Description

It was founded in 1956. The museum was built on the former Naval Air Station Richmond

Richmond Naval Air Station

The Richmond Naval Lighter Than Air Station was a military installation about 18 or 20 miles off Route 1 from South Miami, Florida. that was active during World War II....

 (NASR). 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. It became a Florida state railroad museum in 1984 when it received statutory recognition by the Florida Legislature as meeting the four statutory criteria that: 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 classic railroad cars like the “Silver Crescent” and engines like the “113.” The Museum strives to teach railroad history with the use of artifacts, movies, and railroading materials. The Museum includes a number of displays that are interactive.
The Museum's train rides allow guests to board vintage trains and get a taste of the past.

Exhibits

One of the most important exhibits is the Presidential Car "Ferdinand Magellan"

Ferdinand Magellan Railcar

Named after the Portuguese explorer, the Ferdinand Magellan is a former Pullman Company observation car which served as Presidential Rail Car, U.S. Number 1 from 1943 until 1958. The Gold Coast Railroad Museum in Miami-Dade County, Florida acquired it in 1959...

. The museum also has a collection of model railroad equipment.

Locomotives

The Museum has both steam and diesel locomotives on display. Several of the diesel locomotives are operational and active. Some of the locomotives on location are:

Steam Locomotives

Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) Steam Locomotive #153

Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) Steam Locomotive #113

Steam Engine #9, "Saddle Tank" Engine

Crown Locomotive 24" gauge 4-4-0 #3

Diesel-electric Locomotives

National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) S-2 #1

Gold Coast Railroad Museum (GCRM) RS-1 #106

Chicago Burlington & Quincy Railroad (CB&Q) E-9A #9913

Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) E-8A #1594

Atlantic Coast Line (ACL) GP-7 #1804

Seaboard FP-10 #4033

Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac (RF&P) "Slug"

Freight and Other Cars

The freight cars and other railroad cars on display include:
Helium Transportation Car MHAX #1202

Frisco Line Railroad Gondola Car #60053

Port Everglades Railroad Flatcar #1103

Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (SCL) Steam Crane #765157

Burro Crane #15

Southern Railway (SR) Boxcar #260909

Southern Railway (SR) Boxcar #27416

Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (SCL) Boxcar #126307

Belcher Oil Company (BEPX) Tank Car #105

Belcher Oil Company (BEPX) Tank Car #121

United States Army (USAX) Side Dump Ballast Car

United States Army (USAX) Flatcar #35703

Atlantic Coast Line Railroad (ACL) Caboose #0322

Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (SCL, ex SAL) Boxcar #593188

Rolling Stock

The Gold Coast Railroad Museum has over 40 pieces of railroad rolling stock and equipment.

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.

Publications

Steam N' Steel Newsletter - published monthly.

Model Railroad Magazine - published online.

External links

• official web site