It is important for me, to do Model-Railroading as prototypic as possible, concerning not only the rolling stock, but also the operation. Therefore the route corresponds to `Real Point to Point’ manner, as you can see on the sketch.

The line leads from Waldau to Holzheim, passing Steindorf. But Waldau is not the beginning of the line, it only comes out of a tunnel there.

My prototype does not, but could exist in reality. Therefore, it cannot be bound at Waldau-tunnel. I developed the prototype environment of the layout. You can see this on the route plan.

The route of the Holzheim-Railroad begins at the station Pappstadt-Holz. It leads, passing Pappstadt-Süd, Blechhausen, Waldau and Steindorf, to Holzheim. A short line connects Pappstadt-Süd to the freight station and the rest of the world. At Blechhausen the Seedorf-Railroad branches and serves the little lake-harbour there.

This arrangement needs a historical background: At the time of great railroad building in Switzerland, traversing the Alps-barrier was part of hot discussion during many decades. Weary of chattering, some hasty financiers co-operated. They intended to start quickly building a part of a line, because they expected a good chance to get commercial money later.

They planned and built the line to Holzheim. When the work was nearly finished they ran out of money, so they were forced to use bigger grades and sharper curves.

Not much later it was heard that, with foreign financial help, the traversing would be realised over the Gotthard and not over Holzheim. Less high summit, minor grades and wider curvatures were the reasons. Since then the Holzheim-railroad has been on the breadline.

Around the turn of the century the Holzheim-railroad was taken over by the SBB (Swiss Federal Railways). It was electrified in the thirties, because the steep and long Waldau-tunnel was too dangerous for steamers.

Since then many towns and industries have grown. Now, in the middle of the twentieth century, people make the following demands on the railroad:

Pappstadt:
Centre, where many workers come to work by train. Some industries as a centredairy need a track connection.

Blechhausen:
Suburb, with metal industries

Seedorf:
Little harbour, connecting river-navigation

Waldau:
Lonely station, less traffic, only wood and cattle

Steindorf:
District centre, with Steindorf-Werke, a big chemical plant and a few little industries. Steindorf-Werke produce antiknock-fuel from waste wood. They are the principal customer of the railroad.

Holzheim:
The railroad still owns the monopoly of traffic. The street from Holzheimersee to Holzheim is to small for cars. Holzheim and its surroundings have grown to a popular holiday resort. Dairy, wood and cattle feed the freights. Against street-building, the railroad serve with new coaches. During the main season, a coach run connects Holzheim to cities abroad.

The switching for Steidorf-Werk is done by a very little steam loco. During rush days, for example when the cattlemarket takes place at Steindorf, a little six-wheeler is provided. Normally, it is sided in the Steindorf enginehouse. A team arrives from Pappstadt evening before to do the early heating.

The timetable includes 6 to 8 pairs of passenger trains to Holzheim and 4 only as far as Steindorf, including 1 mixed to Holzheim an 2 to Steindorf.

The freights are not formed at pleasure or mood. Selections by chance from about 260 possibilities determine the daily work. For realistic look, changeable dummies for loadings are used.

Finally, some remark to track plan. First, you might feel that there is a strong spaghetti-look. You think the layout along the walls would look better than the island form. I spent many hours to provide removals so that my layout wouldn’t be destroyed. I worked hard to camouflage incorrect and critical parts by landscaping. You may see this on the pictures.