Here are three of the best model train layouts in terms of overall theme. It might not be world’s largest layout or the best scale layout per say but it gets the job done.
Adventure World Toggenburg, Lichtensteig, Switzerland
Take some time off from skiing to visit Adventure World Toggenburg, home of the biggest hobby model railway of Europe in track zero. The railway features several different train stations on 4,200 feet of track with a backdrop of snowy mountains. The attraction also houses vintage motorcycles, model steam engines and a variety of toys. There’s even a little bistro for drinks and snacks after your trip around pint-sized Europe.
Jingle Rails, Eiteljorg Museum, Indianapolis
Visitors to the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art can watch seven model trains navigate through the great American West every holiday season at the Great Western Adventure Art’s Jingle Rails display. It features trestles, bridges, and tunnels that cross through detailed replicas of national icons, including Mount Rushmore, Hoover Dam, the Grand Canyon and Old Faithful. All of the displays are made from natural materials, including twigs, moss, and nuts.
Wilmington Railway Museum, Wilmington, N.C.
Featuring displays that detail the history of railroading in North Carolina, the Wilmington Railway Museum houses 20 trains operating in four scales. Visitors can step inside a life-size, 100-year-old steam locomotive, a caboose, and a boxcar. The museum illuminates the display at night with thousands of holiday lights every Christmas, and Santa makes an appearance on weekends leading up to Christmas Day.