How to Build a Wood Train for a Kids Room

Design and Preparation

1). Decide on a total length for your child's bedroom train. The length should reflect the number of children who might play with the train at the same time.
2). Choose a profile for your train from the coloring pages in the Resource section of this article, or draw your own engine, boxcar and caboose outlines.
3). Print your chosen coloring page onto overhead sheets. Enlarge the drawings onto an easel pad using an overhead projector. Make the height from floor to seat 15 inches for toddlers through age 5, 18 inches for ages 6 through 10, and 24 inches for 11 and older.
4
An easel pad gives you plenty of room for enlargement.academy of fine arts image by Dmitry Nikolaev from Fotolia.com

Trace each train car, engine or caboose onto the easel pad once you have adjusted the dimensions of each drawing.
5). Place the drawings so that the bottom of each train profile is as close to the bottom edge of the plywood sheet as possible to minimize waste and create a consistent look from the side for each car.
6). Trace each car onto a sheet of 1/2-inch plywood cut 1 inch longer and wider than the drawing. This provides room for making any cuts and minimizes waste.

1). Cut one engine and caboose profile, along the traced outlines sketched onto the wood. Mount these on the wall in the child's room, using molly bolts and 1/4-inch diameter sheetrock screws every 12 inches. Leave enough space between the back of the engine and the front end of the caboose for the boxcar storage seats.
2). Cut front and back pieces for each boxcar. These pieces will be 15 inches by 15 inches for toddlers through age 5, 18 inches by 18 inches for ages 6 through 10, and 24 inches by 24 inches for ages 11 and older.
3). Make each boxcar 45 inches long. Purchase one piano hinge and one set of toy box lid supports per boxcar. Toy box lid supports prevent the lid from slamming shut accidentally and trapping tiny fingers.
4). Cut a top for each boxcar, 45 inches by whatever width you are using. All remaining steps will assume a 15- by 15-inch width and height. Substitute the correct dimensions for your boxcars.
5). Dry-clamp the side pieces to the front and back pieces to form a box with no top or bottom, using bar clamps.
6). Beginning 1/2-inch from the top right corner of the room-side of the box car, drill 1/8-inch diameter pilot holes every 2 inches until 1/2-inch from the bottom right corner. Repeat for the top left to bottom left corner.
7). Turn the boxcar around, and repeat drilling holes as before.
8). Secure the sides of the boxcar to the front and back using 1/4-inch diameter, 1-inch long wood screws.

1). Place the top of each boxcar flush with the edge of the side that will face the wall. Lay the piano hinge along the lid so that the horizontal part is under the lid and the vertical part is against the outside wall side of the boxcar. Mark all the screw holes with a carpenter's pencil.
2). Drill pilot holes with a 1/8-inch diameter bit at all the marked positions. Secure the hinge to the lid using manufacturer's hardware.
3). Follow manufacturer's directions to attach the lid supports.
4). Test the lid supports and hinge by opening and closing the lid several times. Adjust the tension on the lid supports according to manufacturer's directions.
5). Cut foam seat cushions to the length and width of each boxcar, at least 3 inches thick. Cover with fabric as desired.
6). Sand and paint all wood as desired. Use brighter colors for younger children.