Visit EPCOT and explore World Showcase and eventually one will come across model trains at the Germany pavilion. These miniaturized (that aren’t so tiny) trains and their surroundings bring to life German countryside and town scenes in a way that guests can see up close as they walk around and through the setup. The trains are Lehmann Gross Bahn G-Scale (1:24). They made their debut at EPCOT in 1995 during the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival.
There are quite a lot of fun details to be found throughout the model train setup. Look closely at the village along one of the three train routes and little banners and other decorations can be seen celebrating whatever Festival or holiday happens to be celebrated at the time at EPCOT. There are many other details that help bring the Bavarian village and countryside together. This includes people, houses, shops, the village square, and the church in the village. As one explores out beyond the village there are trees, foliage, tunnels, and country buildings to be found along the rails. Visiting on different days can sometimes lead to seeing different trains traveling the rails as well. Some of these trains replicate the look and feel of classic steam engines and others of diesel. There are both freight and passenger trains to be found. They also replicate different eras of trains at times as well with different cars found getting pulled around the pavilion.
There is a path that cuts through the middle of the train setup called “the Romantic Road.” It was named after the Romantic Road in Germany which runs between its Würzburg and Füssen regions. The actual Romantic Road takes travelers on a journey through some of Germany’s most beautiful villages and countryside. The Germany Pavilion version does a similar thing but in miniaturized form as guests walk through the village and “mountains” found at this part of the World Showcase.
During the 2022 EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival, the following video was taken. It is 15 minutes of model train video that gives a fairly comprehensive look at all of the different areas of the attraction. This includes the village, the countryside, and each of the three rail lines found at the Germany Pavilion.
Originally the train was set to be a temporary attraction. However, its popularity has seen it stay at the Germany pavilion for nearly two decades. At one point, guests could go into a shop next door and purchase their own trains to take home with them. This is no longer the case but G-Scale trains can still be found online or at a local model or train store. Mr. Daps has this gauge train in his backyard. It has grown and evolved through the years as his garden has. Here is a recent video of it:
What do you think of Germany Pavilion’s model train setup? Do you stop and check it out when visiting EPCOT at Walt Disney World Resort? What is your favorite part of it? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments below!
