Since I started modelling HO scale German railways, way back in the early 1970’s, I have built a total of nine layouts, all of which have been called the by the same name, “The Steintalbahn” (Stone Valley Railway) the STB for short. All of the permanent ones have been both standard and narrow gauge. In my early years, when I was not as all informed as I am now on the various periods of German railway history, I ran a mixture of locomotives and stock from various eras, I even operated ones from other countries such as France, Switzerland and Austria on it. Following some research and helped by fellow members of the German Rialway Society, I eventually settled for Epoch II, the colourfully period of the DRG between the two World Wars, in either standard or narrow gauge or both. This is a list of the various layouts I have built (and their fate) over the 30 years plus, all of which except No I were DRG.
I = HO/HOe Semi permanent layout (1972 – 1979)
The “Wilderness Years”, working in the Far East
II = HO/HOe - Semi permanent layout
(1982 – 1985)
III = HO - Exhibition layout
(1984 – 1987) Used by the GRS after 1987 and renamed “Gerndorf”
IV = HO/HOe – Permanent layout
(1985 – 2002)
V = HO – A loco depot, also know as Bw Bad Mainfeld
(1987 – 1990) Also used by the GRS after 1990
VI = HOe – Exhibition layout
(1991 – 1994)
VII = HO - Exhibition layout
(1994 – 1998)
VIII = HO/HOe Exhibition layout
(2000 - ????)
IX = HO/HOe - Current Permanent layout (2002 - ????)
All the layouts use stock and items of scenery that in the main are readily available from model shops today, many of which are listed on the last page of my main website:-
http://grahamsstb.mysite.freeserve.com/
