After cleaning up my basement cellar and getting ready for the quiet winter months, and preparing for the last MIST-61 operating session for the year 2024 on 30th November and 1st December, I took the opportunity to take aerial views of the Loewenherz Railway Park without any models and figures. Module 1a Loewenherz Railway Park Module 1a with park railway workshop (left, under construction), an exhibition plinth (middle) and train viewing platform (above) There is a bit more to do on Module 1a, namely, finishing a section of the park railway workshop and the pedestrian tunnel ceiliing. I was not … Continue reading Aerial Views of Loewenherz Railway Park

Small steps but bigger progress. Finally, I made some finishing touches on Module 1a (bottom half), which includes the ramp for the park railway and third exhibition plinth. The cobblestone pavement extends until the staircase, so that visitors may use those staircase to access to the exhibit and other part of the railway park. However, this does not prevent visitors from using the ramp if they want to walk on it. The park railway will of course have priortity and will travel up to slower speed 10km/h. I have covered the ramp with bird sand (dt. Vogelsand) and also between … Continue reading Module 1a Receives Finishing Touches

Three months effort is finally ready to the final test! Will the train run smoothly on the two main tracks? Everything else does not matter, if trains cannot run smoothly through Loewenherz modules. My Märklin mentor René setup the test in his large basement train room. We connected my 2 modules to his module. We tested if the test train will run from Module 1a to Module 1b, both within my module zone, and to his neighbouring module. A beautiful volunteer for our test train – Baureihe 95 with sound! Continue reading Testing 1, 2, 3 …. and We Are Good to GO!

A lot of efforts are put in (understandbly) the visible part of a layout – it is the part that any modellers want to wow and impress. It is the part that visitors will remember the most. A good layout is also about taking care of the invisible but equally important part – what lies unseen. Just like a car, you want to ensure the transmission mechanism (in our case wiring), wheel axles and brake plates (legs and bolts that hold our modules together) work properly and maintainable. The keyword is MAINTAINABILITY! No one wants any frustrations arising from poor … Continue reading Let’s Peek Underneath

Now that the structures are completed, I started identifying the placement for the key elements such as plinths, tunnel, miniature railway park trackage, etc., which forms the visible elements of Loewenherz. As good as you could plan on paper (or on computer), the final check is when you sight the actual available space on the modules and adjust your plan accordingly. Some compromises are required as a result of the actual spatial constraints and for overall aesthetic. For example, a café in a Donnerbüchse (Thunderbox) baggage car supposed to be placed at the bottom right corner (see above pic) near … Continue reading On Your Mark, Get Set …. Reality Check!

Finally, the framework and support structures for Loewenherz are finally completed. The two modules – Module 1a (within MIST-61 it is known as “Bahnpark 1“) and Module 1b (aka “Bahnpark 2″) – forms a unit and the visible part of Loewenherz Railway Park Bad Niedrigsrode. While the two modules intended to function as one unit, it is always possible to display and operate each of them separately. Within MIST-61, we maintain the flexibilty that member’s module(s) are configurable and interchangeable to fit the available exhibition hall space. You will notice the variations in baseboard heights both at the visitor’s side … Continue reading When Two Becomes One = Loewenherz

I reserved the whole of May to complete the two modules by 31st May. I built the frame and added the legs for Module 1b, which was the easier of the 2 modules. I stopped half way as work in office required my attention even on weekends. Then came 2 weeks bouts of sever hay fever. In combination especially the hay fever prevent me from finishing the 2 modules as planned. After some stronger medication and nasal spray, I finally completed Module 1b. Here is from start to finish, from drawing to realisation. I am happy with the end results. … Continue reading Module 1b Sans Cabling Finally Completed

Loewenherz is a popular spot among the locals and train fans alike. Since its inception in 1982, train spotters gather at the platform to view (or spot) passenger and freight trains that pass through the city Bad Niedrigsrode. The city planning office recently approved the construction of a new viewing platform on the original site. A wheelchair-friendly ramp will be constructed to allow access to the platform with a maximum gradient of 4.8%. This will allow the disabled person on wheelchair to climb the ramp unaided; according to DIN 18040-1/2, max. 6.0% when unaided. During the 6-month construction period, the … Continue reading Bad Niedrigsrode Approves New Train Spotting Platform for Railway Park