Asper Posted April 8, 2020 (edited) After having seen the great design for a LEGO narrow gauge by Maik and David I wanted to build my own narrow gauge LEGO train. Prototype should be the train connecting Mosbach and Mudau from 1905-1973 . I'm too young, so I have never seen the real trains but I know the route from numerous biking trips in my childhood. Today there is a bicycle track on the former railway. Then I got a book about the "Odenwald-Express" and I finally started building it in LEGO. The main actors are two engines - diesel engine class V52 and steam engine class 99 720: There is also a passenger train ... ... and a freight train: With working rollbocks for "standard" gauge wagons: Both trains are driven by standard LEGO train motors - using the brilliant design of Maik and David Schenker: There are more pictures in the flickr album. Edited April 8, 2020 by Asper Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LEGO Train 12 Volts Posted April 8, 2020 It took me a moment to understand that these works of art were for narrow tracks! The two locomotives are better than original sets. The steamer is my favorite! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JopieK Posted April 8, 2020 Very nice indeed, saw them on 1000steine already. LEGO should release some entire narrow gauge sets I think when I look at your stunning work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pdaitabird Posted April 8, 2020 That's a fantastic little steamer. It's more detailed than most larger models! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Paperinik77pk Posted April 8, 2020 Wonderful little gems! High details, great solutions for the motor positioning, those Duplo parts for the two standard wagons are simple and effective! Both locomotives are really cute! Great work!!! Davide Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jrathfon Posted April 8, 2020 It's been a bit since my foray into narrow gauge. I saw trixbrix has some inner and outer dual gauge rail for narrow gauge rails. Is that how you are achieving the ~R40 narrow gauge curves? The only thing holding me back from my Tweetsie design was getting wider radius and functional narrow gauge curves. How'd you do it here? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asper Posted April 8, 2020 3 minutes ago, jrathfon said: It's been a bit since my foray into narrow gauge. I saw trixbrix has some inner and outer dual gauge rail for narrow gauge rails. Is that how you are achieving the ~R40 narrow gauge curves? The only thing holding me back from my Tweetsie design was getting wider radius and functional narrow gauge curves. How'd you do it here? Yes, that's how I built the curves. Using the rails from trixbrix: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jrathfon Posted April 8, 2020 Awesome! That's a great solution. I moved so alas don't have room to build the mountain into my layout complete with it's own narrow gauge loop and tunnel! Always wanted R40 narrow gauge! I had originally asked trixbrix for that dual gauge turnout, but it seems the curve radius is funny and non-constant in the pictures (outside of R24 not working for my steam trucks). Also, excellent work! Love the steam loco, lots of detail! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hod Carrier Posted April 8, 2020 That's ingenious!! I'd never thought of using the train motor turned on it's side like that. And as for using the TrixBrix dual gauge rails to make R40 narrow gauge curves, that's just inspirational. And as for the trains; well what can I say that hasn't already been said? The details, the proportions, everything is just spot on!! Fantastic work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Feuer Zug Posted April 8, 2020 Rollblocks! I haven't seen those in ages since I visited a Schmallspurbahn in the NRW. The entire setup is well detailed. Great work. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Merlict Posted April 10, 2020 That motor arrangement is fiendishly clever! Love everything about this. What are the side parts on the greena nd yellow trucks? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asper Posted April 10, 2020 (edited) Thank you! 40 minutes ago, Merlict said: What are the side parts on the greena nd yellow trucks? Do you mean this Duplo part? I built a complete train with these parts, see my flickr album "Duplo Cargo Train". Edited April 10, 2020 by Asper Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Selander Posted April 10, 2020 Great work in such limited space, yet packed with details ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asper Posted April 10, 2020 On 4/8/2020 at 10:31 PM, jrathfon said: Always wanted R40 narrow gauge! Maik has posted an image from their narrow gauge layout - text is in German, but the image is impressive. And they documented their standard with R40 curves and switches made from 100% LEGO parts: http://www.mabidati.de/MaBiDaTi narrow-gauge.pdf Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteamSewnEmpire Posted April 10, 2020 Any chance you'd be willing to upload an LXF for the mechanism in the power car? This is a really ingenious solution to the common problem of how to power 4w narrow gauge. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
zephyr1934 Posted April 11, 2020 That is an amazing build. I still love the duplo gondolas, the sideways train motor is utterly brilliant. The detailing on the cars is fantastic, and unbelievable on the little steamer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dr_spock Posted April 11, 2020 Fantastic build. Interesting way to cram in the train motor. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jimmynick Posted April 11, 2020 This is really gorgeous - I particularly adore the tiny steam loco. Thanks for sharing! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
paul_delahaye Posted April 12, 2020 Wooh, motor on it's side. Genius! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Laura Beinbrech Posted April 13, 2020 As a life-long narrow-gauge fan (who also volunteers at two different narrow gauge heritage railroads), I love this! Not only do the builds look absolutely fantastic, but I also like the idea of using a sideways train motor for compact power. I'm also pleased to see that the technic-pin coupling design I came up with about 9 years ago holds up well under power. :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bondp99 Posted April 13, 2020 Nicely done! Good to see some local designs from "near" my old hometown Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Capparezza Posted April 14, 2020 Wonderful! Some very nifty ideas in your narrow gauge rolling stock. The "rollböcke" are very cute Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kieran Posted April 23, 2020 Fantastic, so much in such a small space Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Laura Beinbrech Posted April 25, 2020 I actually recently looked up info on the v52 diesels that were made for the Mossbach & Mudau railway & it turns out that one of them is still operating on a 1m gauge railroad in Italy, which I think is pretty neat. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Asper Posted April 25, 2020 1 hour ago, Laura Beinbrech said: I actually recently looked up info on the v52 diesels that were made for the Mossbach & Mudau railway & it turns out that one of them is still operating on a 1m gauge railroad in Italy, which I think is pretty neat. Yes, that's really cool! And all 4 steamers still exist! One can bee seen as monument in Mudau and one of them is still active pulling historic trains (see German website of the "Alb-Baehnle"). While I was searching for more narrow gauge prototypes I started collecting information about the "Albtalbahn" near Karlsruhe, where I live today. This was also narrow gauge and then changed to standard gauge to be integrated into Karlsruhe's public transport system. And then I found out that they got the one of the diesels (modified for standard gauge) and one of the steamers was used changing gauges. The diesel then also was sold to Italy, so I guess both diesels are still active in Italy! For both diesels I found "curriculum vitaes" (German but with images): https://www.loks-aus-kiel.de/index.php?nav=1401521&lang=1&id=19161&action=portrait and https://www.loks-aus-kiel.de/index.php?nav=1406157&id=19162&action=portrait I'm not sure if this develops into a new hobby, but learning about the (surprisingly long!) history of single engines is sometimes real fun! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
