Weissenbachtalbahn (H0e /H0)

[Uli]

Hi folks,

Just discovered this forum recently and would like to introduce mayself and say hello.

I am German, but live in Ireland for almost 20 years (same old story: met a girl, my English was better than her German and so I ended up in county Kildare... now also being married to her). 

I developed the interest in trains and models thereof at an age of about four years - and I was from the start mainly interested in narrow gauge. At first, I focused on Swiss (especially Rhaetian Railways), later on German and Austrian and other European regions. 

After a LGB loop in the garden as a child, a first small H0m RhB-themed layout in the early 90s, I started building H0e dioramas and then joined FREMO in Germany around 2000, where I built several H0e modules. After I decided to hop over the channel to Ireland, I sold the FREMO modules to other members – where they are in use to this day.

Now when I moved here, I had no permanent job, money was tight and I was not sure if it that trip would really work out after all. But I had a good bit of spare time for the first months. So I started to build a few new H0e modules/ segments, including a small station. Because space was limited and to keep the investment lean, I kept these segments as small as possible, measuring 90x26cm each, and used stuff I already owned.

So fast forward to 2026, that small layout has slightly grown to about 14 segments, in a G-form, approximately 4.5 x 3 meters including another station where narrow and normal gauge lines meet. That station is permanently set up – the rest of segments are only added from time to time.

I do not intend to replicate any actual original line, but rather want to catch the impression of these narrow gauge railways. The original set up is for German (west) DB railways – but I change to operate German DR (east), Austrian ÖBB or undefined “Private Enterprise” stock.

I attach the track-plan at its current maximum set up and a few pictures of the H0-H0e station.

I hope you enjoy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers

Uli

[Mick]

Incredible layout, if there wasn't the photo with the edge of the board I'd have believed this to be photos of an actual railway! Looks absolutely perfect!

[Flying Snail]

Willkommen Uli. Frau Snail ended up in a similar situation. Her excellent English left her stuck in Dublin with me.

I agree with Mick - your layout looks very realistic!!!

[Galteemore]

That’s an incredible layout. Very well done!!

[derek]

Absolutely great work @Uli.  Beautiful layout. Do you mind me asking you where you got the flowering shrubs? (The green bushes with what looks like white flowers). They really look the part, along with the trees

[Brendan8056]

I can only add my praise to your superb modelling. The blending of buildings and backscene is so convincing.

[MikeO]

Uli a brilliant layout in design, concept and workmanship. With the two stations at either end  and the fiddleyard in the middle there is plenty of operational potential.

[Georgeconna]

Some lovely scenes there Uli. 

those 99 locos are bloody lovely, except for the asking price!

That station building is that Laser cut? Is there a Website for same, Looking for a branch line Prussian one myself but the plastic kits options are not that great.

Any chance of a few Videos of the action?

 

[Mol_PMB]

Excellent work - there's a lot to love about this layout!

I particularly like the way you have modelled a route with several stations and you can follow the train around the layout. The scenery is superb and, as others have said, the photos look so realistic. I think the backscene gives a wonderful feeling of space beyond the confines of the boards.

Rollwagen are a particular favourite of mine so it's always nice to see those modelled with a standard/narrow gauge interchange.

I look forward to seeing some more photos. You might encourage me to make some more progress with my Swiss narrow gauge line, though my time is limited at present and I'm more focused on Irish prototypes.

[jhb171achill]

Absolutely OUTSTANDING work, Uli! 

Had it not been for Paddy Murphy and IRM, and later SSM and Provincial Wagons, I would have had a fairly ambitious 009 scale Austrian layout by this stage, loosely based on the Gmund system. I always had an interest in OBB narrow gauge, going back to when I visited quite a few narrow gauge lines there, some still using steam, in the late 1970s.

That is an absolutely brilliant layout - well done!

[Uli]

 

@All: Thank you all very much for your very kind feedback. I am delighted that you enjoyed the pictures. 

 

@derek: Trees bushes and shrubs are from MBR. The shrubs are not flowering though – it is rather the reflection oof the lights. That said, MBR also have flowering shrubs/ bushes. https://en.mbrmodel.eu/product-category/high-bushes/

 

@Georgeconna:

“those 99 locos are bloody lovely, except for the asking price!” Certainly true – but considering I model H0e over 25 years now, I could spread the purchases out over the years and avoid the filing of divorce papers by the misses (.. if she knew...).

“That station building is that Laser cut?” Is there a Website for same, Looking for a branch line Prussian one myself but the plastic kits options are not that great.” That station building is indeed a laser cut model from Noch. They have some buildings, but nothing really Prussian to my knowledge. Being from Bavaria, “Prussia” (which describes pretty much the rest of Germany in a rather disrespectful meaning from a Bavarian pov ), is not what I am too familiar with. But in fact, because Prussia  was so large, there is not really one Prussian looking style, but still depending on the region.

I think the following are though good general examples:

- Auhagen:  Krakow (https://www.auhagen-shop.de/en/Krakow-station/11381?srsltid=AU7gw4VaK5eBaRKj1hfwxh-_yRkQGVhVud0mRJO7TflvTfT_q9-sK0lw) is to my understanding a very typical Prussian station building (eastern Germn regions, north of Berlin). Not laser-cut, but a very good kit. There are also some variations of this station available.

- MBZ has nice laser cut models – mainly southern German, but this was in Prussia https://www.mbz-modellbahnzubehoer.de/shop/Bahnhof%20Syke%20ohne%20G%C3%BCterschuppen

- Modellbahn Union have some stations that look suitable:

o   https://www.modellbahnunion.com/Spur-H0/H0-Bahnhof-Wulfen.htm?a=article&ProdNr=MU-H0-B00098&p=802&srsltid=AU7gw4V_5oXopliY2LlRMeHLgfo-LCWWoFcPDpVxiHsFVhCmMJIQpaLj

o   https://www.modellbahnunion.com/Spur-H0/H0-Bahnhof-Tecklenburg.htm?a=article&ProdNr=MU-H0-B00038&p=802&srsltid=AU7gw4WTVnpN-FGDdm_GbaunoncLSQkvgoNP_ZrfICSmryNPUdi_uozJ

- Real Modell:

o   https://www.real-modell.de/gebaeudetechnik/deutsche-gebaeude-h0/bahnhof-und-gueterschuppen.html?type=N

o   https://www.real-modell.de/gebaeudetechnik/deutsche-gebaeude-h0/bausatz-bahnhof-hohn-h0-ungefarbt.html  

 

Any chance of a few Videos of the action

I can offer these two: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH_l7tguRbk  and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcIOdsoFKlg. I shot these several years ago. Apart from the main H0/H0e station, the modules have been fully refurbished and I also changed the background scenery. So they look quite different now.

 

@jhb171achill

I read that you modelled H0e some time ago - such a pity you changed direction... but there are just so many originals that are tempting to be modelled.

If I could not constrain myself, I probably would fall next for Welsh or French narrow gauge ...  well ...

 

 

 

 

Cheers

Uli

[Georgeconna]

Thanks Uli for taking the time to send those links!

Was looking for a small branch line Terminus station so will have a trawl through those for sure. 

Plan to have a small stud of DR locos, Might look at including a HOe line  but the 99 are too pricey really but we will see! 

 

[DJ Dangerous]

Savage layout!!!

[Uli]

@Georgeconna

- I think Krakow station from Auhagen would be a very good fit for the layout you have in mind. If that is too big, then maybe "Neukloster"  https://www.besserepreise.com/index.php?page=productDetails&productNo=15106-auh&search=doofinder  (a kit I got myself, but have not yet assembeled)

- the number "99" of German (pre 1945 and DR / DB) locos is actually the classification of any narrow gauge locomotives in general - so always a good start. But at the moment, apart from Bemo, I think there is hardly anything available new. Roco had some Rügen Locos that are great, but currently not in stock. You might get these though used at Ebay & Co. Modellbau Veit also has/had locos that are just perfect, but also rather pricy ... and hard to say when available (again). Tillig has some locos and railcars for DR - but also rather limited current availability. So really for DR in H0e, it looks a bit bleak at the moment. For H0 normal gauge it should be easier to find something suitable.

@DJ Dangerous - thank you very much for your comment.

[derek]

Thanks very much @Uli for the link to the bushes and trees. I will definitely be getting some. Was considering making my own with floral wire and flock/leaves etc but don't think I need to now. Thank God!

[Ironroad]

Absolutely fabulous