- Steam locomotive Number 2, a 2-6-0 Mogul was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in January 1907, and placed into service by the Lufkin Land & Lumber Company. The locomotive was also used over the years on the Shreveport, Houston & Gulf Railroad, the Carter-Kelley Lumber Company, the W.T. Carter & Brother Lumber Company, the Scott & Bearskin Lake Railroad, the Reader Railroad, and now the Tavares, Eustis & Gulf Railroad.
- Our passenger cars were built in 1915 for the Memphis, Dallas & Gulf Railroad. The MD&G was a predecessor of the Kansas City Southern Railroad. The MD&G was lovingly referred to as the mud, dirt & gravel railroad.
- Two of our coaches seat 60 guests with restroom facilities located in one car.
- The combine seats 48 and contains our refreshment counter. Open weekends seasonally, you may purchase soft drinks, chips, & cookies on the train or in the Tavares depot.
- The Orange Blossom Cannonball is a themed attraction. Our goal is to create memories and to give you an opportunity to ride the rails in an early American train. This train comes with 100-year old air conditioning…. Windows!
- Caboose # 5404 was built in 1918 for the St. Louis & Southwestern Railroad, the Cotton Belt, and used on their entire system. In the late 1950’s the caboose was purchased by Tom Long, President & General Manager of the Reader Railroad for their use.
- The first movie the caboose was used in was “This Property Is Condemned” starring Robert Redford and Natalie Wood. That film was followed by an appearance in “Box Car Bertha.” It’s most recent appearance has been in the films “O Brother, Where Art Thou” and “3:10 to Yuma.”
View from inside the cupola.