Welcome
All Aboard!
ABOUT US:
The Sun Center Model Railroad Club is sponsored by The Sun City Center Community Association, a 501-c-3 organization and age restricted retirement community located in Hilllsborough County, Florida.
Our club's mission is:
The club was founded in 1989 as a joint venture with folks from Kings Point, but split into two separate groups shortly thereafter.
The original layout configuration consisted of individually owned 2X4 ft. modules bolted together for running wherever show space was available. Once we were awarded shared space with the Stained Glass Club in the Heritage Room, the modules were assembled into a fixed structure and the layout was expanded over time. In 2003 we moved to our current location and began construction of the layout you see today. We celebrated our 25th anniversary in 2014.
The Sun City Central Railroad is one of the most detailed and technically advanced HO scale layouts in the area, with over 15 scale miles of track, detailed structures, spectacular scenery and creative illumination. Set somewhere in the eastern USA in the mid 1950's, it bridges the steam & diesel eras and features a double track main line that can support continuous running of multiple trains under computer control, or more prototypical point to point and switching operations under manual control.
The Digital Command Control system sends a constant power supply to the rails and allows our engineers, using hand held portable controllers to set the direction, speed, sound & lighting of individual locomotives, each with its own unique address.
Some of the trains seen in operation at Open House events are owned and maintained by individual members. The rest of the locomotives and rolling stock belong to the club, having been donated by current or past members or other benefactors. “The Spirit of Sun City Center” is our memorial passenger train, with cars bearing the names of our “Fallen Flags”, those club members who have passed while in service to our railroad.
The club runs Open Houses at the Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays when grandchildren are visiting and is also open to the public during Community events such as Holiday Walk and Funfest.
When the grandkids come to a Holiday Open House, we give them a hands-on opportunity to experience the hobby by allowing them to run our trains. We provided an orientation on train operations and present them with a Jr. Engineer’s Certificate and train safety information when they complete their run. In 2013 we recognized our 1000th Junior Engineer.
FIND US:
We are located at 915 North Course Lane in Sun City Center, FL. Take I-75 exit 240 to SR674 East.
At 5th traffic light, turn L on N. Pebble Beach Blvd. Take 3rd R on North Course Lane to our main parking lot. Walk the alley between the Fitness Center & Lawn Bowling buildings to our Club Room marked by a R.R. Crossing sign. We meet most Mondays, Tuesdays & Fridays from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. with Fridays scheduled for running trains. You might want to call the club room at (Phone # is Changing) to make sure someone is there, or call 813-633-5322 to make a future appointment to visit the club.
- To organize those residents of the community who have a common interest in Railroading, Model Railroading and the many diverse arts & crafts that support the hobby.
- To build, maintain, expand and operate a scale model railroad within the club's quarters.
- To entertain the residents of the community and their guests with Open House Shows and displays pertaining to railroading.
- To foster fellowship and exchange with others in the hobby at the local, regional, national and international levels and
- To encourage participation in the hobby by a new generation of younger model railroaders.
The club was founded in 1989 as a joint venture with folks from Kings Point, but split into two separate groups shortly thereafter.
The original layout configuration consisted of individually owned 2X4 ft. modules bolted together for running wherever show space was available. Once we were awarded shared space with the Stained Glass Club in the Heritage Room, the modules were assembled into a fixed structure and the layout was expanded over time. In 2003 we moved to our current location and began construction of the layout you see today. We celebrated our 25th anniversary in 2014.
The Sun City Central Railroad is one of the most detailed and technically advanced HO scale layouts in the area, with over 15 scale miles of track, detailed structures, spectacular scenery and creative illumination. Set somewhere in the eastern USA in the mid 1950's, it bridges the steam & diesel eras and features a double track main line that can support continuous running of multiple trains under computer control, or more prototypical point to point and switching operations under manual control.
The Digital Command Control system sends a constant power supply to the rails and allows our engineers, using hand held portable controllers to set the direction, speed, sound & lighting of individual locomotives, each with its own unique address.
Some of the trains seen in operation at Open House events are owned and maintained by individual members. The rest of the locomotives and rolling stock belong to the club, having been donated by current or past members or other benefactors. “The Spirit of Sun City Center” is our memorial passenger train, with cars bearing the names of our “Fallen Flags”, those club members who have passed while in service to our railroad.
The club runs Open Houses at the Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays when grandchildren are visiting and is also open to the public during Community events such as Holiday Walk and Funfest.
When the grandkids come to a Holiday Open House, we give them a hands-on opportunity to experience the hobby by allowing them to run our trains. We provided an orientation on train operations and present them with a Jr. Engineer’s Certificate and train safety information when they complete their run. In 2013 we recognized our 1000th Junior Engineer.
FIND US:
We are located at 915 North Course Lane in Sun City Center, FL. Take I-75 exit 240 to SR674 East.
At 5th traffic light, turn L on N. Pebble Beach Blvd. Take 3rd R on North Course Lane to our main parking lot. Walk the alley between the Fitness Center & Lawn Bowling buildings to our Club Room marked by a R.R. Crossing sign. We meet most Mondays, Tuesdays & Fridays from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. with Fridays scheduled for running trains. You might want to call the club room at (Phone # is Changing) to make sure someone is there, or call 813-633-5322 to make a future appointment to visit the club.
