Sun City Center Model Railroad Club Opens Doors for Fun Fest Family Event

The Sun City Center Model Railroad Club threw open its clubroom at 915 North Course Lane on March 14, running a five-hour public open house from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. tied to Community Fun Fest. Club president Mike Hovatter, treasurer Dave Scudder, and secretary John Stephens organized the event, which put the club's HO- and N-scale layouts in front of visitors of all ages.

The centerpiece for younger visitors was the Junior Engineer program. Kids who took a turn at the controls walked away with a signed certificate bearing Hovatter's signature, a paper Amtrak conductor's hat, and a goody bag. Before running, each child received an orientation on train operations and train safety information. The club hit a notable milestone with that program back in 2013, when it recognized its 1,000th Junior Engineer, a number that reflects decades of open houses at Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and community events like this one.

Behind the scenes, members keep the operation tight. Mike Clapp works track-cleaning duty on the diorama to maintain reliable contact, while Larry Byrne and John Stephens handle locomotive triage, troubleshooting N-scale engines to determine whether they can be repaired or need to be retired. The equipment on the layout is a mix of member-owned locomotives and rolling stock donated to the club by current and former members and other benefactors.

One piece of equipment stands apart from the rest. "The Spirit of Sun City Center" is the club's memorial passenger train, with each car bearing the name of one of the club's "Fallen Flags," defined by the club as members who passed while in service to the railroad. It ran alongside a portable N-scale coal mine demonstration layout, which the club can pull out for open houses or take off-site to events.

Sun City Center resident Dorothy Kretler attended with her nephew Todd Keller and his wife Marcia, who made the trip from Washington, D.C. Their visit was a reminder that the club draws well beyond its immediate membership.

Membership in the SCC Model Railroad Club is open to all Community Association members at $35 per year plus a one-time initiation fee of $50. The clubroom at 915 North Course Lane is open to the public on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Members can drop in any time to work on projects or run trains. Visitors arriving by highway can take I-75 exit 240 to SR 674 East. Future open houses are scheduled around the Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas holidays, timed to when grandchildren are in town.