Excluding outdoor garden railroads, what was the largest model railroad every built to reasonable completeness, defined as a completed, operating, and scenicked mainline, even if not fully detailed. I would guess it would be a club or musuem layout but not necessarily. Anyone know the answer. I don’t.
this claims to be one of them.
There’s a private owned layout in New York some where. The guy put it in a 100,000 sq/ft building. It’s HO. He said the benchwork has enough lumber in it to build 47 LARGE house.
Can’t remember how many tons of plaster in it. Has mountains 15’ tall on it. He’s talking about adding a 30-50,000 sq/ft addition on it. I think this is the Guinus record.
It’s been featured on Tracks Ahead a few times.
I thought that the layout at the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry (The Grteat Train Story) ranked up there. The original layout that was sponsored and maintained by the Santa Fe was definately impressive for the time.
I think your talking about Northlandz railroad in New Jersey.
I saw part of a program on TV a few months ago about “Northlandz.” It was impressive. Something I would definately like to see in person.
Tom
Sorry Chris, not even close on size, but it is one of the best known public displays. I haven’t seen the “new” HO layout except in MR, but have fond memories of the old O scale one. I was young when I first saw it. It left a lasting impression to say the least.[:D][^][;)]
I’m pretty sure that Northlandz has the record on square footage, but the Pasadena club has it on total track. I guess it depends on what is meant by “largest”.
And the Pasadena layout is 100% handlaid track - even in unreachable areas!
Those guys are hardcore.
I’d venture to guess it’s the layout with the most handlaid HO track in the world.
I don’t think Chicago’s MS&I layout is the biggest. It’s a beautifull display though, specialy the urban scenery at the Chicago end.
I took these pics last year’s summer
I saw an article in RMC a while ago about a huge HO layout called the Diablo Valley Lines or something like that. I think it was part of a club in Southern California, but I can not say for sure.
“–I’m pretty sure that Northlandz has the record on square footage, but the Pasadena club has it on total track. I guess it depends on what is meant by “largest”.–”
You’re right, but according to the Washington Post:
“With eight miles of track and more than 100 trains, Guinness recognizes Northlandz, in Flemington, N.J., as the world’s largest model railroad.”
http://www.k-10smodeltrains.com/layout_tour.htm
This one is quite big!
in dream plan build they had the Northlandz thats my guess
Congrats on your first post.[8D]
I didn’t realize Northlandz had that much track. Makes 6 miles at Pasadena sound small.
8 miles is over 42,000 feet. How much does a piece of flex track cost? And how many switches are there? They must own stock in Atlas or something.[;)]
That’s insane!!! Glad I don’t have to clean it.[swg]
That’s what she said last night.