The Gold Coast Railroad Museum was founded in 1956. The museum was built on the former Naval Air Station Richmond. With over three miles of tracks, the old base was an ideal place to build a railroad museum.
The Gold Coast Railroad Museum is one of three Official State Railroad Museums in Florida.[2] It became a Florida state railroad museum in 1984 when it received statutory recognition by the Florida Legislature as meeting the four statutory criteria, including: its purpose is to preserve railroad history, it is devoted primarily to the history of railroading, it is open to the public, and it operates as a non-profit organization.
The Gold Coast Railroad Museum promotes historical trains and railroads. It houses over 30 historic trains including historic railroad cars like the Presidential Pullman "Ferdinand Magellan” and engines like the Florida East Coast "153.” The museum strives to teach railroad history using artifacts, movies, and railroading materials. The museum includes many interactive displays.
The museum's train rides allow guests to board vintage trains and get a taste of the past. On Most Saturdays, guests can ride in standard gauge railway cars and can also ride in the cab of the train's locomotive. The separate 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge Edwin Link Children's Railroad also offers rides.[3]
Located at a latitude of ~25.62 degrees north, the Gold Coast Railroad Museum possesses the southernmost active railroad trackage in the continental United States.
Exhibits
One of the most important exhibits is the Presidential Car Ferdinand Magellan. The museum also has a collection of model railroad equipment.
East Swamp & Gatorville Railroad 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge[5]4-4-0 Locomotive #3. Built by Crown Metal Products; donated by Edwin Albert Link. Originally coal-powered, but now runs on compressed air.
Freight and Passenger cars
The Freight Cars, Passenger Cars & other Cars on display include:
Port Everglades Stake Car No. 1103
SCL Fruit Boxcar No. 593188
FEC Heavyweight Passenger No. 136
ACL Wood M-3 Caboose No. 0322
SAL Heavyweight Combine No. 259
US No. 1 "Ferdinand Magellan"
Southern Railway Express Agency Baggage No. 359
US Army Hospital Car No. 89436
FEC Anniversary Smooth-Side Car No. 1996
ACL Observation-Tavern-Bar No. 254
SAL Tavern-Lounge No. 6300
WP "Silver Crescent" CZ-10/WP 881
CB&Q Sleeper "Silver Vale" No.490
SAL Diner/Kitchen No. 6112
CB&Q Sleeper "Silver Slumber" No.4901
WP Baggage "Silver Stag" No.802
FEC Lightweight Chair Car "Belle Glade"
SAL Sleeper/Lounge "Silver Palm" No.54 (Privately Owned)
Chesapeake & Ohio Power Car 914101 (Privately Owned)
ACL Cafe Car "Swarthmore College"
SCL "Vassar College" No. 765348
SCL "Cameron Pass" # 765310
Rolling stock
The Gold Coast Railroad Museum has over 50 pieces of railroad rolling stock and equipment. They are currently in the process of selling of some of the equipment to continue to operate a financially stable museum.[6]
Model railroading
The Gold Coast Railroad Museum exhibits include a number of model railroads in many scales, including N, HO, O27, and G scale. The collections and equipment on display have been donated or loaned to the Museum for the public's enjoyment.
