Toy Train Swap Meet at a Train Museum in Florida

[wfttrains]

What could be better than visiting a model train museum? That would be visiting on the day of a Swap Meet! Therefore the TCA Southern Division is inviting you to an Old-fashioned Outdoor Swap Meet on Saturday, March 28th at the Gulf Coast and Central Florida Railroad Museum in Bushnell, Florida.

“Bushnell Station” is the home of this Museum, a non-profit that provides an educational model railroading experience. The museum occupies part of the station building and has 20 model trains running inside and outside including interactive exhibits and boasts hundreds of trains from all over the world. The rest of the building features operating layouts in all popular US model railroading scales and gauges from “Z” to “G,” inclusive. In addition there are static displays of model trains in all those scales plus lots of railroad memorabilia, photographs and artwork hanging on the walls. And of course there is a well-stocked gift shop with train-related merchandise for rail fans of all ages. On the property outside the building are a large G-gauge “Garden Layout” plus their largest and most entertaining “model” train which is a 1/8th scale 7½” gauge 16-hp gasoline powered “diesel” train on which visitors can ride a ½-mile trip around the perimeter of the property with scenery and many amusing signs along the route. This attraction is very well done and is truly a train lover’s dream.

During the swap meet, TCA Southern Division members will have trains for sale to the public from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The swap meet will be located at the far end of the parking lot. This will be the 3rd time we have had a swap meet at this facility. Attached is a photo from last year's event showing several of our members who were set up for selling and swapping!

There is no fee for non-table holders who wish to attend the swap meet, but a donation to the GCCFRR Museum is encouraged. There is a very modest admission fee to enter the museum but there is no fee for the rest of the attraction including riding the outdoor train. Come and join in the fun. For further details on the swap meet, click on the attached file. For further information on the museum, click on BushnellStation.org.

Bushnell Station/Gulf Coast & Central Florida Railroad Museum is located off I-75 about an hour north of Tampa Bay.

Because this is an outdoor event, in case of inclement weather it could be cancelled so check our website at http://www.TcaSouthernDivision.org for a status report on the morning of the meet before leaving home.

Hope to see you there,

Bill T

[webenda]

Thank you, Bill T.

If it were nearby, I would attend, but an 11-hour drive doesn't fit my schedule this month.

Wayne Benda
Columbia, KY

[healey36]

For all of the prognostication concerning the "death" of the TCA, it's nice to see another announcement for a divisional meet, especially one held at a terrific venue. Can't think of a better way to spend a few hours; hope you have a great turnout. Like Wayne, it's a bit of a long hike for me, lol.