Sometimes it is a bit crazy in model railroading: Pilentum, known to many as a German, is looking for the most beautiful model train layouts to document with his video camera and then Pilentum has to realise that these model railway layouts or model railroad layouts are not constructed in Germany but are being built 12,000 kilometers away in South America in Chile. But that is what makes Pilentum Television so appealing: Always special model railroads, unique model railways and amazing background stories.
Where can you find a German model railway layout with prototypical trains, working catenary and correct railway signals and signs? You will find that on Cristóbal Miranda’s superb HO scale layout in Santiago de Chile. Cristóbal and his friends from Germany have constructed the “Neupreussen Model Train Layout”. It is a small HO scale layout with dimensions of 2.60 x 1.95 meters on two levels that represents a German landscape near the border of Austria and the Czech Republic. The name “Neupreussen” is derived from the main station building, which was built in the Prussian style.
The “Neupreussen Model Train Layout” was built by Olaf Hartmann and Cristóbal Miranda. They are friends, one living in Stuttgart, Germany, and the other in Santiago, Chile. The design of tracks, trains, timetables, control systems and signals has been carried out together despite the fact that Olaf and Cristóbal are 12,000 kilometers apart. They made several trips between the two countries to look for new scale models and accessories for their model railway layout. They also travelled through Austria and the Czech Republic to learn about the railway systems of each country.
The track used on the layout is made by Roco, Peco, Atlas and Piko (Code 100). The model trains are controlled by the “Roco Z 21” digital system, using decoders made by Zimo, ESU, Uhlenbrock and Kuehn. The whole model railroad control works via Arduino Micro Computers. These single-board computers take care of the whole traffic control. Furthermore, they are in use as signal box, switch controller and track detectors or occupancy detectors. But Pilentum Television did not film the control technology behind the scenes, instead he concentrated on the many model trains running on the beautiful layout.
The “Neupreussen Model Train Layout” has one large main station with five tracks for passenger trains and three tracks for freight trains. There is also a small marshalling yard and a locomotive shed - but both are currently under construction. As you can see in the video, the entire layout is electrified with an original, German catenary and electric locomotives can run with their pantographs raised. The poles of the catenary are made by Viessmann and the catenary cable is handmade. The buildings are bought from Auhagen, Kibri and Vollmer and Faller. There are two more railway stations on the layout: Blumenfeld and Flughafen (Airport) where regional, local and commuter trains stop. The airport station is constructed underground. In addition, a small staging yard exists below the layout where four model trains with eight coaches can be parked.
Inside the “Neupreussen Miniature World”, there are all popular German express trains, usually called Eurocity, Intercity or ICE. Due to the fictive proximity to the Czech and Austrian border, we also see the famous trains of the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) and of the Czech Railways (České Dráhy). For this reason, we see a mixture of German regional trains, Austrian cargo trains and Czech express trains.
Finally, the “Neupreussen Model Train Layout” is not yet completed, of course. New details are being added all the time. In addition, the model railway control system based on Arduino single-board computers is currently being optimised to monitor more signals and to enlarge the layout. The construction progress is regularly published on Cristóbal Miranda Instagram. However, just enjoy the selection of many beautiful model trains.
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You have spent many years building a model train layout? Wouldn't it be nice if you could present your model rail layout to the world? Pilentum Television offers you this unique opportunity: You can reach an audience of millions and present your layout on Pilentum’s video channel.