Picture of our club house in 1925 on Seaboard Air Lines Inaugural Run of the Orange Blossom Special thru Lake Wales

History of the Lake Wales Model Railroad Club Overview

In May of 1975 the Seaboard Coast Line gave the city of Lake Wales the 1916 Seaboard Air Line freight depot at the intersection of Kissimmee and Alternate 27. The freight depot was moved to the city barn and used for storage. In 1987, the Historic Lake Wales Society Inc. Was formed and included a small group of railroad enthusiast who had a vision on building a railroad. A small layout portraying Lake Wales was built by the Ridge Model Railroad Club and displayed in the depot which sparked further interest. In august of 1988, Mrs. Mimi Hardman heard of an HO scale layout which was for sale in Marco Island. It Included over 900 ft. of track 100 buildings, ski lifts, working mines, and measured 30 ft by 9 ft. On May 1, 1989 the constitution and by-laws were signed to officially form the Lake Wales Model Railroad Club. In 1994 the Historic Lake Wales Society Inc. decided to move the freight depot from the city barn to the CSX Historic corridor and restore it to its original architectural integrity. The new focus of the club was in the restoration of this building. 1995 saw the completion of this undertaking with the building being dedicated on Lake Wales Pioneer Day. In early 1996 the purchased layout was sold to a church in Sebring. The Club members are now working on three layouts HO, N, G scale in restored freight depot. In addition to the layout work the club has helped in the restoration of the caboose and passenger railcar at the Depot Museum. Tours of the freight depot are open school and community groups. The Layout is open to all we meet every Monday evening from 7 to 9 PM and Wednesday morning from 9 to 12. 

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