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Tuesday 11am - 3pm Wednesday 11am - 3pm Thursday 11am - 3pm Friday 11am - 3pm Saturday 10am - 3pm

Central Florida Railroad Museum

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Winter Garden, FL
Central Florida Railroad Museum

The Central Florida Railroad Museum is located in downtown Winter Garden. Free admission.

The Central Florida Railroad Museum, opened in 1983, is located in the historic Tavares and Gulf Railroad depot, located one block south of Winter Garden’s thriving historic Plant Street and the West Orange Trail. The station, built in 1913, was purchased by the Central Florida Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society in 1979 and rehabilitated for use as a railroad museum. In 2003, the W

inter Garden Heritage Foundation became partners with the Central Florida Chapter of the National Railway Society and the City of Winter Garden to make the extensive private collections of local, state and national memorabilia and photographs of Central Florida’s railway history accessible to the public. On January 1, 2013, the Central Florida Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, Inc. withdrew from the national organization and reorganized as the Central Florida Railway Historical Society, Inc., a 501c3 educational organization. One of Florida’s virtually undiscovered gems, the museum holds a large collection of dining car china and silverware, a 1938 Fairmont motor car, a velocipede hand car and historical artifacts from railroads in Central Florida and elsewhere. Junior train enthusiasts will be delighted visiting the Chessie System caboose (located at the Heritage Museum on Plant Street), an HO scale train layout, and an interactive Thomas wooden train set and layout. The Central Florida Railway Historical Society hosts several special events throughout the year. To learn more, visit the Central Florida Railway Historical Society web site www.cfrhs.org.

06/02/2026

In the Headlight at CFRHS Library and Archives:

Unloading a Box Car – The little truck coming out of the car with its load of cartons is called a fork-lift truck. The cartons had been placed in the car on “pallets.” These are small stands on which several cartons or packages can be placed. The fork of the truck is pushed under the pallet, which is lifted from the floor and taken from the car.

The freight car you see here is called a box car because it looks so much like a box on wheels. Freight cars are great wanderers. A car may be sent to any place in the United States, Canada, Mexico, or Cuba to deliver a shipment of freight or to pick up a load.

From the 1940s into the 1960s, the Association of American Railroads produced Teacher’s Kits with photos of railroad scenes and explanatory booklets to educate students and their families about the railroad industry. Our CFRHS Archives is fortunate to have materials from 4 slightly different Kits from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.

The weekly posts will feature these photos and the stories behind them. We will also contrast earlier and later photos of the same topic as much as possible. Notice that the rail equipment is either unmarked or is from the “East and West Railroad.”

The CFRHS Library and Archives hold materials on railroading from across the United States. Please visit us on Saturdays from 11 am to 3 pm.

06/01/2026

In the Headlight at CFRHS Library and Archives:

[Reverse]: American Freedom Train Locomotive “Number One, The America”

This Ex-Reading Railroad Locomotive poses at Albany, New York while sporting its original American Freedom Train Paint Design. The people of this Great Nation are indebted to the staff of The American Freedom Train for bringing the History of Our Country to Our Doorsteps.

Photo Credit: Jim Shaughnessy

In honor of our nation’s Semiquincentennial (or 250th Anniversary), the CFRHS Library and Archives will feature postcards from the 1976 Bicentennial Celebration on Mondays and Thursdays. The postcards on Monday evenings will picture the American Freedom Train that toured the 48 contiguous states in 1975 and 1976. Thursday evening postcards will illustrate a wide assortment of locomotives in special livery for the Bicentennial.

We hope you enjoy viewing this vintage postcard from our collection at the Central Florida Railroad Museum in Winter Garden, Florida.

Come visit us on Saturdays from 11 am to 3 pm.

05/29/2026

In the Headlight at CFRHS Archives:

Titled “See the Hit Show at the Fair,” this brochure advertised the show “Railroads on Parade” at the 1940 New York World’s Fair. The show was described as a “Dramatic Musical Extravaganza with Cast of 250; Fifteen Thrilling Scenes of Drama, Music, Comedy, with 50 Horses, 20 Locomotives on the World’s Largest Stage.”

Visitors to the Railroad Pavilion would also see the largest model railroad in the world, with 5000 feet of track, 60 locomotives, and 500 cars; Building the Railroad, an animated dioramic display, and a Track Exhibit of cars and locomotives, including the BIG ENGINE, world’s largest and most powerful steam locomotive.

The CFRHS Archives contains materials from the era of steam to that of diesel. Come visit us on Saturdays from 11 am to 3 pm.

05/28/2026

In the Headlight at CFRHS Library and Archives:

[Reverse]: The Pittsburg & Shawmut Railroad’s “Betsy Ross”

SW9 Units 1775 and 1776 power coal drags daily through the Allegheny Mountains of Western Pennsylvania, proudly honoring our nation’s Bicentennial.

Photo Courtesy of The Pittsburg & Shawmut Railroad Company

In honor of our nation’s Semiquincentennial (or 250th Anniversary), the CFRHS Library and Archives will feature postcards from the 1976 Bicentennial Celebration on Mondays and Thursdays. The postcards on Monday evenings will picture the American Freedom Train that toured the 48 contiguous states in 1975 and 1976. Thursday evening postcards will illustrate a wide assortment of locomotives in special livery for the Bicentennial.

Please visit our Museum, Library, and Archives on Saturdays from 11 am to 3 pm.

05/26/2026

In the Headlight at CFRHS Library and Archives:

The Brakeman Uncouples the Cars - Steam-powered passenger or freight trains are operated by train crews, each consisting of at least four men—a conductor, a brakeman, a locomotive engineer and a fireman. The brakeman is the conductor's assistant, just as the fireman is the locomotive engineer's assistant. On many trains two or more brakemen are employed.

In the picture the brakeman has pulled the rod which uncouples the two cars, and with his right hand he is signaling the engineer to go ahead. During the run of a freight train, many signals or "messages" are exchanged between the trainmen and the locomotive engineer in stopping and starting the train, in taking on and dropping off cars, in shifting cars, in coupling cars together and in making other necessary moves in the operation of the train.

From the 1940s into the 1960s, the Association of American Railroads produced Teacher’s Kits with photos of railroad scenes and explanatory booklets to educate students and their families about the railroad industry. Our CFRHS Archives is fortunate to have materials from 4 slightly different Kits from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.

The weekly posts will feature these photos and the stories behind them. We will also contrast earlier and later photos of the same topic as much as possible. Notice that the rail equipment is either unmarked or is from the “East and West Railroad.”

Please visit our CFRHS Library and Archives from 11 am to 3 pm on Saturdays.

05/25/2026

In the Headlight at CFRHS Library and Archives:

[Reverse]: American Freedom Train “Locomotive Number 4449”

This Ex-Southern Pacific Locomotive Has Been Entrusted With The Task Of Powering The American Freedom Train, Whose Cargo Is Comprised Of Many Of Our Nations Treasured Documents And Artifacts, Throughout A Major Portion Of Our Great Nation.

Photo Credit: Robert L. Skillman III

In honor of our nation’s Semiquincentennial (or 250th Anniversary), the CFRHS Library and Archives will feature postcards from the 1976 Bicentennial Celebration on Mondays and Thursdays. The postcards on Monday evenings will picture the American Freedom Train that toured the 48 contiguous states in 1975 and 1976. Thursday evening postcards will illustrate a wide assortment of locomotives in special livery for the Bicentennial.

Please visit our Museum, Library, and Archives on Saturdays from 11 am to 3 pm.

05/23/2026

Our new exhibit highlights American railroads over the past 250 years, and includes some of the patriotic paint schemes, as well as a look back at the American Freedom Train!

05/22/2026

In the Headlight at CFRHS Library:

From the back cover of Henry Plant: Pioneer Empire Builder by Kelly Reynolds:

“When Henry Plant was born in 1819, the land that would become the state of Florida in 1845 was still under Spanish rule, and was two years away from becoming a United States territory in 1821. By the time Henry Plant died on June 23, 1899, his accomplishments rivaled those of his friend and competitor Henry Flagler in helping to create the modern Florida.

An amazingly astute and successful businessman from Connecticut, Henry Plant capitalized on the Confederate need for a reliable transportation and communication network, which he provided. After the Civil War, Plant concentrated his efforts on developing Florida, bringing an elaborate railroad system, steamships, communication centers, and luxury hotels to the state. The probate of Henry Plant’s estate led to a courtroom drama and the dissolution of his vast empire.”

Please visit our Museum, Library, and Archives on Saturdays from 11 am to 3 pm.

05/21/2026

In the Headlight at CFRHS Library and Archives:

[Reverse]: Rayonier’s “Spirit of ‘76”

This AS616 Unit operates on ITT Rayonier Tracks in the Logging Country of Our Pacific Northwest. Bicentennial Design is the result of an employee at Crane Creek Camp in September of 1975.

Photo Courtesy: Peter J. Replinger

In honor of our nation’s Semiquincentennial (or 250th Anniversary), the CFRHS Library and Archives will feature postcards from the 1976 Bicentennial Celebration on Mondays and Thursdays. The postcards on Monday evenings will picture the American Freedom Train that toured the 48 contiguous states in 1975 and 1976. Thursday evening postcards will illustrate a wide assortment of locomotives in special livery for the Bicentennial.

Please visit our Museum, Library, and Archives on Saturdays from 11 am to 3 pm.

05/19/2026

In the Headlight at CFRHS Library and Archives:

The Couplers’ “Grip” – A train crew is made up of a conductor, a locomotive engineer, a fireman, and one or more brakemen. On a passenger train the baggageman is also a member of the crew.

The brakeman assists the conductor. He sees that everything needed for the trip is in place on the train. On local freight trains he helps to load and unload package freight at stations. He also helps to set out and pick up cars along the way. The brakeman in the picture is signalling the engineer to back up so that the couplers, or two “hands,” will meet and close in a firm grip, holding the cars together.

From the 1940s into the 1960s, the Association of American Railroads produced Teacher’s Kits with photos of railroad scenes and explanatory booklets to educate students and their families about the railroad industry. Our CFRHS Archives is fortunate to have materials from 4 slightly different Kits from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s.

The weekly posts will feature these photos and the stories behind them. We will also contrast earlier and later photos of the same topic as much as possible. Notice that the rail equipment is either unmarked or is from the “East and West Railroad.”

Please visit our CFRHS Library and Archives from 11 am to 3 pm on Saturdays.

Address

101 S Boyd Street
Winter Garden, FL
34787

Opening Hours

Tuesday	11am - 3pm
Wednesday	11am - 3pm
Thursday	11am - 3pm
Friday	11am - 3pm
Saturday	10am - 3pm

Telephone

(407) 656-0559

Website

https://www.cfrhs.org/

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