COLLECTIONS
Model railways: the trains of the HZERO collection
EVERY YEAR THE DISPLAY CASES TELL A NEW STORY ABOUT THE RAILWAYS
The HZERO museum’s collection consists of model trains from various eras, most of which run on the museum’s model railway, while the remainder are displayed in the cases on the second floor. Thanks to a series of loans from private collectors, the second-floor cases are refreshed each year, offering an expanded perspective on the history of railways from different times and countries. Currently, the display features models renowned for their speed records and trains that have shaped the history of American railroads.
TRAINS WITH SPEED RECORDS
HISTORIC AMERICAN TRAINS
HANDCRAFTED MODELS
From the Japanese Shinkansen bullet train to the TGV, from the Settebello to the German ICE 4
The HZERO museum’s second-floor display cases take visitors on a journey around the world, highlighting trains that have set speed records.
Starting with the Japanese Shinkansen, known as the “bullet train,” which debuted in 1964 for the Tokyo Olympics to connect the capital to Osaka in just over three hours. On April 15, 2015, the Shinkansen Series L0 magnetic levitation train set the world rail speed record at 590 km/h. The showcase features the Shinkansen 0 Series model from 1964, in Z scale (1:220), produced by Atlas Editions Models, and the Shinkansen N700 Series model in N scale (1:160), produced by TOMIX.
From Japan to Italy with the ETR 300 “Settebello” (1952–1959), an icon of Made in Italy design with its unmistakable interiors by Gio Ponti and Giulio Minoletti. It reached speeds of 160–200 km/h on the Milan-Rome route and consisted of seven carriages, including two first-class observation lounges with panoramic windows. Traveling on the Settebello was a unique experience, comparable to that of the Orient Express. The showcase features an H0 scale (1:87) model produced by ACME, kindly lent by the Associazione Fermodellistica Pratese.
Next stop: France, with Le Capitole (SNCF, 1960), a high-speed train featuring a striking red livery that connected Paris Austerlitz and Toulouse Matabiau stations along a 713 km route, offering first-class-only service.The train was named in homage to the Capitole (Town Hall) in Toulouse. Beginning on May 28, 1967, this remarkable train reached speeds of 200 km/h, making it the only regular European service to achieve such speeds at the time, completing the journey in just six hours. The showcase features an H0 scale (1:87) model with a Roco locomotive and REE Models carriages, kindly lent by collector Alessandro Bottai.
We continue with France and the TGV (SNCF, 1981), known for its orange and silver livery. The carriages were designed with specific purposes: first-class passengers, technical equipment, and second-class passengers. This train reached speeds of up to 260 km/h, connecting Paris and Lyon in just 2 hours and 40 minutes. On display are the TGV 001 model in H0 scale (1:87), produced by Lima, and the TGV Duplex model in H0 scale (1:87), produced by Mehano.
The final stop is Germany with the ICE4 (DB AG, 1991). In the 1980s, the German railway company began investing in high-speed rail, and in 1985, the Intercity Express prototype ICE-V reached a speed of 406.9 km/h. From 1991, the fleet of white and red ICE trains entered service, connecting Germany to neighboring countries such as Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands, and Switzerland. The showcase features an H0 scale (1:87) model produced by PIKO.
The history of American railroads on display
The journey aboard American trains begins with the 20th Century Limited (1902), which ran from New York City to Chicago along the Hudson River. On June 15, 1902, it made its first trip in 20 hours, arriving three minutes ahead of schedule. By 1928, it was dubbed “the most profitable train in the world.” In 1938, the train underwent significant changes with the introduction of Art Deco-style designs by Brooklyn designer Henry Dreyfuss. The locomotives and passenger cars were given an aerodynamic appearance, a bullet-shaped nose, and a new blue and gray color scheme—the colors of New York City. The H0 scale (1:87) model on display was produced by MTH and kindly lent by collector Stefano Casini.
On the West Coast, we find the Super Chief, Santa Fe (1936), also known as the “Train of the Stars” for its Hollywood celebrity passengers. Its first trip from Los Angeles to Chicago took place on May 12, 1936. Entering regular service in 1937, it featured a red, yellow, and silver livery inspired by Native American headdresses. The H0 scale (1:87) model on display includes a locomotive produced by MTH and Walthers carriages, kindly lent by collector Stefano Casini.
A true classic follows: the Big Boy, Union Pacific (1941–1944), the world’s largest steam locomotive. Produced in 1941, its nickname originated from a chalk inscription left by a construction mechanic on its black livery. Union Pacific Railroad produced 25 coal-powered units, each with a 6,250-horsepower engine, designed to haul over 3,500-ton freight trains across the mountainous regions from Utah to Wyoming. These locomotives could reach speeds of 130 km/h but were retired after 20 years due to high coal costs. The H0 scale (1:87) model on display was produced by Rivarossi and acquired by the museum from Dario Paladini’s private collection.
Another model on display is the EMD G7 Locomotive (1949–1954), designed by Dick Dilworth to meet the demand for a 15,000-horsepower train with low production costs. The result was named GP (Geep or General Purpose), a versatile machine suitable for freight transport, passenger service, and general railway work. Between 1949 and 1954, 2,610 units were produced and operated across 74 railway networks. The H0 scale (1:87) model on display was produced by Life Like Trains, kindly lent and weathered by the museum’s model maker, Niccolò Fuso.
The exhibit also features numerous handcrafted brass models, including the Log Loader Crane, used by forestry companies to load logs onto freight trains; the Mallet Locomotive (Uintah Railway), named after the Swiss engineer who equipped these trains with two engines—one high-pressure engine on the frame and another at the front; the Shay Locomotive (West Side Lumber Co), patented in 1881 by Ephraim Shay, a professor, physicist, civil engineer, and lumberjack, to make timber transport easier without relying on snow sleds; and the Heisler Locomotive (West Side Lumber Co), a powerful and versatile machine designed for logging operations in mountainous areas and timber transport. All these models are in 0n3 scale (1:43) and have been kindly lent by collector Maurizio Pini.
