Beautiful Model Train Diorama of a Mine Railway - Morenci Mine US Model Railroad

Published on May 10, 2026

Dutch model railroader Leo Bettonviel likes American model trains. Therefore, he constructed a model railroad layout that depicts the “Morenci Mine”, a large copper mine located near Morenci, Arizona, in the United States during the 1930s. The model railway layout is built on an area of approximately one square meter and extends one meter in height.

To achieve the greatest possible sense of depth in this small space, the railroad tracks are laid out in different gauges. In the foreground, there is a steam locomotive on a O gauge track. The mine trains runs on O14 gauge tracks. The model trains crossing a bridge in the background run on HO gauge tracks. O14 is a set of model railway standards for accurately modeling 2 feet (610 mm) narrow-gauge railways in 1/43.5 (7 mm scale) using 14 mm (0.551 in) gauge track.

Leo Bettonviel did not only choose the precise scale-to-gauge combination for narrow-gauge railways, but he also built his miniature world with a great deal of attention to detail, resulting in museum-quality. In particular, support beams and round timbers used in tunnel portals, buildings, and bridges are worth mentioning.

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWZHV5v0o_k

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