Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Longest model train: Wilmington Railroad Museum set world record (Video)
WILMINGTON, NC, USA -- A group of Wilmington Railroad Museum volunteers built a model train that
was 920 feet long and could move under its own power with 34 locomotives and 1700 freight cars, traveling 750 feet
and setting the new world record for the Longest model train.
Photo: The World's Longest Model Train. (enlarge photo)
The Guinness world record record stands at 892 feet, 3 inches and was set by Miniatur Wunderland of Hamberg, Germany.
Guinness World Records also recognized the largest model railway engine: the Thomas the Tank Engine character 'James', which is 264.3 cm high, 149.6 cm wide, 652 cm long (104.05 x 58.59 x 256.69 in) and weighs nearly 1.5 tons (236.2 st).
After nearly one year and more than 3,500 hours of work, the modelers built a train that measured over 925 feet, breaking the previous world record held by the Germans of 892 feet.
The World's Longest model train also ran on its own power over 750 feet, breaking the requirement of 630 feet.
More than 1,700 cars are on the track.
Nearly 400 were donated from the community. For $25, folks could purchase a car to help fund the attempt; $100 bought an engine.
The model railroaders invested about 5000 hours of volunteer time for research, material acquisition, assembly, testing and calibration, layout fabrication, transportation and setup, monitoring and adjusting the train, and power design and distribution.
The core group of modelers was made up of about 30 men of all ages. They are thrilled to have broken the Guinness world record.
Staff of the Wilmington Railroad Museum said the goal was to raise awareness for the museum.
Related world records:
Largest miniature railroad: Miniatur Wunderland
Tallest structure built with Lincoln Logs: Ottawa students (Video)
Tallest Lego Tower: Brazil children (Video)
Largest ball of copper: Rick Fortin (Video)
Largest clay pot: Korea
Largest LEGO Mosaic: DK and the LEGO Group (Video)
Largest Ring Binder: Impact Enterprises Inc.
Largest dome igloo: Eric Ouellette and his team
Largest Snowball: University of Massachusetts Dartmouth students
Largest Magnetic Sculpture: Tim Szeto and Denis Saveliev
Longest Ski Hat: Gini Woodward
Largest Grand Piano: Daniel Czapiewski
Largest piece of handmade recycled paper: Ryan International school students
Largest Wallet: Big Skinny
Largest T-Shirt: QAPCO
Biggest luminous pearl: Six-ton Chinese 'pearl'
Longest attached rope of Silly Bandz: Boynton Beach students
Largest Toast Mosaic: Laura Hadland
Largest Photo Mosaic: Revoli Cortez
Longest Plasticine sculpture: Flair
Largest skateboard: California designers
Tallest Sand Sculpture: worldwide artists
Tuesday, April 26, 2011 |