By Railroad Model Craftsman Staff

Frederick Raoul Martin, founder of the brass importer and model railroad parts manufacturer NorthWest Short Line, died on September 9. He was 87 years old. 

Martin was born and raised in western Washington and worked for Boeing as a project manager. But railroading was his passion and starting in the 1950s, he began designing brass models of North American prototypes that were imported from Japan and later Korea. According to his obituary, Martin “browsed the railroad yards throughout Washington to acquire blueprints or design records of engines and cars.” Later he began manufacturing a popular line of brass parts in the United States, including replacement motors, gearboxes, wheelsets and more. Martin would run NorthWest Short Line for more than 60 years before selling it to an employee. The company continues to manufacture parts in Montana. 

Martin was not just interested in model trains. He was among the founding members of the Northwest Railroad Museum in Snoqualmie which continues to preserve the history of railroading in the Pacific Northwest. 

Martin is survived by his wife Sheryl of 62 years, two children and multiple grandchildren.