The Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg aptly has the title of housing the World’s Largest Model Train Set. The details of this masterpiece are staggering and the actual set up is absolutely mind blowing.

The total area is in excess of 11,840 sq ft (1,100 sq metres). It has taken the creative team of 160 associates more than 500,000 hours to put everything in place. In spite of its enormous size, it continues to grow, with the latest addition being a fully working airport which took 18 months to complete.

A virtual world has evolved where attention to the minutest details are considered to be the norm.

Although it is undoubtedly the largest train set in the world, the scenery is stunning and attracts  as much attention by the more than 5,000,000 visitors as the actual railway.

Some of the other mind boggling statistics are that over 10 kilometres of track have been laid and 800 trains with approx 10,000 rail cars travel several hundred kilometres on the tracks every day. The longest train has a length of 14.5 metres.

The central control stand uses more than 40 computers to coordinate all the train movements. In addition, more than 200 cameras help the computer controllers to do their job

Many other items in the display continue to take the visitor’s breath away. There are more than 170 computer controlled cars, trucks and buses operating in the lifelike town settings. An area containing over 30,000 litres of water allows many computer controlled ships to operate in realistic settings.

Over 200,000 model people, representing all real life situations are spread throughout the display. Famous European towns have been realistically duplicated with all the characters wearing traditional local clothes.

Centralised light control provides for realistic day and night simulation with a day in the “Wunderland” taking 15 minutes to complete. At nightfall over 300,000 ned’s create a miraculous atmosphere of the sunset and all the lights coming on in the towns, villages and isolated farm houses.

Miniatur Wunderland takes you on a global journey, taking in Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and even North America.

Who cares if you can’t really catch a train from the USA to Europe? You are still able to experience the night life of Las Vegas as well as the natural beauty of the Grand Canyon.

The most astounding thing is that the creators still aren’t done. Such is the imagination of the creative team of associates you can guarantee that their next idea is already in the pipeline!

To visit this “Wonder of the Modelling World” you need to go to Hamburg. However, if you can’t wait that long, you can see it here  www.miniatur-wunderland.com and marvel at it in the comfort of your own home.