Impressive City Edge Layout and Cab Ride with American Model Trains

This amazing city edge model railway layout was built by German model railroaders. They were so fascinated by American trains, for example Conrail Trains or Amtrak Trains, that they have built a modular model railway layout. The main modules present the typical street life in America, a locomotive depot, backyards, side streets and a large railway line. In Germany, American model railroads are rare. But this layout convinces with a very realistic modeling style. Locomotives and trains are scratch built in a very impressive way. Even streets and houses are scratch built. Please, visit www.pilentum.de or www.pilentum.org for more information. Thank you.

[@michaelroark3263]

Amazing! I grew up with the real-life version in my childhood and youth and could not be more impressed.

[@auralfury]

great layout and attention to detail and weathering, no bright colors or "cartoony" looking figures. the lighting works well too..not too bright....superb!

[@ctatrains]

The detail is so mind boggling I've been coming back to it for years now.

[@rugmanal]

When I was fifteen I took the train from Pittsburgh to LA via Chicago. It was a journey I'll remember for my entire life. I'd love to do it again sometime.

[@JohnnySoundSTL]

Extraordinarily realistic. Their passion shows!

[@markfortin421]

WOW! What a stunning layout. It's one thing to look at it from 5ft. away...but when you shrink yourself down to the size of the layout...and everything is THIS perfect, I think you know what I'm saying. 👏 BRAVO, nice job!!

[@tubenxindel]

Hi PILENTUM, many thanks for the very impressing video. ... and @all....Yes we tried hard to put realistic scenery into the model layout. *Thomas, Elmar, Denis, Frank...the builders

[@tomsnyder5324]

Incredible detailing...they certainly captured the trash and filth under the overpasses....litter around the passenger station...really liked the catenary hardware.

[@matthewlaming4379]

If you squint your eyes while watching it looks even more real.

[@peterkingsley8736]

Amazing accuracy of detail. A slice of the American Empire at its height. And just enough distance from it to avoid the sentimentalizing of it. In its thoroughness and literal accuracy it is more German than American it seems to me. Bravo, Well done!

[@chribm]

Really nice layout, would love to see more details in the "city" scapes, but would also love to see more FPV runs over the full layout.

[@flammableorange70]

This is by far the most realistic layout I’ve seen

[@52kevoc]

I have never before seen such realism and attention to detail....even the weeds growing through and around the track is incredible....so good that I can't tell what the scale is. Well done indeed to the German modellers. Amazing !!

[@mandarin1257]

There is something so satisfying about a huge cargo train driving down a road, like some sort of crazy tram!

[@apostolicengineer2958]

Wow ! I operated the real Sperry Rail Service 129 in 1997 on a job from Sault Saint Marie Michigan across the UP, thru Blue Island Illinois to Hammond Indiana. A real treat to live on it and be awakened by a freight train going by 10 ft away at 40 mph.

[@chugwaterjack4458]

I have to point out that the human figures are the best looking I've seen on any layout. Many times the illusion of realism is destroyed when figures that look like Lego figures appear. Well done!

[@OregonRailfan83]

Awesome layout! The Northeast Corridor! In Germany! Cool! Thank you!!

[@jbmbryant]

Incredible videos of truly awe inspiring layouts. Much hard work on both. Thank you Pilentium!

[@pilentum]

Thanks for watching.

[@richardnalepa7300]

This is incredible! I grew up, and still live in the Buffalo area and the details are all there. The Conrail, Erie Lackawanna and NY Central are dead give aways among other details. So surreal to see on utube and from Germany to boot! Nice work indeed!

[@TheBobservations]

Impressive detail with power poles and lines. A+ work fellows.

[@kenhansen5750]

Magnificent and very well done. Thank you Germany!!!

[@wjsj69]

I don't know how people have the time to do such detailed work. I don't even have time to do the work I get paid to do! Mind blowing catenary on top of a phenomenal layout! Extra details I noticed: all automobiles are period correct, no shaking of rolling stock which shows perfect trackwork, perfect scale speed control!

[@applicareinc]

Excellent camera work capturing this astounding masterpiece. Thanks.

[@ryanhulsey3460]

This is possibly the best MRR video I have ever watched; it just drips with flavor.

[@thomasmarolda186]

Amazing detail and kudos to German ingenuity making me a proud German / Italian living in the USA!

[@plymouth-hl20ton37]

I'm almost speechless awesome impressive understatement is the word I should say someone must have spent a lot of time in the United States

[@HROM1908]

If it wasn't for those giant humanoids looking on I would have thought I was in the real world. Amazing work.

[@jimkhata6847]

i am so impressed.The attention given to even the smallest detail is phenomenal. Beautiful video.

[@rugmanal]

I like to watch these types of videos. I try to name all of the cars and trucks in the layout. This layout is so realistic. Fantastic!

[@electricrails]

Excellent model presentation of the North East Corridor. It brings me back to my youth of the early 80's.

[@tracedehaven2190]

I loved the attention to details from that era too, and I noticed references to the Philadelphia region in here. The office buildings on the backdrop, even the Wilmington Shops! Loved the side-by-side of a Metroliner and an old MU unit. Those old MU's were still running on commuter service in the early 80's when I first started taking those trains regularly. And a nod to Germany with the ubiquitous VW Buses. Very nicely done, thanks. Where is this layout located, I would love to visit there some day?

[@denismay6011]

I've been involved in the Hobby must be at least 40 years, yes I am An Old Fart now,. I have been in N Scale all that time but nothing I've seen beats this for detail, running smoothly and all I can say is superb job Guys. Bravo indeed. Cheers from Australia, Denis.

[@pilentum]

Cheers from Germany to Australia !!!

[@stephaniesinger1159]

Outstanding! Thrilling and rare to see GG1s running under catenary... Super job...!

[@scottwoods9141]

WOW!! Your artistic skills and workmanship are superb. Great Work.

[@gunlokman]

Wow! The attention to detail is simply astounding!

[@OtterCreek]

Beautiful layout!! Thanks for sharing, this and a good cup of coffee has made my whole day and filled me with inspiration!!

[@tjcassidy2694]

Very, very impressive. It looks just like Amtrak corridor from Newark to DC, circa 1975.

[@WWIIREBEL]

This layout is fantastic!. Though...besides the Pennsy MP-54's....it could use a few Reading Lines MU coaches(Blueliners) , cruising around,lol.

[@oglemansviews675]

It's hard to believe this wasn't built by US model railroaders. They captured our look so well in their layout.

[@golf103184]

One of the best model railways I ever seen.

[@amtrakseptaguy11]

Awesome layout they have beautifully created a Philly/Jersey-esqe north east scene!

[@DisVietVetUSA]

Fantastic Centenary, it would be nice to see railroad modelers add a touch of realism to their electrified railroads

[@Yanik29]

Un régal pour les yeux! Ah, si j'avais de la place chez moi... Pourquoi les "dislike"?

[@pilentum]

Pourquoi les "Dislikes" - Je ne sais pas.

[@glendenig9962]

Absolutely impeccable layout in every way. Outstanding!

[@tunesmith7437]

FANTASTIC.

[@nelsonmelamund1225]

Speechless except to say, Bravo!

[@TheChicagoL]

A layout where the pantographs actually touch the catenary. That definitely adds to the realism of an already beautiful layout. BTW, are the catenaries live??

[@pilentum]

Nope, the catenary does not live :-)

[@manuelmelchizedek4309]

Amazing art work ,the scenery the buildings the people. Half million dollars I bet .

[@CarlLjungquist]

Outstanding workmanship! Well thought out plan. It seems Germans have always had great attention to detail, and it shows. Love the subtle aging of the locomotives and railcars. Good work!

[@bobbyslater1198]

Interesting camera angle of the oncoming trains.

[@60s70sTheBest]

OUTSTANDING layout! I love the catenary system.

[@juanmanuelvc7851]

Que belleza 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻gracias por compartir

[@joelvale3887]

excellent attention to details.

[@johneastman1905]

Nicely done with all the care and attention to the catenary power lines ~ GG1 et all .

[@hugomartinez5531]

Excelente video gracias felicidades

[@alcopower5710]

Outstanding detail

[@liveti1till160]

Happy to see a railroad that includes interurban.

[@alialekperov1003]

Super model!!!! Mersi PILENTUM!!!!👍👍👍👌👌👌

[@TheGreatTimSheridan]

Truly excellent work. Like a dreamscape of Philadelphia or Baltimore.

[@jonathanbrewer8979]

I worked on the Northeast Corridor for Amtrak in the late 70's and early 80's. You have modeled this perfectly !!! On my next trip through Germany I would hope to visit your wonderful layout... Please add data as to location and contact info...

[@pilentum]

Hi Jonathan! Pilentum Television filmed this model railway layout at the international model railway exhibition Eurospoor in Utrecht. Unfortunately, there is no contact data.

[@rogberube6422]

Great layout. Great video. Wow!

[@xpaczynosxpaczynos7897]

powiem tak lepszej sieci trakcyjnej nie widziałem nigdy w życiu moja się kryje z porównaniu z wykonaniem tej tu Ale jedyny plus u mnie jest taki że pantograf sunie po niej cały czas duży kciuk w górę za film.

[@gunnyusmc8412]

Well done on the camera, and beautiful layout unbelievable

[@SleeTheSloth]

Great video, great layout! WOOOOOOO!

[@davidcurtis5398]

Wow beautiful. Is the overhead actually running the train or is it just for looks??? If not someone went to a lot of work to make this so good...Several GG1 engines that are beautiful.

[@normg2242]

Your shooting and editing is just as amazing as the railroad layouts you are presenting. A perfect match!

[@SaeedAhmed-vo4hr]

Wow...superb model railway, with esqusite attention to detail.

[@TerryMcGearyScotland]

Nice shots looking from the rear of the front train to the engine following! (I will need to bring planty Blu Tak and speak nicely to someone at the next exhibition!)

[@jcpjean-claude4446]

magnifique réalisation . Un pur plaisir de la visionner . Merci pour le postage . Bravo pour la qualité du film.

[@bartobruintjes7056]

For the best model trains just visit Germany.

[@raymondleggs5508]

I love GG1!

[@philrabe910]

I can't believe the cantanary is functional! it's literally a whole 'nuther layer of complexity.

[@franciscosantos9874]

Muy bien, fantástico !!!

[@Gordonseries385]

nice detail need to water my plants

[@fredaycott5283]

Great train layout. Love the Amtrak Metroliner. Pilentum, would love to hear a longer version, of your music opening. Sounds nice.

[@pilentum]

The opening music is just a sequence of three chords that I played on the piano.

[@hartmutlorentzen9659]

Eine fantastische Anlage und ein beeindruckendes Video! Danke

[@TerryMcGearyScotland]

Hey 4:00 'Burton's Biscuits Co'. My mum and dad (sadly both passed on...)used to work there! Well it was in Edinburgh, Scotland so perhaps not the same :) Lovely steady camera work again. I am getting closer to starting this as a hobby perhaps with my grandson who is almost 4 years old. Maybe too young? My next KZbin might be my own set! Those must be very dangerous prisoners in the Conrail trucks! ;)

[@bobbyslater1198]

I've heard those biscuits were delicious too.

[@junsoopark5758]

awsome!!!!!!!

[@rccosplay3249]

Awesome layout! Great stuff, keep up the good work.

[@sergiotorelli4825]

simply divine ......

[@michaelglass4701]

Loooooooove this layout.

[@Eric.Ramirez.]

A pacer car 😍

[@johnrettig1880]

Except for the occasional child's voice the adults in the background blind in well with some of the scenery especially where you can see work crews .

[@ThePaulv12]

It is amazing. At least the equal to Bill Kachel's HO PRR Railroad. I can't exactly guess the date but estimate circa 1978 to be the era. BTW, whoever did the filming did a really, really good job! The out of focus background shots are almost voyeuristic in the way that fixates prototype rail enthusiasts. I particularly like the 4 track scene around 1:10. As with Bill Kachel's layout, the catenary and wire on the poles is fascinating to me. I don't suffer Asberger's Syndrome but I find myself wondering if I'm on the spectrum when I see vids like this ... Again, well done! Love it - absolutely love it.

[@vettebecker1]

Very nicely done, looks amazing. Great Job

[@michelj.gaudet5048]

I really like that you thought to add the cross-star filter to your camera lens_ GOOD TOUCH!!! :-) I think it always looks best to have the points of light looking like little stars, so-to-speak.

[@pilentum]

Thank you.

[@hovermotion]

Stunning........fantastic camera work and editing as always...jim....

[@johnallen9593]

Exquisite.

[@waggywaagg719]

Finally pantographs up!!!

[@RobS49120]

Well done!

[@Bruno.Trains]

Superbe ! un travail magnifique !

[@towcat]

Surprised at the Amfleets they're using. The old Walthers cars look good from afar and when operated at speed, but are meh up close.

[@TomCro2022]

Great video! Beautiful models! Good work! Up Greetings Tomislav

[@regisbrooks8064]

Nice module and AMTRAK passengers car's n GG 1s and weathered 🚆 train's and buildings looks like the prototype. God blessed your family n friends and club members Excellent job. Let me know if you can help me out with some locomotives and 🚆 I am n a model railroad club but no train show. I have one CN T4 intermountain locomotive. N passengers car's AMTRAK

[@Vaderd2k926]

Wow! Was that a red AMC Pacer towards the end?

[@pilentum]

Yes, the real AMC Pacer !!!

[@xpaczynosxpaczynos7897]

oczywiście sceneria i ujęcia piękne pzdr

[@trsgringo]

The detail is remarkable. Only in Germany...

[@pilentum]

No, there are so many superb layouts in the Netherlands or in Belgium, for example.

[@shinkicker404]

What is that thing on the rear flatbed at 1:45?

[@brianfowler5064]

What is the grade % in the opening shot?

[@DrZ99]

Looks like the Northeast Corridor between NJ & DC.

[@MarkHenstridge]

WTF did something fall off a passing train on to the track at the 5.05-minute mark, it could have caused a nasty and costly derailment.