Rubin Mill – A FiNescale Shunting Game with FREMO Module Adapter

The Idea

Inspired by John Whitby Allen’s Timesaver shunting puzzle, I developed a concept for a relatively small shunting game suitable for my living room. I have an ideal, compact space on the wall for two segment boxes, each measuring approximately 120 cm by 32 cm, which can be stored vertically one above the other. For operation, one box will be taken down and connected to the other to create the layout (see below).

As a member of FREMO, I would like to use this model as a module at FREMO event as well. To that end, I have designed an FREMO module adapter (see below). For this reason, the model also features a through track to which it is connected.

The model recreates an industrial trapped siding – German »Ausweichanschlußstelle (Awanst)« – within the Hamburger Hafenbahn network. But see for yourself…

The Subject

My shunting game, which I will call »Rubin Mill«, is inspired by the Aurora Mill (formerly Diamantmehl Mill). This mill is located on the Rethe, a connecting waterway in the Port of Hamburg, in Hamburg-Wilhelmsburg, and features quay facilities.

Several parts of the complex are listed buildings (historically preserved), which makes them attractive to replicate, including the main building (1953/1954), the boiler house (1896/1922), a residential building (1904), and two of five silos (silo II and silo III, 1934). See my photos below.

The mill has a well-developed quay facility, via which it is supplied with grain by inland waterway vessels. However, the mill also receives grain by lorry. A 2-metre-high concrete wall above the sheet piling protects the mill from flooding.

However, there is no longer a railway connection, and only minimal traces of it remain – approximately 20 metres of old grooved track in the yard entrance. The railway siding was never very extensive. In a track plan for the Wilhelmsburg Industrie Bahn dating from 1929, I can see a small track layout with three tracks. The model is therefore, just like its name, purely imaginary.

Fantasy logo created by Gemini AI (Nano Banana 2)

My design

The design calls for two trapezoidal segments, with the front side concave (in Hamburg Low German so called the »Waterkant«) and the back side convex for aesthetic reasons. The tallest structure will be the chimney at 40 cm, followed by the mill tower at 34 cm, the silos at 30 cm and the main building at 19 cm.

Track 1b has a special feature: it runs beneath the main building, which is therefore mounted on stilts at the rear (brilliant idea by Jens).

Click to zoom or download as PDF.

Design — At the top: the main line of the Hamburg Port Railway running through; below that (in red), the boundary of the factory site; at the very bottom, the quay and (in blue) the water (Elbe/Rethe).
From left to right: Flour silo (Mehlsilo), Loading ramp (Laderampe), Main building (Haupthaus), Pneumatic loading system (Druck-Verladeanlage), Mill tower (Mühlenturm), Bulk loading system (Schüttgut-Verladeanlage), Engine shed (Lokschuppen), Grain elevator (Elevator), Grain silo (Getreidespeicher), Grain bunker (Getreidebunker), Crane (Kran), Boiler house (Kesselhaus), Heavy fuel oil tanks (Schweröl-Tanks).

Period

I am planning to build the module in a way that allows it to be used with a variety of rolling stock from Period III to VI. Today, the grain silos in the Port of Hamburg are served by rail using containers (potentially special bulk containers) on flat wagons. With this design, we can recreate that type of operation as well.

The Track Layout

The track plan is my own free interpretation, inspired by the Timesaver. Construction features a minimum prototypical radius of 190 m (≙ ~119 cm) with Code 40 N scale track (FS160) and the points replicate the prototype turnout geometry. The industrial site is connected to an imaginary through-line of the Hamburger Hafenbahn.

Click to zoom or download as PDF.

Layout — More focus on the track layout.

Operations

Keep in mind, the model is not optimized for operational throughput, as it is intended to be a shunting puzzle. However, unlike the original Timesaver, the track lengths are dimensioned in such a way that I believe meaningful operation is possible even at a FREMO meeting. To increase the difficulty level during shunting puzzles, the longer tracks can simply be occupied with wagons so that the available space becomes tight – exactly as the original Timesaver intends.

The track schema

Tracks, purposes and lenths

Track	Purpose	Length	Loading Point	Note
1	Entrance			Freight traffic only
1a	Pressure Loading Facility	930 mm	92 mm	Flour loading, one wagon after another and as temporary siding for arriving and departing trains
2a	Loading Ramp	327 mm	218 mm
2b	Siding	678 mm		For arriving and departing trains
3a	Siding	407 mm
3b	Grain Bunker		95 mm	Grain unloading, one wagon after another
3c	Loading Crane		100 mm
3d	Tank Farm	530 mm (3b - 3d)	135 mm
4	Bulk Loading Facility	480 mm	100 mm	Grain loading, one wagon after another
5	Engine Shed

The following operating procedures are planned:

Incoming train arrives from west

passing turnout 1, 10 and 2 on track 2b
• push back to track 1a (temporary only) or
• push back to track 3a (limited length) or
• push back to track 2a (limited length)
loco is leaving via turnout 10 and 1

Incoming train arrives from east

pushing back via turnout 1, 10 and 2
• leave dropped cars on 2b or
• forward via turnout 2 and 3 leaving dropped cars in front of turnout 8, running around via 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2 or
• forward via on Track 3a (clear of turnout 7), pushing back dropping cars on track 3b/c/d
loco is leaving via turnout 10 and 1

Outgoing train to leaves eastwards

• pick up outbound cars on track 1a, forward on track 2b or
• pick up outbound cars on track 2a, forward on track 2b or
• pick up outbound cars on track 3a, forward on track 2b
train is backwards leaving via turnout 10 and 1

Outgoing train to leaves westwards,

• pick up outbound cars on track 2b or
• forward via turnout 2, 3 and 4 to pick up outbound cars on track 3d or
• forward via turnout 2, 3 and 4 to pick up outbound cars on track 3b/c/d 2 train is leaving via turnout 10 and 1

Goods dispatch

Flour in bulk (for large bakeries), Ucs dust container wagon pneumatic loading
Flour and bran in sacks, covered goods wagons (Gs)
Mill products for export (via quay) on pallets: sliding wall wagons (Hs)
Direct transfer: If the mill’s silos are full or the grain is not to be processed in this mill but sent on to another facility (e.g. inland), it is loaded directly from the crane into the waiting hopper wagons (Tdgs) at the quay

Goods receipt

Grain (wheat, rye, maize) mainly by coastal motor vessel and barges at the quay (elevator)
Additives (baking agents, vitamins), pallets and sacks: covered goods wagons (Gs)
Grain (wheat, rye, corn) by self-unloading wagons with swivel roofs (Ktmm, Tdgs)

Operating resources

Packaging material: sacks, pallets, cardboard boxes, covered goods wagons (Gs)
Machine parts / maintenance: Flat wagons with stakes (Ks) for larger plant components or crates
Heavy fuel oil (for own power station system): Tank wagon (Z)

Grain and flour could also be handled in bulk containers on container wagons and bogie flat wagons (Lgs and Sgs).

Freight Transport in Table Form

Track	Dispatch	Receipt	Wagon type
1a	Flour in bulk		Ucs, Uacs / Lgs, Sgs
2a	Flour and bran (pallets and sacks)		Gs
2a	Grain (pallets and sacks)		Gs, Hs
2a	Mill products for export (pallets and sacks, via quay)		Hs
4	Grain (direct transfer)		Tdgs, Uagpps, Tals, Tms, Klmmvs / Lgs, Sgs
2a		Packaging material (pallets and sacks)	Gs
2a		Additives (pallets and sacks)	Gs
3b		Grain	Tdgs, Uagpps, Tals, Tms, Klmmvs, Tanoos, Fcs / Lgs, Sgs
3c		Machine parts	Ks
3d		Heavy Fuel Oil	Z

FREMO Module Adapter

An important part of the concept is creating an adapter to expand the shunting game into a single-track FREMO module. This depicts an industrial spur off a through line, spanning a total length of roughly 2.4 m at a 22.5° angle.

I am a bit concerned about achieving the necessary precision for the horizontal curved vertical contact surface, as depicted in the drawing. Nevertheless, I find the concept of the curved track’s edge aligning with the segments appealing (referencing the Jigsaw approach, Iain Rice, Layout Design, 2010, page 50).

Fremo adapter — At the top: FREMO module adapter, pure landscape (green); below the two segment boxes (brown) with tracks (black)

The two segments already include the continuous track. The FREMO module adapter is therefore purely a scenery module.

Essentially, the adapter is only used to create the FREMO module head geometry of 400 mm x 100 mm. The FREMO module adapter will be 100 mm high, and the segment boxes will be about 70 mm or so high, so that they can rest on the adapter in a corresponding recess (and, of course, be secured there).

In reality, the prototype mill site borders directly on residential buildings. These can create a lovely scene on the adapter. Having a look onto the full designed FREMO module:

Click to zoom or download as PDF.

Full FREMO module — Full view on the FREMO Module

Pictures of the Prototype

Aurora mill main building — View from the east: the quay and the main building (foreground, centre), Mill tower with the *Aurora* logo (centre, background), Silo I (half-right behind the main building), Silo II (behind Silo I), elevator crane (yellow, right)
In the original, the main building is about 85 metres long, 20 m deep and 25 m high. In the model, I would probably shorten it in length while taking proportions into account.

Aurora mill Plange's villa, Silos — View from the south: [Residential building, harbour crane (left, background)], Plange’s villa (centre left), one of the newer Silos (centre), Silo II (right)

The elevator (grain suction device for unloading ships)

Faded traces — Forground: The faded traces of the former railway siding. Background (left to right): Administration building, Mill tower, the main building (behind), Boiler house (1896/1922), more new silos

Google maps view — The location in Google Maps

Current state

Open Topics / Questions about my design

What is the absolute minimum distance I must keep between buildings and the track in my design – particularly on the inside of the 190m curves? The longest wagons I plan to run are container flat wagons.
What are the practical dimensions and design for the main building’s loading dock (s. »Laderampe« in my design) At the moment, it’s just drawn out of the blue.
Is there an even better location for the locomotive shed?

Module / Segment Construction

My plan is to build the module sections using a frame construction method. I have an early version of a plan and will share details soon.
How do I transfer the track layout plan onto the track board? Printing it out on paper and sticking it on causes the paper to expand due to moisture, meaning the dimensions no longer match up. Don’t know if this will be a Problem.
How will I control and operate the turnouts? Do I need to make provision for this now, whilst the module is being built?

Questions for later

At least the tracks in the yard run on concrete (slabs). How do I build that best?
What are some good Ucs wagon models for flour? These ones?
What are good Gs/Hs wagon models for pallets?
Waht are goot T wagons models for heavy duty oil?
What are good flat wagons models for containers?
How can I describe the layout, the timetable, the track lengths and the turnout schema (here) in a way that fellow players at FREMO meetings can easily understand?
Are the wagon types listed here correct and complete?

Latest changes

Track layout:

Track switch 7/8 in the curve to the right of the loading ramp (more space at the ramp)

Design:

Main building longer and loading ramp further to the left
Compressed air loading at the mill tower (more space in the yard, so that lorry traffic is also plausibly possible)
Mill silo a bit smaller and positioned furthest to the left (even more space in the yard)
Detailed landscaping on the FREMO adapter

Version history

Date	Description
2026-07-27:	This is the latest iteration #21
2026-06-15:	Here is the previous iteration (#18)