Layout

In the distant past, there was Pottendorf, the layout was based on the notion that the original branch from Ebermannstadt to Heiligenstadt in Oberfranken was extended as proposed towards Pegnitz but only reached Pottendorf (actually Aufseß) 

The buildings on the layout reflect the style and appearance of those in the area, the almost ochre render is distinctive.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gallery

Places of interest

Seekuh Erlangen - Eschenau

 

Sekundärbahn Erlangen-Eschenau-Gräfenberg

 

A few random images of the trains in Oberfranken -

98 521 runs through Eschenau 'Seku' - Peter König

 

98 812 Eschenau Courtesy of Eisenbahnstiftung 

On 1 May 1961, 98 855 on the last passenger train ran between Eschenau and Neunkirchen am Brand 

 64 031 enroute to Leupoldsdorf with exUSRA wagon - Bufe 

 

 

Courtesy of Eisenbahnstiftung 

Workbench

Workbench

Upgrading the Piko VT 70, it is an old but accurate model but it needs a modern discrete mechanism, I am using PMT 32401. The hardest job is replacing the windows. This example was in excellent, unbroken condition. 

 

VT 70 942 in Erlangen

The VT 70 was not capable of being used as a multiple unit, it had to run around its trailer at the terminus, as a result the VT 70 was often used as a single unit. These standard railcars were developed in the 1930s by the Deutsche Reichsbahn for passenger transport on branch lines. 

Piko Model with PMT mechanism 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The windows almost fell out after a cold soak in the freezer for 48hrs 

 

The farm & cottage

The small farm comprises of a low house and a small yard separated by a railway line.

The farm buildings include a Wills SS30 barn kit that has been improved with a layer of Polyfilla fine surface render.

 

 

Just a couple of scenes in the farmyard, the farm is a tiny dairy unit, just three working buildings around a courtyard.

 

  

The 'futtersilo' a must-have on any farm from Epoch 2 onwards but this is the actual reason why there is a silo

 

The earth cellar. 

Whilst looking around an old farm we found an odd feature found beside the farmhouse, it was a small stone hut built into the side of the hill. It was the entrance to a cold store or 'Erdkeller' for the 18th century farm, although farmhouse had a basement it also had a separate earth cellar. 

In terms of room height and shape, it penetrates far less deeply into the ground, only two steps lead down to the brick entrance. The quarry stone vault of the cellar is also completely covered with soil and potatoes are stored here over the winter - dark, cool, but frost-free.

There were a couple of other similar garden cellars in the village, one was not built into the side of a hill, instead merely cut into the farm garden and covered with the displaced soil. 

A small family home at Bad Windsheim

A small Faller building carefully rendered and weathered 

The cottage garden has a couple of fruit trees, vegetable garden and chicken coop.

 

 

I remember that in my childhood, chickens (and other domestic birds) were bustling around in every village. The owners of the poultry seemed to have no concern for their safety at all. A constant image was the birds taking carelessly walks along the road running through the village buildings. And this sometimes ended in a tragic accident under the wheels of a car.

Beside the road and track

There are a couple of vegetable gardens on the layout and it’s a sight that greets visitors on the approach to almost every town in Germany --  the clutter of ladders and rakes leaning against the back of the structures, neatly ordered flowerbeds, well-tended fruit trees and picture-perfect picket fences are lined up like regiments of tin soldiers. The phenomenon is known as a Schrebergärten -- an area outside the city where the gardening-obsessed Germans can rent out a small plot and plunge their fingers into the soil.

Ordered, trimmed, enclosed, ornamental, each strip has some kind of glorified shed with floral and vegetable displays. As for people, they’re only temporary visitors, because however fabulous the summerhouse/cottage/shed – and some are very fancy –one of the many hundreds of rules is that a Schrebergärten is strictly non-residential and rules are there to be obeyed.

 

I like creating Schrebergärten, mine are largely Busch, Noch and scratch, they include strawberries, green and red cabbage, cauliflower, green and red lettuce. 

 

The layout is home to three small vegetable allotments, a reflection of what I see from my workbench and each is slightly different both in size and scope. The small garden is part of the farmhouse, the original is at least 20 years old and used on two previous layouts. 

 The farm worker's garden

The oldest is attached to the farmhouse, the cottage has a more formal arrangement whilst the station garden is tucked away near the end of the station.

The station garden

 

Naturally, the allotment must have a shed and it must have an armchair.

The tatty fence is in place, the furrowed earth inset has developed a slight curve whilst the tomatoes and potatoes are growing but it still needs a lot more detail. 

Here are the irises

 

 

 

Noch offers an excellent iris that is easy to plant but needs a dab of yellow or purple as preferred 

 

Weeds

 

Many years ago, inspired by Gordon Gravett, I took some bristles and dipped them in green flock, today they were finally planted beside the barn - Just a few left-overs with dabs of Dulux tester. 

 

Trackside Flora

Buddleia - the butterfly bush

Known as the butterfly bush, the fragrant flowers of buddleja are a favourite nectar source for butterflies. These undemanding, mainly deciduous shrubs, find a place in every garden with their spectacular displays of blooms and honey scent.