Faller, a German company founded after World War II by Edwin and Hermann Faller, produces a nice variety of buildings.  While many of their structures are of European prototypes, some can be adapted for use in American scenes. The Faller product range has grown considerably since the early days of Z-Scale.  In earlier times, there were two station structures, now there are four.  They offer a station set package that includes a German-style station, signal tower, and freight shed.  You can add a glass-roofed train shed or covered platforms with other Faller kits.

Courtesy, Faller, GmbH

They also offer the smaller 282706 wayside station that can fit on either a segment of straight track or on the inside of the 195 mm curve.  This is a nice feature, since the area around curves is often wasted space as far as structures are concerned. Placing the station on a curve frees a section of straight track for something else, like a bridge or crossing.

Photo: Riley O’Connor

Faller also manufactures a fuel depot and gas storage tanks, perfect for use with the numerous tanks cars available in Z-Scale.

Photo: Riley O’Connor

The pressurized gas storage tank is cast in blue plastic, and it is possible that such tanks are this color in Europe.

Courtesy, Faller, GmbH

Most tanks of this sort in America are typically painted white or silver to counteract the effects of solar heating upon the tank. I choose to assemble the sphere of the tank, add the legs and ladders, but do not glue the legs of the tank to its base. The legs can be temporarily inserted into the base while the glue is drying; once the glue has set, the assembled tank can be removed, spray painted in the color of your choice, then glued to the base for final placement on your railroad. The kit comes with graphics for several oil companies, and you can also make your own graphics with a computer onto paper or decal film. The Faller graphics are self-adhesive paper, but you can place your custom graphics printed on paper with a thin film of glue.

In the background of the photo below is a Faller gas tank painted white, adjacent to the fuel depot.

Photo: Riley O’Connor

Engine Houses

Faller also offers an enginehouse that is a nice contrast to the Märklin enginehouses.  It is still in the Faller product line, and has since been joined by another interesting engine support building.

Courtesy, Faller, GmbH

This is the new structure, introduced in August, 2005:

Courtesy, Faller, GmbH

Houses and City Structures

In addition to the railroad and industrial structures, Faller offers a variety of residential structures and a church.

Courtesy, Faller, GmbH

Bridges & Tunnel Portals

The Faller bridge product line is discussed here.  Faller also offers some Z-Scale tunnel portals and retaining walls for additional scenery. A small number of Z-Scale figures are also available.

Their web site, in German, is here.