When I was a teenager in Stuttgart I enjoyed going to the Hauptbahnhof (main train station) and watching trains and people. Magazines from the news kiosks helped me learn German. Years later I saw a picture of the Stuttgart station modeled in N Scale (1/160) by Wolfgang Frey. I like passenger trains in N Scale, so this intrigued me.
A train station is a large building, so even at 160th actual size it requires a lot of space. I was surprised to read in the German model railroad press that this incredible model was “in a secret location” and not open for visitors. I’m not one to let “not open for visitors” get in my way, but I never found any way to contract Wolfgang Frey (If I were able to repeat those days I would have gone through the editor of the magazines).
Fast forward to today. Googling last summer while planning a trip to Germany I discovered, sadly, Wolfgang Frey had died, but his work was saved. I learned he not only modeled the train station, but about 500(!) surrounding buildings. No selective compression. Everything. I also learned the model had been relocated from its “secret location” (unused subway space) in Stuttgart to a public location in nearby Herrenberg, just a short walk from the train station. The exhibit is called “Stellwerk S” – control center S.
I was impressed. My usually-doesn’t-care-much-for-train-stuff wife was impressed. My German friend Jürgen was impressed.
I was impressed. My usually-doesn’t-care-much-for-train-stuff wife was impressed. My German friend Jürgen was impressed. The level of detail is incredible. The scale of the area covered is incredible. So many recognizable scenes. Imagining the amount of time put into the project is difficult – “about one building per week.”
The plastic lens mount on my 18-105mm Nikon lens broke. That was the only lens I took on the trip. So, the pictures are limited to iPhone shots. Still, they are worth a look.
If you have an interest in Stuttgart, passenger trains, N Scale models, or just operating dioramas, Stellwerk S is well, well worth the visit and the nominal cost of entry. Model railroad club members get a discount!
