There's A Tiny Railroad In Massachusetts, And It's One Of The Quirkiest Places You'll Ever Go
By Melissa Mahoney|Published April 18, 2023
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Melissa Mahoney
Author
I'm an east coast girl living in a west coast world. I grew up in New England before moving to SoCal for several years. I then lived in NYC or a year before moving to AZ in 2009. I worked in the entertainment industry for many years of my adult life and have a deep love for photography, writing, and traveling around the U.S. as well as to far-flung locations around the world. Travel is my life and writing about it is a dream!
Whether you’re a child or an adult, there’s something quite magical about trains. Many of us even grew up with toy train sets or model railroads. Did you know that there is a tiny railroad hiding out in the woods somewhere in Needham, Massachusetts? And when you find it, it’s almost guaranteed to invoke a sense of wonder and nostalgia. Welcome to Martini Junction, one of the quirkiest places in Massachusetts!
Have you ever gone hiking at Needham Town Forest? Within its 200 acres, you'll find plenty of trails for hiking and biking as well as something very surprising.
Martini Junction, as it's called, was built in the early 2000s by a retired design engineer by the name of Jim Metcalf. Located by a brook, the tracks he created meander through the trees.
From the miniature figures and small buildings to the bridges, trestles, and trains, it's quite a sight to see and will certainly invoke a sense of wonder in anyone who crosses its path.
Have you ever stumbled upon Martini Junction in Needham, one of the quirkiest places in Massachusetts? What did you think? Tell us in the comments. To learn more, visit the Needham Parks and Recreation website.