From Rails to Roads – The Story of Roundhouse Trackless Trains

The Spark of an Idea

The story of Roundhouse Trackless Train Company didn’t start in a boardroom; it started in a workshop fueled by a lifelong passion for the "Golden Age" of railroading.

My father was an avid model railroader with a deep love for the steam era. He eventually took that passion from the tabletop to the real world, building a stunning 1/4 scale, authentic looking 1880s-style 0-4-0 locomotive powered by a gas engine. It was a masterpiece—it looked the part, sounded the part, and even ran on actual rails. He loved giving rides to the local community, but there was one major hurdle: the tracks.

My father with his railed 0-4-0 train

Setting up hundreds of feet of heavy iron rail for every single event was an exhausting, time-consuming process. I watched the joy that train brought to people, but I also saw the logistical mountain we had to climb every weekend. I knew there had to be a better way to share that nostalgia without the "heavy lifting" of the rails.

Bridging the Gap: 2006

In 2006, I set out to duplicate the authenticity of my father’s locomotive but with a modern twist: it had to run on wheels.

The goal was simple but ambitious. I wanted to create a train that was beyond the common "barrel" trains you see at local carnivals. It needed to feel like a real piece of machinery—something attractive, and easy to maintain. By losing the tracks, we gained the world. Suddenly, the train could be loaded into a trailer in minutes and run nearly anywhere with a level surface. We traded the limitations of iron rails for the freedom of the road.

At the time, it was just a passion project for myself and my son. We would spend our weekends taking the train out to local festivals and community events just to see the smiles it brought to people's faces. However, something else happened during those weekends: I noticed that this "fun project" was a legitimate money-making machine.

The first Roundhouse Trackless Train

Seeing the train generate thousands of dollars through ticket sales in a single weekend was a "lightbulb" moment. I immediately realized the massive business potential a high-quality trackless train could offer to other entrepreneurs and event venues. It was at that point that the idea of Roundhouse Trackless Train Company was officially born.

Circa 2006 with Engine #4

Constant Evolution We are proud to be a small, family-owned American company. Since those early days in 2009, the Roundhouse train has undergone a decade and a half of engineering evolution. We don’t believe in "good enough." Every year, we develop better designs, more robust power systems, and more durable components.

We’ve learned from every train we’ve built and every customer we’ve served across the globe. Today, our trains are more reliable and attractive than ever, but that original passion for the 1880s steam era still sits at the heart of every locomotive that leaves our shop in Hartford, South Dakota.

What’s Next? This blog is a new chapter for us. We want to use this space to share "behind-the-scenes" looks at our shop, maintenance tips for owners, and advice for those looking to start their own event-rental businesses.

Whether you’re a long-time owner or just a fellow train enthusiast, we’re glad you’re here for the ride.