For my first attempt at building a model railroad I decided to go with a Christmas theme. My thinking was that I could practice on a small layout and build skills for my future modeling efforts while capturing some of that classic seasonal magic for years to come.
I found a little German village and N-scale Christmas tree with tiny lights to use as the core of my layout. Keeping the European vibes, all the major scenery components - structures, trees, and figures - were sourced from German model railroad companies like Vollmer, Noch, and Faller.
The loop of N-scale track was designed to accommodate a little Kato 0-4-0 tank steamer and short passenger train based on an Austrian prototype. Part of Kato’s “pocket line,” the train has no problems with 6-inch-radius curves and is powered by a small motor in one of the passenger cars. Track and lights are both managed with a Rohukan RC-02 DC controller, which runs off either a 12V outlet or eight AAA batteries.
I learned a lot building this small (15”x20”) layout. Sometimes in my haste it felt like I took one step forward and two steps back. Prepping the structures for lighting was one of the biggest challenges; I was constantly battling glowing walls and light leaks on all the joints of my buildings. Most of my other mistakes were easily hidden with a thick coat of snow, and a sheet of cardboard on the bottom hides my atrocious wiring job. However, I’m particularly pleased with some of the small scenes I was able to create, including a narrow snowy canyon and peak at the train station through the trees.
Thank you for letting me share it with you. I hope everyone enjoys the magic of trains this holiday season and from my layout to yours, here’s wishing you a “Frohe Weihnachten!”
