I'm happy to share with anyone who wasn't aware that steam will be running again in (my home) central Florida next month. This is Reader Railroad equipment running on the north end of the Florida Central. I hope they find some success...

http://www.orangeblossomcannonball.com/tickets/

This is not the first time they've used Reeder equipment down there...they used the #4 (of "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" fame) and associated coaches when it was still the Mt Dora Railway. Like you said, Hope they are successful.

Hmm......... heard they'll have the same manager......for the 10th or 11th time......
Makes one wonder how long it will take to learn the lesson.......

It is a nice little train set ................reasonable size engine, fair cars.........something familiar about the plan.........oh, yeah... didn't they do it in mt dora before, circa 2000-ish.....?

Some say the definition of insanity is to repeatedly do the same thing, while hoping for a different outcome.....
I do hope it succeeds, but.........?

I think the guys out at the Sierra would have a big problem with the claim "America's # 1 Movie Train". It will take a long time for the Reader engine to garner as many movie credits as Sierra #3. Nice concept, though; a steam travelling locomotive like Flagg Coal 75, but larger-

Photos:

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=377060

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=377061

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=377063

The first thing I said to myself: "The Petticoat Junction Railroad is back!"

Forgive me if I am wrong on this...but wasn't the locomotive used in O Brother Where Art Though the small prairie #4, not 2-6-0 #2 as shown in the photographs?

If so, are they stretching the "truth" on their website even farther than what has already been suggested in this thread?

Just curious,

Jeff Moore
Elko, NV
who rode the Orlando & Mt. Dora back about 2002 or so (and enjoyed it a lot...)

yes, and that's the engine that was previously at Mount Dora, the last time this experiment was attempted. Still, both engines are owned by the Reader, so it's not an outright lie. They seem to be advertising the Reader's accomplishment in movies, as opposed to #2's appearances.

Slightly changing the subject, I have some amount of doubts that this is going to work any better than the last time. Mount Dora and Tavares might as well be Tallahassee as far as drawing Orlando crowds are concerned. They are WAY off the beaten path, and the only way to get there is to intentionally head that way, and you are looking at close to an hour drive one way to get to Tavares. Since they have track into downtown Orlando, the obvious theory of how to make money is to operate out of Orlando and head to either Tavares or Mount Dora. Mount Dora itself is a charming little touristy town on the edge of a lake, and should appeal nicely to those wanting a train ride with plenty of shops to occupy the guests during the layover. A shorter dinner train catering to the more ritzy folks would work also IF you run it out of Orlando. There are certainly enough tourists to that area to support something else to do, if you have the advertising money to get the word out. The problem in Florida (and most everywhere else) is that you are going to have to base your ride where the people are---and Tavares isn't that city. It certainly wasn't 10 years ago, and I doubt much has changed.

Still, best of luck. Maybe they will last long enough this time that I might actually get to see them running steam. Nice railroad, nice locomotive and consist, but I am worried about the ticket buyers.
Kevin

Sooo...when we rode it (can't believe that's been 9 years ago now...), the Orlando & Mount Dora operated in the manner you described, from a loading area literally in the shadow of Interstate 4 in Orlando out to Mount Dora and return. Parking was a major problem around the loading area, but once things got going it was a nice ride out, and the scheduled allowed passengers a couple hours of wandering around Mount Dora. I remember some kind of a trolley and/or railbus operation at Mount Dora as well. I don't remember all of what killed this operation off, other than at one point someone chained the locomotive to the rails to prevent it being used for a while.

It was a good ride, but one that a tourist had to commit a full day to- not something that your more casual people are willing to do...

Jeff Moore
Elko, NV

By sold out notices on Facebook and from personal observation by a quick visit to the railroad a couple of weeks ago, I did want to pass along that the operation seems to be faring well in regards to ticket sales. They are planning to add a caboose to the consist very soon to increase capacity, and have a photo train scheduled for February 18th if any of you will be in the area.

Personally I am very excited for the potential they hold in regards to operational goals and in the skill sets of the crew, so be sure to pay a visit if you get the chance.


9:10 to Lake Jem - February 18th, 2012
http://www.eventbrite.com/event/2807065007

WTF???

Not quoting because I don't want to assist the actor. Take a look two posts before this one. Is that a real person posting, or some kind of computer virus?

How do you squeeze that many references to Las Vegas casinos into a thread about Florida steam trains? It is creepy.

[EDIT] site admin deleted the post and user I was referring to (Good!). If you are reading this some time later, the item I refer to is no longer there.

Researched this user's posts. All had such links. Some hidden by setting the font size to 1 point. Two of the links in his posts pointed to malware distribution sites (both of which were inactive, thankfully). User is no longer with us.

The forum is going to run out of periods if this keeps up.......

Yes, insanity is doing the same thing over and over while hoping for different results.

Oddly enough, as far as I can tell, that's also the definition of "practice".

Let's see what happens before we write this one off.

How is the operation going in flordia. Are the rest of the Reader Railroad equipment thats still in Arkansas, will be moving to florida as well like Reader Railroad 2-8-2 #7, the boxcars, flatcars, and any other coachs left in Reader AK, when are they coming to Flordia to join #2. I like the new caboose. I saw it in a youtube video here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsXo4ZevBLQ

I just spoke to a knowlegeable person regarding the operation. At this moment, the engine is being trucked back to Arkansas for its annual inspection and some minor repairs. Everyone seems to be quite happy with the results for the past operating season. Several people that I spoke to at Cass Railfan weekend have been to Tavares and had an enjoyable experience also. I believe that at the moment, there are no plans for moving anything else to Florida, as there is no place there to maintain the equipment (which is why the locomotive had to go back to Arkansas).

Oh I see. Are there any future plans on having Reader Railroad 2-8-2 #7 joining in the future if this operation becomes more succesful or she staying perminitly at Reader Arkansas