Now that I am retired, I'll be making the move from Minneapolis, MN to Florida at the end of March. Our house is small, so I won't have room for much more than a 4x8 layout. We live about 40 miles north of Tampa. I'm wondering if there are any O gauge train clubs near there. I am a TCA and LCCA member.
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I'll guess "Spring Hill" area. Between there and the Tampa-Clearwater vicinity there are a couple of guys with layouts but no clubs that I know of.
Train clubs in Florida with any emphasis on O are pretty rare - at least on the West Coast. I know a guy in Spring Hill into O who knows a couple of others in the general area. You're welcome to email me and I'll send you his contact info. Might put you in contact with three or four folks in the neighborhood with similar interests.
publisher@ogaugehobbyist.com
I know this is quite a drive from the Tampa area, but the only club with an emphasis on o gauge that I know of is one that my hobby shop in Fort Myers is starting. The shop is called Awesome Hobbies.
I am interested in a get together in the Tampa area to discuss starting up a club.
It would be nice if a club is formed in the Tampa area. I'd be in for that.
As to the Ocala 3 Railers, are they still around? Their website is not working.
If a club did get started in Tampa, even though it's a ~2 hour drive, I would be interested.
I am not sure about clubs but Regal Railways run a train show at Homosassa and at Brooksville as I have been to both these venues. Might be worth a trip as if I remember correctly there were a couple of club layouts.
Talking of Brooksville on our drive up from Orlando we went through a small town that still had its drive in movie theatre. Very cool.
Our pad is in Haines City but I live in the UK, try to escape there when we can
Regards
Nick
The Ocala 3 Railers are still around. Our president passed away and we cut back for a while. All of us are over 60 and slowing down. We will be at the Hommasassa show on the 24th.
Ed
We move to Dunedin/Clearwater area 6 months ago. Everything still in boxes and not quite yet ready for a layout set-up.
Count me in for more information on the O-train club.
What are some good LHS in the Tampa area for O gauge and tinplate?
Is there any body really working on a Tampa O gauge club? I interested.
I'm looking to start a three-rail O gauge club in the Tampa Bay area if the interest is there. I even have a name for the proposed club 
Unfortunately, I live about 21/2Hrs. North of Tampa, in Lake City very close to Georgia border and I would like to join a club, I am building a 52'x24' layout, the control is Legacy and DCS, I know a couple of guys with TMCC and the other one with Legacy.
If a club did get started in Tampa, even though it's a ~2 hour drive, I would be interested.
AH...interesting club...until you and FRANK get to fussing!!!
Are you going to have a starter meeting to see the interest?
Steve
There is a Train Show at Fairgrounds in April. How about a meeting there to discuss the issue. We can kill two birds with one stone.
There is a Train Show at Fairgrounds in April. How about a meeting there to discuss the issue. We can kill two birds with one stone.
What are the dates for that show? I'm working in Orlando for the next 7 months and wouldn't mind sticking around a Saturday for a show. If you guys do get a club going in Tampa I'll attend while I'm there.
Its a little noisy there, but a good point to meet. I have my train house 6 miles from the fair grounds where we can talk and have coffee. I don't live there its a second house and I have a large layout in progress. Just saying a quiet place to talk.
There is a Train Show at Fairgrounds in April. How about a meeting there to discuss the issue. We can kill two birds with one stone.
Do you have the date?
Harry, April 21 and 22. The Great Train Expo Tampa 2012, and meeting there is a good idea. A few of us met a train show at the fairgrounds a couple of years ago.
How about, 11:00 am at the concession stand located to the left of the entry doors as you walk in.
It's the same weekend as York IIRC. This was the one chance I got to go so I'd be missing the meeting.
YUP! Nice planning... Who did the scheduling? Sometimes organizers don't think about these things!
Strange Bedfellows indeed!!!
I would certainly like to see some kind of club formed. Unfortunately, April 21 and 22 are out for me. My sister and mother will be down from Chicago to go house hunting, as they are thinking of moving to Florida, also.
I know this is quite a drive from the Tampa area, but the only club with an emphasis on o gauge that I know of is one that my hobby shop in Fort Myers is starting. The shop is called Awesome Hobbies.
Anymore info on this? I completely missed your post the first time I read this thread. Fort Myers is only 30 minutes from me.
I know this is quite a drive from the Tampa area, but the only club with an emphasis on o gauge that I know of is one that my hobby shop in Fort Myers is starting. The shop is called Awesome Hobbies.
Anymore info on this? I completely missed your post the first time I read this thread. Fort Myers is only 30 minutes from me.
I am also interested in this.
We live in Port Charlotte during the winter months.
Rod
If this is ever going to move forward It would need to be organized, with a list of people interested and phone numbers and e mails. So a meeting could be arranged.
Steve
I know this is quite a drive from the Tampa area, but the only club with an emphasis on o gauge that I know of is one that my hobby shop in Fort Myers is starting. The shop is called Awesome Hobbies.
Anymore info on this? I completely missed your post the first time I read this thread. Fort Myers is only 30 minutes from me.
I am also interested in this.
We live in Port Charlotte during the winter months.
Rod
That's where I am Rod. Small world 
I'm in any one else?
Steve: Harvey.
are we still talking about meeting at the Tampa Fairgrounds train show next weekend?
David D
Well
I will be at the Great Train Expo Sat AM
I will be wearing a NYC Subway Map Black t shirt.
If your there and see me say hi.
Steve
Those interested in forming a O gauge train club in the Tampa Area. Meet at the sign in tables at the Tampa Train Show at the Fairgrounds at 11:00 Saturday April 21, and we can find a area to sit down and discuss. I'll have a red shirt on and hold a yellow paper for identification.
David.
Not sure about clubs, but check with GSN1. He is just NE of Tampa, and has a great layout in progress. I visited it a while back to by some extra track for my layout. He's a member on the forum here.
I have a larger layout 400 sq foot layout in the making as well (400 foot tracks up and running) and I'm in Brandon. A club has no ownership of the layout.
You can't have a Club based on a personal layout. Looking for those who want to make a huge layout in a club format in Tampa. We can Meet in different poeple's layouts as we have club meeting.
I will look forward to see the interest in this Project this Sat.
The club will be a hard thing to get organized. You need good number of people..
Objectives
How to raise money for rent, track, power, wire, digital control, wood, foam, insurance etc...
How membership will allow for this, someone from another club would be enlightening.
What would the layout represent in time and place? What road lines. ETC......
Not sure about clubs, but check with GSN1. He is just NE of Tampa, and has a great layout in progress. I visited it a while back to by some extra track for my layout. He's a member on the forum here.
Those interested in forming a O gauge train club in the Tampa Area. Meet at the sign in tables at the Tampa Train Show at the Fairgrounds at 11:00 Saturday April 21, and we can find a area to sit down and discuss. I'll have a red shirt on and hold a yellow paper for identification.
The Tampa Train club Train expo show meet turned out 5 people. I know a lot of people said they couldn't make it. Not such a great place to meet.
I will suggest that We have a Once a month Meet to talk about A Tampa Train Club. The Once a month Meet would be for now a group of model train enthusiast exchanging friendship, Ideas, help each other with information and a movement for the future.
Let see if we can make that happen. We can meet at restaurants, people can host a meet at their home, at a layout , at a train related event.
Perhaps we can pull off a showing of a layout at the National Train Day May 12 2013
http://www.nationaltrainday.com/events/other/
http://www.tampaunionstation.com/
The Greater City of Tampa Train Group
Steve
See you were over at the train house, if your free we are there today. Sorry we missed you.Steve
I am so sorry I have not replied sooner, but here is their info. They are currently moving to a larger store.
http://local.yahoo.com/info-43...s-for-all-fort-myers
I do not know the current status of the club creation process, but they are planning on hosting workshops and building a layout.
I think a large part of why train clubs don't do well in Florida (particularly southwest Florida) is because of the demographics.
Consider this, most of the well-to-do people (i.e. people with disposable income) in the area are seasonal, whilst most of the natives live from paycheck to paycheck and depend on meager tourist industry wages in order to survive. Of all the states, Florida has been hit hardest by this recession/quasi-depression. South Florida is the King of home foreclosures and worker furloughs, and even attendance at the giant 'Mouse Trap' has reached a historic low.
In this depressing atmosphere, trying to form a pleasure-oriented toy train club is difficult if not impossible. Hobby shops around here are going out of business left and right, and even the train show at the fairgrounds yesterday (Tampa) was lackluster (I could barely stomach an hours worth).
On that positive note I'll be staying at the beach.
Well I am always interested in meeting with follow model railroader and talking common interests. A club could just be is an association of two or more people united by a common interest.
Steve
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