to German track). Here is a photo that shows what I'm talking about:

   

The ties have different shapes -- rounded at the top -- and the rails are fastened with bolts, not spikes (I don't know what the current status is of Pandrol clips in Germany). I discovered that German model track can be found that shows this detail. Here is a shot of German trackage on my layout. I used some Pilz and some Roco track components:

   

Here is a farther-back view of the area:

   

The track in the foreground is North American (Atlas code 83). The dual-use pulpwood spur is to the right. (My observation in Europe is that pulpwood is a common industry there as well as in the US.) You can sort of see the dimensional difference. My next step is going to be working on ballast and details immediately near the track, as well as completing some tracklaying.

Since there are several German modelers here doing US prototype, I thought it might be interesting for a US modeler to discuss work on German prototype. Naturally, I'll be very interested in suggestions.

[faraway]

The way how the rails are mounted on the ties is in fact different. Google has lots of good images if you search for "Gleisbefestigung".
You may have noticed the way how the ties are arranged at turnouts/switches is also different. You find images if you search for "Schwellenlage Weiche".

[switcher1]

A lot of Brits only build exhibition layouts, that is why they sell them off after a few years.

[jwb]

Which to me is another head-scratcher, since the exhibitions are primarily social events, and any operation that takes place is secondary to the social interaction. The whole situation encourages slapdash work -- create a nine days wonder, take it on tour, get everyone to kiss your bum because you slathered on the Woodland Scenics, and sell it.

[jwb]

One of the challenges I'm working with here is that track is on 5 levels at this cross-section of the layout. The visible German trackage is right over staging, and there isn't clearance for both a Tortoise switch machine and trains on the staging tracks:

   

I've already used both Lemaco and Pilz switch machines, which have a lower profile, to get around this problem, but I haven't been able to find either lately. Then I thought about a Blue Point manual switch machine I'd bought to try out another idea, which didn't work out. However, the Blue Point is much shorter than a Tortoise, and I decided I could mount it under the switch I'm working with here, and quite possibly use a Tortoise mounted in the clear to drive the Blue Point via a connecting rod:

   

[e-paw]

AGGGG!!!! Spaghetti.

[jwb]

Can someone point me to a source for HO models of the counterweights that are (apparently, at least in places still) used to keep tension on signal control cables? I found a photo of one here <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.loupiote.com/photos/3719339408.shtml">http://www.loupiote.com/photos/3719339408.shtml</a><!-- m --> although this may be from India.

[Genetk44]

JWB...you could ask about finding the counterweights here <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://germanrail.fr.yuku.com/forums/13#.U55ZqGt5mSM">http://germanrail.fr.yuku.com/forums/13#.U55ZqGt5mSM</a><!-- m -->

Or Tim Hale here. <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://timhalesblog.blogspot.com/">http://timhalesblog.blogspot.com/</a><!-- m -->

[Schraddel]

Circutron has a very nice device called remote control:



The situation. The entrance to an staging yard below layout level.


This module is part of a transportable exhibition layout. For maintenance service the top is built like an lid and can be opened.


One Tortoise is conventinal mounted direct uner the switch. The two others for clearance reasons onto the edge where was space available. They actuate their switches indirect by means of those remotes.


A closer look.

Lutz

[jwb]

Lutz, thanks for that tip -- I simply wasn't aware of that Tortoise feature. I'll definitely use it in the future if I need to. The Blue Point solution is roughly the same, and I was able to get it installed and working.

   

Speaking of log traffic in Europe, I found these photos from an earlier trip. I think this is in Bellegarde near the French-Italian border, and these are SNCF cars, but it's plain that logs are moved:

   

   

[jwb]

Here is the other end of the project area, with a Roco switch now installed over a Pilz switch machine.

   

[jwb]

Going through photos, I ran across this one I took in Switzerland in 1995, specifically to show Swiss-German-Italian style track:

   

In comparison, here's a shot I took yesterday of conventional US track, although in many parts of the country we're seeing concrete ties with Pandrol clips:

   

The rail is generally lighter and the ties are narrower, in addition to the bolts being used rather than spikes.

[BR60103]

Where do the rail joints come? The Brits like them opposite, like snap track, while Americans like them staggered by half a rail length.
(The Canadians got there late, saw that both styles work, and decided it didn't matter.)

[jwb]

I think they're directly across.

[Schraddel]

All of the rail profiles shown on this photos are badly worn out




Oberbau K (former Reichsbahnoberbau K)


Oberbau KS (the modern variant)



And that is what you have to look for:

This is German Rail and there are lots of "Vorschriften"
And that is you have to look for:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oberbau_K">http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oberbau_K</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_fastening_system">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_fastening_system</a><!-- m -->
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.gleisbau-welt.de/site/material/oberbauarten.htm">http://www.gleisbau-welt.de/site/materi ... uarten.htm</a><!-- m -->

And rail joints in Germany are directly across.
Modern rail of today is continuous welded in most cases. Even on sidings and branchlines. Only older rail, in the meaning of long laying, has still screwed joints, most ly found in industrial spurs.

That is protype rail. German H0 rail is mostly a story of toy trains. Think about of scaled down 0-27, with or without third rail does'nt matter, deeeep flanges and tight radius are always present.

Lutz