History
Sometimes a hobby gets a little out of hand. At Bernard Buesink’s from Aalten, it has even completely derailed. What started with building handy scale models that still fit neatly in a display case, ended with the Austrian model Railway Panorama; A mountain landscape of 250 m2 in scale 1,22.5 in the backyard. Complete with railway, a city, roads, ski lifts, mountain river, a lake, bridges, etc.. For a few years Buesink only let his family and friends enjoy his hobby, but in 1979 Bernard opened the model railway for the first time for public after a tip from a acquaintance. This turned out to be such a success that, together with the tourist office in Aalten, he decided to open the model railway to the public on Sunday afternoon.
However, it did not stop at building only a model railway track. Shortly after this, Bernard Buesink started building an even bigger train. The result was three locomotives of which the longest was 5.50 m, and six wagons, one of which worked as a vacuum cleaner to keep the track of 300 meters long clean.
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These trains made it possible for the visitors to be driven around. Due to circumstances, however, this came to an end. Bernard didn't think it was a bad thing afterwards. Because sometimes as many as 600 visitors came in on a Sunday afternoon, because of the many media interest. This was a bit too much. At the end of 1989 Bernard stopped the narrow gauge ribbon, after which he sold almost all the material in 1998 to Familie restaurant 't Noorden in Aalten. Here you can still see the trains, and ride them as usual.
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In 2006 Bernard's last train was made roadworthy again. Until the end of October 2015, it ran in the forest near Buesink’s backyard on a rail of about 80 meters and was given the name Bos-Express since 2013. Children and adults could take a ride for a small fee. Unfortunately, the plot with the model railway had to be sold, which meant that this beautiful track came to an end. Ramon (Bernard's grandson) hopes to continue the life's work of grandfather in a new beautiful place so that Bernard's passion and greatest hobby will continue to exist.
Scale
The model railway panorama is a model railway, built by Bernhard Buesink, in an open air landscape.
He has chosen to work with different scale sizes to create depth. Scale 1.22.5 also called for connoisseurs LGB format is the most used. LGB; Lehmann Gross Bahn is a German model railway brand that originated in 1968.
History
Bernard Buesink in his miniature town
Maintenance
In the spring we are always busy cleaning the model railway. Remove all the leaves that have fallen from the trees and then clean all algae from the mountains with the pressure washer. Then you can start painting the mountains and roads. Houses are also slowly being rebuilt. These houses are put under a roof every autumn, for the winter. This all takes 2 months. Before the model Railway opens on Sunday, we go around with the vacuum cleaner, every Saturday to remove all the small leaves and sand. At the same time, the houses are also dusted off because sand has often been splashed against them by the rain. Every Sunday before 2 pm some small things are cleaned and checked and finally the trains are put back in place.
About us
The model railway panorama Aalten was the Netherlands' oldest open LGB model railway in the open air with a unique landscape formed by Austrian, Southern German and Swiss theme, full of fun funny details. Unfortunately, our railway had to close in October 2015. Bernard Beusink had to move due to circumstances and the house and land where our railway had been established had to be sold. Unfortunately, the model railway is closed now. In the future it will be opened at a new location. At the moment we are busy thinking out and designing everything in and around the railway. We hope to start working on a new piece of land around the end of September. Do you have or know an easily accessible and beautiful location for us in the municipality of Aalten? We'd love to hear it!
As the name suggests, a model railway in a panoramic landscape that is entirely situated in Austrian, Swiss and Southern German atmospheres. You will really feel on holiday when you visit us. There are many details that make the model railway come to life. You will find a real dam, chairlift, castles, residents and of course many trains. But there is also a big city where many small and funny details are hidden. You will discover something new with every round you walk and sometimes wonder if it was already there. There are also fun activities for the children. For example, a number of push buttons have been placed so that they can, among other things, activate the cable car or let the H0 train drive around. You can also go on a treasure hunt. This one is fun for everyone and there is always something to win, such as a nice photo or a trainride in our forest express. This model railway was opened in 1979 and is a great attraction for the municipality of Aalten. The model railway panorama is therefore one of the oldest open model railways in the Netherlands on this scale.
