Early Layout Accessories 1963/1964

     In the earliest days of the Arnold rapido model train product line, there were no other accessory items available in this new scale. Arnold needed to provide not only trains and track, but also other items which the model train enthusiast needed to produce a complete model railroad layout. These images are from the 1963/1964 catalog:

0620 Station in metal with plastic (note that the building sign is in English, while other signage is in German)

     The layout accessories in the 1963/1964 catalog included the 0620 station.  This station building harks back to the prewar glory days of Arnold since it used both injected plastic for the platform and roof, while the structure itself was made of stamped steel, a material that Arnold used to manufacture many of their earlier toys.  At this writing, it is not clear if Arnold actually manufactured this structure, or if it was made for them by Kibri, since the construction is similar to other Kibri structures of that era.  This building stayed in the product line for several years. It appeared in the 1966/1967 catalog, but was marked as “sold out”, making it one of the rarer Arnold items.

     The tunnels were vacuum formed plastic, and possibly made for them by another German manufacturer such as Noch.  The automobiles stayed in the product line in various forms for many years.

     The 0633B engine house also stayed in the product line for many years, later as the 6633. So, too the water crane and rural sheds. The foam plastic road bed may have been made for Arnold by Mossmer, another German model railroad products manufacturer of that era.

     The rustic sheds could be used to create Schrebergartens. These gardens show up in odd little spots along the German railway lines.  The original idea came from a German named Schreber, who felt that it was important for the Germanic people to enjoy the healthful benefits of being outdoors and of raising home grown vegetables.  Ever practical, the Germans allocated otherwise unusable areas on their  railroad rights of way for these gardens. People took to the idea quickly, planting gardens and raising informal structures for shelter and the occasional drink of beer. These gardens are still present today in Germany, looking like hobo jungles at first glance from passing trains.

Schrebergarten

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