The gauge 0 model railroad plants introduce themselves
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
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: 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 0: Lots of driving on this layout
(Unfortunately had to cancel participation for personal reasons)
Operator: Nostalgie Spur 0 Karlsruhe, Mr. Volker & Claudius Schüle, D-76199 Karlsruhe
Layout size: 10 x 3 m
