02 September 2026

The Story of Trains, WoodTrick Style

Just think about it: trains have been carrying passengers for more than 200 years.

201, to be exact. On September 27, 1825, the first passenger train rolled along the Stockton & Darlington Railway — a day that can pretty much be called the birthday of passenger rail travel.

A lot has changed since then. Speed, for one: Locomotion No. 1 reached a top speed of 15 mph in 1825, while France’s TGV V150 set a record of 357 mph in 2007. Technology has made an equally impressive leap — from basically a steam engine on wheels to electric power and today’s high-speed trains. And how about the roughly 727,000 miles of railway tracks that exist around the world today? Put them all together into one giant railway, and it could wrap around our planet… 29 times!

So, if you’ve ever wondered why our Vintage Series has so many train models, well, it’s simple: trains are just cool. We love them — and it looks like you do too, since every one of our DIY locomotives has earned a spot on our bestseller list. So, with great pleasure, we’re dedicating this article to the history of rail travel and WoodTrick’s collection of trains.

Steam Engine: Where It All Began

Okay, before we get to trains, there’s one... well, pretty important detail we simply can’t skip 😊 After all, every great invention starts with another invention. And trains are no exception — before the first locomotives could hit the rails, there had to be a steam engine.

In the early 1700s, Thomas Newcomen built one of the first successful steam engines, using steam and changes in pressure to move a piston and power a pump. It worked, but it wasn’t exactly efficient. Then came James Watt. In the second half of the 18th century, he introduced a separate condenser that cooled the steam without cooling the main cylinder. This simple but brilliant improvement made the engine far more efficient — and helped turn steam power into one of the driving forces of the Industrial Revolution.

That iconic machine became the inspiration for our 18th Century Steam Engine. With a flywheel, a working beam system, a centrifugal governor, and exposed mechanics, this DIY project gives you a closer look at how the real thing worked. And you don’t just build it piece by piece — once the 447 pieces come together, a spring motor sets the whole mechanism in motion. It’s part DIY challenge, part engineering lesson, and one seriously cool piece of history for your workbench.

First Locomotives: Steam Takes Over

So, engineers had figured out how to turn steam into motion. The next question was pretty obvious: if steam could power factory machinery, why couldn’t it move the machine itself? And why keep having horses pull railcars when there was a whole new technology ready to take over? By the way, that’s not a joke — railcars actually came before locomotives, and horses really did pull them along the tracks. Steam, of course, turned out to be a much better solution.

And just like that, the steam engine was put on wheels. By the early 1800s, the first working steam locomotives had arrived, hauling both freight and passengers. That early age of steam is exactly what inspired our Chug-Chug Train — a detailed wooden locomotive model with a wind-up mechanism. Once assembled, the Chug-Chug Train can travel up to 13 feet in a straight line on a single wind-up, or take its place on the included display tracks. And if you love builds with a vintage vibe, this charming 198-piece DIY locomotive gives you a few fun hours of building — and one seriously cool little piece of railway history to show for it.

19th Century: Railways Take Over

Like any groundbreaking technology, the first trains felt like a mix of magic and a really good show. People were fascinated, excited, and probably a little skeptical — how did this thing actually work? Even the passenger car on that famous 1825 journey came with a very fitting name: Experiment. We can only imagine that those early passengers felt a bit like space tourists would today 😝

Hopefully, space travel will one day become as ordinary as train travel eventually did. Once steam locomotives proved they could do the job, railways took off fast. How fast? Between 1871 and 1900, America laid around 170,000 miles of railroad track. That’s roughly 15 new miles every single day! Railways connected cities, ports, and industrial centers along the way, turning what began as an engineering wonder into a practical way to get from point A to point B.

The Locomotive R17 takes us right back to that era, recreating the classic look and mechanics of a steam locomotive in wood. It’s a challenging build with the highest difficulty level in the WoodTrick lineup (PRO, 5 out of 5), so set aside at least 6–8 hours for some seriously engaging assembly — and as much time as you want to play with the finished model. Powered by a rubber band motor, the R17 can travel up to 10 feet on a single wind-up.

And Then Train Travel Got Fancy

Once railways became part of everyday life, people naturally started asking for more.

The first obvious problem to solve was sleep. Enter the sleeping car: instead of spending the night trying to get comfortable in a regular seat, passengers could finally lie down and actually get some rest.

And, well, comfort is addictive. Once you have a bed, why stop there? Soon, trains were getting lounges, dining spaces, more luxurious interiors, and proper meals served right on board. Little by little, the train was turning into a hotel on wheels. Getting there was no longer the whole point — the journey itself was becoming part of the fun. In 1883, the Orient Express set off from Paris for Constantinople and took the idea to a whole new level. Luxury, fine dining, sleeping compartments, ever-changing views outside the window — train travel had officially learned how to travel in style.

Our train collection has not one, but two exciting tributes to that golden age of railway luxury. First up, the Atlantic Express. With 636 pieces and a PRO difficulty level, it’s still one of the most challenging builds in the WoodTrick lineup — experienced DIYers, this one’s for you. But its real showstopper is the incredible level of detail and the way it captures the spirit of luxury rail travel from that era. The kit comes with a locomotive and passenger car connected by a special coupling, while inside, you’ll find a bedroom and lounge area complete with tiny tables, chairs, dressers, and even chandeliers. And it doesn’t just look the part: powered by a rubber band motor, the locomotive can travel up to 9 feet on a single wind-up.

Then there’s one of our latest arrivals, the Grand Traveler 246 — 410 pieces of pure vintage charm, packed with all the signature details of an early 20th-century locomotive: the smokestack, front headlamp, driving wheels and side rods, classic boiler shape, and engineer’s cab complete with tiny steps. And like all our DIY wooden trains, the Traveler isn’t here just to look pretty on a shelf. Wind it up, and it can travel up to 20 feet!