Fascination for trains doesn’t take age into consideration. You probably also admire them whenever you see them, especially if they are in a special landscape. Throughout time, people have tried to bring the magic of trains into their homes by purchasing or building various model trains. Most often, they can be seen in stores around the winter holidays.
Some people have taken their passion for trains to another level and started building model trains on a larger scale. Architectural models are not static: they can be animated down to the smallest detail, thus becoming real works of art in miniature.
Currently, there are models of several kilometers of train tracks which faithfully reproduce various railway routes, in the smallest details. We invite you to continue to discover the world’s largest model trains.
Miniatur Wunderland
The largest model for a train in the world is Miniatur Wunderland, located in Hamburg Germany. Not only the surface and its components impress, but also the length of the train tracks, which reach over 15 km. An interesting thing to take into account is that this model is constantly expanding and will be subject to further validation by the Book of Records after a few more components are added in the coming years.
The exhibition includes over 900 miniature trains that operate day and night and faithful reproductions of some famous places in Europe and even in the world: Harz Mountains, Alps Mountains, Austria, Hamburg airport, USA, Scandinavia, Switzerland, Italy, South America. In 2024, sections representing Monaco and Provence will be added and that will even include a Formula 1 circuit, and in 2028 the construction of a section representing Great Britain will begin.
This model is an interactive one and it offers people real experiences. Thus, it is possible to observe the changes that occurred at the level of the cities or places represented by the models during the day and at night. The details are impressive and include people, pets, cars, trees, street furniture and more in order to give a true picture of the places they portray.
The Northlandz
It is in constant competition with Miniatur Wunderland, given that they have almost identical surfaces. The Northlandz is the work of artist Bruce Williams Zaccagnino and features several characters, from busy cities, rural landscapes, and even less-known places.
Every detail is rendered with remarkable precision, from buildings and cars to people and animals, everything in a reduced scale. A captivating aspect of Northlandz is the way the landscapes have been rendered, with high mountains, deep valleys and spectacular waterfalls.
The trains travel almost 13 km of railway, and in some places there are also tunnels, which makes the whole route spectacular. Even people who are not into trains recognized the fact that it was a truly magical place, a miniature world that they could have admired for hours.
Roadside America
Located in Pennsylvania, USA, it is a representation of America’s history and culture as seen through the eyes of train passengers. The exhibition was initiated by Laurence Gieringer in 1935 and is continued today by his heirs. It is considered a true tribute to rural America and 20th century urbanization.
The model includes numerous scenarios, depicting cities, theme parks, natural landscapes, iconic buildings and others that symbolize US history and tradition. A fascinating aspect of the Roadside America model is linked to highlighting the evolution of the country, with an emphasis on social and technological changes in American history.
Here you will be able to travel back in time, discover the history of farms, cities and industry, all in an impressive miniature format.
Thus, Roadside America is more than a series of buildings and little trains: it is a source of education and reflection on the evolution of America. Today, over 18 different trains, hundreds of miniature buildings, even a working waterfall, the Statue of Liberty and more can be admired here.
We hope we have caught your attention with the presentation of these impressive models, which are worth visiting at least once in your life, whether you are keen on trains or not. They are works of art in miniature, and the attention to detail is definitely going to captivate you.
