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Homeschooled Kids & Co. Visit Railroad Museum

Homeschooled Kids & Company visited the West Florida Railroad Museum in Milton recently.

Once a fully functioning train depot around the turn of the century, now stands a historic museum offering our group a look into the past. We received a guided tour through a 1951 L&N freight car, a 1934 Frisco caboose, a 1951 Pullman boxcar, and ending with a ride on an outdoor 1-1/2 inch scale model railroad.

The bridge tender’s house contains a functioning HO scale model layout of the Milton Railroad Service as it once was around the 1940’s. The group enjoyed watching the numerous trains move along the track while noticing the tiny details in the scene. Some of the kids noticed a tiny scale model of a person swimming inside of the water tank used to refill the steam engines.

The cargo loading side of the depot is full of relics such as original conductor’s caps, railroad signs, track repair tools, baggage trolleys, fire suppression bulbs, and lots more. The passenger side of the depot is full of antiquated treasures like a telegraph machine. We ended our tour with lunch in the 1929 L&N Dining car and a trip through the gift shop.

HK&C would like to thank the volunteers, who operate the West Florida Railroad Museum, for spending the afternoon with us, especially our tour guide Mr. George Wilson. The museum is celebrating it’s 100th year anniversary with a festival on October 17th and 18th. They will host heritage vendors and exhibits, a Civil War Reenactment, historian Mr. Raymon Melvin Turpentine, basket weaver Mr. Ned Wenick, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida, and many more. Admission through the museum is based on a tax-deductible donation to support the museum. This would be a great outing for the whole family and railroad enthusiasts. For more information call (850) 501-6249 or visit www.wfrm.org.

Pictured top: Riding on the scale model railroad — (front to back) Elijah Kimbrel, Noah Kimbrel, Justus Zundel, Logan Tieppo, Gavyn Tieppo, Micaiah “Kia” Zundel (waving), Canaan Zundel. Pictured inset: Climbing up to the once used cupola in the 1934 caboose — (bottom of ladder) Canaan Zundel, Gavyn Tieppo, Justus Zundel (top left) and Elijah Kimbrel (top right). Pictured bottom: (top of stairs left to right) Tyler Presley , Lanita Pfeffer, (next step) Micaiah “Kia” Zundel, Canaan Zundel, parent Kristina Kimbrel, Tanner Pfeffer, Logan Tieppo, Justus Zundel, parent Melissa Tieppo, (front) Elijah Kimbrel, Noah Kimbrel, (left) Gavyn Tieppo. Submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.