Wolfgang Quadt, Chair of the Beuel-based Modell-Eisenbahn-Clubs Köln Spur 1 (Cologne gauge 1 model railway club), which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, examines the building: "As far as I know, Bonn Central Station was built by an Italian and marketed in the gauge 1 scene. There are supposed to be a few examples of it - one is here," he says. "Here" is a basement room in the old Beuel tapetenfabrik, where for 24 years members of the association have been building over a kilometre of track on an operating area of around 600 square metres. There are also over 50 model trains from the 1960s and 1970s and lovingly designed landscapes made of "wire mesh, wood, plaster, plaster-like modelling compounds, greenery and whatever decoration is possible today. Trees that look fascinatingly original, some even hung with individual apples", says Quadt.

In addition to the fruit trees, the trains also have plenty of details that make the miniature journey as realistic as possible. "We have up to 16 options in some cases": locomotive whistle, sound electronics and steam output are just a few of them, says Wolfgang Quadt. As if on cue, another train rattles past, including a well-lit dining car in which the guests from the past are dining.

The fact that they are celebrating their 25^th anniversary but have only been operating in Beuel for 24 years can be explained by their name. The club was originally founded in Cologne after "a railway enthusiast from Cologne-Kalk looked for like-minded people in the newspaper", recalls founding member Gerd Schneider. At the time there was nowhere for them to go in Cologne, and the members "only philosophised in a pub about how they could acquire premises."

"Then, in 1998/99, the opportunity arose to establish ourselves here," says Quadt. The club was registered in September 1998, then moved to Beuel a year later, before the first tracks could be laid in the summer of 1999 when the tables that had been ordered arrived, says Schneider. The "rolling stock" was always owned by individuals who made it available for the community to use on the days they took to the tracks. Construction usually took place in the evenings or occasionally on Fridays when the members were able to organise this.

There are now 22 members, from young to old, who share their fascination with the model railway and make their wonderland accessible to the general public at least once a year on open days. The next time the layout, which is unique in the region thanks to its 45-millimetre gauge track, will open its doors to the public on Sunday, 10 December.

22-year-old Paul Jakob Seidenstücker sits elevated at the control panel in front of dozens of lights and controls several trains at the same time. He has been a member for almost ten years now and had his earliest contact with the club at the age of seven - back then as a guest. Collisions are virtually unheard of when driving, he says, it is more likely "that the points are in the wrong position, you drive onto them and then cause a short circuit".

Driving the trains does not require a great deal of expertise. Technical knowledge is more relevant for the electronics and laying the tracks. During the construction process, the base plate and the tracks have to be in place first, "then you start shaping the rough landscape with polystyrene or wooden constructions. After that the filler is applied, then the greenery is planted and coloured," says Seidenstücker. This is an elaborate process with attention to detail. Quadt agrees, as he walks past a piece of landscaping and remarks that he spent "500 hours" modelling the corner alone.

A special event for Quadt is always the open driving days, where the association can present its work to a wider audience. Fritz Hanke, who has been a member for over six years, agrees. The highlight for children on open day during the Advent season is a special cargo on the tracks, because "the goods wagons are very popular for transporting small chocolate Santas or sweets," says Hanke. When the doors open, there is always shouts of joy.

Original text: Jan-Oliver Nickel; Translation: Jean Lennox