Ed St. John began laying a 7½‑inch gauge track in his backyard in southern Oregon, turning a simple garden hobby into a miniature rail network that would later span 32 miles.
Volunteers from Medford joined the effort, and the Over‑The‑Hill Live Steamers grew out of St. John's willingness to supply materials while enthusiasts handled the construction.
In 1992, the original line was linked to a neighboring parcel owned by Quintin Breen, who subsequently purchased St. John's property and merged the two into what became Train Mountain.
By the turn of the millennium, the combined track stretched 32 miles across 2,200 acres, earning a place in the Guinness World Records as the longest rideable miniature railway, and the International Brotherhood of Live Steamers convened there, drawing almost 100 locomotives.
Today, the Train Mountain Institute, a nonprofit, oversees the park, offering rides on the sprawling track and hosting the Train Mountain Triennial that pulls in over 1,000 visitors, including international exhibitors.
The on‑site museum displays more than 50 full‑size rail cars, while the Klamath & Western Railroad continues to operate daily rides and a summer Saturday lunch stand, keeping the original spirit alive.