Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum
Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum
4.5
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
52 reviews
Excellent
23
Very good
23
Average
4
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Karen C
Winter Haven, FL162 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
My husband and I decided to go to this museum while visiting Plant City. It is a small place with a lot of railroad information. We especially enjoyed the toy railroad display. The lady docent was very friendly and told us extra information about the train depot. After our visit, we went next door to the train viewing platform. Much to our delight, a CSX train came through and we got to enjoy it going by the museum. A fun way to spend some time in Plant City.
Written September 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MJGoldfarb
Tarpon Springs, FL401 contributions
Jul 2021
My grandson & I visited the museum a few days ago. It is very neatly kept & well organized and had lots of artifacts to see in the old station. There is also a nice HO gauge operating layout in the back room.T he lady at the desk was also very friendly & knowledgeable. Overall this is about a 30 minute stop. There is also Whitcomb switcher & caboose on display outside. There are 2 cameras located here from the Virtual Railfan" website so you can check the action at the diamonds at any time. This is a CSX mainline with Amtrak passenger trains passing by..
Written July 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jessfiallo
17 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
This might be a really cool place. If it was clear when they were open!! Drove 1.5hrs to visit the town and the museum. When we arrived we see families leaving the parking lot. We thought that was curious. When we got to the door, we saw the sign that said they would be closed for the weekend because of the holiday. I specifically checked the website before leaving home, checked google for times, before leaving home and check facebook for announcements. Nowhere did they mention they would be closed!!! We were disgusted and left. Some courtesy in announcing closings would have gone a long way. Half my day was ruined because of this lack of courtesy.
Written July 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bluecookies
Davenport, FL2,752 contributions
Dec 2014 • Family
My family and I were next door at the Train Viewing Platform (be sure to see my review there) and noticed on the other side of the tracks there was a railroad museum. After spending some time at the viewing platform we headed over there.
Though the museum is small, it has a great collection of railroad artifacts. Some of the smaller, more delicate items are behind display cases. Other, large items are on display where you can actually touch or even sit in. The museum is actually compromised of a few small rooms, so make sure you visit all of them. Outside it has a caboose and switching locomotive.
As neat as I think railroads are, I'm not exactly an expert and couldn't tell you the names of the items and equipment that this museum has, though I know its the real deal. The museum is free and you might even find a local hanging out you can talk to and ask questions. If you're in the area be sure to drop by.
I've included several pictures from our visit. Be sure to see the picture of the sign outside the restrooms!
If you found this review helpful, please let me know by clicking the button below! I would greatly appreciate it! Thank you!
Though the museum is small, it has a great collection of railroad artifacts. Some of the smaller, more delicate items are behind display cases. Other, large items are on display where you can actually touch or even sit in. The museum is actually compromised of a few small rooms, so make sure you visit all of them. Outside it has a caboose and switching locomotive.
As neat as I think railroads are, I'm not exactly an expert and couldn't tell you the names of the items and equipment that this museum has, though I know its the real deal. The museum is free and you might even find a local hanging out you can talk to and ask questions. If you're in the area be sure to drop by.
I've included several pictures from our visit. Be sure to see the picture of the sign outside the restrooms!
If you found this review helpful, please let me know by clicking the button below! I would greatly appreciate it! Thank you!
Written December 19, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
R7114VBcindyg
Plant City, FL29 contributions
Dec 2016
Employees were rude, there was little to nothing to do or see. The train ride in the open air was nice, but it took you to a place that had one small building the size of a bathroom to look at and nothing else. We were very disappointed with the whole experience. A total waste of money.
Written November 10, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
FLworldwanderer
Tampa, FL931 contributions
Dec 2018 • Friends
Lots of history of station, and trains. Friendly staff, provides a wealth of information. If you enjoy trains, then you should like stopping by for a visit. Some unusual track equipment to ride the rails.
Written December 7, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for visiting our Museum, and our Plant City Downtown area, hope to see you again..
Written December 8, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bill
3 contributions
Feb 2021
Quaint little bit of Plant City history. I didn't know how much the railroad played a part in the forming of town.
Written August 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maurene_K
Dover, NH10,916 contributions
Jan 2019 • Friends
Heading back to the Orlando area from cities on the Gulf Coast, I intended to have a coffee stop at the Krazy Kup in the downtown area of Plant City. It was on a Sunday. Everything was closed, including the building at the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum, but the grounds were open.
Out in front of the museum, I met a local woman who was out for a walk with her toddler in a stroller and her dog. She was originally from a town in Maine less than away from where I live. She walked through the museum grounds with me, pointing out and talking to me about the various things there.
I especially liked the Seaboard caboose #5735. That was in very good condition.
I also liked Atlantic Coast Line engine #508 on display. The Atlantic Coast Line covered Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Alabama.
Just from touring the grounds and outdoor displays, I rate the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum at 5.0. I’m into railroad museums, so I may be a bit biased.
I look forward to a return visit on a day when the museum is open so I can see everything inside the building.
If you found this review helpful, please click THANK below.
Out in front of the museum, I met a local woman who was out for a walk with her toddler in a stroller and her dog. She was originally from a town in Maine less than away from where I live. She walked through the museum grounds with me, pointing out and talking to me about the various things there.
I especially liked the Seaboard caboose #5735. That was in very good condition.
I also liked Atlantic Coast Line engine #508 on display. The Atlantic Coast Line covered Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Alabama.
Just from touring the grounds and outdoor displays, I rate the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum at 5.0. I’m into railroad museums, so I may be a bit biased.
I look forward to a return visit on a day when the museum is open so I can see everything inside the building.
If you found this review helpful, please click THANK below.
Written March 17, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maurene,
Thank you for taking time to post your review.
We here at the Museum hope that we will see you again, particularly when are open so can show the "inside" Museum.
Have great day
Written March 21, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
George L
Largo, FL249 contributions
Feb 2019 • Family
I had come across this museum somewhere and made a mental note to take my four year old grandson who is really into trains there one day. Well we did on Saturday. Like a lot of other reviewers say, it is relatively small. It is an old train station. But there are some interesting things to see inside and some train cars outside, although you can't go inside them. My grandson was particularly interested in the model train set up, which like the museum was small, but it tried to model the area around the station. They built a viewing platform on the opposite side of the tracks where you can wait for a train to come by as well. We were very lucky that someone told us that the Amtrak train out of Tampa would be by soon so we waited. Frankly we spent more time there than I expected and my grandson really enjoyed it.
Written February 10, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RichC32958
Sebastian272 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
It's a free museum so don't expect guided tours here, but the rolling stock is interesting and if you take the time to read the information cards you will learn a few things. The small speeders are in abundance and the variety is amazing. There are some great photo ops here ad the yard has just a caboose and small loco but the paint job is really good and brings back memories of the Atlantic Coast Line's F units streaming up and down the FL rails. Plenty of parking here and the price is right. Go!
Written July 2, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
RichC32958
Thank you very much for visiting our Museum and for the kind words. Stop in again, it would be pleasure meeting you
Written July 4, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Claim your listingRobert W. Willaford Railroad Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum
- Hotels near Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum:
- (0.47 mi) Strawberry House Bed & Breakfast
- (0.37 mi) The Sparkman House Luxury Bed & Breakfast
- (1.64 mi) Holiday Inn Express & Suites Plant City
- (1.91 mi) Hampton Inn Plant City
- (8.73 mi) Hampton Inn & Suites Lakeland-South Polk Parkway
- Restaurants near Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum:
- (0.06 mi) Krazy Kup
- (0.07 mi) Whistle Stop Cafe
- (0.10 mi) Snellgrove's Restaurant
- (0.06 mi) Neumeisters Candy Shoppe
- (0.08 mi) Norma's
Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum Information
Excellent Reviews | 23 |
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Very Good Reviews | 23 |
Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum Photos | 75 |