well worth a look. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ACkmg3Y64_s?rel=0
Not new, been around a number of times, but still nice! And the best of it - I live a 30 min. drive away from it!
Next year will see the opening of a new section - Italy! Venice, the Vesuvio, Cinqueterre, Rome, Pisa - from what I have seen, MiWuLA is again topping it!
I'll help make it easier to view, if you don't mind.
Thanks, Ed
Alan Jones in Sunny Queensland (Oz)
I've seen the video's on YouTube and yes, it's packed with more detail than you can possibly imagine, not even Han Solo can imagine that much!
When you consider the cost of all the products to make the display, it must be mega expensive; the economics if such display would be interesting to find out how they make it work. It may exist but I am not aware of any similar display in the US which is on that magnitude. The Chicago Museum of Science & Industry is pretty impressive but I don't think it has the same sheer quantity of figures, and models as the German one. I have often wondered if it is the cost or economics that has kept something like that from being built in the US. Naturally if potentially a few million were invested (just a wild guess), it would need to be part of the plan to recover the input expenses in ticket sales. Perhaps the culture in Germany and the many visitors from surrounding countries makes it viable to get enough visitors to pay for the cost of building the layout (materials, models, labor etc.)
Rio Grande. The Action Road - Focus 1977-1983
Eh, I'm not impressed. J/k! The level of detail is just amazing. I would easily spend hours just trying to absorb all the action.
riogrande5761Naturally if potentially a few million were invested (just a wild guess), it would need to be part of the plan to recover the input expenses in ticket sales. Perhaps the culture in Germany and the many visitors from surrounding countries makes it viable to get enough visitors to pay for the cost of building the layout (materials, models, labor etc.)
It is certainly a million $ business, which is making a good profit. The capital investment to date runs up to about $ 16 - 18 million , out of which the airport alone was a stunning $ 4 million. Entrance fee is about $ 14.50, which, I think, is moderate and worth every single cent or penny! Senior citizens and children enjoy a noticable discount.
About 16 million people have visited it since it opened in 2001, an average of over 1 million each year. The vast majority is, of course, from Germany, followed by Austria, Switzerland, Denmark and the USA.
Annual sales revenues from fees and merchandise are in excess of $ 20 million, not a small business anymore. None of the other model train shows come anywhere close to these figures, nor the quality of the product.
MiWuLa is exactly what the name implies, a miniature wonderland. It is certainly not a model railroad as we understand the term.