Railroads in Edmonds made a huge impact on the local community, even at a miniature scale! To celebrate the history of the railroad in the settlement and industrial growth of Edmonds, as well as the creative work of the city’s local model railroading clubs, the museum has developed its Train Room, now on permanent display on the lower level.
The “Puget Junction” model railroad currently installed in the Train Room was donated by the descendants of Donald Drew, the final owner of the Pacific Fast Mail model train company. Originally located at 111 Sunset Avenue, Pacific Fast Mail was a nationally renowned importer of Japanese brass model trains. To show off his custom-built models, Drew purchased this scenic layout from a local modeling club: the Puget Short Line Association. Now installed in this exhibit, the model was originally covered by a large curtain, which Drew would pull back dramatically to reveal the collaborative masterpiece. Despite the business’s closure, Pacific Fast Mail trains remain collectors’ staples in the model railroading community today.
At the Edmonds Historical Museum, the Train Room helps showcase the collaborative work required to construct and manage railroads, both large and small. The museum’s train room was made possible by gifts from Sean and Donald Drew, Jr., the BNSF Foundation, and donations from members and the general public. The exhibit was updated in June 2025 by University of Washington graduate student Annie Hicks and is actively maintained by volunteer members of the Everett Railroad Heritage Association.
