Press release from 26.01.2026: Introducing the model railroad layouts for Faszination Modellbahn Mannheim 2026!
Gauge 2m (G): North German lowlands with peat extraction
Three trains run on the oval in different directions, two of which automatically separate at the station. The peat extraction is supplied and disposed of by a Regner field railroad in shuttle operation as in the 60s/70s. In the depot, a steam locomotive shuttles from the engine shed to the coaling station and back. Almost all of the buildings are self-built, there is a fully equipped delicatessen and a station café in the station, a soccer pitch, a campsite and wild nature are also part of the complex.
Driving is done in digital mode.
Operator: Friends of the LGB Northern Germany, D- 21035 Hamburg
System size: 10 x 6 m
Gauge 2m (G): Passion IIm
Passion IIm is a modular layout that represents an imaginary metric line and imaginary railroad companies. The rolling stock consists mostly of LGB models that have received new paint jobs. The weathering gives a realistic impression. The modular concept allows countless possibilities to adapt to the size of the room. Each module plant is so unique. The layout always has terminus stations and never runs the daylong its rounds. The single track connects a terminal station with a hidden reversing loop, which corresponds to a staging yard. Functional signaling controls the trains. The focus is on the countless shunting maneuvers, which are fascinating for the audience. The return of the steam engines is done with a turntable at the terminal stations. The rolling stock is equipped with Kadee couplers. In both presented stations, the remote uncoupling process by means of magnets is explained to the audience.
Operator: Passion IIm, Mr. Jean-Michel Mayor, Switzerland-1612 Ecoteaux
System size: 12 x 5 m
Track 1: Tinplate toys from Nuremberg 100 years ago
The Friends of the Freinsheim/Pfalz Toy Museum (Bing Museum) are presenting a rare 0+1 gauge layout from the years 1900-1928. The models are mainly from the market leader of the time, Bing.
The layout impresses with its long trains! Some trains run with real steam. In the interior, 0-gauge as well as streetcars and rack railroads are on display! Some technical gadgets can be triggered by visitors with buttons, such as level crossings, signals, etc.
Children can obtain their “train driver’s license” by generating the traction current themselves.
Another highlight is a train depot with a turntable! The presentation is decorated with lighting, historic trees, bushes and tinplate buildings.
Operator: Freinsheim Toy Museum, 67251 Freinsheim
System size: 7 x 3 m
Gauge 0: Palatinate branch line
The 0-gauge Palatinate branch line modular layout reflects a single-track branch line in the heart of the Palatinate. It shows the situation around the Siegelbach stop not far from Kaiserslautern on the Bachbahn. Based on original plans, the stop with its imposing station building named “Irmingen” has been reproduced almost faithfully on a scale of 1:43.
This is an alternative siding that provides shunting operations at the stop. Agricultural goods were usually transhipped there at the loading ramp, thus supplying the village with goods.
The “Irmingen” stop is nestled in the Palatinate Forest, with a bridge, a tunnel, green areas and sandstone formations. Scenic areas, including a dilapidated shearing shed, a cow pasture and a paddock round off the entire scenery.
The modular layout is bordered by two fully equipped staging yards, which allow the five trains to be moved. The staging yards resemble a stabling facility for passenger coaches.
Operator: EMK Eisenbahnfreunde Modelleisenbahnclub Kaiserslautern, 67655 Kaiserslautern
System size: 12 x 6.5 m
Gauge 0: A lot of driving on this layout
On an area of 36 m² Claudius Schüle from Karlsruhe shows his gauge 0 layout. Nostalgia fans will get their money’s worth with this Tinplate layout. Märklin, Bing, Lionel and various other manufacturers from 1935 to 1953 can be found on this layout, which has numerous sidings. Unlike two-lane plants, the plant fills the entire area. A lot of driving is guaranteed on this layout!
Here, visitors can also have a go at running their own 0-gauge models on the nostalgic tracks. So the models of the visitors are also in the spotlight! Locomotives can run in 3 wire AC or DC Märklin style, so no steam vehicles. Clockwork locomotives are also welcome.
Operator: Nostalgie Spur 0 Karlsruhe, D-76199 Karlsruhe
Plant size: 10 x 3 m
Gauge 0: Railroad treasures from nine decades
The “Lokomotive Oxaplatz” model railroad group led by Hagen von Ortloff presents an extraordinary 0-gauge layout with vehicles from nine decades – from the Märklin TWE 12930 railcar from the 1930s to the glass box, the latest innovation from KM1.
The model railway group around Hagen von Ortloff is interested in showing the different facets of zero scale and emphasizing the play potential. This is why locomotives with different drives are also used. In addition to electric drive, there are battery-powered locomotives and wind-up locomotives. Visitors can use a crank generator to generate electricity to move trains. The visitors are therefore involved.
One focus is on two layouts whose vehicles were built many decades ago.
Locomotive Oxaplatz” is a game and does not pay attention to accurate period representation. A Lionel streamlined locomotive pulls a GDR Schützenwagen. Right next to it, the glass box is the draft horse for Fleischmann tin wagons from the 1950s and a Shay articulated locomotive stomps through the forest.
The most important vehicle on the site is of course in constant use again: the trolley with the sweets…!
Operator: Hagen von Ortloff Lokomotive Oxaplatz, 71394 Kernen
System size: 7 x 6 m
Gauge 0n30: Stirmouth & Southern Railroad Co.
The Stirmouth & Southern Railroad Company model railroad layout breathes the atmosphere of the narrow gauge in the “Wild West” around 1930.
At that time, many narrow-gauge lines were operated to serve the mining and forestry industries. Typical of most railroad companies was the large variation of home-made equipment that limped along on wobbly rails.
“Stirmouth” is not a real place name, but is the free translation of “Roermond” in English. 0n30, i.e. American narrow-gauge railroad in scale 0 (zero), the track gauge was originally 30 inches (approx. 75 cm).
The American size 0 means a scale of 1 to 48. This unusual size offers many possibilities for self-construction and detailing.
The locomotives run digitally and with sound decoders, but the points are set by hand, as was customary at the time. The most frequently used building material on this layout is wood.
Operator: Modelspoorvereniging Midden-Limburg, NL – 6041 EA Roermond
System size: 7.5 x 3.5 m
HO scale: Ruhr area section (colliery with Polchingen depot)
Automatic operation of 12 train sets in different directions and 7 shuttle trains in the port and in the depot. Single-track line with a small stop and adjacent depot with storage shed.
The plant reflects the end of the 1960s.
Only steam locomotives, diesel locomotives or railcars run on the line. Some vehicles already have the Era IV designation.
The cars and buildings are patinated and aged. The track material is Märklin C Track, control is digital with a driving program (TC).
Operator: Modellbahnfreunde Maifeld, D – 56299 Ochtendung
System size: 9.25 x 1.50 m
H0 gauge: Around Jugheim
The Fremo-based modular layout is an H0 layout built to the highest design standards by the HEB Hobbyeisenbahner association from Rodgau. Many of the motifs are well known to readers of the model railroad magazine MIBA from numerous publications. The layout form is an almost closed circle, which guarantees visitors an all-round view and provides prototypical point-to-point traffic.
The theme is three branch line stations – one of which actually exists – where there is lively operation, which is fed by a fiddleyard that is also attached. In addition to typical passenger train sets from the sixties, freight and goods characteristic of the respective stations are delivered on the appropriate wagons. All vehicles have a realistic patina, which rounds off the delicately designed environment in a pleasing way. The speed of the trains is adapted to the prototype. The whole thing is operated digitally and wirelessly. It is operated from the outside, which makes it easy for the operating crew to interact with the public. This means that questions about the design can be answered again and again.
Operator: HEB Hobbyeisenbahner 1983, 63110 Rodgau
System size: 15 x 8 m
H0 gauge: Large modular layout with double-track main line
The H0 layout on display is part of a large modular layout with many beautifully landscaped modules. It consists of a double-track main line with a single-track branch line. Trains up to a length of 8 meters can run on the main line, as they can be parked in the two large hairpin bends. This means that nothing stands in the way of a full-scale 4000-metre long ore train called “Langer Heinrich”, as it ran between Emden and the Ruhr area at the time, consisting of two steam locomotives and 50 bulk goods wagons. There are two railroad stations on the branch line, one of which is designed as a reversing station. Another group of modules on the main line shows a small district with an adjacent funfair. Trucks and buses run in the town using a digital car system. The funfair consists of a marquee, Ferris wheel, various stalls, bumper cars and a Ferris wheel with corresponding background noise and lighting effects.
Vehicles in two-wire (Fleischmann, Roco, Trix) and three-wire technology (Märklin) run simultaneously on the entire layout, which is unlikely to be found in this form on any other model railroad layout. All rail vehicles are controlled manually on the layout using digital technology.
Operator: Bergische Eisenbahn-Freunde, 51688 Wipperfürth
System size: 22 x 10 meters
H0 gauge: Landscaping in Era IV to VI
The layout consists of around 55 modules on which Märklin C-track with a track spacing of 77.5 mm has been installed. All tracks are additionally ballasted.
Landscaping is kept in the seasons of spring / summer.
No model has been deliberately assigned in order to give free rein to the imagination. Several module blocks are assigned to individual topics. These include the four-track through station, our Faller Car System, a fairground, a forest area with bridge, an open staging yard and much more.
In addition to digital operation on the layout, computer-controlled automatic operation with the iTrain software in conjunction with Lokstore Digital components takes place at the exhibitions. This allows for a lively train operation with 8 trains.
Due to the integration of the staging yard into the program, a special feature is that trains can be changed during operation.
Operator: IG Modellgruppe Märklin Insider Stammtisch Hildesheim, 31787 Hameln
Plant size: 11 x 6 m
H0 gauge: The Lauterthal Railway 1924 – LANZ connection
The Lauterthalbahn represents a single-track branch line of Era II in 1924 in Upper Bavaria, which is designed as a point-to-point layout with the operating points Rotwangen (Berg) (Fiddleyard) – LANZ connection – Lauterthal (Wald) (Fiddleyard). The central element of the system is the LANZ agricultural machinery factory siding. The track system of the factory premises is designed according to the time-saver principle and thus guarantees diverse and intensive shunting operations.
In addition to the extensive freight operations at the agricultural machinery factory junction, the line also offers a wide variety of services. Passenger trains run regularly between Rotwangen (Berg) and Lauterthal (Wald), connecting travelers from remote Lauterthal to the big wide world. The rural region benefits from the rail connection, particularly through freight traffic. Agricultural and forestry products are loaded onto the railroad along the entire Lauterthal Railway and transported to the major cities. Above all, the transport of timber with the imposing-looking spruce trunks on the turntable wagons typical of this era is a common sight.
The freight and passenger trains are assembled in the two fiddle yards and sent out onto the line from there. As with the prototype, freight is transported using wagon cards and freight requests that show the destination of the respective wagon.
Operator: Epoche II Halb Null Sebastian Litters, 68623 Lampertheim
System size: 16.4 x 4 m
H0 gauge. De Provins a Villiers-Saint-Georges
The operators of the model railroad layout from France will present a digital model railroad layout in HO scale measuring 9.1 x 3 meters, which can be viewed from all four sides and offers visitors a comprehensive experience.
The layout is a faithful and historical replica of the line that connected Longueville with Villiers-Saint-Georges as it existed in the 1960s and 1970s. It was a typical branch line that ran through the French countryside and was still used for both passenger and freight traffic at that time.
Each element – buildings, bridges, landscapes, vegetation – was handcrafted and customized based on archival documents, field studies and historical photographs.
The landscape is characterized by several special features: Authentic rural landscapes of the Brie region with open fields and charming villages. A faithfully recreated railroad station with passenger station, goods station and sidings. Typical engineering structures such as small bridges and level crossings.
Realistic operation with alternating passenger trains and freight trains that reflect the timetables and rolling stock of the time. The layout is operated with digital control (DCC), which guarantees smooth and dynamic operation.
Visitors can enjoy a historic and immersive journey and discover the atmosphere of a real French regional train brought to life in miniature.
Operator: Club de Modelisme Ferroviaire de Provins, F – 77160 Provins
System size: 16.4 x 4 m
Track H0: Module assembly Limitless
Markus Horn came up with the idea of a module assembly group at a Märklin Insider regulars’ table, where we wanted to offer the members free development of their modules. The only requirement was the size of the modules and that Märklin C-track should be used.
The rest is up to the builder’s imagination. This has resulted in modules that are pure madness.
From mountains and towns to Bran Castle. From the small idyll to the chemical plant and from the army barracks to the locomotive museum.
Normal commercial materials were used as well as parts created from garbage.
A double-track main line runs from a siding across all modules, with all trains and carriages from all eras. The whole thing is controlled by ESU Ecos. Many lights that work independently of the power circuit and also some pushbuttons for the spectators round off the whole picture.
Märklin MS2 also offers operation on branch lines, independently of the main line. Faller Carsystem as well as Viessmann Carmotion can be found on the modules.
There are many little things to discover, but also large masterpieces, such as a marketplace with 7000 stones and a cemetery wall with 3000 stones from Juweela were painstakingly built on the module by a builder.
Modulbaugruppe Grenzenlos, it’s called because we have 24 members from Germany, Switzerland and Luxembourg, making us an international group of Märklin crazy model railroaders. Some YouTube stars from the model railroad scene are also part of it and can be met live and talk shop about their modules.
Operator: Modulbaugruppe Grenzenlos, Markus Horn, D-78073 Bad Dürrheim
Plant size: 12 x 6 m
TT gauge: track is double-tracked and has main line character
The club has chosen a spectator-friendly construction height of 1 meter for its installation. The depicted line is double-tracked and has main line character without a concrete prototype. An extensive stop and a small station currently complete the ensemble. A highlight is the layout group where on a depth of 70 cm and with a track length of up to 320 cm plenty of vehicles and cars can be presented in exemplary sets. Some of the track connections are made without switches using swing arms, and complete trains can roll out of their TrainSave tubes onto the layout. As a novelty, we offer our guests a branching side track that reflects the northern German character.
Operator: TT Modulstammtisch Hamburg-Holstein, Mr. Ralf Küster, 20257 Hamburg
Plant size: 15 m x 10 m
TT gauge: Unique loading technology!
A maneuver of the NVA is depicted on the TT gauge modular layout. The main focus is on the loading and unloading of self-propelled military vehicles onto railroad wagons.
Once the layout has been fully digitized, up to 7 trains and 13 military vehicles will be in operation. The highlight is the loading train for military technology. This is loaded with 4 tanks or trucks via a loading ramp. It then passes through a concealed loop and after a few shunting operations the vehicles return to the loading ramp and can be unloaded.
At the same time, the next vehicles are deployed from the barracks area and enliven the armored track.
Meanwhile, in another vehicle loop, a tanker supplies the other vehicles with fuel and the Robur LOs take care of the injured and provide refreshments.
The loading of the converted mobile miniature models on flat wagons in TT gauge, based on the Faller Car System, is unique in Germany as far as we know.
Operator: TT-Modellbahn-Freunde Weimar, 99423 Weimar
System size: 7 x 1.15 m
N-gauge: N-gauge railroad fascination
The main line of the layout impresses with 2 turning facilities, a branch to run trains up and down a small track.
There are modules built into the route which are modeled on original locations. For example, the Ladenburg Bridge and the Light Railway Museum in Wiesloch.
The streetcar also passes a location modeled on Waldhofstraße in Mannheim. Furthermore, the stop in the region of the OEG Stahlbad has been modeled. With the modules, it is possible to either travel completely from turn to turn or to turn so-called short lines in the old town. The old town was built with the Unitram Katogleis, while the rest of the tracks were built with Peco. Streetcars from the region, such as the Mannheim or Ludwigshafen streetcars, run here.
Operator: N-Bahn-Club Rhein-Neckar, 68309 Mannheim
System size: 7 x 6 m
N gauge: The VIAUR viaduct.
The 5.60 m long model railroad layout consists of 4 modules on a scale of 1:160.
It forms part of the single-track line between Toulouse, Carmaux and Rodez. Built in 1902 by engineer Paul-Joseph BODIN, this metal viaduct weighing 3,800 tons spans the Viaur valley over a length of 460 m and a height of 116 m.
The River Viaur forms the border between the two departments of Tarn (left towards Carmaux) and Aveyron (right towards Rodez).
In N scale (1:160), the length of the bridge is 2.87 m. All elements of the model were made by Jean-Yves Page himself from plans: Bridge, buildings, lighting, trees, decorations, animations.
Operator: Jean-Yves Page, F – 37300 Joue Les Tours
System size: 5.6 x 2 m
N gauge: Modules with functions and stories
On an area of 9 x 5 m, the “N-Module Railroaders RheiN-MaiN” interest group presents a double-track main line with a track spacing of 30 mm. Thanks to the standard width of 50 cm, there is enough space to recreate functional models and branch lines in addition to the detailed landscape design.
All modules use PECO Code 55 track for the continuous main line. The control is completely analog, at the end of the tracks there are turning modules and sidings, so that a varied and diverse operation is possible.
The design of the modules is not based on models, but is freely designed by each of the 5 model railroaders according to their imagination.
Operator: N-Modulbahner RheiN-MaiN, 65197 Wiesbaden
Plant size: 9 x 5 m
Z gauge: Small railroad really big
During Faszination Modellbahn Mannheim, Z-Freunde International will be presenting several interesting modular layouts and dioramas.
The Z-gauge participants show the following showpieces on a scale of 1 to 220:
Manfred Forst and Günter Falkus
City-Run: American city diorama with cars moving as if by magic
Life on the river: Branch line and moving ships
Michael Bernhard
50 years of miniclub facilities, possibly also a new surprise
Ingo Sindermann
Dwarf geriatric facility, especially for the younger generation
Erwin Kohout
Z dioramas with self-propelled vehicles. As well as probably the last opportunity to experience the replica of the Miniaturwunderland – even with partially moving trains! – on a scale of 1:87 in southern Germany before it goes on permanent loan to the original in Hamburg.
Torsten Schubert and Thomas Stobbe
Dioramas of fairground trucks and cars, small scenes equipped with lots of LEDs, as well as soldering demonstrations of the same. Let yourself be dazzled!
Jürgen Wagner and Regina Eggers
Almsted-Segeste, a very beautifully and lovingly built layout plus a new suitcase layout
Oliver Kessler with Leonhard
self-driving buses and trucks, always with new features
Roland Kimmich and Christine Specht
Display case, dioramas and nostalgic Z-modules
Radolfzell Z – Stammtisch
Lovingly and with great skill designed “Brettchen” picture frames. Whether analog or digital, an inexpensive way for beginners or those returning to the hobby.
Conrad Ziegler and Gotthart Schmitt
Track system for “long trains” from Märklin
Operator: Z-Freunde International with Z-Stammtisch Bayern
Plant size: 12 x 6 m
You can find images for use free of charge for your reporting under:
www.faszination-modellbahn.com/presse/
Contact: Messe Sinsheim GmbH, phone +49 7025 9206-100, e-mail: presse@messe-sinsheim.de