All Baumgartner Gallery in Mendrisio A record-breaking model railway model was inaugurated, created by the Historischer Modellbahnof Rothenburg (HMbR) association. It is a faithful reproduction, in 1:87 scale, of the Rothenburg railway station, which is located along the Lucerne-Olten line, in the Canton of Lucerne. This meticulous reproduction, which faithfully recreates the station and the surrounding landscape as they were in the summer of 1996 is the longest model of a railway station in the world.
With a length of 28 meters and a width of 9 meters, this ambitious project features over 2,3 kilometers of track. Every detail, from the technical infrastructure to the rolling stock, faithfully reflects the state of the real railway line in 1996. The locomotives and carriages in the model correspond exactly to those that operated along the line at that time, offering a glimpse into a historic moment in Swiss rail transport.
A technical masterpiece: the details of the model
The model of Rothenburg station is not only impressive in size, but also in the care with which it was created. In addition to the station itself, two large support stations were built, each with around twenty tracks. A total of 2 meters of track were laid and 365 switches installed.
For visitors, a complete lap around the model railway covers a real distance of 170 metres, which corresponds to almost 2 kilometres in scale. The trains travel at a maximum speed in scale of 110 km/h on straight sections, and between 40 and 50 km/h in stations. Completing a complete lap without intermediate stops takes about 12 minutes.
The layout was made operational using components from well-known manufacturers such as Roco, Märklin/Trix, HAG, Piko and Fleischmann, among others. In total, the exhibit includes over 60 locomotives and more than 150 passenger and freight cars. Operation is fully digitalized using advanced electronic systems, including ESU decoders for controlling switches and sensors for detecting the position of trains.
A work of passion: the history of plastic
The creation of this model railway was born from the passion and dedication of the HMbR association, a group of enthusiasts who wanted to preserve the railway situation of Rothenburg before the major modernization works. Through a meticulous reconstruction of the station and its landscape, the group has immortalized a moment in the railway history of the region, offering detailed and nostalgic documentation.
Lorenzo Baumgartner, director of the Baumgartner Gallery, stressed that this project required several years of work. “The model was transported from the Canton of Lucerne to Mendrisio, where all the necessary connections were redone, the mechanical, analog and digital control systems were updated, and some essential technical adaptations were implemented. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Franz Oesch, president of the HMbR association, Heinrich Haas and his collaborators, as well as Riccardo Veri, president of the Club Amici Fermodellisti di Chiasso, and Luca Guerrieri, for making this record-breaking work possible,” concluded Baumgartner.
During the opening days, visitors will have the rare opportunity to access the exclusive internal area of the model, to observe the details up close and fully appreciate the grandeur of the work.
To celebrate the baptism of this extraordinary model railway, the Baumgartner Gallery will remain open every day from today – October 7 – until October 13, from 9:30 to 17:30.
The History of the Baumgartner Gallery
Founded by Bruno Baumgartner (1930-2015) and his passion for railways and model railways, the Baumgartner Gallery has become a destination for enthusiasts from all over the world. Bruno’s passion for model trains began in 1938, when he received his first model train as a gift. From that moment on, his collection grew to include thousands of pieces, many of which are displayed on scale models of real and imaginary landscapes.
The gallery, inaugurated in 2001, is spread over three floors and occupies an exhibition area of over 2.300 square meters. Since then, hundreds of thousands of visitors have been able to admire the history of model railways. Currently, the collection has more than 4.000 pieces, some of which are still functioning on scale models. The Baumgartner Gallery also houses a museum section dedicated to the history of the Swiss Post, with iconic objects from the PTT era.
