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Deutsche Bahn refuses to purchase the remaining 25 IC2 TWINDEXX sets (5 cars + one loco) from bombardier due to continued problems with the software (aka features). The features include: - The loco and the 5 cars are a set and cannot be uncoupled. One car stops working? That’s it, whole train stops working. You can’t switch out the car and the whole set needs to be repaired. - When reversing, computers crash and take about 30 minutes to reset, if that even succeeds. - The second iteration sets feature a dark mode. Meaning that randomly the lights refuse to turn on. - The first iteration made people motionsick due to uncontrolled swaying. Furthermore the sets are not equipped with the modern ETCS system, even though they should have been. The 25 sets are valued at approximately 400M euros, and are currently in the final stages of production. These trains aren’t the only high profile trains DB has in its possession which are plagued with issues; the ICE4 sets are also plagued with software issues and faster than normal wear and crack formation in the carriage frames, which also prompted DB to hold all future orders of new ICE4 sets (also produced by bombardier). source: https://www.sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/deutsche-bahn-ic-1.4773380

Although I'm mainly known for Z gauge these days back in the eighties and nineties my main interest in railway modelling was gauge 1 either in 1/32nd scale for German or 10mm to the foot for British outline. I exhibited two gauge 1 exhibition layouts. Mardy Colliery was a representation of a typical National Coal board colliery with small industrial locomotives and typical British four wheel wagons. It was immensely popular on the show circuit but had a fatal flaw in its construction and its days were numbered as the baseboard tops began to sag at an ever increasing rate. I had already started to build its replacement 'Gottersee' a German branch line based on the line to Frasdorf in Bavaria on which I was going to run my Marklin RTR locos and also my scratchbuilt German locos and wagons. As the terminal station on the line it would require some shunting on any train that arrived so there would always be some action. Frasdorf station building The view towards the loco shed Construction started in earnest at the Sheffield '0' gauge group clubrooms and also at my workshop at home. Track was to be Tenmille flexitrack with hand laid points including a three way point at the station throat. After the disaster with Mardy baseboard tops were plywood not chipboard and as will all my layouts the baseboards were all the same size to make transport easier. Points were all to be operated by Fulgurex point motors except the three way. The buildings were built to drawings scaled off photos and as they are all typical Bavarian in appearance. A basic plywood shell was used with textured paint for the rendered areas and real wood cladding for the wooden bits. All were individual planks! The roof was wood with resin cast tile details and resin castings from my own patterns were used to make the windows and doors. Full interior detail was included including a risque scene in one of the bedrooms upstairs in the station building More soon Kev

Can anyone tell me the general location or region where this scene was recorded? I'm curious about the rolling stock on the far side track, the *high floor* single level s-bahn stock being used in push pull formation with an electric locomotive. Never seen that kind of setup.

Well, unlike most itineraries posted which are about Japan trips, living in Japan, mine is Europe-based. A bit shorter than my previous more touristic forays to the continent, it is concentrated almost exclusively on train riding and watching/photography (pretty much like my travels in Japan). Lodgings are typically business hotels near the main stations, similar to my Toyoko Inn travel pattern (though about 50~60% more expensive). July-Aug. 10 days. Solo. 1st day- Arrival at Munich early evening nonstop flight from Haneda AP. Train to Nuremberg on Munich-Nuremberg HSL (I want to catch the Munich-Nuremberg Express RE service, but may not be able, instead may have to take a white worm ICE). Lodgings Nuremberg. 2nd day- AM German Railway Museum. 2pm depart for Nordhausen via Wurzburg and Erfurt. Lodgings Nordhausen. 3rd day- Harz Mountain Railway. Lodgings Hannover 4th day- IC Train 2013 "Allgau" from Hannover to Stuttgart. This train is a Leipzig-Obertsdorf service that takes a leisurely "arc" of 13.5 hours to traverse through most of Western Germany. I want to get off at Stuttgart to check out the classic railway station before its gone with the new constructions. Stuttgart to Memmingen. Lodgings Memmingen. 5th day- Memmingen environs photography of semaphore signals and RE trains hauled by 218 class diesels. PM RE services to Friedrichshafen via Lindau. Ferry across Lake Constance to Romanshorn. Lodgings Wintherthur. 6th day- Winterthur to Lausanne/Montreux. Golden Pass Route/BLS to Spiez. All trains I take on the narrow gauge scenic routes in Switzerland will be the regular stopping trains, rather than the tourist ones. Lodgings Spiez. 7th day- BLS day. Lotschberg route to Brig. MGB railway to Andermatt, then Goschenen. Ａ tiny bit of Gotthard Route railfanning, and then SBB to Rotkreuz. Lodgings Rotkreuz. 8th day- Return to Gotthard Route. Silenen/Wassen? Goschenen to Andermatt, then MGB to Disentis/Munster. Rhaetian Railway to Chur. SBB back to Rotkreuz. Hopefully a beer back at the hotel veranda while the sun goes down...Lodgings Rotkreuz. 9th day- More Gotthard Route and approaches railfanning until midafternoon. Zurich catch the EC service to Munich, with late evening arrival. Lodgings Munich. 10th day- AM and early afternoon railfaning the Munich-Rosenheim Line and/or the Munich-Muhldorf Line. 6pm Munich AP departure for Narita AP via Dusseldorf. As I have the luxury of a lengthy school holiday, I also have holiday time in Japan. I plan to take the overnight express Hamanasu from Sapporo to Aomori (history next year), then splurge on a Gran Class seat on the Tohoku Shinkansen to Tokyo. About three days in the Tokyo area, and five in Kansai. Overall, looking to be a "railtastic" summer holiday!

Any German speakers out there, asking for help regarding the availability of paper timetables at DB stations. It seems the system-wide timetable has ceased to be published, but the smaller, station-based timetables are still provided behind the counter, but you must ask for them at a nominal charge. Could you tell me what is the German term for these timetables (something perhaps along the line of "all services from this station"). I may be making a summer trip and visiting some of the bigger hub stations in southern/central Germany, and want the correct term so I can build a collection. BTW, these timetables are still provided free at SBB stations, off the rack. Thanks.

Hi, My first model of Robel Bullok 54.22 Track Maintenance Vehicle - DB Bahnbau (kibri 16100) arrived 2 months ago but the work at the workbench started almost immediately! The parts included on this kit: I looked to the cabin I took the immediate decision to remove all engraved handrails and apply new ones. The following photos shows the original engraved plastic handrails: The next 2 photos shows all handrails removed and the 0,35mm holes already made and ready to receive the new metal handrails Finnaly with the new metal handrails applied but not fixed yet. Regarding the handrails I always use 0,35 mm (spare!) strings from my Yamaha C2 grand piano! :) Thanks Regards, Ayala Botto