Nystrup Gravel is Moving (1/35)

As if a trip to the Gauge 1-exhibition near Odense wasn't enough, the 1:35 version of Nystrup Gravel is now preparing for permanent relocation.  Having resided in its little corner of a two storey townhouse for 9 years, Nystrup Gravel will be housed in a slightly bigger wooden house in the years to come. Consequently modules, models, materials, tools and documents are being packed in boxes for transport. Not to mention my book collection and archive that seems awfully large whenever I have to move.


Some of my unbuilt kits packed for moving. The boxes with my 13'eme Dragon kits of Pechot wagons seems rather dusty...

I'm glad to have made foam lined wooden boxes for many of my scratch- and kit built models. It certainly makes it easier (not to mention safer) to make them ready for the move. Fortunately the move isn't a long one and the amount of damage that can happen to Nystrup Gravel stuff must be limited. The distance between my current house and the future one is a mere 1,5 km. It is still too early to predict if the move will allow an enlargement of the gravel company's activities. The move isn't made with the primary target of expanding Nystrup Gravel. But I do sense certain new possibilities...

All the modules and most of the models I brought to the Gauge 1 exhibition were unloaded at a friend's workshop. My stuff wil remain in store there until it's safe for them to return to their new surroundings. It is great to have friends ready to help out in situations like these - even without being asked! The conclusion must be that whenever you think you can help a fellow enthusist just ask. It helps keeping more people attached to the hobby.

Before the modules went into storage I managed to set a new record for the longest skip train on Nystrup Gravel. In the photo above loco 23 pulls 20 skips with no trouble. Pushing the same number of skips is only possible with some care from the driver. A case where 1:35 skip trains behaves pretty much like a real train of skips - especially with loaded skips coupled between unloaded ones. Now modules and skips are safely packed away.

A very long skip train at NSS at Valkenburgse Meer in the Netherlands. More than 50 skips made up this train at the Internationales Feldbahner Treffen in 2011 - a record I can't challenge! Notice the variety among the skips - not least in colour.

The railway being packed away will put a stop to most modelling activities for a while. And surely getting a new house up and running is far more important than gluing small objects together. The next few months will probably see this blog rather more quiet than usually.

A Nice Trip to Rolfsted (1/35)

Nystrup Gravel and I spent three days at the Gauge 1 Exhibition in Rolfsted, near Odense. I got a lift from a friend and as he had just acquired a new van, space wasn't a problem. Being a rather small 'thing' Nystrup Gravel was quickly erected and connected electrically. Nystrup Gravel was connected to my friend's three modules with very little fuss. I did a few last minute adjustments, cleaned rails and did some tests. All worked well, except from my Zimo digital unit that seemed rather reluctant to accept new locos. Thus traffic had to be handled by my trusty Billard locos.

Nystrup Gravel ready to be erected.

The exhibition management's planning model laid out for traders and exhibitors to follow.

Despite the digital troubles I got trains running. With my new supply of skips from Hesketh & Snoodyk I could show a wide variety of skips. I actually had quite a few questions this year about model skips. Maybe fellow participants and visitors are planning their own industrial narrow gauge railways?

A train of Hudson skips on its way to the pits for gravel.

Despite digital troubles the gas generator Schöma managed to pull a train of surplus stones along the line.

Almost 1100 paying visitors attended the exhibition that also had the benefit of being in the evening news on the regional TV-station. Both exhibitors and traders thus had the chance to reach a wide audience for our modelling activities. Reporters from a German web magazine (Spur 1 Info) were also present during the entire exhibition. I was surprised that a large number of Germans turned up, many with a good knowledge of industrial narrow gauge modelling. I made several new contacts and refreshed old ones and I'm quite sure that some of the discussions we had during the exhibition will materialize into models. I would also like to thank those of you readers who turned up to say hello and gave me the impression that what I write isn't only enjoyable to myself.

To me the biggest change from last time I participated was the landscaping that had taken place on most layouts. Many layouts now sported basic green grass and shrubbery and provided a much better background for the detailed locos and rolling stock. Many layouts had also brought along brochures to enable the visitors to learn more about scale, theme and models. I too had made a small flyer to give info on Nystrup Gravel and it really worked in engaging the visitors in conversations about narrow gauge railways.

A small goods train pulled by a shunting tractor. On the TD-flat wagon I had the opportunity to show my model of a Marshall thresher. A rarely seen load on model railways.

I don't know when the next Gauge 1 Exhibition will take place, but I would be glad to participate if invited. See a few images from the exhibition on my Flickr-site.

Getting Ready for the Gauge 1 Exhibition (1/35)

Having done many of the small tasks on my little railway that I have been neglecting for long, I'm now almost ready to take part in the premier exhibition for model railways in 1:32 scale in Denmark. In two weeks Nystrup Gravel will be located on the island of Fyn.

A snapshot from above showing the small stream where I hope to pour 'water' before the exhibition. While grass and plants have been spreading there is still a lot of room for progress. First of all the sharp borders between the different colours of grass needs fading.  

Some would say that exhibiting a little industrial narrow gauge line in 1:35 scale at a Gauge 1-exhibition where it's all standard gauge stuff running on modules devoid of any landscape is a little odd. I don't agree. I like to show what can be done in a comparatively small space, and have had quite favourable feedback from fellow exhibitors and visitors. And from what I know there will be several nicely landscaped Gauge 1-modules at the exhibition this year.


I couldn't resist putting a few of my new skips on the track. They aren't coupled though, something the observant reader will notice at once. Seen from this perspective there is no need to pour water into the stream...

At the exhibition in 2012 a friend of mine with narrow gauge interest supplied three modules to add to the operational interest of my modules. We'll be teaming up again this year. He and his wife have been landscaping the modules during the last few weeks - in addition to working on their primary standard gauge modules.


Ground cover almost complete on one of my friend's modules. Lots of stuff can still be added, but a huge progress from how the modules looked at the last exhibition where my friend called his modules 'The Barren Ground'. Photo: Arne Nielsen.

I'm looking forward to some interesting days. Should you happen to drop by Rolfhallen in Rolfsted south of Odense please visit me and Nystrup Gravel to say hello. I'm located in the hall opposite the restaurant.