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Are you heading over to Winter Garden soon? The Central Florida Railroad Museum is something you shouldn’t miss out on. As a must-see train museum Winter Garden, it’s located in the historic downtown.
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An introduction to the Central Florida Railroad Museum
The Central Florida Railroad Museum is the place to be to learn about the history of railroading in Central Florida. Learn through exhibits, photos, maps, charts, signage, historic railroad artifacts, and many more.
The collection of dining car china and silver service boats has more than 25 patterns from America’s historic passenger trains. For the young ones and those young at heart, the model railroad and the hands-on Thomas layout is worth checking out.
A glimpse into the early years of the Central Florida Railroad Museum
The Central Florida Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, Inc. was chartered back in the 1970s with fourteen founding members.
From its early beginnings, the Chapter always dreamed of establishing a permanent home for Chapter activities and a railroad museum. It was back on October 22, 1979, when the Chapter purchased the former Tavares & Gulf Railroad depot at Winter Garden from the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad. The restoration was started right away.
On May 21, 1983, it was the grand opening of the Central Florida Railroad Museum. If you want to know more about the history of the Central Florida Railroad Museum, click here.
What to expect during your visit
All the displays are in climate-controlled galleries and docents are available to cater to questions. The galleries hold historical information, artifacts, and photographs from the railroads that served Winter Garden and Central Florida.
The highlight of the train museum Winter Garden is the extensive dining car china and silver collection featuring more than 30 china patterns from a dozen railroads. It was donated by the Root Family of Daytona Beach.
Other items such as lamps, lanterns, locomotive bells, station signage, a motor car along with artifacts from railroads around the country are on display.
Hours of Operation
- Tuesday through Saturday – 11 AM until 3 PM
- Sunday and Monday
Admission to the train museum Winter Garden is free while donations are appreciated. While inside the museum, no food, pets, or beverages aren’t allowed.
Parking
The Central Florida Railroad Museum offers several free, 2-hour public parking spaces, situated on the south side of the museum along Tremaine Street in an unpaved, gravel area.
Final thoughts
The railroad industry has a rich history. If you want to know more, you shouldn’t miss out on the Central Florida Railroad Museum during your visit. With galleries and events about the railroad industry, the train museum Winter Garden is a worthy addition to your bucket list.
