I’m going to be travelling to Disney World next week and I seem to remember reading somewhere about a large model railroad that is open to the public, I’m almost sure off I-75. I’ve googled many a word combinations and can find nothing about it. Does anyone know where it is?
I think what you are talking about is up near Gainsville at the same exit as the Don Garlits Drag racing museum.
The Orlando Society of Model Railroaders has a nice (big) layout and meets on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings. If you have the time here is a link to the web page http://osmr.netfirms.com/
You are referring to the place next to Racerock on international drive. They also have helicoptor tours there too. I thought the layout was all large scale stuff but i could be wrong. i think the exit is 70 or 72, i can’t remember. Just look for the helicopters, its right on I4 and you can’t miss Racerock next door, they have race cars and moster trucks coming out of the front of the building.
I know of H&R Trains in either Tampa or Pinellas I don’t remember. You can look it up on the internet. I know it’s a couple hours away from the resort, but if you can, I think it will be great. I can remember that it was large, they have expanded since then. That’s where I got most of my stuff, which is laughably collectors items now.
There was one at Wayside Antiques at the SR 318 exit south of Gainsville and north of Ocala on I 75. It has closed.
The large model railroad you are referring to is most likely the one at Bush Gardens.
That layout, featured one time in Model Railroader magazine was given to the Ocala Model Railroad Club. Although it is now in storage, they have several on display in their clubhouse which I saw during a recent visit to that area.
Here’s a link to their website. They’re open for layout tours OMRR
They were very friendly and had some cool stuff in the RR museum too.
Mac
PS…and there are 9 or 10 train shops in the local area
Most likely, that was the HO layout located on the second floor of Wayside Antiques/Christmas Place located on the west side of I-75 in Reddick, FL (just North of Ocala). Last I heard, the antique/christmas store had been closed by the heirs (the builder, Tom Gates, passed away several years ago), and the HO layout had been donated to the Ocala Model RR club where it is in storage, dismantled, awaiting the day when the club has quarters with enough space to set itup for display. Tom also had started on an On3 narrow gauge layout in another upstairs room at the store, but I’m not sure what ever happened to it, since he passed away before it was completed. You might also want to look into the large HO layout that was on display in it’s own building at Cypress Gardens (near Winter Haven, FL). The Cypress Gardens attraction was closed a few years ago for remodelling, but opened up last year under new management. I heard the model RR was one of the things kept after the remodelling, but I haven’t seen it for myself. It was a nice display when I last saw it several years ago… Regards, Bill Nielsen Oakland Park, FL