Harz HSB in Berkshire

[jayiscupid]

In May 2024, I finally broke ground on an LGB garden layout inspired by Germany’s Harzer Schmalspur Bahnen (HSB). The fascination began at fourteen, when I rode to the summit of the Brocken with my father; that memory stuck with me, even if the space to build it didn't. For years, my time and budget were dedicated to the HO layout in my attic.

After a decade living in Asia, I returned to the UK in 2022 and settled into a home in Berkshire with a garden perfectly suited for a railway. The final spark came from a good friend who gifted me a generous amount of LGB track—a thank-you for my help on his own HO layout.

With the space, the track, and a lifelong dream, the HSB Gartenbahn was officially born.

 

[jayiscupid]

 

[jayiscupid]

 

[jayiscupid]

Berkshire HSB

This is very much a work-in-progress. I was gifted most of the track by a good friend who had moved house and had no use for it. The layout is a simple oval with two passing loops with LGB , Piko and Trainline45 HSB stock. Future plans include repairing the damaged station building, building...

www.youtube.com

 

[JimmyB]

Have you put a weed suppressant membrane between the ballast and the soil. Two benefits obviously to keep weeds down, but it also stop the ballast disappearing in to the soil.

 

[jayiscupid]

Have you put a weed suppressant membrane between the ballast and the soil. Two benefits obviously to keep weeds down, but it also stop the ballast disappearing in to the soil.

Hi JimmyB! Yes, there’s a double layer the whole way round.

 

[dunnyrail]

You have made a good start, one of the things you will find over time is the pain in bringing stock out to the garden so may I suggest you think about a line into a Shed or garage as a storage location for your stock, Locomotives indoors. Then an operating session can start once you have moved the locs out. Have a look at my build below, I have done the Selktalbahn in my Garden. Have regular operating sessions all based on the Selkt Timetable of 1981.

 

[Paul M]

Looks great, and room for expansion too!

 

[jayiscupid]

You have made a good start, one of the things you will find over time is the pain in bringing stock out to the garden so may I suggest you think about a line into a Shed or garage as a storage location for your stock, Locomotives indoors. Then an operating session can start once you have moved the locs out. Have a look at my build below, I have done the Selktalbahn in my Garden. Have regular operating sessions all based on the Selkt Timetable of 1981.

It's something I have considered. The garage is at the front of the house but it would be possible to run a single track down the fence at a later date to two sidings inside the garage.
Currently, there are only two rakes of 6 coaches, two locos, and a railcar so it's not too bad carrying things out to set up.

 

[dunnyrail]

It's something I have considered. The garage is at the front of the house but it would be possible to run a single track down the fence at a later date to two sidings inside the garage.
Currently, there are only two rakes of 6 coaches, two locos, and a railcar so it's not too bad carrying things out to set up.

That will grow!

 

[jayiscupid]

That will grow!

Very likely but I am trying to stick to HSB only.

 

[PhilP]

Very likely but I am trying to stick to HSB only.

Even with LGB only, you have options!


PhilP

 

[dunnyrail]

Even with LGB only, you have options!


PhilP

Yes plenty, I get aggrieved with new releases showing HSB when all I want us DR.

 

[Paul M]

That will grow!

And you won't even need to water them like plants, or feed them like kids!

 

[jayiscupid]

Yes plenty, I get aggrieved with new releases showing HSB when all I want us DR.

The irony is I'm planning to renumber my DR Br99 to HSB!

 

[Canyon City]

Hi James, what you've built is amazing, exactly what I'm looking for. I'm in the Harz/Wernigerode once a year.

Regards, Helmut

 

[dunnyrail]

The irony is I'm planning to renumber my DR Br99 to HSB!

All my stock locs, wagon and coaches have been bought DR, I deliberately do not buy HSB as the other detail is different to my epoch. But each to his own and there are some heritage vehicles that are painted DR, seen in 2011 on the heritage freight train set. So when you get ‘stocked out’ on HSB items a few odd DR would be in order.

 

[Canyon City]

Hi James, here are some more pictures from April 30, 2024
There was still snow on the Brocken, the new depot is also finished. Now the HSB can repair everything on the locomotives themselves, the old depot can still be seen in the pictures from the last post.

Greetings Helmut

 

[jayiscupid]

Hi James, what you've built is amazing, exactly what I'm looking for. I'm in the Harz/Wernigerode once a year.

Regards, Helmut

Thanks, Helmut, it's a work in progress as I only broke ground in May this year but I'm having fun (despite the awful "summer" we have had in England this year). My father took me to the top of the Brocken when I was 15 and I've been interested in the HSB ever since.

 

[jayiscupid]

All my stock locs, wagon and coaches have been bought DR, I deliberately do not buy HSB as the other detail is different to my epoch. But each to his own and there are some heritage vehicles that are painted DR, seen in 2011 on the heritage freight train set. So when you get ‘stocked out’ on HSB items a few odd DR would be in order.

Thanks JonD. I can see this is going to be an expensive extension to the hobby!