The Florida Railroad Museum, Inc was founded as The Florida Gulf Coast Railroad Museum with the stated goal of preserving Floridas railroad history. Over the years, the Museum has aquired and restored rolling stock and equipment to operate for the publics enjoyment. We hope our visitors appreciate the sights and sounds of Florida railroading as it existed in the 1940s and 1950s. To achieve its goal of operating equipment and recreating the sights and sounds of Florida railroading, the Museum operates on a six mile line between Parrish and Willow, Florida in rural Manatee County. This railroad line was the first railroad to be built in Manatee County. Each weekend diesel locomotives pull equipment consisting of open window coaches, a covered gondola, and an air conditioned coach. Trains are operated entirely by Museum members volunteering thousands of hours a year to make this unique experience possible. The Museum is open and operates train rides year-round every Saturday and Sunday at 11: 00 AM and 2: 00 PM, excluding a two week break for Christmas and New Years. Trains operate rain or shine and depart from our station on 83rd Street East in Parrish just behind the old Post Office. Special weekend events are planned throughout the year and may supercede our regular operating schedule.