Miniature Railroad & Village® Frequently Asked Questions

How do the boats work?

Our boats are controlled with magnets. Magnets located on the bottom of each boat correspond to opposing magnets mounted on a geared chain and sprocket system mounted under the river. Magnetic attraction pulls the boats through the water.

Is that real water?

Yes, our river is approximately 3 inches deep.

How big is the Miniature Railroad & Village®?

The platform is 83 feet long by 30 feet wide.

How many trains are there?

This figure varies because more than one locomotive can run on each track. Generally 4 trains and 1 trolley operate at one time.

What are the trees made of?

The deciduous model trees and most of the bushes are made from a wildflower called wild hydrangea that we harvest each autumn. For the exhibit each year, we collect hundreds of thousands of flower tops from dried hydrangea plants. The hydrangea plant grows on rocky banks and moist wooded ravines, particularly along the steeper slopes of creek beds.

Each tree is painstakingly handmade by twisting a copper wire to shape the tree's main trunk and then the limbs. Remember, no two trees are alike. Our artists try hard to make each model tree slightly different. When a flower top is completely dried, it is ready to be placed in pieces onto the bare tree with hot glue. The tree is painted green, orange or even ocher depending on the season. Finally the trunk and branches are carefully coated with a layer of hot beeswax to simulate bark. A single tree can take hours or even an entire day to make. Hundreds of thousands appear on the display.

What scale is the exhibit?

"O" Scale: 1/4 inch equals 1 foot.

How are the historical replicas constructed?

After a particular historic structure is chosen, our staff begin their research, seeking out as much historical documentation as possible including blueprints. Detailed measurements and many photographs are taken for study and reference in the creation of scale architectural drawings.

Because most of our replicas are unique, it is rare that we find ready-made construction materials. Imagination is key. One of the most unusual building materials ever used was angel hair pasta, which was used to replicate a fine ivy design on the front porch of a Liverpool St. row house. Each model is carefully constructed to duplicate the original in all ways.

How do the animated features work?

Many simple machines are at work under the display to control the animations. Each of the nearly 100 animations on the exhibit is independently controlled by its own motor and an arrangement of gears or cams connected to a small wire drive shaft. This mechanism directs the desired movement. Great care is taken to hide the mechanics so that the magic of the illusion is maintained.

What is the best way to view the Miniature Railroad and Village®?

Slowly ... and from a low perspective. Children who are the same height as the display enjoy the most magical view of all. The exhibit staff are careful to put in place things that can only be enjoyed from such a child's view.