Tinplate Art: I learned German while stationed here with the USATC. I was assigned to the German Army Transport Office Ansbach (Verkehrskommandantuer Ansbach) in Bavaria, Middle Franconia, 44 km from Nuremberg. I arrived here in January 1965, an 18 year old GI! It was still a steam locomotive mecca, though I also enjoyed watching the Diesel and electric power as well. By the time I returned in December 76, steam had been withdrawn from Bavaria other than steam specials of course. Two major trunk lines crossed here in Ansbach. Lots and lots of trains ran 24/7 in those days.
I did visit the LGB factory. I was invited to attend an open house by Rainer Knoch, good friend and owner of Modellbahn Ritzer. (Note the two l's in modell!) His shop is in Nuremberg and he offers new, used, vintage, collectable, trains and vehicles. Take a look at www.modellbahnritzer.de Rainer speaks English.
Now with Type II Dibetes I pretty much lay off the beer. I still drink non-alcoholic beer when our son takes us out to eat. If the guesthouse serves Gutman Bier that's my choice today. I used to drink "Das Gute Zirndorfer" back in the 80s. Zirndorf is a village just west of Nuremberg and was once on the Biebertalbahn (Beaver Valley Ry.), a DB branchline, since abandoned by the Dumb A** DB. Now busses do the honors of polluting the air where V100 Diesel roadswitchers equipped w/steam generators once ran.
Item: We also had a Tucher brewery here in Ansbach but when it shut down a number of years ago, some dude in the U.S.A. bought the "guts" of the factory and it was shipped somewhere in America, unknown to me. I never did a Google search. Guess the history is somewhere to be found on the web?
This has made me thursty. Despite my Type II, I'm going to drink the rest of the Coke (Reg.U.S.Pat.Off.) that I started yesterday. It's in a REAL honest to goodness GLASS bottle no less!
Guten Tag!
