Mission & History

Our club's mission is:

• 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.

History of the Sun City Center Model Railroad Club:

The origins of the Sun City Center Model Railroad Club date to early 1989, when an advertisement appeared in a local newspaper inviting anyone interested in forming a model railroad club to meet in the hobby room of the Kings Point Clubhouse. The first meeting was held on April 28, 1989, and the new organization was named the Sun Point Model Railroad Club.

The club’s initial goal was to build an HO-scale modular railroad in the Kings Point hobby room. Membership was open to residents of both Kings Point and Sun City Center. The original layout consisted primarily of individually owned 2-by-4-foot modules that members stored at home. The modules could be transported, bolted together, and operated wherever suitable space was available.

In early 1993, members who lived in Sun City Center organized the Sun City Center Model Railroad Club. The new club was assigned space in the Town Hall building in a room formerly known as the Women’s Card Room, which it shared with the newly formed Stained Glass Club. Because the room was small, the members could assemble only a limited L-shaped layout. Members continued their association with the Sun Point club, however, and the two groups combined their modules when presenting public shows. The Sun Point Model Railroad Club continued as a joint organization until approximately 1995, when the two clubs became fully separate groups.

In June or July 1993, the Sun City Center Model Railroad Club and the Stained Glass Club moved into the Heritage Room. Members constructed corner modules, two crossover modules, a yard throat, and a six-foot fiddle-yard section. Individually owned modules were used to complete the layout and, because space remained limited, were periodically rotated in and out.

The railroad continued to evolve during the remainder of the decade. Bob Johnson constructed a new or substantially improved fiddle yard around 1997. In 1998, the club rebuilt the layout’s supporting legs and added casters, making the structure easier to move and maintain. The following year, the railroad was lengthened by two feet, bringing its total length to approximately 22 feet.

In 2003, the club moved into its present location and began constructing the permanent layout seen today. This marked the transition from the earlier modular railroad into a much larger and more sophisticated model of a working rail system. In 2014, the club celebrated the 25th anniversary of its founding.

Known as the Sun City Central Railroad, the club’s HO-scale layout has grown into one of the most detailed and technically advanced model railroads in the area. It includes more than 15 scale miles of track, finely detailed structures, extensive scenery, and creative illumination. Set somewhere in the eastern United States during the mid-1950s, the railroad bridges the transition from steam to diesel power.

Its double-track main line supports the continuous operation of multiple trains under computer control. Members can also conduct more prototypical point-to-point runs and switching operations under manual control. The railroad uses Digital Command Control, or DCC, which supplies constant power to the rails while allowing engineers to control the direction, speed, sound, and lighting of individual locomotives. Each locomotive has a unique digital address and is operated through a handheld portable controller.

Some of the trains displayed during open houses are owned and maintained by individual members. Other locomotives and pieces of rolling stock belong to the club, having been donated by current or former members and other benefactors. One of the railroad’s most meaningful trains is The Spirit of Sun City Center, a memorial passenger train whose cars bear the names of the club’s “Fallen Flags”—members who passed away while associated with the railroad.

The club traditionally holds open houses around the Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas holidays, when many residents have grandchildren visiting. It also welcomes the public during community events such as Holiday Walk and FunFest.

A particularly popular open-house tradition gives visiting children a hands-on introduction to model railroading. After receiving an orientation on train operation, each child is allowed to run a train. Upon completing the run, the new operator receives a Junior Engineer’s Certificate and information about railroad safety. In 2013, the club proudly recognized its 1,000th Junior Engineer.

From a collection of portable modules assembled by a small group of enthusiasts in 1989, the Sun City Center Model Railroad Club has developed into a lasting community institution—preserving railroad history, advancing the craft of model railroading, honoring former members, and introducing new generations to the hobby.