My model railroad is based on the railroads of Austria, a country in central Europe. The layout is in HO (1:87) scale.
My current layout is the initial component of a much larger planned layout. Like all large and complex projects, I had to start somewhere, and I chose to start with an industrial/residential section, which immediately gives the me opportunity to do some running, in the form of switching. The initial section is approximately 3x10 ft (1x3 meters). In the future this section will adjoin and connect to a moderate sized station and yard which will form the centerpiece of the layout.
Construction is now (early 2002) underway on the main passenger station and adjoining freight yards. This section will stretch for some 19 feet (6 meters) along one wall of a basement room.
General plan
The ultimate layout will center around the fictional Austrian city of Mittelstadt (literally "Middle City") which is a junction city on a mountain line that combines aspects of both the Semmering and Arlberg lines in Austria.
While the main line, mostly double track, will be electrified, a major branch line diverging at Mittelstadt will be non-electrified. That will provide the opportunity for engine changes and the exchange of cars (both passenger and freight) at the Mittelstadt station.
The general design of the planned layout is such that it will provide some continuous running on the main line but also many opportunities for switching. As a result, the layout will be operable by one person but will also accommodate additional operators.
At present there are no plans to include any narrow gauge lines, though there are still several operating prototype narrow gauge lines in Austria. The layout includes a dual-use line that sees both light rail vehicles and some freight traffic, much as is the case on the outlying lines of both the Salzburg Lokalbahn in Salzburg and the Wiener Lokalbahn in Vienna. (This is in the initial industrial/residential section.)
Era
The layout is based roughly in the period from 1980 to the present. The addition or subtraction of various pieces of late 1990s-2000 equipment will vary the time period somewhat.
Some older pieces (including steam locomotives) will be accommodated in a small railroad museum and will operate in occasional excursion service, as is the case on the Austrian prototype.
Rolling stock
Fortunately, though Austria is a small country (about the size of the U.S. state of Maine), and has very distinctive railroad equipment, a large number of HO models are available from a range of manufacturers. Some of these items have had to be purchased in Austria or mail-ordered directly from Austria. In addition freight and passenger cars of most European railroad administrations show up in Austria in varying numbers. Even a German ICE high speed train operates through from Germany to Vienna, so would be appropriate on the main line of the layout.
Most of my rolling stock is by Kleinbahn and Klein Modellbahn of Austria. Additional items are by Roco and and other manufacturers.
Structures and vehicles
Structures are from a range of European manufactures, including Kibri, Pola, and Vollmer, all of which make buildings appropriate to Austria.
I've also used modular components from the American firm, Design Preservation Models (DPM) to freelance several industrial structures.
Vehicles are by Kibri, Busch, Roco, Wiking, Kleinbahn and others, with some assembled from kits and others bought in completed form.
Look for additional information as work on the layout progresses.
Go to prototype Austrian railroad photos
Return to the model railroad image page
[Business] [Pictures
by category]
[Transportation data]
[Ernest
H. Robl Home Page]