South St. Louis Christmas train display delights all ages

ST. LOUIS - A homeowner in south St. Louis has not one, but two trains that kids can ride as part of his one-of-a-kind Christmas display.

This tradition at 4008 Healy Ct. all originated from a dream that goes back to when Jeff Uhlemeyer was just 5 years old, visiting Belleville's Skyview Drive-In Theatre, and saw the kid’s train around the playground.

“I wanted my own train. I wanted my own drive-in. I wanted my own amusement park and I was going to name it ‘Rails of Fun.’ Nothing but rail rides. Well, 65 years later, here I am,” Uhlemeyer said.

This is the sixth year he’s been running the trains, and it’s expanded considerably.

“I try to add something; I try to improve it each year, although I believe I’ve run out of real estate as I’ve now taken over my backyard as well,” he said.

As his childhood dream is realized decades later, he invites the public to come enjoy the hard work that began back in August.

The 70-year-old amusement park train ride tells a story.

“They end up in the year of 1965 back here, in the middle of a drive-in movie theatre showing the 1965 movie of Charlie Brown Christmas. Once they get back there, they find out that many drive-ins back in the day had miniature trains going around their playground next to the screen,” he explains.

 While rides are free, donations benefit the Shriners Hospital in honor of his uncle Oscar.

“He was so funny; all the years that he put smiles on my face, I want to return the smiles that visit me and at the Shriners Hospital. That’s the bottom line,” Uhlemeyer said.

Last year he raised over $8,000, and the goal for this year is $10,000, but he looks forward to a busy weekend with many happy faces.

“Doesn’t get any better than that. Uncle Oscar Schowalter is up in heaven smiling down on me,” he said.

Families can visit nightly from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., weather permitting.