Timeline

---

Our outside Garden Railroad is progressing with the construction of our outside walls on our 24' x 36' display.  We hope to have the walls completed by the end of the month.  Then we will add 5 truck loads of dirt to complete the base.  At that point we will turn the project over to the Florida Garden Railway Society for them to put there design skills to work to complete their permanent exhibit at Bushnell Station.

Construction has started on the five different exhibit rooms in Terminal B.  Each room will have an operating layout and displays for each scale (see photo section).  This project will last for many months due to the detail required to complete.  This will be a huge addition to Bushnell Station and is sure to be a hit with our visitors.  Interactive displays are part of the design.

We added a new stand for our mailbox to show our name in large letters along with a Railroad Crossing Sign at the top to make it easy to see our entrance from a greater distance (see photo section)

Our Halloween "Track or Treat" and our Christmas "Holiday Express" special events were a success.  We had a great turnout on each of the evenings we were open and we look forward to 2022 to continue this tradition.

Lighting has been added to our outside loading platform to prepare for our Halloween "Track or Treat" and Christmas "Holiday Express" evening special events.

Our outside patio has been installed and picnic benches have been added.  This area will be popular to sit and watch the outside train while enjoying a beverage or a snack.

Construction will start this week on another project at Bushnell Station.  We are adding a 16' x 20' concrete patio near the loading platform.  Picnic tables with umbrellas will be added when construction is completed.

Several weeks ago the  H. B. Plant Railroad Historical Society in Plant City, Florida visited Bushnell Station and at that time they offered us the contents of their railroad museum to add to our collection.  We are extremely thankful for their donation and plans are underway to design an area for their railroad memorabilia.  Most of their memorabilia has already been moved to our museum and the reconstruction of the ticket office is underway.  

We had another successful weekend with nice weather for all our "Guests and Passengers" at Bushnell Station. We are starting to make plans for our Halloween "Track or Treat" and our Christmas "Holiday Express" train rides.  The Village's Daily Sun did an interview today and a photographer will be taking photos of our facility tomorrow for and upcoming feature edition.  We are installing catenary supports and wires for our trolley and adding additional details in our Exhibit Area. 

The Education Room has been painted and new floor tile installed.  It can accommodate 16 for educational seminars or a private party.  The Kitchen section of the Concession area has had new flooring installed as well.

The outside Loading Platform for the train ride had a new cover installed this past week.  It is 16' wide by 65' long.  Check it out in the "Photo" section.

The materials for the 65' outside covered Train Platform were delivered today and the construction will begin on Wednesday morning.  Construction is scheduled to be completed in one week.  This covered platform will keep passengers in the shade while waiting for their train ride.  More outside construction projects are scheduled for the outside train this month as well.

Our "Soft Opening" this last weekend was quite a success.  We did not advertise but we had lines waiting to go on the train ride and over 100 passengers visited our Museum and Exhibit Hall.  We have another open date for next month and hope you can visit.  Remember; the train ride is  "always free".

"IT'S OFFICIAL"  We are opening Saturday, March 6th and 7th.  Due to the ongoing Covid 19 virus, we are going to be open the first Saturday and Sunday of each month.  We hope to add additional dates to our schedule when things get back to normal.  If you are able to volunteer that weekend we would appreciate your help.  If you don't have time to volunteer, we  hope you will stop by to visit and take a free train ride.

Over the past month we have been working on our Exhibit Hall.  See the photo's in our About Us section for updated views of your G Scale layout.  The tunnel for the outside train ride has been completed and one coat of flat black paint has been applied.  The materials for the outside passenger loading platform cover (16' x 60') are on order and we expect it to be installed the beginning of March.  It will have an authentic looking green metal roof.

80 feet of backdrop was installed last week in the Exhibit Room and the framework for the tunnel inside the train barn was completed.  We also added 72 feet of fencing between the train track and train ride last week for safety and easier parking.  The sheetrock in the tunnel will be installed this week then the walls and ceiling will be textured to look like stone.  The tunnel will then be painted flat black.  Already thinking of Halloween and what we can do in the tunnel.  Any ideas?

This week will see some major changes at Bushnell Station.  Our backdrops for the walls around the Exhibit Room are to arrive and will be installed.  Our construction crew will start the framing for the tunnel inside the Train Barn and we hope to have our new sign installed on the front of our building this week along with an additional fence between the parking lot and train ride. 

Our "Sneak Peek" today was supported by quite a few members of the community with comments like "Wow", "Great", and "Unbelievable".  We had a nice showing from our members to give tours and explain our grand plan.  The day was a success and thanks to all that visited and those who helped.

The State of Florida has been notified that our outside train track has been completed.  They will be sending a member of their staff for an inspection of our facility, equipment, and track for the safety and enjoyment for everyone who visits.  We have been testing our ride for over two months and we look forward to their visit.

A "Sneak Peek" is scheduled for December 5th from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.  We will open our doors to the public for 4 hours to show the progress we have made over the past year.  We will open a limited viewing area for the Museum and Exhibit Areas which will have seven G Scale trains running at the same time.  Everyone will be able to see our new Gulf Coast and Central Florida train but we will not be offering rides to the public during the Sneak Peek.  Our Gift Shop will be open during this event

Covid 19 Update:  We were trying to have Bushnell Station operational this month but it looks like we will have to wait until we can open safely.  With this extra time we can complete some items that we were  planning to do at a later date.

Progress is continuing at Bushnell Station.  The Museum Area is at 90% completion with hundreds of G Scale Trains on display.  Work continues in the Exhibit Area and we have all the track installed with two mountains completed.  We currently have 7 trains running at one time.  We have the scenery and buildings to do next.   The Exhibit Area is at 60% completion and will be the last area to be completed.

Update:  The electricians have completed their work and the crew installing the last of the sheetrock completed their work over the weekend.  Time to paint the new walls and prepare the Exhibit area for laying track, etc.  

Last week we completed the outside railroad track and made our first trip around the entire property.  We still have some minor leveling and stone to lay along the tracks which should be completed in the next few weeks.  The electricians are coming tomorrow to complete their work and then the last of the sheetrock will be installed in the exhibit area in the next week.  Once that is completed, the process of laying track, creating scenery, and installing buildings will be the last major project.

Our Facebook Page is now active thanks to "Cousin Chuck".  Please visit us on Facebook at Bushnell Station and click follow us to receive updates on a more current basis and of course any comments or just a simple Like is always appreciated.

Since our last posting, all the outside track has been installed and will be leveled and tested in the weeks ahead.  LED Lighting was completed and shelf brackets were installed in the museum area and awaiting arrival of over 400' of glass shelving.  Two flatbed trailers delivered 40 pallets of sod today to place around the trackbed which is elevated in many areas to maintain a 2% grade or less.

Last week was a very active week at Bushnell Station.  Two bridges were constructed for the outside railroad, 600 ft of track was installed and all the roadbed has been completed for the entire outside layout.  The back acreage has been completely cleared and outside cleanup is underway.  We hope to have our first delivery of sod delivered and installed this week.  Video monitors were installed at the reception desk and concession areas with pricing and information. 

The new building is completed and awaiting final approval from Sumter County.  Photo's of the new building can be seen in the Photo Section.

Work is continuing on the inside with the addition of overhead valances and LED lighting in the Museum area of the building.  Glass shelving is also being installed to showcase our hundreds of trains that will be on display.  In the Exhibit area; the framework has been completed and ready to start installing track, mountains, buildings and detail.  25 truck loads of dirt were delivered this week in preparation of next weekends outside track laying project. 

Construction started today on our additional 25 ft x 70 ft building to house the Gulf Coast & Central Florida trains and workshop.  Completion expected by the middle of June.

Started installing outside track for 1/8 scale train to travel around 5 acres.  10 sections of 10 ft track were installed on day one.  Base was made with fill, DeWitt weaved weed control ground cover, then stone added to make track bed.

Carpet Depot installed flooring in the remainder of the main building including, office, restrooms, concession area, and walkway to Annex Building

Installed fixtures, lighting, and slatwall in Gift Shop

Hi Tech Security System added to all parts of buildings.

New sign installed along Highway 476 

Start of construction of multiple G Scale train platforms in Exhibit area.

Painted all interior walls in Main Building

Removed carpet and installed new flooring in Museum, Gift Shop, and Exhibit area.  Work done by Carpet Depot in Bushnell, FL

Installed 60 ft x 12 ft concrete slab for Train Departures

New fence installed along county road and driveway entrance

Received shipment from Titan Trains in Virginia with 1 Engine, 1 Engineer's Car, 6 Passenger Cars, and 1 Caboose for outside railroad ride.

New shingle roof installed on Main Building.

Received letter from the IRS confirming that they have determined that we are exemt from Federal Income Tax under code 501 (c) (3) and we are classified as a Public Charity 509 (a) (2)

Two jigs were made (1 for straight track & 1 for curved track) and the assembly consisted of bending rail on curved sections, adding 27 railroad ties and attaching the rails to the ties with a total of 108 screws per 10 ft section.  Two holes were then punched into each end of the track for connecting sections during laying of the track outside.

Received 4,000 feet of track and railroad ties for outside passenger train

Purchased two buildings totaling 7,500 square feet on 5 acres in Bushnell, Florida

Add a description about this item

Add a description about this item

Add a description about this item