Home after our post Treff wanderings. Having given my impressions of each Treff since my first in 2013, I thought I should add my 2023 impressions.

I think everyone was delighted to finally see the event come back to life. We delighted in renewing old contacts and meeting new Marklin fans. (Hello Darnell)

I was told that there was great uncertainty about whether to hold the event, and as a result it was later than usual before invitations to exhibitors and participants went out. As there were fewer exhibitors at Stauffer Park, and fewer locomotives at the station this may well be true.. The crowds were lighter notably on the Sunday at Stauffer Park. The heat may have been a factor. Apparently there was also a "steam event" in Ulm. This might explain why there were no 44 class locomotives, and only one 01 class this year. Overall it was a smaller show than previous years.

I was delighted to finally see a 38 class in the flesh. While I have the model, and have long thought it beautiful, to see the real thing was a delight. It embodies the concept of the compact, reliable, utility locomotive. The Bavarian S 3/6 was present, as it always has been. To me it is the most beautiful of the locomotives. It embodies sped and grace just sitting at the platform. It is industrial art in its highest form.

Herself and I took the 75 class ride with the Thunder Box cars. It was fun. It was also a reminder of the inconveniences of seam power. Both of us had cinders in our hair. I got a souvenir one in my eye. A beer was the cure, followed by a shower back at the hotel. We also did the Railbus to Leonard Weiss.

Stauffer park had fewer exhibitors. I did not see the technical school with its layout that is used for computer control classes which is usually there. There were fewer stalls, and as a result we spent less than in prior years.The private vendors of loads for freight cars were absent, and many other similar private vendors. I was interested in a system that would let you use cloud based computer systems to control trains. I gather it does not need any controller. Time and language kept me from really understanding it. Perhaps others can add information. It seemed an interesting concept.

Having seen Munich station on our way to Goppingen, Herself wanted pigeons for the layout. We did find some, but the whole flock could hide under a fingernail . They will look as if I had not dusted the layout for a year. The Marklin stand had a place to build a locomotive. That is always fun, but I was not tempted by any of the offerings. We did buy all the souvenir and collector cars in both Z and HO. We had no trouble finding them.

Highlights: Finally getting to share the Treff with Herself. She has seen my models for years, but never the real thing. on seeing the 38 class as we came into the station she exclaimed, "My God, they are real". The second, hearing the 75 class pull out of the station, she exclaimed :" My God. They do go 'Choo Choo Choo'. It was wonderful to meet Stacey Cousins from Marklin U.S.A. She is long familiar from e mails, but never met in person before.

Above all it was a pleasure to see so many old friends, and to make new ones.

Many thanks for the photos, brings back memories from 2019 - good to see the BR50 in Marklin Metal is still there!

Is it OK if I reproduce some of your photos in our Club magazine, 'The 3rd Railer'?

Here's more pics mainly of the 1:1 real things at Göppingen station and a few other bits and bobs in other places:

I have many fond memories of my visit to the 2017 Marklin weekend it is a shame that 2021 was cancelled i nearly ahd enough saved up for an other visit to Europe which would have coincided with the Marklin weekend, Perhaps i will make it for the 2025 event.

Hi fellow travellers from the last IMA, especially those that I travelled with up the Geislinger Steige on the Sunday, behind the BR01 066
Here is a Youtube clip of that trip (filmed a few years earlier) but showing what it's like to be in the cab of BR01 202( yes a different BR01 to the one we had on the day).
It's certainly a different experience from the one we had from sitting in our compartment admiring the view - and the sound!
Geisling Steige 2016 in the cab of BR01 202

Yes Kimball, hats off to those in the cab making it all happen. I imagine one shift in there would do me for life - let alone making a living from it in all kinds of weathers.