Author: traiNmaster

After spending 35 years in Malaysia, I have decided to spend the other 35 years outside Malaysia. First stop, Germany!
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FREMO N-RE Regional Meet 2025 in Hanau-Großauheim

traiNmaster

In my April post, I shared my first-hand experience with FREMO as a guest of one of its members. During this year’s extended Ascension Day weekend, nearly 40 participants gathered for the 21st FREMO N-RE Regional Meet in Hanau-Großauheim. (N stands for N-scale; RE for Regelspur Europa — Standard Gauge Europe.) This time, I joined not as a guest, but as a FREMO member. In meinem April-Beitrag habe ich über meine ersten Erfahrungen mit FREMO als Gast eines Mitglieds berichtet. Während des verlängerten Christi-Himmelfahrts-Wochenendes in diesem Jahr trafen sich fast 40 Teilnehmer zum 21. FREMO N-RE Regionaltreffen in Hanau-Großauheim. (N … Continue reading FREMO N-RE Regional Meet 2025 in Hanau-Großauheim

Arduino2 Comments

Controlling Single Turnout and Single Crossover Turnout with Servos and Arduino

traiNmaster

Note: Reposted from my entry in germaN87AC blog. The title and terms have been corrected. Paired turnout is correctly called single crossover turnout in this context. I wanted to use servos to control the turnouts on my planned RailAdventure H0-scale module (total 19 turnouts) and N-scale Timesaver (total 4 turnouts). Each turnout will have 2 LED indicators to indicate the straight and divergent route. These turnouts and LED will be mounted on a separate control panel for the respective module. It was always been my wish to learn how to create a control panel for such purposes. Finally, after watching … Continue reading Controlling Single Turnout and Single Crossover Turnout with Servos and Arduino

DCC and Electrical System, DCC-EX, Product ReviewLeave a comment

Review: World’s Smallest but Most Powerful All-in-One DCC/DC CommandStation

traiNmaster

Note: Reposted from my entry in germaN87AC blog The Hardware I think it is NOT preposterous to make the claim that the DCC-EX CommandStation/Booster 1 Express (EX-CSB1) is world’s smallest and most powerful all-in-one DCC/DC CommandStation/Booster. Its dimensions with the optional display case are L 73.6mm x W 70.7mm x H 19.5mm and weighs only 33 grams. After reading DCC-EX documentation, I was immediately convinced to get hold an EX-CSB1 to try out on my test track, module and eventually in-planning home layout. I owned Roco/Fleichmann z21 white CommandStation (it has since .been sold), a Märklin Central Station CS2 and … Continue reading Review: World’s Smallest but Most Powerful All-in-One DCC/DC CommandStation

FREMO1 Comment

FREMO N-RE Meet 2025 in Nidderau-Heldenbergen: Bitten by FREMO-Bug

traiNmaster

A few weeks ago, I was invited by a friend to his N-scale FREMO meet-up near Frankfurt. I had seen and heard about Free-Mo/FREMO in videos on YouTube and other social media platforms, but this was my first hands-on experience seeing a FREMO operating session in action. Vor ein paar Wochen wurde ich von einem Freund zu seinem FREMO-Treffen in Spur N in der Nähe von Frankfurt eingeladen. Ich hatte schon Videos über Free-Mo/FREMO auf YouTube und in den sozialen Medien gesehen und gehört – aber dies war meine erste praktische Erfahrung, eine FREMO-Betriebssession live in Aktion zu erleben. It … Continue reading FREMO N-RE Meet 2025 in Nidderau-Heldenbergen: Bitten by FREMO-Bug

Layout Planning2 Comments

Layout Planning Simplified with AI ChatGPT

traiNmaster

14 years ago, when I started blogging my first post on model railroading and journaling my research on equipment, layout and materials for my now-defunct “Somewhere in Germany 1:160” segment layout, there was no ChatGPT or the likes. There were artificial intelligence (AI) though but not for commercial applications that we know of today. So this time, I wanted to test out the capability of ChatGPT in conceptualising and optimising my new layout “Rheinstreck Rüdesheim”. We had productive “conversations” over 3 days during my commuting to and from work, and in the evening before bedtime. Conversations with ChatGPT Here are … Continue reading Layout Planning Simplified with AI ChatGPT

Greetings2 Comments

germaN160 is Back!

traiNmaster

Yes, I decided that along with my Märklin 3-rail module (germaN87AC.com), to restart my germaN160 website (new URL germaN160.blog) and rejuvenate my modelrailroading hobby. I am currently planning an N-scale layout “Rheinstrecke Rüdesheim” ca. 1.8m x 0.6m, consisting 2/3rd visible area and 1/3rd staging area. Here is an initial sketch of the control centre that I that I want to build and operate. The layout will be a DC (analog layout). Stay tune for more! Continue reading germaN160 is Back!

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HAPPY 186TH BIRTHDAY, GERMAN RAILWAYS! 🥂💐

traiNmaster

7th December 1835 marked the historical start of railway travel in Germany. The first 6.04km between Nuremberg and Fürth shortened the travel time between the two trade cities by 10 minutes. Almost 3.5 years later on 7th April 1839, the first long-distance passenger rail travel between Leipzig and Dresden was completely, the 88km stretch that was built in stages over 2 years. 8th December 2017 marked another landmark achievement in the German railway history. The completion of VDE 8 shortened the travel time between Berlin, the capital of Federal Republic of Germany, and Munich to under 4 hours. 186 years … Continue reading HAPPY 186TH BIRTHDAY, GERMAN RAILWAYS! 🥂💐

Introduction2 Comments

Internationaler Tag der Modelleisenbahn 2. Dezember | 2nd December International Model Railway Day

traiNmaster

It is great to be part of the world’s greatest hobby, as our fellow model railroad friends from the other side of the Atlantic call it. Here in Europe and especially in Germany, we celebrate 2nd December as the International Model Railway Day (dt. der internationale Tag der Modelleisenbahn). It was an initiative of the well-known SWR Eisenbahn-Romantik series host Hagen von Ortloff, whom I had a chance to meet at the International Modellbahn Ausstellung 2021 (en. international model rail exhibition) in Cologne. As part of this multi-facet and exciting hobby, I would like to share and spread the interest … Continue reading Internationaler Tag der Modelleisenbahn 2. Dezember | 2nd December International Model Railway Day

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germaN:160 has Sister Site germaN:87AC

traiNmaster

I have considered for sometime which German steam locomotive I want to acquire and finally, I bought my first Märklin H0 AC and first German steam locomotive – Baureihe 53 0002 DRG. As I delve deeper into the Märklin H0 AC system, I started my third blog called germaN:87AC “Steam Experience across Germany” in Märklin H0 AC. For my loyal fans and followers in N-scale, I will still maintain this germaN:160 blog and continue to plan for a restart on my “Somewhere in Germany” N-scale layout when I have the space (and time). I still wish to run long trains … Continue reading germaN:160 has Sister Site germaN:87AC