The Old Cannery Railroad (OCRR) is the largest multi-train suspended railroad west of the Mississippi. The "G" gauge railroad consists of four separate loops and totals 1,500 feet of stainless-steel track that winds around two showrooms and even makes a trip into the warehouse.

People come from all over the area and beyond to enjoy the unique features of The Old Cannery — the animatronics, the fudge bar, and the giant crab — but the highlight for most people is the OCRR.

How It Began

When Sherry Grout and her dad Tony made the decision to build the OCRR, it was after seeing a large shelf-style layout built by Dave Crossman in his cabin near Roslyn, WA. Tony was known for his unique ability to add character to any project he undertook. He once said, "If we make it fun for our customers, then our customers will want to come back."

After a lot of planning and conversations with Dave, they hired him to build the original quarter mile of track around the second showroom. Construction began in 2003 with the "G" scale ceiling tracks and continued for over nine months — quite an engineering marvel in a miniature way. While the structure was being assembled, Dave was busy finding and purchasing the locomotives, rolling stock, and many of the structures visible today.

The Engineers

Dave retired in 2009 and in 2010 George Bono — a long-time train enthusiast — was persuaded to join The Old Cannery as the new engineer and animation technician. For him it was a labor of love to see that all the trains and animatronics were running smoothly. After running them for 10–12 hours a day for many years, they were all showing considerable wear and tear.

One of the first things George did was organize a rotation schedule to keep them maintained and lovingly cared for. George also added new trains to the main lines, including the Emmett Kelly Special circus train, the Military Convoy with a mix of WWII and modern equipment, and a work train started with a donated locomotive, caboose, and crane. The flagship passenger train "the Super Chief" still makes regular appearances.

George was eventually joined by Dennis Reeve — also skilled with an eye for detail — whose touches can be seen on the Kids Place HO scale layout, which was totally revamped. Together they transformed the 14×21-foot looped layout into a marvel to behold with three different scene settings. The overhaul included a logging area, a fairground exhibit with working rides, and a host of other details that have to be seen to be appreciated.

Trains also circle the front counter and pass by a painted mural by Sam Chung, a longtime employee and all-around great artist. Back-and-forth trolley tracks are located throughout the store, featuring fun and unique motorized gadgets. Look up for them as you weave your way through the huge showroom!

Today

In 2015, JT was hired and trained by George and Dennis. When they retired, JT took over as the full-time train and animation engineer. His creative talent can be seen everywhere in the store — from spray-foam clouds to "whimsical whatchamacallits" like snake trains, dinosaurs, and a whole host of creative custom train cars.

Bob joined as an assistant in 2021, adding his talents in electronics and model railroading. The store has also added railroad memorabilia throughout, including a vintage "flipboard" train departure board and actual antique railroad lanterns.

Every holiday and many special events now have their own theme trains — especially Christmas! As many as 22 trains have been running at one time during the Christmas season, with special winter scenes and backdrops only seen during that time of year. New trains are added regularly and rotated every 2–3 weeks.

The best way to experience the Old Cannery Railroad is up close and personal on our viewing platform — designed for young and old "kids" alike, offering a great view of the layout.

Stop by and enjoy the trains, great furniture bargains, and above all — have fun! Every engineer, regardless of age, can find something to enjoy at The Old Cannery.