Our History
The Florida Railroad Museum, Inc. was founded as The Florida Gulf Coast Railroad Museum with the stated goal of preserving Florida's railroad history. Over the years, the Museum has acquired and preserved rolling stock and equipment to operate for the public's enjoyment. We hope our visitors appreciate the sights and sounds of Florida railroading as it existed in the 1940s and 1950s.
The Museum is a Non-Profit Organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Museum Operations
The Ticket Office and Gift Shop is open Wednesday – Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM. The museum's exhibits and train rides operate on weekends only. Our operating train equipment is not available for viewing during the week.
The train operates on a six mile rail line between Parrish and Willow, Florida in rural Manatee County. Built by the Seaboard Air Line Railroad in the early 1900s, this was the first line through Manatee County. Following the merger of the Atlantic Coast Line and Seaboard Airline in 1967, this line was downgraded and finally abandoned in 1986.
Each weekend our diesel powered trains take passengers on an excursion using a variety of open-air, open-window and air conditioned cars. Trains are operated entirely by museum members volunteering thousands of hours a year to make this unique experience possible.
Future Operations
The Museum is currently expanding its facilities in Willow where preservation and repair work is conducted. Additional storage tracks have been built to accommodate a larger collection of rolling stock and provide additional space for restoration work.
A replica Seaboard Air Line Station has been constructed in Willow where passengers may detrain during the excursion. A collection of railroad artifacts are on display in the station.
Join the Museum today and help support of Florida's Railroad History!
Support the Museum
All donations are tax-deductible and go directly towards the General Fund for restoration and operation of the Museum's railway equipment.
