The ultimate Layout
We have all thought about the ideal layout that we would like to build if circumstances allowed. The most obvious example of this is the guy who has built an N gauge version of Stuttgart station. If I had the space and the resources I would model Lindau to Friedrichshafen with hidden storage yards representing Bregenz, Kempton, Ulm and Überlingen. In Epoch II of course! John

My choice would be along the Elbe, around Bad Schandau. I might permit myself the liberty of moving the town to the other side of the river, mainly so that I could incorporate the little tram line. Alternatively :roll: the line crossing the Elbe at Meissen. The way that the schlossand the dom sit on that little hill simply cries out for a model representation.

John, My, my, my. That wee dram and a pipe full of the tobacconist's finest does allow one to dream up some marvelous queries! :D 1.) Uelzen (Hundertwasser Station - scratchbuild :shock: ) to Salzwedel (Large Bw); various eras allow the introduction of the border during III-IV 'mit grenztruppen und Wachturm' (Busch), preceded and followed by through lines (removeable modules at Nienbergen/Bergen where the line just ended...) 2.) Rhein, centered at St Goarshausen (Faller Tunnel Portals), including enough of the river to have sub level viewing of some boat-wreck debris on the river-bottom (courtesy of 'Loreley die Rhein-Madchen') :D ) as well as some discretely placed gold nuggets or possibly 4 Rings - I have yet to really figure out what a 'Niebelung' is :? ) And the Schlosse Katz und Maus, of course! Schattenbahnhof with numerous and continuous passenger (Rheingold, etc) and freight trains! Thank you, John, for asking. It is always good to revisit the BIG dreams :8) Jim

The Moselbahn from the north east approaches to Cochem through to Bullay, incorporating the terminus of the private Moselbahn at Bullay (underneath the famous double-deck bridge). Possibly incorporating the projected line to Koblenz on the Rechts Ufer. All it needs is a large lottery win, a spare aircraft hangar and another lifetime to build operate it.

Altenbeken Epoche IIIb, before the wires went up, in HO or if money is no object, in radio controlled Gauge 1 live steam and a lot of friends to run it. Built in an environment where it could be run all year round. Anyway back to reality. David

No con-*test*-('"). It has to be Leipzig. It is, was? the largest Sack Bahnhof in the world. A model would have to extend far enough to include the loco depot and goods sidings if it was to have a full operational interest. The problem would be deciding on the period to be depicted. Bernard

The UK lottery is estimated at 21 million pounds for this weekend! What sized model railway would that buy? David

Dresden Hbf for me... might include Dresden Neustadt as well! Not sure about what era, but I'd be quite attracted to doing era V so I could include CD classes 371 and 372 in the operations!

OK, here goes... The ultimate expansion of my concept would start at Aschaffenberg and follow both the Maintalbahn and the mainline over the Spessartrampe to Lauda. The Maintal would run to Miltenberg, follow the Main to Wertheim, then continue to Lauda. The mainline would go through Laufach and Heigenbrücken, across the Spessart to Lohr and Gemünden, and down the Main to Würzburg. From there I would follow the Laudabahn to Lauda and rejoin the branch from Miltenberg. One would be obliged to model the route between Lohr and Wertheim for completeness :P . I would also be tempted to follow the single track line south from Lauda perhaps as far as Crailsheim. I would only need another three fiddle yards if I went that far... Yes, a hangar and a crew of twenty would be needed to house and run it. Or maybe Stuttgart to Ulm via the Geislingen Steige... <SLAP!!> Ah, I'll be OK now. Jurgen

The ultimate dream for every Turkish railroad modeller would be the historical "Haydarpascha" station. Every element a modeller seeks it has, including docks. There is a lot of modellers playing the lottery these days. :) Erkut baykal

David! 21 Million! I could build both of my choices :lol: :8) There might even be a little left to share :) Jim

I don't do the lottery so my chances of winning are... about the same as those that do! My ideal layout would be a scale model of a (shortish!) branch line somewhere like the Bavarian Forest with great scenery and attractive stops and stations. Money wouldn't really be the issue; time and space would be the limiting factors.

Thanks Erkut! What a station! Is that in Istanbul?

I remember going to Haydarpasha station years ago. How I now wish I had photographed it at the time.