A Review of 2025

Another year has passed and for me it's time to review this year's progress on my little Nystrup Gravel layout and other railway modelling activities. The year has not been a great leap forward, but rather the usual determined strive for progress.  

The new Fowler in service pulling skips on the Nystrup Gravel layout. 'Finally' some would say!

In my main modelling scale 1/19 2025 became the year when my Fowler locomotive was finally finished with a new paint job, weathering, detailed cab as well as working lights. Seen in hindsight the loco came to play the role as the project that could always be set aside when something easier or more enjoyable came along. But now the long suffering loco is on track to be the main source of motive power on the line.

Rolling slowly toward the refueling site. The pump held only petrol and the diesel powered Fowler had to be fuelled from canisters.

Three more underground skips in 1/19 scale joined the finished rolling stock for Nystrup Gravel in 2025. Some among the readers may ask if I have finally covered Nystrup Gravel's need for skips. My answer must be a loud 'no'. On most Danish narrow gauge industrial railways skips were plentiful and the most normal piece of rolling stock. Thus skips should be the foundation of any model of a small Danish railway like Nystrup Gravel. Many (modellers and others) are drawn to subjects that are unique and colourful, but my model railway is supposed to look like the prototype did in the 1950's - dull, boring and normal. and with lots of skips! 

All 6 underground skips assembled in the Nystrup Gravel yard with loaded skips pulled by loco no. 3. The new ones (numbered 31, 34 and 36) are seen in the foreground.

With last year's addition of timber bogies I looked forward to the rhubarb season that usually includes running agricultural trains in the garden to bring in the first harvest of the year. I wasn't disappointed as with a set of timber bogies the traffic was definately easier to handle than ever before. Even if my tiny Lister R was only able to pull one set of loaded timber bogies it was great fun! Although I have no plans for a permanent model railway in the garden I'm always thrilled that my model trains are sturdy enough to run back and forth outside.

Usually not a big spender on modelling tools and fancy gadgets, 2025 saw me replace practically all my most expensive tools; mini drill, air brush and compressor. If there is one challenge 2026 is not going to present me it should be investments like that!

A recently received Soviet reefer wagon from Ukraine. 2025's last new model to be added to my H0e collection.

With plenty of 1/19 projects ready on my shelves I have been investing a little more in H0 scale narrow gauge. Not that it will ever be my main modelling theme, but the advantage of small, well detailed models of interesting prototypes is too much for me to resist. Consequently my H0e Soviet 750 mm gauge collection expanded during 20205. I have primarily picked up models from Ukrainian manufacturers and I enjoyed detailing and painting a tiny MD-54-2 loco as well as a small underground loading machine. In the other end of the scale spectrum I added a really large scale project to my modelling experience when I built two laser cut 1/10 scale kits from a Dutch manufacturer. They will never become part of a large collection, but they were wonderful models to assemble and paint, and they are great for display purposes.

Easily the largest models I have ever built: Two 1/10 scale laser cut standard skips. Here the finished versions photographed in the garden.

With my professional work increasingly involving projects in Norway, 2025 has been a year with a lot of travelling. Usually there is very little time to spare when working abroad, but I nevertheless managed a ride on the most northerly tram line on the planet in Trondheim. Fortunately I have also been able to visit full size narrow gauge railways in Germany and Hungary. The 33. Internationales Feldbahnertreffen was hosted by the Stumpfwaldbahn in Germany and provided opportunities for networking and trainspotting. As usual very usefull to learn from other enthusiasts' challenges and help them celebrate their succes. 

The year also saw me becoming part of a consortium owning and renovating a Swedish speeder. As a standard gauge speeder it has been regauged to 700 mm gauge, but with a technical setup giving the possibility of changing the gauge as needed. The speeder can thus accomodate gauges from 600 to 785 mm gauge. I already dream of a tour through Europe visiting narrow gauge friends and their railways!

As part of the Feldbahnertreffen I enjoyed climbing a disused standard gauge railway viaduct above the tree tops. Not for the faint hearted. Photo: Robert Sand.

In spring 2025 I visited Budapest again and had the pleasure of a full return ride on the 760 mm gauged childrens' railway. 

The Swedish speeder has arrived at the vintage narrow gauge railway in Denmark. Still in standard gauge condition. Currently the vehicle is under restoration.

2025 has seen the blog's page views rise considerably with an average of 11.000 views pr. month against the last few years' 3.500-4.500 views. I have no idea why and the statistics isn't giving a clear indication. Perhaps the developing multi-scale activity give H0 modellers more incentive visiting the blog? The rising number of visits is not caused by me being more productive as I have managed nothing but a quite moderate production of 41 posts. December (as usual) is the month with most posts - due to holidays, traditional modelling season and of course the 'extra' post of review of the year.

Let me say happy New Year with a short video of the Fowler returning from the lorry loading ramp - with working head lamp and all. Best of luck modelling to the best of your abilities in 2026!