Introduction

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 3:48 am

Greetings from the Canadian Prairies:

My name is Juergen and have been interested in model railroading for a long time. Having lived behind a railyard in Frankfurt, before moving to Canada, I can recall watching small steamers shunting cars back and forth. I received my first train set when I was 3, a Maerklin set (circa 1959'ish) which still runs today.

After a few years absence I re-entered the hobby when I was stationed in Lahr Germany with the Canadian Forces. Mainly because I had to find a source of relaxation from a sometimes stressful job. "Modelrailway-itis" struck me hard and seems to be incurable. My pay soon found its way into local hobby shops and my small apartment started to fill with many boxes of "stuff".

Due to a mobile carear I concentrated on painting figures, detailing vehicles and buildings instead of a layout. Soon my office shelves were lined with architechual wonders from FALLER, KIBRI, VOLLMER and scratch buildings.

Now that I am retired after 29 yrs service I can finally build a layout. Not a large one, but hopefully detailed enough to make it interesting. With the long cold winters we get here there's really not much else to do anyway. Best of all I have my wife's blessing !

I model HO (DC) DDC and have a nice collection of mostly FLEISCHMANN, ROCO, and two Maerklin (DC) engines. My rolling stock consists mostly of these brands as well as Liliput and Electroen (nice stuff). If I like it, and it works I'll add it to my collection.

Soon the mythical Blackforest town of Oberwald will start to take shape.

This site and the people who contribute are impressive. Hopefully I can contribute. I'm always learning new techniques from people like you and am willing to share my errors and successes, and maybe some photos as well.

My theory on Model Railroading is simple: Model Railway is supposed to be fun and if I chose to run strange combination of trains, so what ? If you like run it and critics be damned !

Cheers,

Juergen

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 6:19 am

Hi Juergen,

Welcome to the forum. Whatever you do in your own layout is of course entirely your decision and your efforts should be judged according to the aims that you have defined for yourself. Nevertheless, if you need some help you may have to put up with some contructive criticism. (I hope I won't be damned for saying that Wink

). Of course, achieving your goal should be fun and a rewarding experience because it is a hobby after all.

If you are looking for inspiration then, apart from studying the real thing, there is this superb example of a faithful reproduction of reality.

http://www.schwarzwald-modell-bahn.de

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 3:34 pm

Hi Alan:

Leadership Training 101: Only a fool rejects constructive criticism and, a bigger fool fails to seek help ! So no worries there mate.

Funny you should mention the website of the Hausach Schwarzwaldbahn. The gentleman who created this layout and I were in the same model railway club in Lahr, and the gentleman who built the Hausach bridge for that layout is a good friend of mine from Lahr.

There is also a â€œNâ€ Gauge Modular club who re-created the Kinzigtal route from Offenburg to Triberg. (Have photos of that one if anyoneâ€™s interested)

I think I had the best job in the CF. As a Military Policeman I was paid to drive through the German countryside in and around the Lahr area from Offenburg to Freiburg. Needless to say I took lots of pictures and always had my camera with me. I am fortunate that friends and colleagues provide me with reference material when needed. Matter of fact, I have been trading with a German Policeman for years. I provide Canadian police items for his Police Museum in Dettenhausen, and he feeds my model railway habit.

Hereâ€™s a little Railway Humorâ€¦.

During the summer posting season certain members of our Regiments had a unique way of welcoming the â€œnewbiesâ€ to Germany. After guiding them through the In-Clearance process on the first day in Lahr, they would take him to the local pub. Not used to the German beer the highly inebriated â€œnewbieâ€ soon found himself being placed on a local trainâ€¦.to where everâ€¦. just to see how far he would get before being nabbed. Most were â€œcollectedâ€ by the DB Polizei in Offenburg (North of us) or in Freiburg (South of us). One guy made it all the way to the Swiss border at Basel, and another to Frankfurt. (The Swiss Border Police had no sense of humor)

As a result we would receive calls from the DB POlizei asking what to do with our lost inebriated souls. Fortunately we had good relations with the them and even they thought it was funny.

In most cases the Duty Driver of the Regiment who had â€œlostâ€ their soldier would be sent to collect him and pay the outstanding fares. Or we would go and collect him and return him to his unit. For those who travelled further out, the DB Polizei would hold them until they were sober, give them a set of instructions and place them on the next train to Lahr. Tickets having been pre-paid by the Regimental fund.

The person(s) who were responsible for these adventures (not the victim), if caught, were dealt with by "God" (Regimental Sergeant-Major) RSM)

Cheers,

Juergen

Posted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:58 pm

Hi Juergen,

welcome to the forum.

Cheers

Neil

Member Joined: 24 Oct 2009 Posts: 34 Location: Beverly,MA

Hi Juergen,all,
Welcome!!

Dr Dirt

Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 2:36 am

Welcome aboard!

I have to admit, it felt good to see someone identify as a fellow German railfan from the prairies. If I think about it, that's nothing new - I see a couple German layouts at the train show every year.

What time period are you planning on?

Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 5:23 pm

Hi Tristen:

Probably the mid 80's, about the time period I was posted there. If I restict myself to soley one era it would be too boring and no fun at all. I also run older or newer era trains, as the mood strikes me.

The town of "Oberwald" located in "somewhere Schwarzwald" might even see visits from Swiss and Austrian trains. The borders in Europe are so small you never know what could find its way to "Oberwald".

Cheers,

Juergen