Project Examples
Following are a few project examples that inherit from the wTrak modular railway standard. Each is uniquely adapted to suit specific needs. Detailing and landscaping vary. Depending on your goals - and the skills and resources in hand - you may need to reach out to others for assistance along the way to create your own modular wooden railway.
Seattle ReCreative
85th & Greenwood, Seattle, Washington
Constructed primarily from repurposed wood. The track was CNC'ed from century-old Amercian Chestnut, the joiners connecting the modules were cut from a salvaged Cherry tree and the table tops were planed and splined using Southern Yellow Pine reclaimed from a kitchen floor following water damage.
Western Maine Play Museum [Fixed Layout]
561 Main St, Wilton, Maine
The organizers of the Children’s Play Museum in Wilton (ME) reached out as they were imagining their facility and planning their ‘Train Room’. Working with a local furniture maker (Maine Made Furniture), they commissioned a set of railway modules to be part of their permanent exhibit at the Museum leveraging track from Choo Choo Track & Toy Company in St. Louis (MO) for much of the layout. Forty-four pieces of custom track pieces were CNC machined on Anderson Island (WA) using beech custom milled at Edensaw Woods in Port Townsend (WA) and donated to streamline timely completion of the project.
Western Maine Play Museum [Portable Layout]
561 Main St, Wilton, Maine
A handful of modules constructed to support an East Coast train show in Truro (NS) and a Trains! event in Quebec City (QC) were donated and now reside with this Children's Museum - complementing the modules in their fixed layout – allowing for occasional reconfiguration of their exhibit and the opportunity to take part of their modular wooden railway to regional events to promote their Train Room and Children’s Museum.
River City Modelers
1130 East Sprague Ave, Spokane, Washington
Getting to and from Spokane from Seattle can be a seasonal challenge - mountain snow can close the pass, require chains or even a detour through Portland. Deer (yes, we managed to scoop one up on the hood of our Prius in Snoqualmie Pass - surprising both the deer and us) and a six-plus hour drive each way make the journey memorable too.
With some weather near-misses in fulfilling our commitment to be there and a scheduling disconnect in October of 2019, a modular wooden railway layout was designed and provided to River City Modelers for their use at their Spring and Fall shows - and other events they support throughout the year regionally. The modules include a mirrored ‘Crossaround’ end piece and another short segment that is specific to their set. A few buildings and elements based on photographs taken in and around Spokane were incorporated into the layout also. The result is a modular railway that is distinctly theirs and uniquely local.
The Engine Shed
Reading, UK
On February 29th, 2020 - just weeks before the world shut down - I had the privilege of working with parents and children on the spectrum at a monthly train gathering. We made and decorated custom train cars and set up a reversible tile railway. 2,097,152 different layouts in a cubic foot box...
Wilmington Railroad Museum
5 Nutt St, Wilmington, North Carolina
The Wilmington Railroad Museum’s community engagement, child-friendly exhibits and tie-in with model railroad groups checked a lot of boxes. Having family in town was an added plus. More importantly, the museum saw opportunity in leveraging a hands-on railway that connects with a broad age range that might also serve as a bridge between toy and hobby. Their custom layout was completed in seven weeks and traveled as LTL Freight to North Carolina for a September 11th debut.
Santa Fe Children's Museum
1050 Old Pecos Trail, Santa Fe, New Mexico
A small box of custom track was donated as a resource to expand wooden railway options for their 'People on the Go' exhibit.
Las Cruces Railroad Museum
351 N Mesilla St, Las Cruces, New Mexico
An assortment of custom track was donated as a resource to facilitate collaborative play and educational programs.
Edwardsville Children's Museum
722 Holyoake Road, Edwardsville, Illinois
A modular wooden railway was completed and shipped to the Edwardsville Children’s Museum for a late-March debut in ECM's refurbished Nickel Plate Station. After the layout was unboxed and setup, three train-building workshops were offered - including a sensory-friendly session one afternoon.
The railway traveled first to the St. Louis (MO) National Train Show in 2023 and then to the 2024 National Train Show in Grapevine (TX) with an additional mountain module. One more adventure in 2024 brought part of the layout to the ACM InterActivity Conference in Madison (WI). This is a well-traveled layout seen by thousands throughout the midwest.
Mosaic Children's Museum
120 Main St, Ste D, Woodland, CA 95695
Following a box of custom track received as a resource for traveling exhibits, a modular wooden railway was delivered January 11th to support MOSAIC's Spring 2023 Opening. The layout has 55' of track, 22 turnouts, 7 crossings and seven custom trains to support collaborative play.
Quincy Children's Museum
115 North 4th St, Quincy, IL 62301
A modular wooden railway was unboxed and set up on May 14th just ahead of the 2024 ACM InterActivity Conference. The second of two boxes arrived via FedEx with a mere 2½ hours to spare - too close for comfort... The layout has 70' of track, 24 turnouts, 7 crossings and seven custom trains to support collaborative play.
Children's Museum Shoals
Florence, AL
This modular railway is a new addition to this charming museum and just a couple of hours away from several major metropolitan areas including Birmingham and Nashville and closer still to Tuscaloosa and several regional train depots and museums.
Powerhouse Children's Museum
Durango, CO
An oversize wooden floor train was dropped off in August to support outdoor and popup events. The cars were constructed using 4" trolley wheels and apple ply plywood. Each car is just over 9# and couple using small buckles. Cars are painted with milk paint, weathered with charcoal, stamped and sealed with a child-safe flat varnish.
The Engine Shed
Reading, UK
A modest two-segment modular railway was dropped off ahead of The Engine Shed's October 26th event. It was great to see their new space, array of railways and imaginative use of graphics to create a creative and engaging focal point for monthly gatherings. So much to learn from Sarah as a foundation for others seeking to connect families with children and/or adults on the Spectrum.
FL!P Children's Museum
Grand Forks Children's Museum
Powerhouse Children's Museum
Great Lakes Children's Museum
Betty Brinn Children's Museum
Beaverton, OR
Three of seven modules are complete and incorporated into FL!P's popup events. The balance is now complete and ready to be delivered to their new museum space in early November, 2024.
Grand Forks, MT
A railway to support local popups starting in April 2025.
Durango, CO
Work on this modular layout begins winter 2024 and a portion of the layout will be at ACM's Interactivity Conference in Albuquerque (NM) in May 2025.
Traverse City, MI
A railway to support local popups, the Festival of Trains and the museum is in work and is planned to be part of the National Train Show in Novi (MI) in July 2025.
Milwaukee, WI
A railway for their reimagined exhibits is in work and is also planned to be part of the National Train Show in Novi (MI) in July 2025.
