Cochemer Bahn

Abtei Friedhof | Abbey Cemetery

2026-2

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2026.1.1 ~ Introduction

In the process of developing the area around the abbey, the idea of a cemetery immediately surfaced, alongside a vegetable garden.

Naturally, Stift Cochem already has a fairly extensive cemetery for the abbesses and other people.

At the Abbey, I wanted to keep it small, given the available space on the north side, between the road and the vegetable garden.

6.5.2026

2026.2.2 ~ It started with... hedges

While visiting my dealer on April 10th, 2026, collecting a nice Roco set of Bavarian freight cars, I also bought this hedge by Noch (#21520).

After many years, Preiser finally was able to release the the Nachtwächter.

Due to my wonderfull visiting the layout 'Die goldenen Zwanziger', I just had to have these fine Artitec figurines as well!

Although I already had an idea to make gravestones myself, I couldn't resist the temptation to buying a box of gravestones from the Noch company (14211) to go with them.

12.4.2026

To visualize what it might look like, I started by placing hedges.

This Faller model, certainly wide and rounded at the top, did not really appeal to me, because it is too bulky for what I had in mind.

6.5.2026

2026.2.3 ~ Gravestones out of the box

7.5.2026

8.5.2026 | 10 out of the box (top), 5 designed by myself (bottom)

11.5.2026

2026.2.4 ~ For a start: the entrance

The first move. Pillars from Adler Modellbahnmanufaktur and a small fence mark the beginning of the layout of the cemetery.

20.5.2026

21.5.2026

2026.2.5 ~ Lime trees

21.5.2026

25.5.2026 | extra layers

28.5.2026

2026.2.5 ~ Gravestones

Cardboard coping stones

25.5.2027

27.5.2026

... and yes, I had an example!

2026.2.6 ~ Putting things together

28.5.2026

2026.2.7 ~ Dressing up the landscape

28.5.2026

Together in a straight line...

2026.2.8 ~ Vegetation, grass, bushes...

(2.6.2026)

The idea (not my picture)

2.6.2026

2026.2.9 ~ Lime trees

(4-5.6.2026)

With the purchase of a set of superglue, I ventured back into making espalier lime trees.

First, I started with the short side to regain experience. Initially, a single row at the front, but this looked unsatisfactory.

4.6.2026

However, after applying a second layer of branches on the opposit side (the bare posts looked rather shabby when viewed from the Abbey),

the whole thing started to look particularly satisfying.

In the meantime, the doorway to the vegetable garden was fitted with a small canopy. It is the small adjustments that have a big effect on the whole.

5.6.2026

2026.2.10 ~ Applying the graves

(5.6.2026)

The first (homemade) gravestones have been laid.

Because the stones lie on top of the grass and are therefore pushed upwards,

I have temporarily weighted them down to press them into the grass.

5.6.2026

Not...!!

For some reason, the left section bothered me one way or another. At first I couldn't figure it out.

Initially, I couldn't figure out what it was. Only then did I realize that due to the grass strips, the gravestones and headstones protruded above the hedge and made the whole thing look ridiculous.

The example photo turned out not to be applicable to me. So I removed both grass strips. Built up from the ground up with sand, soil, and grass and suddenly... Yes!

It still counts: "Less is more!"