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What's unexpected is just how many buildings, peaks, tunnels and bridges actually make up Northlandz.

To describe Northlandz as a model railroad would be a bit like calling the Grand Canyon just a hole in the ground. While technically accurate, it doesn't begin to hint at its size, scale and scope. Northlandz, you see, isn't just a model railroad. It's the world's largest model railroad, filling a 52,000-square-foot building located just outside of downtown Flemington.

Everything you'd expect from a model railroad is there: tiny buildings, majestic peaks and trains that zip through tunnels, around curves and over meticulously constructed bridges. What's unexpected is just how many buildings, peaks, tunnels and bridges actually make up Northlandz.

Bruce Williams Zaccagnino, Northlandz's owner and creator, can recite the attraction's mind-boggling statistics off the top of his head. More than 50,000 feet of track. Up to 90 trains running at any given time. A landscape made out of 200,000 pounds of plaster. More than 4,000 miniature buildings and roughly 400 bridges.

Northlandz is so big, in fact, that it must be displayed in increments, with a walkway taking guests around, through and even above the elaborate landscapes. Small signs point out visitors' progress along the route ("You are now 2 percent through the tour"), as well as the names of individual areas within the model, such as Mansion Row, Iron Valley and Atlas Canyon.

Throughout Northlandz, eagle-eyed visitors can pick out a wealth of details. A stunt plane doing flips above a mountain range, leaving cottony curlicues in its wake. An amusement park, replete with wooden roller coaster, carousel and Ferris wheel. A parade heading down a miniature Main Street, marching band and all. Everywhere you look are remnants of a bygone era. Telephone booths. General stores. Downtown movies theaters showing "The African Queen."

The 3299 comes 'round the mountain at the Northlandz model railroad museum in Flemington.Steve Hockstein 

It's a heaping slice of Americana that accomplishes the nifty feat of making visitors simultaneously feel as large as giants and as small as little kids.

That's not surprising, seeing how Zaccagnino first became fascinated with toy trains while playing with them around the Christmas tree as a young boy. The hobby stuck with him into adulthood and, when his first home was being built in 1972, Zaccagnino made sure to include space in his basement for a model railroad.

As that railroad grew, so did his basement. Soon, he started opening the display to paying guests twice a year, with the proceeds going to local charities. In the early '90s, demand to see the model railroad was growing as space to house it was running out. That's when Zaccagnino, a successful developer of software games, decided to rebuild it as an old-fashioned roadside attraction.

"It's kind of evolved," he says with deadpan understatement.

That evolution involved more than four years of construction and a complete rebuilding and expansion of his beloved model railroad. Northlandz opened in the last week of 1996 and has been welcoming visitors from around the world ever since.

Zaccagnino says that some visitors return to tell him they were inspired to start building their own model railroads. "I hope that people are super-inspired," he says of Northlandz. "This is a gift to the world."

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Take a look at some eye-popping predictions

Who is the top team in the NJ.com Top 20?

We'll compile the results and crown a winner next week.

Perhaps not all topics can be put cleanly into a spreadsheet.

The Economic Research Service created a natural amenities ranking for every county in the nation, based on a variety of factors: June and January temperature, humidity, topographic variation (the hilliness or flatness of an area) and percent water coverage, since people tend to find bodies of water attractive.

The results are all over the place, with some of the least-populated counties with the highest amount of open space and parks ranked as the least attractive. Somerset County, sometimes named the best county for families in New Jersey, was rated worst on the list.

How can data, based on facts and hard evidence, go so wrong? 

The ERS did not use enough information to determine their rankings, and even if they incorporated more data, it's tricky to capture all of the elements that make an area great.

We want to see whether we can use a different element to find out the prettiest counties: the human one. Fill out a form on your first and second choices for New Jersey's most attractive and least attractive counties. We'll compile the results and crown a winner next week.

Erin Petenko may be reached at epetenko@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @EPetenko. Find NJ.com on Facebook.  

Volunteers are asked to provide a loving and nurturing home environment for a puppy for approximately one year.

The Seeing Eye is seeking volunteers interested in raising a puppy that will one day become a trained guide for a blind individual.

Volunteers are asked to provide a loving and nurturing home environment for the puppy for approximately one year. During that time, the volunteer will teach basic obedience and house manners and will bring the puppy to Seeing Eye puppy club meetings and socialization trips. All veterinary expenses are covered by the Seeing Eye and a stipend is provided to cover food costs.

"Raising a Seeing Eye puppy is a great way for children to experience the value of giving back to the community, or a project for people who are retired and looking to contribute their time to a good cause," said Jill Jaycox, the Linda Feinne-Roth Manager of Puppy Development at The Seeing Eye. "It's never easy to give back a puppy you have raised and lived with for a year, but watching the transformation from puppy to Seeing Eye dog makes the journey worth it."

For more information, go to seeingeye.org/raise. Interested volunteers should contact the area coordinator for their county as listed on the website.

Shelters interested in placing a pet in the Paw Print adoption column or submitting news should call 973-836-4922 or email essex@starledger.com.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find The Star-Ledger on Facebook.

Here's the latest look at the top ranked teams in N.J.

A Raritan Township resident who was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated was stopped by a Good Samaritan, police said.

RARITAN TWP. - A township resident who was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated was stopped by a Good Samaritan, police said.

Mario F. Zamora, 63, was taken into custody in the parking lot of the Flemington-Raritan Diner at 3:12 p.m. on Monday.

A motorist called police because they saw Zamora driving recklessly on northbound Route 31, police said. The driver reportedly followed Zamora into the diner parking lot, confronted him and took his keys away, according to police.

Zamora, who was taken into custody by Officer Adam Swiatek after failing field sobriety tests by police, was also issued a motor-vehicle summons for reckless driving. He was released pending a hearing in municipal court.

There were five drug-related arrests resulting from motor-vehicle stops over a six-day period, Raritan Township police report.

RARITAN TWP. - There were five drug-related arrests resulting from motor-vehicle stops over a six-day period, township police report.

Three arrests happened on Saturday, with a fourth on Nov. 3 and fifth on Oct. 31. All were released pending a municipal court hearing.

Police gave the following accounts:

Melissa R. Kraemer, 31, of Phillipsburg, and Anthony M. Lee, 26, of Clifton, were each charged with possession of heroin, amphetamine pills and methylphenidate hydrochloride pills during a stop by Officer Robert Landolina on Route 31 at 1:29 a.m.

Kraemer was initially stopped for failure to keep right. She was additionally charged with possession of prescription legend drugs without a prescription (Abilify and Bupropian) and issued motor-vehicle summonses for failure to keep right, failure to exhibit documents and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle.

Mario A. Clarke, 49, of Trenton, was charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana and possession of a marijuana blunt during a stop on Routes 202/31 at 3:16 a.m.

Clarke was initially stopped by Officer Dustin Pflug because the rear license plate light was out and there was an obstruction on it. He was also issued motor-vehicle summonses for maintenance of lamps and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle.

Michael P. Duffy, 20 of Levittown, Pa., was charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana following a motor-vehicle stop on Route 202 at 12:08 a.m. on Nov. 3.

Duffy was initially stopped by Officer Aaron Roth after he and his front seat passenger were observed not wearing seatbelts. Duffy was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia (cigars blunts) and was issued motor-vehicle summonses for failure to wear seatbelt and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle.

Joshua L. Gardner, 20 of Windsor, Conn., was charged with possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana following a motor vehicle stop on Old York Road at 2:53 p.m. on Oct. 31.

Gardner was initially stopped by Officer William McEnroe III for speeding.

He was additionally charged with possession of a grinder and rolling paper). Gardner was also issued a motor-vehicle summons for possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle.

An iPad was stolen from Patrick McGaheran School on Allerton Road between 4 p.m. Nov. 3, 2016, and 8 a.m. Nov. 4, 2016, township police said.

CLINTON TWP. - An iPad was stolen from Patrick McGaheran School on Allerton Road between 4 p.m. Nov. 3 and 8 a.m. Friday, township police said.

The iPad is valued at $350. A teacher also reported a $50 bill was stolen from her purse during the same time frame. Police said the department's Detective Bureau is investigating both thefts.

Someone also stole a handmade Donald Trump and Mike Pence campaign sign from the front yard of a West Street resident between 10 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday, police reported.

New Jersey Conservation purchased the property on Kingwood-Stockton Road on Nov. 8, 2016, in partnership with the county and township with assistance from the New Jersey Water Supply Authority.

DELAWARE TWP. - Thanks to the help of former U.S. Sen. Robert Torricelli, a 12-acre property with views of the Rosemont Valley has been preserved by the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, Hunterdon County and the township.

New Jersey Conservation purchased the property on Kingwood-Stockton Road on Tuesday in partnership with the county and township with assistance from the New Jersey Water Supply Authority.

The land was purchased from the Rosemont Foundation, a charitable organization established by Torricelli, a township resident. It had been purchased by the foundation in 2011 to ensure its eventual preservation.

"The Rosemont Foundation, true to its mission, was proud to serve as the financial bridge to the permanent preservation of this valuable farmland for the public's use and enjoyment," said Torricelli. "By moving quickly, the foundation prevented destruction of the land and ensured the protection of the adjoining waterway and enabled the NJ Conservation Foundation and government authorities to assemble the resources for acquisition."

More of this landmark N.J. farm is preserved

The property includes a gently sloping open field, woodlands and a tributary of the Lockatong, a stream that flows into the Delaware River. The land will be used for hiking, nature observation and other passive recreation.

"We're very grateful to the Rosemont Foundation, Hunterdon County and Delaware Township for making this possible," said Michele S. Byers, executive director of New Jersey Conservation Foundation. "We're pleased to bring this project to a happy conclusion."

The land was purchased with funding from the county, the township's grant from the New Jersey Green Acres Program and funds from the New Jersey Water Supply Authority. The purchase price was not immediately available.

"The preservation of the Rosemont Foundation property satisfies a longstanding need for recreation and parkland in the village of Rosemont," said Hunterdon County Freeholder Director Suzanne Lagay. "The Board of Chosen Freeholders is glad to be a partner in the project by providing funding through the County's Cooperative Open Space Acquisition Grant Program."

The property will be co-owned by New Jersey Conservation Foundation and the township, with NJ Conservation holding a 95-percent interest and the township a 5-percent interest. It will be managed by NJ Conservation.

"Since the time this parcel became available, Delaware Township had hoped to preserve it to provide passive recreation opportunities near Rosemont, and to protect the view of the historic Rosemont Valley," Mayor Susan Lockwood said.

New Jersey Conservation Foundation is a private nonprofit that preserves land and natural resources throughout New Jersey. Since 1960, it has protected 125,000 acres of open space.

Take a look at the top ranked teams in New Jersey

Round Valley Reservoir, the state's largest reservoir and its second-largest lake, has hit a milestone this month when it fell to its lowest level since being formed in 1960. Watch video

CLINTON TWP. - Round Valley Reservoir, the state's largest reservoir, has hit a milestone this month when it fell to its lowest capacity since being formed in 1960.

As of Thursday, the reservoir is at 66.5-percent (36.57 billion gallons) of its 55 billion-gallon capacity, according to the New Jersey Water Supply Authority. The previous record was 67.2-percent of capacity set on Nov. 28, 1982, as the state was in the midst of a drought emergency.

Presently, much of New Jersey is in a drought warning.

Round Valley is 2,350 acres in size and reaches depths of up to 180 feet.

Drought pushes reservoir to lowest level in 9 years

Nearby Spruce Run, the third-largest reservoir in the state, is fast approaching its lowest level since opening in 1964. The 1,290-acre reservoir, also managed by the same authority, is at 33-percent of capacity, or 3.6 billion gallons of water.

Its lowest fill on record was set on Oct. 18, 1993, when it was at 28.2-percent of capacity (3.1 billion gallons). It can store a maximum of 11 billion gallons of water.

Last week the New Jersey Highlands Coalition released a video of flyovers of the two reservoirs located in Hunterdon County, as well as the Wanaque and Monksville reservoirs in Passaic County, showing how the drought - the worst in 14 years - has impacted them.

The state Department of Environmental Protection declared a drought warning for 14 New Jersey counties on Oct. 21, including Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties.

A drought watch remains in effect for Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Salem.

Robert Ivan, an avid fisherman who runs the website RoundValleyFishing.com and a Facebook page said while the low water level at Round Valley Reservoir has had made it difficult to launch boats, "As far as the actual fishing goes, this fall has been phenomenal."

He said the state Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Parks and Forestry, which maintains the state parkland around the reservoir, has dumped gravel to help those launching boats.

The DEP said it continues to provide updates at njdrought.org. The DEP also maintains a site that lists the current drought status of each of the six regions in New Jersey.

When the drought warning was issued on Oct. 21, DEP Commissioner Bob Martin said if the conditions worsen the next steps would be a water emergency, with mandatory restrictions on water use. The DEP has also posted information on ways to conserve water.

Students and staff at Valley View School in Lebanon Township held a Veterans Day celebration on Nov. 9, 2016, to honor all of the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

LEBANON TWP. - Students and staff at Valley View School held a Veterans Day celebration to honor all of the men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

As some 30 veterans were welcomed to the school on Wednesday, students from every grade paid tribute to them. Each veteran was presented with a hand-made poppy. Students then read thank you letters and sang songs in their honor.

After an assembly, veterans were escorted to a classroom so that the students would have the opportunity to talk to the veterans. There was also a reception of homemade snacks provided by staff members.

A Raritan Township resident hired to help a woman with household chores used that woman's credit card for herself and her son, according to township police.

RARITAN TWP. - A township resident hired to help a woman with household chores used that woman's credit card for herself and her son, according to township police.

Rosa E. Arteaga, 58, and her son, Dagoberto Arteaga, 37, both of the township, were arrested and charged at 2:35 p.m. Nov. 3 with fraudulent use of a credit card following an investigation, police said.

The township woman, who was unable to do chores such as cleaning or shopping for food, reported to police on Sept. 21 that a number of unauthorized charges on her credit card, according to police.

Woman charged after reporting theft from rental van

The woman had given Rosa Arteaga her credit card to go food shopping and to make other authorized purchases for her, but, according to the woman, Rosa Arteaga also made many unauthorized charges over several months, police said.

Police said an investigation also implicated Dagoberto Arteaga.

Both were released pending a hearing in municipal court. Officer Aaron Roth handled the initial investigation with the follow up investigation and arrests made by Det. Scott Iglay.

A 25-year-old Clinton Township resident is facing several drug charges after police found him asleep behind the wheel of a 2016 Dodge stopped in the middle of Stacey Drive.

CLINTON TWP. - A 25-year-old township resident is facing several drug charges after police found him asleep behind the wheel of a 2016 Dodge stopped in the middle of Stacey Drive.

The Dodge was running and in gear when police found it at approximately 3:40 a.m. on Wednesday, police said.

Once Christopher Petras was woken up, he was found to be under the influence of drugs, police said.

He was arrested and charged with possession and being under the influence of heroin and cocaine, possession of a hypodermic syringe, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a motor vehicle while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance, driving while intoxicated, and issued a motor-vehicle summons for obstructing traffic, police said.

He was released pending a hearing in municipal court.

Police also arrested and charged township resident Kent Bohler, 52, with driving while intoxicated following a motor-vehicle stop on Center Street at approximately 12:40 a.m. on Tuesday, according to a police report. Bohler, also issued motor-vehicle summonses for driving too slow and maintenance of lamps, was released pending a hearing in municipal court.

LAMBERTVILLE — Bonnie and Baxter are mixed-breed dogs in the care of Animal Alliance. Rescued from an abandoned home, they clearly have been together for a long time and must be adopted together. Bonnie is a 9-year-old female Chihuahua mix that weighs six pounds; Baxter is a 4-year-old male hound mix weighing 40 pounds. Both have been described by volunteers...

Bonnie and Baxter 

LAMBERTVILLE -- Bonnie and Baxter are mixed-breed dogs in the care of Animal Alliance.

Rescued from an abandoned home, they clearly have been together for a long time and must be adopted together.

Bonnie is a 9-year-old female Chihuahua mix that weighs six pounds; Baxter is a 4-year-old male hound mix weighing 40 pounds. Both have been described by volunteers as "happy and healthy."

Bonnie and Baxter have been fixed and are up-to-date on shots.

For more information on Bonnie and Baxter or to apply to adopt them, go to animalalliancenj.org or call 609-818-1952. Animal Alliance is a nonprofit rescue and fostering organization serving Somerset and Hunterdon counties.

Shelters interested in placing a pet in the Paw Print adoption column or submitting news should call 973-836-4922 or email somerset@starledger.com or hunterdon@starledger.com.

Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find The Star-Ledger on Facebook.

 

An alphabetical look at the state tournament.

The following deeds have been recorded in the Hunterdon County Hall of Records in Books 2389 and 2390 through Nov. 10, 2016: Alexandria Township Robert S. Argila to Robert S. Argila Jr. and Vincent Funelas, property at 34 Sky Manor Road, for $460,000. Clinton Township Thomas Matthew Bevilacqua and Whitney Leigh Bevilacqua to Rebecca Bishop, property at 52 Westgate...

The following deeds have been recorded in the Hunterdon County Hall of Records in Books 2389 and 2390 through Nov. 10, 2016:

Alexandria Township

Robert S. Argila to Robert S. Argila Jr. and Vincent Funelas, property at 34 Sky Manor Road, for $460,000.

Clinton Township

Thomas Matthew Bevilacqua and Whitney Leigh Bevilacqua to Rebecca Bishop, property at 52 Westgate Drive, for $352,500.

William A. Fillebrown to Darren P. Grumbridge and Heidi Gumbridge, property at 7 Nottingham Road, for $531,150.

Mitchell Herbert Menezes and Bridgette Kelly Menezes to Denise J. Daniel, property at 6 Berkshire Court, for $597,500.

Delaware Township

Michael Cirlincione and Megan E. Cirlincione to Kurt Hummler and Sparrow King, property at 48 Locktown School Road, for $435,000.

Frenchtown

Oleksandr Dashko to Robert G. Reid, property at 65 Trenton Ave., for $200,000.

Hampton

Melissa Lucante and Vincent Lucante to Gerald Deremer and Tara Deremer, property at 3 Starglo Drive, for $230,000.

High Bridge

Rita D. Richetti to Damien Hanly, property at 18 Woodland Terrace, for $340,000.

Sheila Ann Flynn and Thomas J. Flynn to Brodie E. Flynn, property at 57 Beavers St., for $165,000.

Peter Bowsher and Lisa Bowsher to Mark Dupuis, property at 19 Wharton Way, for $380,000.

Holland Township

Edward Ellis to Jessica Chilmonk and Sean Gutsick, property at 13 Mill Road, for $95,000.

Richard C. Towsend and Phyllis Townsend to Cornelia G. Haugen, property at 16 Rummel Road, to $589,900.

Robert W. Pursell to Peter Waldron, property at 281 Anderson Road, for $88,000.

Peter De Jong, administrator of the estate of Antonetta de Jong, to Katherine Di Giuseppe, property at 106 Reynard Drive, for $127,000.

Kingwood

Colleen M. Fagan and James C. Fagan to John Michno and Shirley Michno, property at 49 Tinsman Road, for $65,000.

Lebanon Township

Wayne M. Laitala as executor of the estate of Sandra L. Donahue, to Thomas Vara, property at 108 Anthony Road, for $270,000.

Raritan Township

Hans J. Feindt to John J. Paul and Antoinette Paul, property at 22 Stirrup Lane, for $445,000.

Rockage Management, LLC to Antonio Illiano and Melissa A. Illiano, property at 9 Elm Terrace, for $316,000.

Robert W. Thomas and  Julia A. Thomas to Richard J. Scott and Danielle C. Scott, property at 58 Rustic Trail, for $583,000.

Brian D. Hughes and Kristine Hughes to Thomas Langford and Melissa Langford, property at 26 Bluebird Court, for $500,000.

Brian D. Dannemann and Holly Ann Hatch, co-trustees of the Holly Ann Hatch Living Trust Fund, to Martin Osvald and Elizabeth Mele, property at 29 Rustic Trail, for $503,000.

Judith Langan to William Joseph Malamut Jr. property at 85 Franklin Court, for $171,500.

Readington Township

Jonathan Lee Stevens and Nicole Lynn Winters Stevens to Cynthia Kiefer and Cathy Reese, property at 1109 South Branch Drive, for $395,000.

Scott T. Lund and Deirdre J. Lund to Jonathan Stevens and Nicole Stevens, property at 225 Johnson Road, for $582,500.

Tewksbury

Glenn C. McLaughlin, Gregg C. McLaughlin and Gerri Ann McLaughlin, co-executors of the estate of Gladys E. McLaughlin, to Drew Patrick Madlinger and Kimberly Joerg Madlinger, property at 19 Dryden Road, for $390,000.

Robert DeCanto and Georgia DeCanto to Denise M. D'Alberti, property at 34 Boulder Hill Road, for $505,000.

MTGLQ Investors, LP to Steven Kurzeja and Natalie Kurzeja, property at 5 Scarlet Oak Road, for $485,000.

Union Township

Michael Dandeo and Averye P. Dandeo to Estate of Andrew Louis Botzan III, Joseph S. Novak, Esquire, temporary administrator, property at 91 North Slope, for $140,000.

Take a look at where the state's top runners are ranked