Erik Nilsen's HO Marklin layout is 8x8 feet square using the "L" girder method to support it. It's a dogbone style layout with a branchline which goes to small village and Lowenbrau Brewery. The main freight transported on the layout is of course beer. Although I don't think the Lowenbrau Executive are really excited about their product traveling in their competitors cars. But there is a demand for all beers and a shortage of refrigerated cars so the Lowenbrau folks have no choice.
There is no shortage of travelers on the layout either. The Lowenbrau workers have only the railroad on which to travel to the city. So the railroad runs trains to and fro on the branch. Express trains stop at the main station so the harried executives can board a local train to the junction station where they change yet again onto the branchline train. Maybe Lowenbrau should buy a railcar to speed their executives to their out of town meetings? Those French Michelon rail buses would do nicely.
The layout is entirely digital and the track is Marklin's new "C" track. The mainline is under catenary and the last of classic German steam is used on the branch. You'll see Class 01; 18 and variants; 24; 41 and 52. Of course there are electrics old and new. Two folks can operate the layout at two operater stations. Projects for the future: Add streetlights, highway grade crossing lights and some signals. Change some houses and add some new ones.
This is a great layout packed with lots of fun.
One leg of the "U" of Erik's layout. Here we see a bahnbietriebwerks, the Osterheide junction station (on the right side), and a village with Lowenbrau Brewery.
Here's the other leg of the "U" with large station and storage sidings.
The branchline and destination. The station, some village houses, and the Lowenbrau Brewery.
The Bahnbietriebwerks-another view.
A Lowenbrau executive waits for the branch line shuttle. The station mistress is also on the platform.
The Opel shunter. This lok has a flashing yellow LED on top.
A class 41 2-8-2 on the turntable. Erik upgraded with a 6090 and new motor. This lok crawls along.
Here is a structure on the layout which has a real life counterpart. Its photo is on the wall.
The small village near the Lowenbrau Brewery.
Here is the main station. It's made by Kibri.
A DB passenger train rolls through the main station. Erik has removed the slider and operates the lok off the catenary. It's amazing how quite it is without the slider.
Here is beer train stopped at the main station. I wasn't sure if the engineer was just getting coffee or if there was a crew change.