Never heard of this layout before!

Man, I thought I ran my trains fast!  Egad.

I've heard of Northlandz, think I first read about it in Railroad Model Craftsman magazine some years ago.

Pete

I've been there.  I thought the place was kinda creepy.

I went there back in 1998. The size and scope of the layout is like nothing I ever saw before. It was remarkable.

However, I remember being disappointed with the trains themselves. There were only two types of locomotives running when I was there; Mantua GP-20's and Mantua F7 A units (single unit only). Back then, Northlandz felt that these two units were the most reliable for all-day operation. There were some static area with nice looking stream-liners and Challengers, but none were running. 

There was also a small O gauge layout right in the middle of the tour, so that was a nice little surprise. 

Overall it was a pleasant visit.

That video is speeded up...the trains do NOT run that fast.

I absolutely abhor this video production technique! Evidently the producers of videos and TV programs that use this BS technique think that their viewers will find "normal" speed boring and uninteresting. I watched about 10 seconds of this video and that was enough. I'm sure it is a great layout, but that fast-action video was a complete and total turn-off for me.

I agree. I could watch a couple of hours at normal speed instead of 3+ minutes at this speed.

Rich, not to be argumentative...  but there's absolutely nothing wrong with that video technique.  However, like ALL special effects, it should be used sparingly -- and with a purpose -- rather than being the predominant "norm" throughout the entire video.  Otherwise, it gets old quickly.  

In modern television, I've best seen this effect on shows like CSI and Hawaii Five-O, and it works well when used properly. 

David

I agree Rich. You watched it longer than I did. 

I think someone did a commercial video on this layout, or at least included this layout as a segment of a layout video.  I seem to remember seeing it on RFDTV under the "I Love Toy Trains" show (which has shown non-TM videos under the title in the past).

Andy

We went there when it opened. The modeling of scenery is A1, Jim Policastro level. The trains however were mediocre at best. A better billing would be spectacular scenery with a few trains. No animation or automation at all, simple loops and few of these were even running when we were there. No automatic stops at station, crossing gates,block signals, street lamps,nothing like that. Electronics was limited to hooking a 50 watt HO transformer to a loop and running a train on it continuously. When an engine wore out it was not replaced,and they were not expensive makes. All diesel no steam at all.  It looked like a maintenance nightmare with dust accumulating. The owner then said everything was accessible but I could not see how. There is also an old pipe organ and a small Lionel layout.

All worth going once if you like scenery and modeling techniques,smoke and mirrors without the smoke. Mirrors are used to make things look bigger in places such as canyons and add depth. We visited when it was opened so I cant say how it is now years later.

Not to diminish the effort this was a great accomplishment and the owner should be praised but IMO this is not really a train layout,at least the way I think of one. For that the modular ones at Greenburg shows are much better if we are speaking about running trains.  The Choo Choo Barn blows it away with automation and special lighting effects.

Dale H

All I'll say is buyer beware.   I went to this place about 6 years ago and it was terrible.  Scenery in disrepair, dirty and hardly any trains running.   I will give them credit for giving me my money back but I would not take the time to go.

At the time I remember thinking "how could I live so close and never have heard of this place before"?  After visiting it was clear why I never heard of it.   

--Greg

It stikes me that Miniatur Wunderland sets the standard for both public train displays and high quality video production.

Rusty

But this place is in New Jersey.

and is largely a one man operation who serenades visitors on a pipe organ while you walk through his specially made train building.

(photographed about 15 yrs ago on old school 35mm)

my brother is an investor in this operation and helped doing everything from clearing land to laying track.  im very proud of him.  we lived about a mile from this.  we new the owner for years... Bob Anson, Jacksonville, FL

yes in NJ just north of Flemington on Route #202. the O guage layout in the middle was sponsored by Weaver models the last time I was there about 10 years ago... and this is nearby my house. The outdoor miniature train is nice at NOrthlandz and just a few miles down in Fleminton, NJ outlets, one can ride the Black River & Western RR... with their just rebuilt steam engine.

As one person told me, you should see any layout once yourself and form your own opinions.

It's in Flemington, NJ and was the world's largest until Miniture Wunderland' in Hamburg, Germany opened which is unbelieveable.

I found the scale size of the canyons and mountains way too unbelievable.  I was bored and couldn't get out of there fast enough.

Being a train guy, everyone I know always mentions it to me and I tell them my experience.

I think this destination would do well here in Jersey and give Northlandz a run for it's money

http://www.entertrainmentjunction.com

Even used in the silent movie days.

Ask Tom Mix

I wonder if they still have the huge restored theater organ.

The owner used to play for visitors on occasion.

I have never liked the effect and never used it. Charlie the reason silent movies looked like they were speeded up is because they shot most at 18 frames per second. Later when sound came in films were shot at 24. Most projectors only ran at 24 after sound so when a silent film was show it looked like it was running fast. Don

Many years ago, perhaps in the late 1980's, Bruce had an open house at his home in Flemington, NJ. for a charity.   You had to go to a bank on Rt 22 and school buses shuttled people to his home. He brought you down to his basement, which had about 5 or 6 additions built out the back of the house.

In the late 1990's I went to Northlandz for the first time. As I recall, it was basically two tremendous layouts, perhaps 4 stories high. You walked up a ramp and viewed the first layout from about 50 different vantage points, many looking through one way windows, so that people on the opposite side of the layout couldn't see you. Then you crossed over to the other side of the building at the top, and came down a ramp viewing the second layout in the same way. I seem to remember them saying it was about a mile walk to see the whole thing.

Bruce is a great guy!

Northlandz is not far from where I live. The first time I visited was 6 yearsago. And it was in some disrepair. Only one engine was pulling one car. I visited last year and it was better.

More trains were running, but still very short ones. Some of the track seems to demand some very slow order running. But the scenic detail is amazing.