Author: Geoff Money

What you see also relates to my earlier article on backdrops and I hope it may give you some ideas on what can be done with a little imagination. There is more of an in depth look on this in my new video.

The layout was started around 1980 with various stages of rebuilding and expansion and it probably would not have worked out well with designing the total layout from the outset as I learn as I go. This is better explained in my newer video that starts with the track plan in the Decmber 1997 Continental Modeller.

One thing that I have learned is that it can be easy to overlook what should have been obvious such as greener grass along with the other major shortcoming being the limited backdrop concept. Another shortcoming was inexperience in layout design with accute S curves and sharp hidden curves in tunnels ending up in trains suddenly running in the opposite direction and making the sharp curves obvious. I try to give the layout a feeling of continuity with roads connecting town sites and going through city gates near the backdrop.

I think that I have made enough comment for now and will try to answer any further questions you may have.

Here is a brief photo visit to my layout, "The Altburgbahn"...

Taken on the Altbach section of the layout, the Faller backdrop adds extra depth to what used to be green lumps against a blue sky.

For those of you with limited space, you can see the effect of cutting buildings out of Faller and Kibri catalogues mixed with MZZ trees.

This is an overall view of the track at the Altburg station with the use of different types of Peco turnouts that are solenoid operated. The wedge shape works out well for Bw space.

This started with the middle level bridge followed by the lower and upper level bridges. The upper level is for the more recent rack railway and had to be kitbashed to a shorter length using Kibri 9698 kits with a change in the railings that are now used for lineside fences. This bridge serves an Alpine village on top of the hellix to get the trains down to lower levels. The lowest bridge is hindsight to make it more interesting and this was done by taking a half circle out of the helix and getting extra straight track.

Here you can see the wide curve at the approach to Altburg, the main station on the layout.

This is on the Kottenforst section that used to be called Waldbrunn. Here you see the H0/H0e interchange. The upper level bridge is Märklin and the lower is Pola.

[ last updated 31st Dec 2003 ]