Mendrisio becomes small railway centre
The small town of Mendrisio in canton Ticino has a new attraction for rail enthusiasts of all ages - Switzerland's first model train museum.
More than 8,000 model trains are being exhibited in the museum, which is near the town's railway station. Some are on display in glass cabinets, but many are working models and can be operated by visitors.
The museum is called the Baumgartner Gallery - named after its founder, Bruno Baumgartner, who is planning to set up the world's biggest permanent collection of model trains. At present, all the exhibits are from his private collection.
Baumgartner also aims to make his gallery much more than a museum. The building will be used for conferences about miniature railways, auctions and exchanges of models and a major library of books on the subject.
swissinfo with agencies
http://www.galleriabaumgartner.ch
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