Dollnitz visitor

The latest LGB variant of the class 2091 visited the H&DLR today.

Trains were run, coffee was consumed, and between the showers the sun shone.

Snow

Snow plough in action passing Holzapfel. Not sure how any passengers would actually reach the train, though...

2092.02 under battery power.

2091.03 cleared the long viaduct.

However, on arrival at Birkenhof the snow was too deep to plough.

Limited services only were possible!

Camusterrach Pier in winter...

Battery power

It was cold out this morning. The General Manager decided that on board power was required, so the battery powered 2092.02 was first out.

Passenger services were in the capable hands of U Class 298.56, running on this occasion with a battery van and hauling the Steyrtalbahn set.

Late in the day, the Dottendorf Bürgermeister realised that beer stocks were running low. Supplies were soon en route.

Keeping the supplies topped up...

A delivery to Birkenhof...

Fresh supplies reach Dottendorf...

All safely stored away.

Autumn turns to winter

StLB VL51 hauls the Waldviertel rake on a late autumn afternoon...

399 improvments

The General Manager is very fond of 399.03, and the loco has just received some further cosmetic improvements (though I'm not sure that power drilling through sheet brass is necessarily "cosmetic").

The wiring connection to the trailing pick up van has been tidied up so that it is easier to connect the loco to the van, and the van looks neater when used on its own.

The new front coupling is more prototypical, and the handrails always should have been painted red... so now they are.

Zillertal's birthday video

Zillertal's 25th Birthday

The very first LGB locomotive I acquired was No.2, Zillertal, way back in the autumn of 1986. So it was time celebrate 25 years in G scale, and Zillertal's 25th birthday. Here, Zillertal leads a classic formation through the autumn sunshine.

A total of six Zillertal Fasselwagen were assembled, seen here behind a green U class passing Dottendorf. These cover three different issues by LGB over the years.

Some of the crew who arrived to help celebrate Zillertal's birthday.

Motive power for the day was provided primarily by U class locomotives, as one would expect.

Guests brought a fine selection of Zillertal rolling stock and some varied trains were run.

In addition, a Stain bottle train also ran, adding more colour to the event. All in all, a successful celebration.

Autumn shades

It's been a glorious autumn day on the H&DLR, so trains have been running...

Tidying up at Dottendorf

The bar has been in place at Dottendorf for over three years now. The model is a Pola kit, and a very highly detailed one at that. I was dubious about the wisdom of an open front from the start, rightly as it turned out. Over the past few years, debris has accumulated around the tables and chairs, and inside the "kitchen" area. This has all been cleaned out, the front glazed in, and a few running repairs made.

At the same time, it has been slightly re-located a little more square on to the station, so that the detail can be seen better. The water fountain and the signal box were also re-levelled, even though it's not obvious from this shot!

Beer train

Beer stocks are running low... so the Dortmunder beer train was mobilised in the afternoon to replenish supplies.

More visitors...

This time from the Elly, James & Keith Light Railway. James brought his very nice reliveried coach and van along together with his rebuilt Nikki+Frank S now running as a tank loco. James' 798.201 is seen alongside the H&DLR's own loco of similar origin, also reliveried, as 798.03.

The set is seen passing Dottendorf, delightfully recreating the atmosphere of the Austrian narrow gauge.

Afternoon running

A little late afternoon sunshine on the H&DLR.

A Waldviertel reflection...

2091.03 with a typical Waldviertelbahn consist...

Visitors to the H&DLR

It's always a pleasure to welcome visiting engines to the H&DLR...

Progress in the shed

The project to add some scenery to the track and baseboard running through the shed is now complete - at least for now. There will be opportunities to add more detail, but in essence the route through the shed now has vaguely plausible scenery throughout.

The final section to be tackled was the area around the loco shed. Space is a bit restricted and I've tried to resist the temptation to add too much clutter - photos of the real loco shed at Garsten show quite a neat and tidy appearance!

New block post installed

The "new" block post or signal box was installed at Dottendorf yesterday. I've only had the kit about a year...

As is usual on the H&DLR, the kit has been slightly modified. Exterior lights have been added, together with an internal floor. I'm now slightly regretting not installing an interior; I didn't for two reasons. Firstly I'm not really familiar with the internal layout of German/Austrian block posts, and secondly I didn't think it would be at all noticeable. However, the evening sun across the station does highlight the empty upper floor. I may yet install some shutters on the opposite side.

It looks a little raw by comparison to the buildings that have been outside a few years. Some more details will be added - perhaps the signalman's bicycle, a coal store for the stove. Thought it all looked quite nice by night, though.

Been trainspotting in the Harz Mountains...

Rügensfest

Been running trains with friends... theme for the day was the Rügenschen Bäderbahn, and everyone was asked to bring rolling stock from that railway. In general, this meant LGB's excellent model of the 0-8-0 locomotive typically associated with the line, and seven examples in total were assembled on the H&DLR. Running a cavalcade proved a little difficult even for such seasoned MTS users, but here are the results... some photos will follow...



And another, courtesy of Alan...

Sunshine and shadows...

A Waldviertel sort of a day...

Edited highlights

Well, I like the landscape version more than the potrait version, anyway.

Saxon running