My diorama layout.
On the lower level of my model train layout is my diorama with a depth of about 15 inch (38 centimeter), and with a length of 12.5 feet (3,8 meter). The track layout is of a single main line track with a two track small passenger station, where inbound trains will wait on each other before departing. The idea to create this “romantic” line is based on the railway station in the town of Lunteren in the Netherlands. When we have our family vacation in the Netherlands, we stay in a nearby bungalow park. It is a small station, actually today the train station itself is an office building and no longer in use by the railroad. It is situated between the cities Ede and Barneveld, towards Amersfoort, and the single line track is known by its nickname “de kippenlijn”, the chickenline in English. This railroad line is called after chickens because this area of the Netherlands has the most chicken farms, and is known worldwide for its poultry. Especially in the city of Barneveld, just a short train ride from Lunteren.
In general only short two car electric trains run on these tracks, although it is possible to see longer (and even international) trains when they are rerouted from their original route. To the best of my knowledge freight trains are not running past Barneveld, so on my diorama I run a variety of two car electric trains: NS Mat’64 plan V, NS SGM sprinter (not sure if it was ever in scheduled service on this route) and the Stadler GTW from Connexion, the current transit provider. (I acquired this model during my January 2025 vacation in the Netherlands)
Below is a rough draft of the layout. Only the tracks below the dark line are visible. The tracks above are a staging yard for at least 4 trains.
The staging yard is going to be like “plan 7”, it requires less space under the table and has longer tracks, allowing for 9 trains to be parked or 6 parked trains and one free track to run a single train constantly.
