How to Build a Toy Train Table

Add painted details to a basic plywood table to spark a child's imagination.

Train tables provide a surface for children to play with their trains on. They often have painted scenery to spark a child's imagination such as mountains, valleys, rivers, town buildings and railroad tracks. You can make a train table for your child's train set with a few materials, tools and creativity. The table should be close to the floor and provide a flat surface to play on with a toy train. Furniture grade plywood makes an ideal surface for the table. You may choose to include your child while you paint the details onto the table.

Things You'll Need

• 3/4 by 24 by 48 inch furniture grade plywood, 1 each
• 1/2-inch pine boards, 1 by 2 by 49, 2 each
• 1 by 2 by 24 inch pine boards, 2 each
• Wood glue
• Flush trim screws, 1 box
• Screw gun
• Damp rag
• Fine-grit sandpaper
• 4 by 4 by 16 inch posts, 4 each
• Craft paint

Instructions

1. Place the plywood sheet on a work surface. Place one of the 1 by 2 by 49 1/2-inch pine board on each 48-inch side of the plywood. Place one of the 1 by 2 by 24 inch pine board on the 24-inch sides of the plywood.

2. Apply wood glue to the joints where the boards meet the edges of the plywood. Align the boards to form a frame around the plywood.

3. Drive screws through the sides of the boards into the edges of the plywood sheet to fasten them in place. Wipe off any glue that oozes out with a damp rag.

4. Sand the table top assembly with fine-grit sandpaper. Sand in the same direction as the grain of the wood.

5. Place one post in each corner on the underside of the table assembly. The post should sit flush against the boards that form the frame around the plywood sheet.

6. Screw through the boards that form the frame into the legs on each side to fasten the legs to the table assembly. Use two screws per side. Space the screws approximately 2 1/2 inches apart.

7. Turn the table upright. Paint the table top. Add details such as mountains, ponds, trees, railroad tracks, trestles, animals and people. Paint the legs and table top frame. Allow the paint to dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Make wooden signs and other wooden accessories for the table.

• Wear eye protection when working with wood.

References

• Squirrel Tracks: Free Train Table Plans
• Sawhorse Workshop: Train Table

Resources

• Craftsman Space: Stacker Shape Toy Plan