People often misconceive modelers to be childish brats sulking in their childhood years. But these modelers have talent that no ordinary person can achieve. Not all people have the patience and the attention to detail of a modeler. Just imagine the time, effort and money that they spend in order to complete their projects. One of the projects that are being recognized is model railway layouts. Each layout is a blueprint from the existing railways around the world. Detailed size of locomotives, train stations and other buildings amaze each visitor of these dioramas. Let’s take the train, travel around the world and see the 10 Model Railway Layouts that will take your breath away.
1. Wunderland Germany
Wunderland Germany is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Germany. Located next to the Elbe in Hamburg’s Speicherstadt, it has 1,150 square meters of model area and ranges from scaled models of Switzerland, Austria, Germany and the city of Las Vegas in the United States. Brothers Frederick and Gerrit Braun started this project around 2000 and have already infused a total of more than 500,000 man hours of detailed work and a grand cost of about 20 million dollars. With 8,000 vehicles, 255,000 bridges, houses and figurines and over 280 000 trees, there is no doubt this is the world’s largest model railway.
2. Loxx Model Railway
The Loxx Model Railway spans a total of 2.5 miles of German design and ingenuity. It gives the spectators a full view of the lively scenes of the city of Berlin. Discover several city fantasies like the computer controlled car-system and a vast re-creation of the airport where planes are seen taking off and landing. Loxx is a variation of the German word Loks which means locomotive. The model railway has been open since 2004 and boasts of a 4.15 km track, 400 hundred trains, over 10,000 cars and carriages and an estimated populace of 50,000 human figures. Anyone would say that the 200,000 hours of work spent on this model railway is really painstakingly beautiful.
3. Gainsborough Model Railway
If you want to see the London East Coast Main Line, then you got to see and experience how this enormous railway looks at the Gainsborough Model Railway. Constructed in 1953, this is one of the largest ‘O’ gauge model railways in Great Britain. The railway expands to 2500 square feet and also boasts of a main line track of 1200 feet. This massive model railway is operated by 10 operators with over 150 locomotives, 100 coaches, 200 wagons and vans and a whole lot more all moving simultaneously. Every detail is based on the East Coast Main Line from London Kings Cross to Leeds Central. It’s not only the Germans who are known in making model railways but give the Brits some credit too.
4. Northlandz Model Railway
Bruce Williams Zaccagnino, creator and owner of the Northlandz Model Railway erected his masterpiece 35 years ago. Mr. Williams has spent those years creating his passion for modeling and art. The Northlandz is a 16 acre attraction solely developed by Bruce and his wife Jean. This vast area of amusement also includes a doll museum. The model railway has more than a hundred trains circling around 8 miles of track. Aside from the thousands of buildings situated in cities and villages are the 40 foot bridges that span across the huge canyons. There are also 200+ doll collections and a 94 room doll house all situated within the attraction. It seems not only the Europeans have the passion for model railways but also the Americans.
5. Sierra Pacific Lines by Pasadena Model Railroad Club
The Pasadena Model Railroad Club was founded by six very dedicated enthusiasts. Operation started in 1940 and they started making the Sierra Pacific Lines, one of the largest model railways in the world. It covers almost 5,000 square feet of intricate craftsmanship. The Sierra Pacific Lines operates trains of different periods ranging from modern freight, old freight, steam diesel, classic passenger trains and the more familiar Amtraks. Each train runs on the periodically correct tracks with breathtaking sceneries and colorful theatrical lights all simultaneously amusing visitors who troop to their complex.
Model railways are always a sight to behold. It gives amusement to young kids and adults. It brings back a lot of childhood memories where a lot of people for once dreamt of owning a railway station set. If given the chance to view one of these model railways, they should not pass up the opportunity as it would feel great appreciating one’s work of a wonderful art.
About the Author
Danny loves writing about model railway layouts and when not playing with railway layouts he likes to read sci-fi novels.
Regarding the criticism that they are given, I figure there’s not much difference (other than interest set) between these modelers and the people that are doing five to ten thousand piece jigsaw puzzles, or setting up thousands of dominoes to go off in an elaborate chain reaction.