Why is it that so few people in Florida are into trains??? I feel like the only person in my city that I am aware of that owns model trains!!
Packer (not me[he’s on NTRES too]) lives in Florida.
There’s actually several that I know of, Packer, (not #1) Ted Marshall, and probobly more.
So what city are you in? Gainesville here.
Kissimmee.
Mark Gosdin
I get mentioned twic before I even post in this topic, lol.
I live in Shalimar. Don’t really like it. (there is an MR club down the road, but I can’t go because of college and my job; during summer I might join up.)
I live in Orlando, there are 2 big HO clubs here. I know of one in Winter Haven and also in Deland. There is a fairly big hobby shop in Orlando that has a pretty good selection of model trains. LGB hobbiests are all over the area too
BBC,
There’s a lot of us here! I’m in the Tampa Bay area and if you happen to visit, make sure you drop by and say hello to the crew of this cool place: http://www.suncoastmrrc.com/layouts.htm I think you’ll be convinced that there’s plenty of modelers around.
Also visit my LHS: Happy Hobo Trains on 4040 W. Waters Avenue about 15 minutes northwest of downtown Tampa durng non-rush hour periods. The owner, Kevin, is a friendly, knowledgeable modeler himself. Carries a wealth of items for detailing (Cannon, Details West, etc). Plus there is a store layout where occasionally you’ll see 60 car freight trains with 4 units in the lead!
There’s also H&R Trains in Pinellas Park. Attractive displays that includes an operating outdoor G-Scale layout, however, their prices on most items imho are above msrp.
We are here!
Now, cheer up! [:D][8D]
I’m in Jacksonville.
I think it’s because trains are more prevalent in the North than down in the South here.
Have you been to the Trains of Ocala shop? I went there a couple of times when I was in Gainesville at UF.
It’s because nobody has basements! Seriously, many Florida residents are northern transplants who have “downsized” to smaller homes or condos, and now have much less space and in many cases no space at all for layouts. The high water table in most of Florida means that many homes are built on slabs rather than foundations, so basements are an oddity there.
In Port St. Lucie, check out the Treasure Coast club:
http://treasurecoastmodelrailroad.com/
My inlaws live in that area, and when I visit them I try to make a trip up to PSL to check out the progress of this club. Their photos don’t do justice to the seaport area. The water effect is about the best I’ve ever seen - really captures the salt-water ocean look perfectly.
This is why clubs are very popular here. A community layout. Speaking of community layouts I’ve heard that several retirement communities here in Fl. have layouts for their model railroading residents and those that don’t should. Hehe I’m 58 and one day from going out on permanent disability.
I’m in Jacksonville also and there are 2 clubs in the area that I’m aware of. Lack of space to build a layout may be a factor as there are very few basements in Florida.
Kissimmee here too.
Coming from the suburbs of Chicago where I spent 30 or so years railfaning, to Central Florida, a vast wasteland of “quality” clubs, no basements, and 1.5 railroads in the area, this is dismal.
But the weather is nice…
I’m in St Petersburg. No basement, but a two-car garage converted into an On30 layout. Been trying to form a local round-robin club for four years now but have abandoned that idea in favor of joing a club. Around here, there’s one in Clearwater/Largo and one in Sarasota (that’s the one I belong to). We just seem to hide out better than others.
Jim
HO or N scale? And where are the layouts? Website?
Florida clubs
http://www.suncoastmrrc.com/
http://www.angelfire.com/fl3/fncrailroad/index.html
http://www.cwrr.com/nmra/Cluba-FM.html
http://www.delandatlantic.org/
http://www.cityoflakewales.com/depot/model_rr.shtml
http://www.railsusa.com/links/Model_Railroad_Clubs/2237.html
http://trains.com/trc/community/rrgroups/groups.asp?geo=5&c=241&s=10
Should I keep going??[:D]
We’ve got the CSX of course. 2 hours north you can watch the NS. 1 hour east you can watch the FEC. In central florida we have the Florida Central that runs to Ocala. Soon to have light rail passenger service in Orlando.
O scale is also alive and well in Central Florida. There is an anual meet in Orlando and a round robin group in the area. Sarasota 's club has an O scale railroad . A trolley meet is also an annual event near De Land.
I’d like to see some O scalers list their questions in the forum.
I’m in South Carolina. The South is fun.