10 UNIQUE AND AMAZING MODEL RAILWAYS

The World's Largest, Smallest, and Strangest Model Trains
By Heidi Davis, Popular Mechanics, 27 December 2012.

Some travel tracks that wind around hotel suites and sprawling gardens. Others are so small you need tricks of photography to see them. But all these model trains are the incredible result of innovation, artistry, and attention to detail.

1. Miniatur Wunderland

Where: Hamburg, Germany.

You can't have a list of extreme model railways without mentioning Frederik and Gerrit Braun. The German twin brothers created the granddaddy of them all: Miniatur Wunderland.

The über model built in HO scale - which is the most popular scale of model railway in the world, and works out to 3.5mm to 1-foot - supports 39,000 feet of track, and requires 46 computers to coordinate an ever-growing network of signals and switches. Those lucky enough to make it through 6 miles of model railway heaven (this is more than a day trip) are treated to eight sections based on landmarks from around the world. At the scale models of the American Rockies and the Swiss Matterhorn, visitors can climb stairs to reach the summits (nearly 20 feet high) to view Wunderland from an elevated perspective. A simulated sunset highlights Las Vegas, where 30,000 lights replicate the glow of Sin City. Finally, don't forget to visit Knuffingen International Airport, modelled after Hamburg's own International Airport, the largest model airport of its kind. See planes cleared for simulated takeoffs and landings taxiing down the runway.

And the Brauns aren't done yet. New construction plans, including sections for Italy, Africa, and a potential futuristic landscape, reach into 2020. Wunderland's wow factor is nearly endless.

2. James River Branch

Where: Tom's River, New Jersey, USA.

First, David Smith thought small. Then, he thought miniscule.

The creator of a Z scale model railway - a ratio of a mere 1.385mm to 1-foot - and village named James River Branch, Smith included within the village a hobby shop. He then decided what the shop really needed was a model railway in the window. Yep, a model train within a model train.

The resulting model, measuring a tiny 1/8 inch by 1/5 inch, is the unofficial record holder of the world's smallest working train layout. It required Smith to create a minute geared mechanism with enough force to keep the tiny train moving around the track. A surprisingly simple solution - a flexible piece of plastic tubing - did the job. When the tubing was formed into an oval and attached to the shaft of a low-RPM miniature geared motor, Smith found no additional mechanism was necessary.

One challenge still remained: Filming the micro layout. Despite using a 100mm macro lens with a 32 mm extension, Smith couldn't get the camera to focus on the model. To account for this, Smith blew up the footage 400 percent in postproduction and finally had the high quality images necessary to capture his tiny creation. Sadly, the model was recently destroyed in transit this past May, but the remaining photos and video capture Smith's passion - and innovation - in great detail.

3. Gainsborough Model Railway Society

Where: Lincolnshire, United Kingdom.

Accuracy comes first at the Gainsborough Model Railway, one of the U.K.'s largest ‘O’ gauge model railways‚ which is a scale of 7mm to 1-foot. Built as an exact replica of the East Coast Main Line that runs from Kings Cross station in London to Leeds Central, the model is considered a "working museum" and an ode to the era of steam locomotives.

You'll find no computers here, just 10 human operators who run trains by strict timetables and bell codes. No easy feat, considering each operator must control signals, pointwork, and drive the trains themselves.

There are a half-mile of track and 160 locomotives to see, so be sure to coordinate your own timetable to ensure you'll get to see the impressive models including the Flying Scotsman, Mallard, and Green Arrow. Admire King's Cross station, built with the station's actual plans, but don't forget to look up - many of the station's signs are authentic memorabilia, acquired via members of the Gainsborough Model Railway Society.

4. The Loop

Where: Tehachapi Pass Exhibit, San Diego Model Railroad Museum, USA.

"The Loop" refers to the Tehachapi Loop, one of the seven wonders of the railway world, which was named a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1998. It's part of the larger Tehachapi Pass rail system located in south central California. Completed in 1876 by Southern Pacific Railroad, the railway traverses 70 miles from Bakersfield to the Mojave Desert, running through scenic but rugged mountain terrain. Built to lessen the angle of the grade of the treacherous mountainous pass, trains traveling through The Loop spiral upward, gaining at least 70 feet in elevation before eventually crossing over their caboose below and safely continuing on their way.

It stands to reason railway buffs would take a crack at duplicating the amazing railway, and the La Mesa Model Railroad Club took the job. Using thousands of photographs, the club recreated the Tehachapi Pass in HO scale with an astounding attention to detail. The exhibit, located at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, counts as one of the most realistic re-creations of a railway ever built.

5. MIT's Tech Model Railroad Club (TMRC)

Where: Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.

Founded in 1946, the TMRC is one of the first, and oldest, student groups at MIT - and quickly established itself as the ideal place for students looking to advance their mechanical and electrical engineering know-how. Members involved with TMRC's Signals and Power Subcommittee were known to "hack" early computers, customizing the device to suit the club's needs. This practice of applying innovation to technology became an important part of MIT's culture of learning, and the institution's definition of a "hack" stands in stark contrast to today's widely accepted association with malicious intent.

Interested in advanced control systems, the TMRC built the Tech Nickel Plate Railroad (TNP) in HO scale, dividing each track into blocks and controlling the trains with an automatic block control system they created. Early systems relied on telephone relays connected to a Digital PDP-11 computer. But with computers donated to the club by DEC (Digital Equipment Corporation) it wasn't long before members accomplished additional, innovative "hacks."

TMRC member Steve "Slug" Russell provided an unexpected result in 1961, and created one of the earliest video games: Spacewar! Later at Stanford, Russell shared his knowledge with Nolan Bushnell, who started a company which may sound familiar, Atari Computers.

6. The Great Train Story

Where: Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, USA.

Celebrating its 10th year, The Great Train Story illustrates the modern day relationship between rail transport and US industry. The railway includes more than 30 trains that travel from Chicago, through the Plains and the Rockies, and finally on to the Pacific Northwest and Seattle. Along the way, interactive features highlight the industries that rely on this transportation, including agriculture (grain commodities), materials for manufacturing (lumber, steel), and more.

This isn't just a civics lesson; it's also a painstaking recreation. Chicago includes a Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) that imitates real life down to the number of bricks. Many a Chicago native has made a game out of finding their home. The model actually represents one moment in time (April 3, 2002, at 1:56 pm to be exact), and even includes the people who were waiting for the Red Line subway at that time.

The railway is divided into isolated electrical blocks each built with its own sensor; mechanical relays ensure trains can slow down and react quickly to problems ahead. Many modellers use DCC (Digital Command Control) mode, but the Chicago setup allows for a more hands-on approach for technicians, who fix the controls of each block through access doors built into the floor of the model.

7. "Densha Otaku" and Railway Rooms

Where: Nagano and Akihabara, Japan.

This past summer Nobutaro Hara, famed for his collection of model trains, opened a model railway museum in Yokohama (home of Japan's first railroad) showing off more than 1000 examples from his collection. The Japanese even have a term for train enthusiasts - Densha Otaku, translating to "train geeks." Now hotels even cater to their hobby.

The owner of Nagano's Hotel Metropolitan is none other than JR East, the same company that runs train services in eastern Japan. JR East devised a clever way to promote the hotel and model railway at once: creating a luxury suite the largest indoor model railway. The room features 4 different model trains, including the famous Asama "shinkansen." Trains zip around scale models of area attractions, including Zenkoji Temple and beautiful snow-capped mountains. Guests can even peer out the window to take in excellent views of the city's main rail station - if they can tear themselves away from the model long enough.

Have your own model train, but need some tracks? The Washington Hotel in Akihabara allows guests to bring their own trains and set them up on the room's N Gauge - a scale ranging between 1:148 and 1:160, which runs on a 9mm gauge track - 60 square foot model that is complete with replicas of Akiba station and the Tokyo Tower. The L shaped railway comes equipped with two controllers, ensuring visitors can opt to share the fun with friends. Similar to the Hotel Metropolitan, the room treats rail fans to exquisite views of the real thing; the Akiba station and Shinkansen line are located just outside.

8. Neil Young's Big Red Button

Where: La Honda, California, USA.

Though the public knows Neil Young the musician, they might not know Young the model train enthusiast. The singer's home south of San Francisco includes a 2800-foot barn housing a model railway with 750 feet of track and a living landscape. Young created the tiny forests after collecting plant specimens from the woods nearby. To ensure everything stayed green, he built a misting irrigation system.

Young's passion would eventually take him from enthusiast to inventor, and the inspiration started with his son. Born with severe cerebral palsy, Young's son Ben couldn't control the switches for the model railway. Hoping to grant Ben greater control over the trains - and share his love of the hobby - Young created a device called the Big Red Button. The wireless device provided unprecedented control: Simply by leaning his head into a paddle, Ben could supply power to the trains, and by repeating the action, he could turn power off. Young went one step further and eventually created a system where the Big Red Button could repeat the last run manoeuvres by a train, allowing Ben the ability to control even more complex actions.

Young formed a partnership with Lionel in 1992 and set about to make improvements to model train technology. His efforts resulted in the TrainMaster Command Control System, which permitted tracks to host more than one train without complex wiring. Trains also sound more real thanks to a newly created digital sound system called RailSounds, equipping each model train with the sounds of their real-life counterpart. To date, Young is listed as the co-inventor on seven U.S. Patents.

9. John Allen's Gorre & Daphetid

Photo: Keith Beard/gdlines.com

Where: Monterey, California, USA.

A legend in model railroading, John Allen's Gorre & Daphetid (read: Gory and Defeated) set the bar for artistry and realism in model railways. The National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) awarded Allen the Distinguished Service Award twice and recognized him as an Industry Pioneer. He is the only modeller to be commemorated on the cover of Model Railroader magazine. Tragically, the demise of Allen's railway is as legendary as his own: In 1973, it was destroyed in a fire - just two weeks after Allen himself had passed.

Allen dedicated a majority of his life to working on the Gorre & Daphetid, constructing up to three versions, the last occupying a good portion of the basement of his house in Monterey, California. The third railway, known simply as the GD line, and was built as a fictional mountain railway. Opinions vary regarding his inspiration, but a resemblance to the Colorado Midland Railway is evident.

What's not up for debate is Allen's artistry, and the proportion and depth of the scenes was unprecedented. Working as a photographer, Allen possessed an innate ability to create a believable illusion of size by using a forced perspective to his advantage. Allen's technique of weathering brought the model to life, giving added character to more than 100 bridges (some 5-feet off the floor), working cable cars, water wheels, and thousands of miniature people enacting tiny slices of life, some rather humorous.

Allen worked on the Gorre & Daphetid for 20 years until its completion, often working by himself. During that time he meticulously photographed scenes and submitted them to both Model Railroader and Railroad Model Craftsman magazines. A few documented trains still exist, as do some of the original slides (with the noticeable smell of smoke). Andy Sperandeo, editor of Model Railroader, is in possession of one of the more famous trains, #34, while #43 resides in a private collection, ensured for $10,000 for public displays. In 2009, Rod Smith, who briefly operated as the Great Divide Yardmaster, was given a mysterious satchel. To his surprise the satchel contained 13 of the burnt model locomotives, the largest collection of equipment ever to be recovered from the Gorre & Daphetid.

10. Bekonscot Model Village and Railway

Where: Buckinghamshire (Beaconsfield), United Kingdom.

Bekonscot is England's largest outdoor Gauge One garden railway - roughly the same as the modern G gauge, where 10mm are equal to 1-foot - and the oldest original model village in the world. Dubbed a "real-life Lilliput," the railway is considered the grandfather of the model village.

Opened to the public in 1929, the model was the brainchild of London accountant Rolland Callingham, who, with the staff of his estate - including gardeners, cooks, and maids - constructed six model villages based on their own inspirations. More than 3000 trees are kept in miniature around the 1.5 acres of gardens to match the tiny villages comprised of farms, racecourses, and even castles. Callingham was always more concerned with whimsy than accuracy. As a result, the names of many buildings feature humorous puns, including Lee Key Plumbers and Sam and Ella's Butchers. There have been several efforts to modernize the railway throughout its history, but the public was unimpressed, and a refurbishment in 1992 returned buildings to the glory of their original 1930s heyday.

Though Bekonscot focuses is on the whimsical, running the model trains is serious business. Each train carries a radio beacon so operators can track its location and speed. Making it work requires a custom-built interface programmed by the same engineer who developed signalling for London's own Jubilee Line Extension.

[Source: Popular Mechanics. Edited.]