KEY WEST, Florida Keys — Railroad buffs can whet their appetites for the upcoming 100th anniversary of the completion of Henry Flagler's Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad by attending the Key West Model Railroad Club's second annual Key West Model Railroad Show & Sale.
Set for Saturday, Dec. 3, the free-admission event for rail fans is to take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Doubletree Grand Key Resort, 3990 S. Roosevelt Blvd.
Highlights are to include locomotive drag races where visitors can pit their own model train locomotives against each other on a specially created 24-foot multi-scale racetrack.
Attendees also can check out model trains operating on modular layouts, vendor displays and free "Trains 4 Kids" giveaways. Additional drawings will feature complete Lionel O-Gauge train sets.
The island chain's railroad history dates back to 1905, when construction began on the Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad conceived by Standard Oil tycoon Henry Flagler. When the train made its first journey from the Florida mainland to Key West Jan. 22, 1912, it connected the previously isolated Keys with the mainland and each other for the first time.
Model Railroad Show organizers anticipate displaying Over-Sea Railroad photographs, artifacts and memorabilia at the show.
Other events commemorating the historic railroad's centennial year currently are under way in the Florida Keys, with the schedule to culminate the weekend of Jan. 22, 2012.
Model Railroad Show information: keywesttrainman@aol.com or 305-586-7768
Key West visitor information: www.fla-keys.com/keywest or 1-800-LAST-KEY
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