Claimed largest UK indoor layout
Posted
#173413
(In Topic #9806)

Full Member
Not that impressed
Scenic work looks OK, some nice cameos, size, - could be the largest, but I feel it's let down by unimaginative track work, long dead straights, regimented curves, spacing between tracks too great.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2598219/Train-lover-builds-Britains-largest-indoor-model-railway-3-000ft-long-28-trains-features-scenes-world.html
For me it's a big trainset with scenery!
Also only 28 trains in that much space and that spread over UK, European and Japanese outline,
Some may say that's sour grapes on my part, however if one is going to put in that amount of work and expect eople to pay to see it I feel that there is considerable room for improvement
Cheers MIKE
I'm like my avatar - a local ruin!
I'm like my avatar - a local ruin!
Posted

Full Member
As you say, some of the scenery is OK (but even most of that looks toy-like) but the whole thing is let down by terrible trackwork. A scene with track running around the outside of it - no real effort made to integrate the railway into the countryside - it's a totally separate entity.
'Petermac
Posted

Full Member
Posted

Full Member
I also think mixing locations like that is a bit strange, I could understand maybe with a modular layout as the builders of each module would aim for their own chosen theme.
Last edit: by Dorsetmike
Cheers MIKE
I'm like my avatar - a local ruin!
I'm like my avatar - a local ruin!
Posted

Site staff

Thinks it's really just a big tourist attraction for Norfolk, after all if the Queen is out, where you gonna go for cup of tea and slice of cake?



Ed
Posted

Full Member
Shame he spent 3 years and all that money for what a giant train set with ready made buildings etc and a roundy roundy track, nah not for me i am afraid.
Phill
Posted

Inactive Member
Posted

Inactive Member
Posted

Full Member
However have you guys seen Homepage | Miniatur Wunderland Hamburg
Amazing ang gets better each week
Posted

Full Member
Anyone remember the old rail riders world that used to be in the old tea rooms at York station ? :hmm
Busy building a new show layout …..
www.westcoastminiatures.com
www.westcoastminiatures.com
Posted

Full Member
It only closed down 2 or 3 years ago. It wasn't bad but these large public layouts are struggling against the likes of Pendon. They're fine if you're a wealthy enthusiast but need a shed load of visitors to make it a sensible business proposition. I've promised myself a trip to Minatur Wunderland before I die …………..:roll::roll::roll:
'Petermac
Posted

Site staff

I'm not impressed either.
Petermac wrote:
There's a joke there somewhere.I've promised myself a trip to Minatur Wunderland before I die …………..:roll::roll::roll:



Regards
Alan
Born beside the mighty GWR.
Alan
Born beside the mighty GWR.
Posted

Legacy Member
When I was a boy of 11 I was taken to see what was advertised as the biggest model railway in the UK in Eastbourne.
By my boy standards it was massive but not something that has remained in my memory!!
Regards, Peter.
Each can do but little, BUT if each did that little all would be done!
Posted

Full Member
Don't know what you mean Alan ………..:shock::shock::shock::lol::lol:……………………
Petermac wrote:There's a joke there somewhere.I've promised myself a trip to Minatur Wunderland before I die …………..:roll::roll::roll:
'Petermac
Posted

Full Member
You can't compare this with Pendon. I go there a lot and it is a Museum, superbly modelled in great and accurate detail to educate people in a way of life that's nearly a century old.
There are a lot of high horses being ridden in this thread. :sad:
Last edit: by pnwood
Posted

Full Member
I think by mentioning it you will find it did stay in your memory.Thanks for the link but I agree with the majority, it does not look as if care has been taken in giving the whole thing the look of authenticity!
When I was a boy of 11 I was taken to see what was advertised as the biggest model railway in the UK in Eastbourne.
By my boy standards it was massive but not something that has remained in my memory!!
Regards, Peter.
Posted

Site staff

It is what it is, a tourist attraction.
When you consider it costs over £30 for a family of four to get in, Mum and Dad aren't going to be happy if after five minutes the kids start saying 'can we go now'!
Don't really think many young children would be looking for how accurate a building or loco is made, or whether a scene looks exactly like a specific part of the countryside.
It will be more lots of thing happening, trains moving around etc.
Maybe it is just a large collection of train sets, but that's probably all it's intended to be and if it stirs an interest in modelling for a a few young visitors, then surely that's all to the good.
Ed
Posted

Banned
How many of us grew up with The Rev. W Awdrey's 'Railway Series', and look where we are today… ;-)
Cheers, Gary.
Posted

Full Member
As a "toy train" and children's attraction, it's probably very good. As a "model railway", the earlier comments (from modellers about another model), are quite valid.
Gary's kids said it was "cool" so for them, it does it's job.
In days of yore, we bought our train stuff from "toy shops". These shops now really do sell just "toys" - not the finely detailed models we buy. That's probably why genuine "model shops" are now few and far between. "Our" shops simply don't cater for the masses and there are not enough of us to keep many such "specialist" shops going - particularly with internet shopping available to us all.
It was headlined as a "model railway" and I suppose, in the absence of another description, that's what it is but it's not a "model railway" that impresses railway modellers like us. But then, as Woody said, it's not supposed to !!
If kids like it then that's great but I'd still cough a bit if it cost £30 to go in ………………….
I take back much of what I said Woody as I reach for my humble pie ……………….:cheers
'Petermac
Posted

Inactive Member
Last edit: by bike2steam
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