This layout is operated using Digitrax Command Control
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Fort Myers is a fairly large town on the South West Coast of Florida in the USA. Whilst visiting this part of Florida we came across the Seminole Gulf Coast
Railway. This line runs from Arcadia, where a connection is made with the large railroad company CSX, through Fort Myers to just North of Naples. Freight traffic such as newspapers, paper, wood, and liquid petroleum gas along with passenger excursion trains operate along various parts of the Seminole Gulf Coast Railway. There are no longer any Amtrak passenger trains but there are 'Thru way' bus connections to Tampa further up the coast where trains run to Jacksonville, Washington and New York. Regular passenger trains ceased in 1970 between Naples, Fort Myers and Tampa but both stations in Fort Myers still exist, one now being the town's museum. From here on in fiction takes over as I decided to make Fort Myers the junction between CSX and the Seminole Gulf Coast Railway with Amtrak trains to and from Orlando terminating here. Connections would be made between the Amtrak and Seminole Gulf Coast passenger trains along with freight traffic between CSX and the Seminole Gulf coast Railway at the station. A line did exist between Fort Myers and Alva to the East but with a bit of fiction thrown in I have extended it to meet up with the Florida East Coast Railroad so that this company can run freight trains in to Fort Myers. The road crossing lights flash and the bell sounds. You have to listen carefully to here them though as we do not want to annoy other layout exhibitors! Watch out for the Alligators and other wild life next to the air boat rides! One alligator has strayed some way from the water. The layout period is set in the mid 1990's but locos modelled on photos taken in the new millenium may also be seen. Digital Command Control has been installed with quite a number fitted with sound. Some locos, such as the Amtrak F40PH has working strobe lights, others with working ditch lights. All locos have working headlights. |
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The layout is 22 feet long and is scenic along the whole length.
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| The layout has been doing
exhibitions since 1994 and still doing shows into 2011. Its still
perhaps our favourite layout to operate even after all these years
and still one of the quickest to set up and take down.
Most recent shows done: NMRA BR convention in Kegworth October 2008 Tolworth Showtrain January 2009 Eurotrack in eastleigh - February 2011 |
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