Chicago family transforms backyard into miniature railway town over two decades
The Norwood Junction 5R Railroad can accommodate seven trains running simultaneously across the expansive garden layout.
The Rustemeyer family in Norwood Park, Chicago, has spent more than 20 years building an elaborate garden railroad in their backyard, according to the Times of India. What began as a small patch of grass in the late 1990s has grown into a miniature village that covers virtually the entire yard.
The project, named the Norwood Junction 5R Railroad, serves as a tribute to five family members: Shirley, Judy, Robert, Donald, and the late William Rustemeyer, who passed away in 2020. William Rustemeyer originally maintained a model railway in the family basement before moving the hobby outdoors.
The miniature landscape features train tracks, tiny buildings, railway stations, a water tower, and a cemetery. The family also incorporates flowers and rose bushes into the setup and uses miniature ploughs to run some trains during the winter.
The Rustemeyers host an annual open house around the Fourth of July, which has drawn between 100 and 150 visitors over two days. They also switch on miniature lights in the evening to illuminate the village.
Judy Rustemeyer expressed concern that the hobby is losing appeal among younger generations due to inflation, rising material costs, and tariffs. The family hopes that sharing their garden will encourage more people to try the hobby.