AUGUST 2023 – Scaled model of the Riomaggiore train station in Cinque Terre in Italy, exhibited in the Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg, Germany. Photo © Mark Zanzig/zanzig.com
The story behind the image
This morning I shared a photo from the Miniatur Wunderland in Hamburg, Germany, who claims to be the world’s largest model railway. I pointed out how their model deviates from the real world, not to blame them but to make you aware of the small deviations that can happen when creating a scaled model of a real world object. These do not affect the awesomeness of the scene or the Miniatur Wunderland at all.
Here’s another example of their exhibition. This image is supposed to show the train station of Riomaggiore, a beautiful small village in the Cinque Terre region in Italy where the famous foot path called the Via dell’ Amore begins. (At the time of writing, it the foot path was closed due to safety concerns.)
When you travel to Riomaggiore you will probably arrive at the train station, and the model at the Miniatur Wunderland is an exact replica!
Oh wait… I spotted several tiny differences:
- In the model are two caves below the station where there is just one in the real world.
- The model features three tracks where there are just two in the real Riomaggiore.
- Hence, the entrance to the tunnel seems to be slightly larger in the model compared to reality.
- The platform in the model is located in the middle between the two tracks. Not so in the real world where you have the two tracks in the middle and separate platforms for each track.
- The building of the station is larger in reality and located on the left side; in the model it is on the right, near the entrance to the tunnel.
- The model shows further tracks above the train station. These are not present in the real world (but probably make the model more interesting for the visitors who expect a model railway and some model trains to rush by.)
Again – I’m not blaming the makers of the scaled model. These are truly artists but have to take difficult decisions concerning correctness and effort. Rather I want to draw your attention to the fact that a location that you believe to be a perfectly scaled model has indeed a number of tiny deviations that one will only spot when comparing it to the original in detail. (I was surprised by that thought.)
My conclusion? The Miniatur Wunderland is a stunning place that shows an overwhelming number of details and stories, and it is pure fun to discover these.
When in Hamburg, go visit the Wunderland!
The high resolution image
| Capture Date & Time | 11-AUG-2023, 18:42 |
| Location | Hamburg, Germany |
| Camera | Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo (SM-G903F) |
| ISO | 200 |
| Exposure | 1/8 sec at f/1.9 (HDR Program) |
| Digital Image Source Format | JPEG, 24 bits/pixel, sRGB |
| Edited Image Format | JPEG, 24 bits/pixel, sRGB |
| Edited Image Dimensions | 3190 x 2395 Pixels |
| Copyright | Model © by Miniatur Wunderland, Hamburg Photo © by Mark Zanzig/zanzig.com |
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