My layout is Deutsche Bundesbahn Era IV, around 1973-76. It is very roughly based on the area around Kaiserslautern, Rheinland Pfalz. I was fortunate to live in this area in the mid 1970's when my dad was assigned there for the US Air Force.
The layout concept is two major routes (KBS 670 and KBS 650) that meet at a junction (Hochspeyer). While I use the names of real locations, I am trying more to capture the feeling of Germany and not an exact copy of the real thing. KBS670 is the main line between Stuttgart and Mannheim. It is double tracked with overhead. Service includes everything from rail busses to TEE express. KBS650 on the other hand, is single tracked and non-electrified. Service on this line includes rail bus, diesel and steam. My plan is to focus mainly on passenger operations and the operations of the junction at Hochspeyer. I have an actual DB timetable from the area for Winter 1974/75 that is the basis for my train numbers and times.
The current layout is only the peninsular part of my "dream" and is 4 feet wide by 10 feet long at this point. A major ridge divides the layout lengthwise, with the tunnel in the photo being one of two on the end of the peninsula. Hochspeyer occupies on side of the layout, and a long winding S curve the other. Hochspeyer is much larger on my layout than in real life, having 4 station tracks and a small 3 track yard and team track. All the trackage so far represents KBS 670. Scenery is only done on the end of the peninsula, and the catenary is only temporary on the small section shown.
Current expansion plans include a corner section west of Hochspeyer, where KBS 650 branches off and crosses a waterway. KBS 670 will disappear into a cut and finally to a hidden loop that will represent Kaiserslautern and points west. To the east of the S curves, the plan is to include a few more towns and the end in a larger city (maybe representing Ludwigshafen). This city would include a stub station with train shed.
Operationally, the layout is still in the building stages. It is wired for DCC (Digitrax) and about 2/3 of the engines are digital at this time. I can run trains in Hochspeyer station area and east to the S curve but that's it. After I finish the corner section, I'll work on building two return loop sections so I can sit back and watch some trains run.
Tom
