European Specialist Material - Part 1

Hi there, long time no blog. What with rebuilding the superstructure of the BR layout Widnes Road with the gratefully received assistance of Andy (peg-leg) and Wayne, and the a third and final re-think of the baseboards of the 'great European project' I've not found much time to get out into the real world and do much photography, nor has the progress on my three layouts been interesting enough to photograph being mainly confined to extensive gnawing of large piles of wood into lots of sawdust and smaller pieces of wood.

Having now finished the new legs and baseboard connections and tried the new arrangement out at the recent Watford show, I have been able to do other things. The first of these was a long weekend, Friday to Monday night in the Bremen and Hamburg area with some reprobates from the UK, including Peter, Tom and Colin, and joining up out there with Andy (Ginge).

Monsoon at Bremen Hbf 17th May 2013

Despite the best efforts of a monsoon on arrival to dampen the enthusiasm, a great three and a half days was had, and many updates are to follow as I work my way through the 1,350 photos that were fired off.

There was also time for a quick visit to Roland-modellbahnstudio (which was rather longer than anticipated due to the shop having moved about two miles nearer town). Note to self, check address before heading off into rain to find railway shop, don't rely on Tom having been there five years ago...sorry Tom ;) So there are some new Hobbytrain Doppelstockwagens and a digital Roco 101 to give test run to when I get home.

DBAG BR 218 339-0 on a top-and-tailed DB Regio service at Hamburg Hbf

A few sneak previews of some of what was seen and bashed follows, much more to follow on here and on my Flickr page.

SBB Cargo 421 389-8 @ Bremen Hbf 18/5/13

RBH 102 (143 069-3) & RBH 102 143 150-4 @ Bremen Hbf 18/5/13

Wiener Lokalbahnen Cargo Siemens Taurus 1216 953 @ Bremen Hbf 18/5/13

Metronom ME 146-08 @ Bremen Hbf on a Hamburg Hbf turn 18th May 2013

Dispolok Siemens ER 20-001 at Niebull Bf 19/5/13 on a NOB service to Hamburg Altona from Westerland

A quartet of new Voith Gravita 10 BB Diesels at Itzehoe Stabling point inc. 261 099-6, 261 037-6 and 261 077-2

DB Rabbits with 218 366-3 leading passing NOB Siemens Mak DE 2700-10 at Niebull Bhf