Meet Bayview Resident: Michael Johnston

Michael Johnston and his wife, Lynn, moved to Bayview in 2024 after spending 25 years in Ballard. Michael has a deep connection to Queen Anne, having lived and worked in the neighborhood for many years.

Together, Michael and Lynn have explored the world, traveling to places like Mexico, Italy, and Greece. But one of Michael’s greatest passions has been with him much longer than his excitement for travel. His love of trains began at just seven years old, when he received his very first train set. That early interest grew into a lifelong hobby, with an entire basement in their Ballard home dedicated to the detailed train layouts he designed and built.

For Michael, model trains are about more than the trains themselves. The hobby keeps him active and observant, inspiring him to study landscapes, trees, and mountains so he can recreate them in miniature form. At Bayview, he has created a dedicated train space for the community, where his layouts spark memories, conversations, and curiosity. A strong believer in play at every age, Michael encourages everyone to step in, explore, and have fun. As he likes to say, “You can’t break it.”