torqueofthedevil

A few pics from the last week. I confess they are pretty poor quality, due to the low winter sun playing havoc with rubbish phone camera - plus inept operator, of course! - but I hope they may be of slight interest even it's routine stuff rather than anything unusual (although I wasn't expecting a 120 on an IC service - maybe I should have been?). Presumably the shiny new Twindexx will become much more common before I visit again. A couple of questions please: are the 111s used in top-and-tail mode because they aren't compatible with the driving coaches - or is it just a fault with this particular set? And what is the significance of the grey Alex livery?

I didn't have time to visit all the listed shops in the city, but I did go to the two Lindenberger shops (one on Hohe Pforte, the other round the corner on Blaubach, at the southern end of the old town). I would highly recommend both; the former is purely second-hand stock and the latter is a large and modern model shop. Enjoy!

Claude I was staying near Porz and there was a steady stream of freights going through that station while I was waiting for trains, the majority hauled by 145s and 185s although a green and cream 218 was interesting. I think you would get plenty of action there, but with the platforms being east of the main running lines, you could only get decent pics in the morning. My pics are mediocre but that says more about the camera (and operator!) than the location.

Thank you for the interesting replies. I wish I had taken the good camera with me but I was travelling light and wasn't expecting to see a great deal, so I just used my phone! Jonhall two people in the rear coach of your train caught my eye, one in a bright yellow coat and one right at the back wearing goggles - don't suppose either was you?!

A few snaps from a very sunny few days in Cologne earlier this month. Other highlights were a steam special hauled by 01 1075 (a service train blocked my view almost entirely so the two pics I got really aren't worth seeing!) and 120s top-and-tailing an IC service (maybe this is common but I wasn't expecting it), plus a few 111s still going strong on RE services. I also saw two 103s on the same day - one in the old 'blood and custard' livery was running into Cologne light engine from the Porz direction (I was on an S-bahn train stopped at Airport-Businesspark and heard something unusual coming) and another in RailAdventure livery was stabled at the northwestern end of the Hbf. How may 103s are left on the main line? I thought I had been lucky to happen upon one, and then I saw a second!

Good evening all, On a trip to Cologne earlier this month, I happened upon a small model shop in Cologne which hadn't shown up in any searches. It's on Trimbornstrasse which is the street linking the station of the same name with Bundesstrasse and the Arcaden shopping centre. It's a small shop packed from floor to ceiling with railway models and plastic kits (mostly aircraft). The railway stuff I saw is mostly second-hand continental HO but some of the displays are partially hidden by boxes piled up in front. The owner speaks English and explained that it is more of an office for his eBay shop (sammlefreund-1, although I can't trace him on eBay) than a conventional retail shop. It's hardly the biggest or best model shop in Germany, but that said, it's the kind of place where you might find an absolute gem if you were lucky! The current opening hours are Monday to Friday 1400-1830. Might be worth popping in if you're passing!

Thanks for all the replies - very useful! In terms of eras, I am interested in the whole period since 1945 but Eras V-VI are simpler partly due to the abundance of red paint and partly because I have seen some of it myself. It's III-IV which I particularly need help with!

Good afternoon all, a request for assistance if I may. Could someone please point me in the direction of a good colour reference to DB loco and coach liveries/consists? I am trying to figure out which combinations might have been used. I have found the livery guide on railfaneurope, which is a good start, but while it shows the different liveries individually, it doesn't give much detail of how the various colours would have been formed into a train (or what might be pulling it). The guide in the July/August 2017 N Bahn Magazin to OBB liveries and consists was great and I would love to find something similar for DB. Thanks in advance!

Here are a few pics of an Alex Taurus and its train at Munich Hbf, taken in October 2016

Thanks for the reply - I agree although that would involve a major change! One to ponder...

Good evening, I have Arnold N Gauge sets 6070 and 6071 ie the straight and curved tramway kits, but the curved bit is for 140mm radius track - ideal except I don't have any track less than 192mm! The only curved track of that radius I can find is Tomix, but the rest of my track is Fleischmann (I have several Arnold converter sections). Did Arnold or any other company ever make R140 track which might be easy to link to Fleischmann?

Good evening, I have Arnold N Gauge sets 6070 and 6071 ie the straight and curved tramway kits, but the curved bit is for 140mm radius track - ideal except I don't have any track less than Radius 1! The only curved track of that radius I can find is Tomix, but the rest of my track is Fleischmann (including several Arnold converter sections). Did Arnold or any other company ever make R140 track which might be easy to link to Fleischmann?

Thanks Tim!

Anyone happen to know if they have any N Gauge continental stuff? I might be in Sheffield later this month so I could make a detour if it's worthwhile

Many thanks for the replies received - much appreciated and I have some good gen to go on!