Visiting the "Stoomtrein Katwijk Leiden" narrow gauge museum in Valkenburg

Following my increasing interest in narrow gauge industrial railways I recently visited the "Stoomtrein Katwijk Leiden" museum in Valkenburg (Zuid Holland). The collection of steam and, mainly, diesel engines (locomotors) was a great inspiration, most of them are in excellent and running condition. It's a vibrant museum and I admired the dedication of the many volunteers that keep the museum going in these Covid-19 influenced times. The steam engine on the train that travels up and down the short line was replaced by a diesel, as the footplate on the steamers is too small for two people needing to keep distance.

Here a few impressions, more pictures can be found on flickr. The museum has a website with detailed descriptions of all engines of the collection.

Photo shoot in "Klein Schwarzenbach"

My new Roco 2095.014 made an excursion to my friend Rob's home and his layout "Klein Schwarzenbach" for a photoshoot with other Austrian narrow gauge rolling stock. The below images were taken by Rob who also has a photostream on flickr.

Narrow gauge update

I received Roco's 2095.014-3 with sound. What a fantastic model! I cannot wait to test her fully..

The prototype of my new model (here without the computer number yet) in Weitra with a short - wonderful - freight train. Source: wikimedia

I also made progress on the 30+ year old H0e Diesel. It is far from finished, but the first paint elements are done. I highlighted the front grill, door handles, painted the nice tools on the back side, horn, exhaust, etc. The puffer beams received a thin first layer of Humbrol 60 red. More coats will be done, all will be cleaned up and finally weathered. Especially the front grill and exhaust will get some good weathering as it's of course way too shiny in just aluminium colour.

I found a picture of an Austrian narrow gauge industrial engine of the "Steyrermühl Werkbahn". I drew inspiration from it for the buffer beams and other parts, especially the weathering, but I will not lighten up de green on the H0e model as I like it as it is.

I highlighted the parts that were just dark green on the original model, like the door handles and the neat tools on the back (I really only discovered those now, after some 30+ years). 

I painted the door handles and exhaust. The green is yet untouched but will of course receive weathering, as well as the roof.

The red buffer beams will receive more layers of paint, however, I must say I like the dark colour shining through. The grill will of course get a good weathering as well.

Inspiration for the colour scheme and weathering of my little Diesel comes from the "Steyrermühl Werkbahn". Source: sagen

Another shot from the Schoema Diesel. In this view the red is more like the one I envisage for my Roco model. Source: sagen

A great description with many images of the Steyrermühl Werkbahn can be found on Drehscheibe Online.

Narrow gauge excursion

I recently rediscovered my interest in narrow gauge railways. I think it was triggered by ordering Roco's new H0e model of the Austrian Rh 2095, in the version of 2095.014-3 of the Waldviertelbahn. A "must-buy" despite not having a narrow gauge layout. So the beauty will end up in the showcase for the time being or will get a dedicated Austrian micro-layout somewhen in the future.

In the meantime I dug up a very old box: the H0e starter set No. 31000 of Roco featuring a small Diesel locomotive, two skips and two wooden open cars and an N(!) set-track circle. I had bought this set some 35 years ago!

Roco's "Grubenbahn" Starter Set, bought some 35 years ago. The track in the image is from Peco.

The little Diesel engine with the original motor.

New core-less motor by Tramfabriek and the Train-O-Matic decoder.

The engine is too neat to have her sit in the box for another 35 years.. So I decided to give her a make-over. I installed a new motor by Tramfabriek and Train-O-Matic decoder No. 02010223. She now runs supersmoothly!

So the next thought popped up in an instant: why not build her a very small layout (70 x 38 cm) that could fit into an Ikea cupboard? Dustproof and ready to play with. Nothing fancy, just an oval to admire running trains in fitting scenery and max. two turnouts. I have ordered Peco H0e flex track and the two turnouts. More on the idea soon.. (I hope)

Engine shed with inspection pit

Late night views into the engine shed, now in its position on the layout above the inspection pit.

Engine shed roof, lighting and interiors

The roof of the engine shed that I have recently moved to the other side of the station was already totally warped when I took it out of the Auhagen kit box. No bending effort was successful and I also did not want to glue it solidly to the building - as I wanted to keep it removable because of the interior design and lighting. So I built my own roof out of an Evergreen sheet (Metal Roofing No. 4524) which has a similar structure as the roofs of the station building and freight shed.

Two led's were installed to provide the lighting and I moved the interiors that I have shown in a previous post to the other wall (as the shed got turned in its new position). The roof ridge was done from a strip of very fine sanding paper.

The roof still needs painting, it's currently only primed (Tamiya primer). Then also the chimneys and rain pipes can be glued down in position. And I want to add a figure or two to the interior, as well as some posters as wall decoration.

Moving the engine shed (part 2)

The idea of moving the engine shed looked immediately convincing on the first test. It's a much more balanced layout now that offers more possibilities and looks less crammed despite it's short length. So I waited no longer and added the new switch, added the new loco shed rail and added some centimeters to the freight shed track.

Overview of the two station modules in situ. Not shown to the left is the platform and station building area. A fascia will certainly further integrate the layout in the furniture.

First test drive in the living room with my traditional test loco, the Austrian Rh 2045. Note that the layout is shown here from the backdrop end.

Railroad modelling in the sun. The rougher work of cutting out the inspection pit in the shed was done in the garden.