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Train Club Keeps Heritage Alive

Photo by CAROLE DICKEY

Passengers aboard a Central Pasco & Gulf Railroad train enjoy the cool breeze and shady ride during a warm day at Crews Lake Park.

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By Carol Dickey

Published: November 12, 2008

On the second Saturday of each month, visitors to Crews Lake Park can hop aboard a train for a ride through scenic wooded areas. The rides are free, though a $1 donation is suggested to help support the railroad.

"It was awesome," said Terry Ward, who treated 2-year-old Ryder Richardson to a ride, which lasts roughly 25 minutes. "Ryder loved it, and he brought his own Thomas Train with him for the ride. He dropped it during the train ride and the next train picked it up and brought it to the station for us."

The trains and track are a labor of love for members of Central Pasco & Gulf Railroad, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving railroad heritage. At the park, located at 16739 Crews Lake Drive, Shady Hills, is a replica of the Orange Belt Railroad that ran through Pasco County in the 1800s, said Gunther Richey, a member of CP&G.

"Eventually, we will be building replicas of the little towns that it ran through, like San Antonio, Dade City and Sanford," Richey said.

Sandra Stine took her daughter, Megan, 2, on the ride.

"I think it's a great experience for young children and it helps bridge the generations, because Grandpa absolutely loves trains, too," Stine said. "We're going to have to come back here with Grandpa."

The railroad currently juggles three trains along the tracks, with occasional pauses at junctions to let one train pass. Expansion plans are under way that will add more track until they reach the goal of 15,000 feet of mainline track.

"We've been getting a pretty steady stream of passengers," said Bob Ryan, a member of CP&G. "We usually get about 400 to 600 people, depending on the weather."

The railroad is open to the public the second Saturday of the month and is available for birthday parties on the other Saturdays. The next public run day is Dec. 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A grand opening of the next phase of CP&G will also be Dec. 13, featuring a visit from Santa.

CP&G invites people interested in railroading, live steam and 7-1/2-inch gauge, to join the group to build and operate the railroad. Information on membership classes and an application are available at cpgrr.org.

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