Miniature Wunderland + Behind the scenes tour

Started by martin t, November 18, 2016, 01:00:09 PM

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dutchbuilder


RAM

Yes they spent a lot of money, but they take in a lot of money.

Steve Magee

Having looked at layouts across the world - well, a few parts of it - US, UK, Europe - I find very, very, VERY few layouts are operated as a Model Railway (or railroad) - that is, as a railway in model form. Because if we did, it would be so complex (think of the paperwork for a start) there would be hardly anybody doing it. Do you set out your front- and rear-end brakemen before switching? Allow time for air lines to pump up? Stop at water points for steam long enough to fill a tender? Etc. We all compromise, some more than others. Here's a link to my compromise, though it has detailed up a bit since most of the pics were taken:

http://www.nmra.org.au/Layout_Tours/Magee/index.html

And yes, in my travels in Europe I did visit Miniature Wonderland. I thought it was amazing. In the hours I was there, not one derailment, no uncoupling, no failures. I would have killed for their work bench. I enjoyed every minute of it, though I wish my then one-year-old grandson was just that bit older to really enjoy it, and help sway him to the path of the Light, even if its a Mars Light.

Financing Miniature Wonderland? True story, I am told. The two principles involved went to a bank in Hamburg, and told the manager they were going to build a big model train set and all the world would come and see it, and asked for the money to build it. "OK", said the manager, "Here's x million Euros". Sigh.

Steve Magee
On30 Lumber Mountain RR
Newcastle NSW Aust

RAM

Steve do you recall what it cost to get into wonderland?


Terry Toenges

#20
I was wondering if it is bigger than Northlandz so I figured it out. Northlandz also has a small doll museum and art gallery included in their building.
http://www.northlandz.com/
Northlandz building is 52000 sq ft. That's 3831 sq meters.
Wunderland building is 6800 sq meters. That is 73194sq ft.
Track N - 50450 ft
Track W - 50524 ft.
Trains N - up to 100
Trains w - 1040
I guess I can deduce from that that Northlandz trains' have longer runs that Wunderland(?)
That's about all the stats that can be compared with the figures they both give.

http://www.northlandz.com/stats.html
http://www.miniatur-wunderland.com/exhibit/wunderland/wunderland-facts/

Feel like a Mogul.