Model Trains in a Miniature World: Exploring LEGO World in the Netherlands

Last year, thirteen train enthusiasts brought their love of trains and LEGO bricks to the Netherlands’ largest LEGO event. Meticulously crafted trains traveled through magnificent scenery for an entire week as guests came and went. We talked to Enrico from the Lowland LEGO Model Train Club about their display and experience at LEGO World.

The Scale of LEGO World

Geneva: What is LEGO World?

Enrico: LEGO World Utrecht in the Netherlands can be considered one of the largest LEGO events in the world. With up to 17,000 visitors a day, this 7-day-long event draws in a massive crowd. Among the many LEGO-related creations on display, one of the most unique is the LLMTC train layout. This year, LLMTC members went all out with one of their largest displays yet.

Geneva: That sounds massive. Who exactly is behind the LLMTC?

Enrico: The LLMTC (Lowland LEGO Model Train Club) has been around for more than seven years. And the yearly recurring LEGO World is one of their main events. The group consists of 13 LEGO train builders in the Netherlands, all building LEGO trains in 1:45 scale with matching layouts.

These layouts are built according to the MILS modular standard. Therefore, they are able to connect the individual parts at each event plus there is a possibility to (somewhat) easily rearrange the configuration of the layout. At each event they attend, their layout is always set up in a unique way.

Building a World in Motion

Geneva: So with a group like that, I imagine the layout gets ambitious. What did you bring this year?

Enrico: Each member of the LLMTC built his own unique layout, and for LEGO World, the goal was to connect all those layouts together into one massive group display, with an added bonus to make it very difficult for visitors to determine where one section stops and the next begins. Together, all sections make for a nice and realistic-looking landscape for the LEGO trains to traverse.

Layout plan for the Train Club’s LEGO World display

The layout this year consisted of a double-track mainline and a single-track branch line, plus an overpass on the mainline, allowing trains to take different routes. The branch line starts at the Viaduct; combined with a mirror, this creates the optical illusion of greater depth in the layout.

After this, the train would enter a beautifully made typical Dutch landscape, with of course a windmill! This windmill works as well. 

After that, the train would pass through a dyke and move along some typical Dutch tulip fields—this was the heritage section of the layout. 

Next up are some large factories with a shunting area. This section gives enough “playing” options for shunting action. Trains would drop off wagons, rearrange them, or pick up new ones. 

After that, the train would once more enter the mainline near Station Eerbeek. This was also the end stop for the Branch line. 

Station Eerbeek has multiple shunting possibilities as well, with connecting factories attached by track to the station. These factories were built by different builders, but it was extremely hard to tell which section was built by whom! From here, the double-headed mainline would continue past the station in front of an impressive Dutch mansion and farms, with a new overhead track under construction.

This is followed by some Dutch polder landscape—yes, flat and boring, just like the real-life version—after which the track would start to climb. At the start of the incline, there is a steam locomotive depot with a working turntable, maintenance shed, and water and coaling installation.

The tracks continue to climb and after a long curve enter Linderei Station, a replica of an old German station that fictionally could have been built on the border between the Netherlands and Germany.

After this station, the double-track overpass starts. This massive and impressive overpass gave the trains the opportunity to drive back to the staging yard or continue their way up to the massive ramp to the end station!

This station with its elevated track is located in a massive city. Typical Dutch architecture is combined with lots of recognizable details.

A Week on Display

Geneva: With something running at that scale for a full week, what was it actually like on the ground?

Enrico: The layout was on display for a full week at LEGO World! Such a long time takes a toll on both the members of the LLMTC and on their trains. By the end of the week, it was a common sight to either see broken down trains and rolling stock at the staging yard or an occasional member taking a quick nap!

Geneva: That kind of coordination doesn’t happen overnight. How long were you planning and building for this?

Enrico: Most members attend LEGO World every year with a different layout, so including planning about a year.

Geneva: And how did visitors respond once they saw it all in motion?

Enrico: Reactions were great, we try to interact as much as possible with the visitors and talk about the layout and the trains running on it. We always get a lot of questions about where to buy these sets (which is not possible, of course, they are all MOCs). Visitors vary widely in age and interests. Some are TFOLs and AFOLs, some are train enthusiasts, and some are day trippers doing something fun with the kids during their school holidays.

Geneva: One detail that really stands out is the backdrop. How did you approach that, and who was responsible for it?

Enrico: Asseldonk prepares our backgrounds. They are made of hardboard panels, and he paints them by hand. We use 3D printed brackets and supports to keep them in place. It’s a great solution for a layout as big as ours. Of course, we would like to do these backgrounds in bricks, but we would need crazy amounts of bricks to do that, and would have to rebuild them for each event. For cost and practicality, this is the best solution for us.

All in all, it was an incredible week for us, and we’re already looking forward to bringing something new to LEGO World next year.

Is this the largest LEGO train display you’ve ever seen? Let us know in the comments below!

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