Hello modelrailroaders. I was wondering if you ever been to Cypress Gardens and saw the train layout. The thing is I don’t know what scale of the train layout is since the website does not tell you what scale the trains are. The website said the trains are tiny I don’t know if that is HO, N, or Z scale trains. Have you ever been to Cypress gardens and seen the trains and know the scale size?
Sincerely
Ryan LaPlaca
Ryan,
While I have never personally seen the layout “Cypress Junction” at Cypress Gardens, it was featured back in the June 1988 Model Railroader. If the same layout exists, it is HO scale. It was quite large and looked very impressive. Even though I go to Walt Disney World annually, I have never been to Cypress Gardens, or even Sea World for that matter. Heck, I’ve only been to Universal once and that was way back in 1991. Once we step foot on the Disney property, we never leave until its time to go back home. [;)]
Hope this helps!
Yes, it’s HO scale. It was featured on “Tracks Ahead” recently. Like most display layouts with a small staff, the layout looked well worn. Most of the trains running were one or two cars long running at breakneck speed. I have managed a large 4000 sq ft G-scale display layout here in Orlando and I know that the task is daunting keeping it running and keeping the public interested. Most people would rather see Santa running a European tank engine, pulling a circus train with stuffed animals hanging out than a prototypical train any day. They are nice to show the general public a slice of our hobby, but if you expect a well detailed club type layout, you’ll be disappointed. My mom-in-law is in a nursing home across the street from Cypress Gardens and after seeing the “Tracks Ahead” story I don’t think I’ll bother.
I’ve been there…very cool. It is HO, as everyone else has said. It’s pretty much a gift shop in the front and then you go through a few hallways and a room with a couple of citys and diffrent seasons throughout. I believe it starts in Winter, in the first hallway.
Thanks,
Spit
I was there about a year ago. As mentioned, it is HO. I talked briefly with a guy working on it – it was an old club layout, moved there some months before. All DC. As someone else mentioned, it looked fairly shopworn, with many buildings out to be refurbished, etc. But it is quite large, with lots of varity in the scenery, etc., and several trains running unattended (on separate loops).
When the layout was made it took them about 2 or 3 years to complete it. There were volunteers & paid employees. When it was started(about 1984 or 85) I was working for a First Aid co. as an outside salesman & sold them a big First aid cabinet that I serviced once a month. I got to see it’s progress every month. When it finally opened up as an attraction it had about 10 xtra roll out modules that they could change at random for different seasons. They also had 3 full time operators & repair people, & a nice train store. When I went to the Grand opening(for free) it was packed & everyone had to wait in line to get in. The train sets were very expensive if you bought one. I haven’t been there in years. When it opened they had about 6 trains running all the time. It never changed from H.O. scale. Some friends of mine went about 2 weeks ago & they said the same thing about it being run down & not kept up. Cypress gardens was closed for about 3 or 4 years before the new owners took over.
If you want to see a giant train layout, that you can operate yourself in Lionel 027 & O scale there is a museum in Bradenton that use to be open 7 days a week. A friend told me last week that there is a bigger layout at the Ringling Museum in Bradenton that is supposed to open in Aug. or Sept. of 2006.
He did all the glass windows, glass inclosed shelving, etc. in the new building.
There’s also a club in Sarasota that has 5 different layouts in their Club building. Z, N, H.O., S, 027, & O scale. If you check their web site they have an open house about 3 or 4 times a year & if you contact them in advance they will probably let U in to see it.
Larry