Untitled Document

Having discovered this, the concept behind the layout became obvious - the Moseltalbahn in my world has survived into the modern era. It has not been electrified and remains a single track branch, but connected to the Trier-Koblenz line at each end giving he possibility of through traffic.

Passenger service is maintained by DB Regio trains using Br215 & 218 diesels with single deck coaches, or new modern railcars. It also sees a Koblenz-Trier Regio-express routed along this way twice daily in each direction on weekdays, again with Br218 in charge. Goods is still generated on the line, so the pick-up goods pays a visit as required. At Schöntal a farmers co-op ships agricultural products, and there is a wharf for transfering bulk goods (such as gravel and coal) to and from Mosel / Rhine barges.

Other traffic on the line is either through goods traffic diverted off the busy main line, or the Moseltalbahn preserved steam workings at weekends when there is no commuter traffic.

	Wilkommen bei Schöntal! Schöntal is the working title for my N scale (1:160) model railway layout. Style: 3.2m x 600mm lightweight portable modules Location: Moseltal (Mosel Valley), Germany Era: Modern (around 2005) Operations: Non-electrified single track branchline, including station with passing siding, and goods sidings.
Background Design Progress report Auf Deutsch - im Bau / under construction Links	Work began in winter 2005, and is now well progressed. The target date for "completion" was February 2009, that has obviously passed and realistically we are probably looking February 2010. It will be available for a limited number of exhibitons per year. The layout is privately owned and has been built to date entirely by myself with assistance mainly on the scenenic aspects from my wife (who is a keen crafter and a former war-gamer).
	Background Germany still has many more railways than the UK, most of which still have goods service. The pick-up goods is still a relaively common sight, something missing from Britain entirely since the 1960s. As one might expect of modern efficient Germany, the passenger service, even on backwater branchlines is explenary. Trains (inside at least) are clean and arrive on time, ridership is high, and fares are cheap. The early 2000s were an interesting time as (like in Britain) there was a siginificant investment in new rolling stock happening, especially in railcars, but the old loco hauled trains were still evident. Whilst the principal group of companies is still DBAG, privatisation also meant that there were other operators and lease pool locos in evidence (in the Mösel / Eifel / Saarland mainly SBB Cargo and SNCF Fret).
	Concept I have visited the Moseltal area on three occasions since 2001, mainly due to Rallye Deutschland which happens around Trier every August. Each time I've discovered a little more about the area and its fascinating history. I also soon found some model shops and was actively encouraged to purchase some N scale models! The initial concept for a layout was quite vauge - a more sleepy backwater than the double track Kannonenbahn main line between Trier and Koblenz (which only partly follows the Mosel) and came about before I discovered that the Moseltal actually had a railway until the 1960s - the Moseltalbahn. This ran north from Trier via Treis-Karden to Bullay on the "left" bank of the Mosel, through the picturesque towns and vinyards. It survived, just, into the diesel era where Schienenbus were used before it ultimately made way for an improved road.
	Having discovered this, the concept behind the layout became obvious - the Moseltalbahn in my world has survived into the modern era. It has not been electrified and remains a single track branch, but connected to the Trier-Koblenz line at each end giving he possibility of through traffic. Passenger service is maintained by DB Regio trains using Br215 & 218 diesels with single deck coaches, or new modern railcars. It also sees a Koblenz-Trier Regio-express routed along this way twice daily in each direction on weekdays, again with Br218 in charge. Goods is still generated on the line, so the pick-up goods pays a visit as required. At Schöntal a farmers co-op ships agricultural products, and there is a wharf for transfering bulk goods (such as gravel and coal) to and from Mosel / Rhine barges. Other traffic on the line is either through goods traffic diverted off the busy main line, or the Moseltalbahn preserved steam workings at weekends when there is no commuter traffic.
Updated 20 April, 2009 23:53