The Burgerbahn is a HO (1:87) scale layout. Construction began in 1984, and it is mainly based on German stock and architecture up to around 1940. It's a very complicated track plan - far toot complicated, I think my main challenge was to see if I could actually build the thing.

The layout is about the size of a large living room or a short 1 1/2 car garage - 5.57m (18'3½") across the back wall, by 4.44m (14'7") along the right hand side as the sketch and track plans are viewed.

The main line has a hidden loop at each end and eight Fleishmann relays allow up to seven trains on the main line at one time, and with the aid of a few dozen DPDT toggles, it's possible to override the system in order to take control of a selected train.

The idea for the Burgerbahn layout plan was adapted from the MIBA publication MPM1 - "Modellbahner Planen fur Modellbahner", page 6 - in mirror reverse - an unworkable plan as published?? but I managed to adapt the general concept to Peco turnout sizes. The layout was drawn at 1:5 scale with the aid of photocopied turnouts from the back cover of the then current Peco catalogue. The method of contruction (using L-girders, joists, risers and cleats) was all learnt from the brilliant publication "How to build MODEL RAILROAD BENCHWORK" by Linn H Westcott, published by Kalmbach Books.

The layout is not based on any particular City although Hamburg is my favourite - I have incorporated ideas from various photos in my photo book "Reichsbahn-Album" by Alfred B. Gottwaldt which spans the years 1920 to 1940.

I wanted to get as much railway into the room as possible (like most suckers) but never forgetting my desire to be able to watch a train's progress over a decent length of track. This meant some compromising, such as keeping the height of the roundhouse lower than I would have liked.

Anyway, the general idea is that trains arrive at Hamburger which is the City station plus goods platforms, then progress through to Fries which is the hub of the Hamburger's industrial area and contains the Frie-ght yards. After Fries comes the outskirts of town - the scenic mountain line.

If I hadn't wasted much of my spare time on computers etc. (like right now, Dummkopf Bilbo!) the layout may have progressed to a more refined state, but to most people's eyes it looks pretty well finished enough anyway.