Wiring is complete. It's less than two weeks to RailEx, Bad Horn's exhibition debut. It must surely then be time to play trains. This serves the practical purpose of checking the layout and relevant stock work, and to see how well my previously imagined moves work out.

First focus was the 1980s set. One loco refuses to play at all, everything else is fine. A bit of concentrated cleaning on the pointwork has ensured that trains can run though without stalling. All powered units have had CVs 3 and 4 set to 0, turning off inertia so that there are fewer bumps into the stops. Some late decisions about scenic work means I still have cosmetic work to do, but importantly the layout seems to work as it should. And so, here's a flavour of a morning's traffic at Bad Horn.

It's the start of the day in Bad Horn, a small resort town in the Teutoberg Forest. The year is 1987. 218 230-1 failed yesterday afternoon while bringing in Kurswagen from Stuttgart, and today sits silent on the remnants of the spur to the Bad Prinzberger Kleinbahn which closed six years previously. (This Fleischmann machine just doesn''t want to play the game, I've cleaned the wheels and pickups, but she still stutters and stalls very badly- anyone know how easy a Roco 215 mech would be to fit to a Fleischmann 218?)

A couple of vans loaded with Teutoberger Pils await collection from the simple freight facility. How long this brewery will remain open is yet to be seen, as the company has recently been taken over by the Herforder Brauerei.

Empty stock for the Hamm service arrives at Bad Horn, a two coach Silberlinge push-pull set with a 212 for traction.

This is followed in fairly short order by one of the two branch trains, which run between Paderborn and Bad Horn. A short stop later, the elderly Schienenbus and trailer fart their way back to the city.

The 212 leads its set out for its slightly longer journey, which will take about an hour and a half.

Mid-morning a trip freight arrives, which will collect the loaded vans and leave two more, some Italian basketwork in a swiss van and an empty for more beer.

Shunting is made easier by the DCC controlled couplings on this loco! Like my fence? A simple change which in my opinion ties the hardstanding into the overall scene effectively.

A 628's arrival holds up shunting for a minute, this being the day's other branch set. Commuters undoubtedly prefer this modern train to the old railcars.

The 628 tucked into the bay, the shunt signal gives Sh1 and work continues.

Snaking through the pointwork, the V60 will soon have deposited the wagons it needs to and will rejoin its short train ready for the journey back to Paderborn Rbf. Also along the branch is a maker of industrial tools such as compressors, timber loading points and a paper factory. And maybe more things when my imagination takes hold.

As I mentioned, there's still some scenic work to do. I need to complete the bridge to my satisfaction, continue the grass track further along (it had stopped by a signal box, but realistically signalling equipment would be in the station building) and produce an image for the exit backscene. Otherwise, I must add a sense of life. I have some bikes, cats and dogs, but as yet no suitable people. Such as is the story of my modelling in general there are items I have on back-order which would enhance the layout, such as lamps and furniture for inside the station, but the odds of them getting here before RailEx are next to non-existent.

And now, rather than spend more time typing, I will continue my work!