World's Largest model railway

[Squisher]

There is a thread from 2007 covering this with still photos, but here is a video.

http://www.wimp.com/miniaturewonderland/

 

[Old Hippie]

My old boss sent me a link for that site.

Truely amazing, especially some of the technology.

 

[Linflas]

Amazing. Model Railroader magazine used to run a program on the PBS stations where they would visit layouts and talk to the modelers. It was amazing the level of detail and realism some of those guys could achieve. They would build a railcar, paint it, and then dirty it up so it would appear weathered on the layout.

 

[GTaudiophile]

I visited this place in the summer of 2009. In typical German fashion, the level of detail is ASTOUNDING. Basically, the "miniaturwelt" is broken down into about a dozen zones, each depicting a particular scene or landscape (usually German/Hamburg or US locations). One "day" in the mini-world lasts about 30 minutes or so, taking you from dawn, to day, to dusk, to night, and back again. The tides in each of the zones containing water also move corresponding to the time of day. All of this is connected to a massive computer control system that is monitored by at least a dozen employees. When I was there, a new zone was being constructed to depict an airport.

I only had a about 90 minutes in the place but this was barely enough to scratch the surface in terms of looking at the details. If you go, spend at least two hours there and take a good, long macro lens. I did the best I could with my Canon EFS 17-55 2.8 IS.

If you want to see the 80 pictures I took there, visit this gallery. (Flash Required)

 

[shortylickens]

My reading skills are shit in the early morning. I saw the title and thought of her http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/143...pf_rd_i=507846

 

[Old Hippie]

Model Railroader magazine used to run a program on the PBS stations where they would visit layouts and talk to the modelers.

I never see it anymore.

 

[jme5343]

Foamers.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Largest HO layout in the US:
http://www.northlandz.com/

Been there. It's neat but it needs to get fixed up. Alot of the paper based landscaping has sagged over the years.

From talking to employees, do not go there when it is very hot out. The AC keeps up for hte most part but up top it is very warm. Christmas time is to busy. Spring and Fall are THE times to go there. Not busy and good temperature control inside.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Didn't James May do a 1 hour long special on that?

 

[Aharami]

@2:45

 

[slayer202]

i was expecting something lame, but that's pretty cool

 

[ViviTheMage]

Damn, that is VERY detailed.

 

[ravana]

If you want to see the 80 pictures I took there, visit this gallery. (Flash Required)

:thumbsup:

 

[GTaudiophile]

:thumbsup:

I will need to go back some day and take an ever closer look!

 

[zinfamous]

man, if I were into this railroad stuff, I would have just shat 10 brix.

that being staid, still rather impressive.

 

[El Guaraguao]

Who do I have to kill for a godzilla costume and 1 hour in that place...

 

[mmntech]

The control room blew me away. That's more complex than ones I've seen at major TV stations.