The $10 million EnterTRAINment Junction, billed as the world's largest indoor model train display, opened Friday at 7379 Squire Court in West Chester Township. Within the 80,000-square-foot building, a design team led by FRCH Design Worldwide was charged with turning visionary Don Oeters’ concept into three distinct realities for the visitor: the entry town ‘street’, the train display and museum, and the maze.
A scale version of an All-American streetscape houses the snack bar, party rooms, restrooms, hobby shop, and offices and leads to a train station that provides access to the display.
"To create this we researched historic details of different periods to formulate a built over time effect of the street," says Luanne Carleton, retail and mixed-use desinations studio director for FRCH. "We took the approach to create the image of the street, not recreate an actual historic building or location."
While the initial challenge was to understand the train layout, with its 90 G scale trains, two miles of 1/24 scale track, and assorted topographical features, the team also had to make sure it all worked.
"While we needed to maintain the cool stuff the visitor sees, we also had to figure out how to economically create the behind the scenes stuff in a way that it was buildable, accessible, and functional for the 'railroad' staff and volunteers," she says.
Carleton says that the team got as much back as they put in.
"This is a one of a kind, once in a lifetime project," she says. "It is always great to work with a client who is extremely passionate about the end result, and it has been very inspirational for all involved to see the dedication of the volunteers of the Greater Cincinnati Garden Railway Society who has spent countless hours creating and building the train display."
Writer: Kevin LeMaster
Source: Luanne Carleton, retail and mixed-use destinations studio director, FRCH Design Worldwide
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