The History of Wooden Train Tracks

Mr. Marshall H. Larrabee

Mr Marshall H. Larrabee, founder of Skaneateles Handicrafters, started manufacturing wooden train and track toys in the mid 1930’s. His toys were very popular and soon, the Marshall Field Company started carrying his products and helped shape Skaneatels Handicrafters. This was the beginning of the wooden train and track manufacturing industry all around the world. With no standards to follow, wooden track manufacturers developed their own connection systems and track sizes until the Vario-System was created. Most companies are now making tracks and trains that are compatible with this system; only a handful of companies don’t completely comply with it, including T.C. Timber which purchased Skaneateles Handicrafters from Larrabee and was itself then purchased by Habermass GmbH of Germany.  Unfortunately, Habermass has stopped manufacturing T.C. Timber classic toys.

Some of finest wooden toys are still manufactured in Sweden, Germany, the United States and a few other countries. However, the Chinese industrial boom has made it very difficult for small wooden toy companies to stay in business. Here in the United States, we have Maple Landmark which makes a very large selection of wooden toys and gifts. MeskoToys is another U.S.-based company that focuses primarily on specialty wooden train tracks.

The Wooden Train & Track

The "vario system" is currently the most popular wooden train track system.  This allows different wooden train track manufacturers to make trains and tracks that are compatible with each other. Brio, Thomas the train, Maxim, Melissa & Doug, and many other wooden train and track manufacturers all use the Vario-System. This system’s loose fit track connections allows for some wiggling which makes it easy for children to use, and most importantly, easy to close small gaps without risking derailing of the trains.

Quality wooden train tracks are made of solid hardwoods like Hard maple, White Birch, and Beech to make them durable, and resistant to cracking, splintering, staining, or bowing. These tracks are also made of one solid piece of wood (no pegs that can come off). Although strong and durable, one should remember that these tracks are out of wood and can hence shrink and expand with changes in humidity and may break (especially at the connection points) under enough force.

Wooden track layouts can be as complex and extensive as those of any other train track gauge. Wooden track pieces come in many different shapes and sizes, including straight tracks, curved tracks, switches, crosses, bumpers (buffers), ascending tracks, and much more. Accessories such as bridges, tunnels, stations, etc. make for even more elaborate layouts. In fact, with the introduction of very advanced track pieces by US manufacturers such as Meskotoys,  wooden track layouts can now be made to be more interesting than ever.