Most modellers have heard of Miniatur Wunderland in Germany, a world of model train records and superlatives. I was lucky enough to visit this paradise for model railway enthusiasts and I’m still picking my jaw up from the ground.
It’s not big but it is clever. Miniatur Wunderland.
Costing roughly €15million to build, the Hamburg model railway attracts over 1million railway enthusiasts and tourists a year to watch almost 1,000 trains, 44 planes, 13 ships and tens of thousands of cars make their way around a layout spanning Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Scandinavia (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland) and America.
The exhibition is housed in a unassuming warehouse complex in former docks roughly 25 minutes walk from Hamburg main rail station. On entering you make your way to the second floor where you either queue or pick up pre-reserved tickets (highly recommended if you want to avoid the wait of up to 2 hours) and then make your way to the first of 8 layouts spanning 100 to 300 metres each.
The size of Miniatur Wunderland is difficult to comprehend.
Although 100 square meters (with a total model floor space of 2,300 m²) doesn’t sound much it’s only on seeing them that you realise just how huge Miniatur Wunderland is and how much fun visiting is going to be.
It’s not just the physical space but the scope of the models. The mountains in the Switzerland section span two floors in height, the sea in the Scandinavia region features 30,000 litres of real water with ships making their way around while the entire layout features 221,000 HO scale trees! Yep, 221,000 trees! The scale of the model making is mind boggling!
How Many Trains?!?
Then of course there’s the model trains that run around the layouts. The element I, as a model railway builder, was most interested in and I wasn’t disappointed.
Approximately 1,000 locos continually run around the 13,000 metres of track under computer and operator control with points, stations, yards and junctions all operating seamlessly. Every type of train, wagon and carriage is present but naturally accurate for the country they’re in, whether it’s steam or intercity express (ICE) trains they’re here. I can only imagine the amount of track, wiring and planning that must have gone on to achieve this.
Adding to this are tens of thousands of cars, 44 planes and 13 ships that operate either manually or automatically around and alongside the trains. The team at Wunderland say that the cars all operate independently and in the American region can even have traffic jams and road blocks which the cars automatically work around! The planes that take off and land at the €3,5million airport have been reported on many times – what’s not reported so often is a sea on which ships move around, navigating via a fully operational miniature GPS system.
Let There Be Lights!
Then there’s the lights. Good grief! It seems like every scene, building, train, plane, car and ship has working lights and effects and that doesn’t do it justice. The lights don’t just switch on and off, but operate in perfect harmony with each other and vehicles around them, either reacting to or directing everything that moves.
Fantastic Wunderland Facts
- Track Length: 13,000 (approx).
- Trains: 1000 (approx).
- Lights: 335,000
- Figures: 215,000
- Trees: 221,000
- Planes: 44
- Ships: 13
The fun these guys must have.
As a former computer server engineer I can appreciate the complexity of the programming and computing power that it takes to do this and all the operators to maintain control of model paradise.
The book talks about the server power to manage the layout and operations but surely understates the complexity and technical challenges of the software in question – which they’ve developed – to run everything without apparent glitches or faults.
What makes really Miniatur Wunderland stand out in the mind of most visitors however is the story telling that goes on in practically every square foot. With 215,000 tiny figures engaged in every aspect of human life, it’s all there, from comedy to tragedy, from mundane to out of this world (there’s an wonderful Area 51 / Stargate scene, implemented of course in perfect detail).
Fire! A fire breaks out with fire engines rushing to tackle it.
Attracting most attention is the fire that breaks out and the fire engines that rush to tackle it. Naturally, attention to detail is amazing, with imitation flames burning the building and simulated water being sprayed onto it.
Similar detail can be seen in the Hamburg zone, where a model of the Miniatur Wunderland building is shown. If you look carefully through the windows it even has a tiny model train running inside it. Astonishing.
I went around the exhibition twice and saw only a fraction of the glorious miniature life stories that are played out.
What’s most impressive however is that the 200+ staff behind the miniature world aren’t resting on their laurels. Their continually working to improve, extend and expand their creation.
ModelRailwayEngineer Extra – Visitor Guide
Do yourself a favour, get the most from your visit to Miniatur Wunderland with these handy tips.
- Cut out waiting time: Reserve a ticket in advance. This can be done on their website in advance without paying (here) and allows you to buy the tickets and walk straight in when you arrive rather than waiting for up to 2 hours.
- Avoid school holidays and peak times. It’s a hugely popular attraction – one of the top attractions in Hamburg so it can get very busy at peak periods. Try to go mid afternoon outside of school holidays. A page showing predicted waiting times is available here.
- Be prepared for Germans. Germans aren’t good at queuing or patiently waiting. Be prepared for them to push in front of you, they don’t do queuing like the English.
- As part of the attraction, Miniatur Wunderland cycles into “night time” every 15 minutes when the lights go off and the model night lights come on. Unless you’re prepared, this can play havock if you’re taking photos. If there’s a model you particular want to take a picture, use these periods to get a good position and line your shot up for when the daytime lighting returns.
- Take a bottle. There’s a good value restaurant on-site that you can visit without leaving the exhibition but it still takes time to visit it. Carry a water bottle with you.
What’s Next
Rome / Italy is the next section that will open and was well underway when I visited. An England realm is also planned. I can’t wait to go back and see these new sections.
Visit Miniatur Wunderland at www.miniatur-wunderland.de. On-site translation available.
ModelRailwayEngineer note: Click on any of the pictures above for a bigger version.
Andy is a lifelong modeler, writer, and founder of modelrailwayengineer.com. He has been building model railways, dioramas, and miniatures for over 20 years. His passion for model making and railways began when he was a child, building his first layout at the age of seven.
Andy’s particular passion is making scenery and structures in 4mm scale, which he sells commercially. He is particularly interested in modelling the railways of South West England during the late Victorian/early Edwardian era, although he also enjoys making sci-fi and fantasy figures and dioramas. His website has won several awards, and he is a member of MERG (Model Railway Electronics Group) and the 009 Society.
When not making models, Andy lives in Surrey with his wife and teenage son. Other interests include history, science fiction, photography, and programming. Read more about Andy.