The Wichita Toy Train Club was organized in 1985 and the club's first major project was the design and construction of a 12' by 16' display layout for the Children's Museum of Wichita. The club grew over the years and in 2000 opened a 1,400 square foot area suite in the Pawnee Plaza Mall named Train-Mania. Over the years they built other exhibits and moved again.
The Wichita Toy Train Museum moved into its present location on south Laura Street in 2012 and is open to the public on the second and fourth weekend each month.
"Museum" isn't really the correct name for the club, but it is definitely an attraction. A clockwise tour of the building begins with the Taggert Room named for an early member of the club. When Bill Taggert passed away, his 1800s theme layout was donated to the club and is set up in this room. It wasn't running when we passed through, but one of the club members brought us back to the room to tell us about it and operate the trains.
Cohen Hall runs the width of the building and had four train setups in operation the day that we visited. There was also an area fenced off where a layout which was featured in O Gauge Railroad magazine has been brought in and will be set up.
The final room has the Marcus Layout, a very elaborate HO display which the club acquired in 2013.
There is a room which is rented out for birthday and special events, upstairs.