Donnersbachkogel

Donnersbachkogel

In a few keywords: Continental (Austria), H0 and H0e, catenary, Z21 DCC, megapoints controller, 2 operators

Donnersbachkogel is a freelance Austrian layout, located somewhere in the pre-alpine area. The old station building of Donnersbachkogel is also the terminus of a narrow-gauge line which was in the past used to get minerals from a remote mine to the mainline. Today the mine is only running as a showmine and instead of minerals mainly tourists are transported up the line. At the station is also the connection to a single track electrified main-line. Not many trains stop there today, main traffic is on weekends to bring tourists to this attraction.

We are somewhere in the early 90th of the last century. Besides OBB stock also independent rail companies are starting to be visible in the business and some multi system engines are in use as it is not far to the neighbour countries Italy and Switzerland, which have either a completely different power system (Italy) or a different allowed profile (Switzerland) so that multisystem engines are convenient as one engine can cover it all.

The name Donnersbachkogel was chosen as it sounds pretty Austrian but it isn't an existing location. Donnersbach comes from a stream which thunders down a gorge and creates a thunder like noise, kogel means hill, which in Austria can also look like a proper mountain.

The layout consists of 4 modules, 120cm or 90cm long and with a possibility to loop around at both ends to allow continuous operation. There is a scenic break so that the return path which goes through some sidings is invisible. H0e part is end to end.

Track for H0 is Peco finescale code 75, for H0e Peco 009. Train control with Roco Z21 – and wireless controllers (tablet or smartphone). A backup system (Lenz) is available. Decoders in the locomotives are mainly from Zimo. Several locomotives have sound. I tried to add a stay alive capacitor were possible.

The electric overhead line is completely homemade (brass poles, catenary wire copper clad mild steel) and is based on the OBB standard concrete poles. As long we do not have any wire breakage, we drive with pantograph up. Several locomotives have remote controlled pantographs (memory wire or servo driven) and several locomotives have electromagnetic uncouplers. There are 3 electromagnetic uncouplers in the H0e part to allow run around the train.We try to avoid the hand of God while running this layout as good as possible.

Every DCC chip is properly programmed, I think DCC is only worth it if you program the chips. Just put a chip in and do nothing except the address setting is a waste of money.

For point, signal and light control I use megapoints controllers. Points, uncouplers and semaphore signals are servo driven.

The control is done by a homemade mimic board using the mega points multipanel hardware.

I started working on the modules in January 2016 - and finished in January 2020. See also the thread here in RMWEB.

Size (no operator space included): 4500 x 1200 mm

2 viewing sides – front and left-hand side (mountain and mine)

Show history: MKMRS 02.2020

Overall view

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