Flemington, New Jersey is a town that is situated about halfway between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and New York City, New York. It is one of the places where you can board the Black River and Western Railroad, and one of the old train stations is now a bank. The town is not known to be a tourism town, but it is the home of a very great attraction.
Welcome to Northlandz, home of a large model train display.
Some of you are saying, “Not again. It is just another one of those model train displays. The trains go around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around and around. It is the same old thing.”
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Northlandz. As mentioned, it is the home of an exceptionally large model train display. You pay your admission. Then you enter to see the display. You see a model train yard. Train go through just like any other train display. It is structures just like any other model train display. It has scenery just like any other model train display.”
Some of you are saying, “Just like I said. It is just another model train display. The people who built this thing says that this is different from anything you have ever seen before. The problem is that it is just like the others. Go to a local train show. You will see what you see at this place.”
Why come to Northlandz? Why travel to this town in New Jersey? It has trains just like any other model train display. It has structures and scenery like any other train display. Therefore, it is a waste of time to travel to this place.
If that is what you are thinking, welcome to Northlandz.
As mentioned, you first see a train yard. You see cliffs but wait. You see train tracks. Trains go by. You continue to a lake. The lake becomes a stream. The stream flows between two high cliffs where the trains run alongside. You look up. You see bridges. You see more bridges. Then, you see tunnels and bridges. You see towering scenery with trains and trains and bridges. Then there is a huge valley with bridges and trains.
Do you still think that this is one of those model train displays?
This model train display is huge. How huge? The walking path that takes you to every section to see every part of this display… is about three miles long. It is on three levels. There is eight miles of track, four hundred tunnels, over one thousand buildings, over one hundred bridges and two hundred fifty thousand trees, and there are sixty trains running at one time. Yes, it is that big. Make sure that your camera is fully charged and that your card has plenty of space. You will be taking plenty of pictures. There are great shots at every turn.
Some of you are saying, “Is it really this big?”
So, you need evidence. Is there any evidence? If there is any evidence, where can you go to get it? Ladies and gentlemen, the evidence is easy to get. All you need is a copy of the Guinness Book of World Records. Yes, we are talking about that Guinness Book of World Records, the book that contains, of course, world records. This display holds the world record for the longest laid HO scale track in the world and the world’s largest miniature wonderland.
Some of you are saying, “Wow! That is incredible. I know that it took hundreds of people to build this thing.”
When you see this thing, you may think that… but you will be wrong. This whole display is the work of one man: Bruce William Zaccagnino. It took five years to build working sixteen-hour days. What began in his home was eventually moved into the current structure today. It appears as if you are looking at a theater or maybe a hotel, but when you go inside, you will see a great show, and you will find this place a great place to stay. Today, Bruce is less involved with the display and has put Northlandz under new management who is keeping this great attraction open for many generations to see.
Along with the model trains, there is also an organ which Bruce plays in a theater, named the Great American Theater, (as mentioned, it looks like a theater on the outside) with a large chandelier to give it the grand theater look. It is home to the Doll Museum that features his wife’s doll collection where dolls and doll houses are displayed, and art gallery, old model trains on display, a play area for the kids and a full-scale outdoor train. Be advised that you, friends, and family are going to enjoy your visit.
Northlandz is located northeast of Flemington, New Jersey on U.S. Route 202. The address is 495 U.S. Highway 202. Admission is required. Parking is on site. It is open from 10:00am to 6:00pm and closed on Tuesdays. You can get more information at www.northlandz.com, and you can also read more about Bruce Zaccagnino and how he built the display millions enjoy today.
Do you need to escape? Go to Northlandz in Flemington, New Jersey where you will find yourself in a whole new world… of trains.
John Cowgill: Stories of the Railroad 