All Aboard! Largo Central Railroad Celebrates 35 Years
Largo Central Railroad is celebrating a big milestone this month — 35 years of chugging along the 1.2 miles of tracks in its 1/8-scale miniature trains in Largo Central Park.
On the first weekend of each month, volunteers welcome the community to ride with them at no charge, though donations are appreciated to keep the trains running! It's a must-do with the kids, and it's an experience you won't ever forget.
When the founders laid the final track here on July 4, 1991, the site was an empty lot that had been home to the former Pinellas County Fairgrounds … and Largo Central Park was a far-off idea somewhere in City Hall.
However, the community instantly connected with the magic of what was created here. So when the time came to develop Largo Central Park a few years later and the tracks needed to find a new home, the community wasn’t going to have it.
“We had to dig everything back out, put it in storage, and then we found out about the citizens,” says Tom Eckert, the last surviving member of the original group of founders. “They kind of revolted about the idea, and the city changed its mind. They asked us to get with the park people and come up with a layout that they could landscape the property around, and here we are. It's been like this ever since.”
You’ll still find Eckert out here volunteering and building new tracks!
“I'm happy to see it's still going,” he told us.
Built with Community in Mind
Largo Central Railroad is special for many reasons, and if you’ve been there, you know what I’m talking about. Yes, it’s a place to make forever memories with your kids, but the real magic is in the people who keep it moving. They aren’t paid to be here. They are volunteers who are simply sharing their passion for trains with their neighbors.
“It's priceless; there are really no words to describe it,” says Kevin Cabrera when we ask him what it’s like to see the excitement on kids’ faces when they board for the first time. “You just see their little gears going, and the inspiration, building memories and having a lot of fun.”
While technology as entertainment has infiltrated our society in ways most of us who were around back in 1991 could not have imagined, in-person, real-life experiences like these miniature train rides remain popular, and as a result, Largo Central Railroad is growing thanks to the support of its volunteers and the community.
NEW: Behind the Rails Tour
When people take a ride on the more than 6,200-foot track through the park, they are often left wanting more. That’s why, Cabrera says, they launched the Behind the Rails Tour, which you can book during the public runs on the first weekend of each month.
“There was interest, so we figured out a way to kind of give the people what they've been asking for, teach a little bit more about the railroad, and maybe gain some interest for them to come and join us and keep having fun,” Cabrera says.
Families get a behind-the-scenes tour of their new roundhouse, where the trains are maintained. You’ll even get to leave your mark: During the tour, you’ll help build new tracks and write your name on the bars, which will be engraved before installation in the park.
It’s a pretty awesome experience that’s worth every penny — because you know every penny is being reinvested right back into the railroad.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Largo Central Railroad is volunteer-run. Cabrera says that when they realized they needed to prepare to pass the torch, they created the Largo Central Railroad Junior Board. It’s a chance for kids and teens in our community to learn about what it takes to keep the trains going.
We got a chance to meet with two of the youngest members of Largo Central Railroad — Santino Jones, the youngest Largo Central Railroad Board Member at 21, and Benjamin Barbaro, 16, who serves on the Junior Board— to learn more about how joining this organization is shaping their young lives and even their futures.
TBPM: So let's talk about how you both got involved in this in the first place.
Santino Jones: I've been into trains since I was born. I had the model trains in my house. I had them around the Christmas tree. I've always had a fascination with it. And how I got into this is: My father lives not far from here, and about six years ago, I saw an article on the news saying, “Hey, public run here at Largo Central.” I begged my dad to come out here. I took one trip around, and by the end of the day, I signed paperwork to be a member here at Largo Central Railroad.
Benjamin Barbaro: I have basically the exact same story. I was always the train kid. I started working here as a volunteer about a year ago after another friend of mine got me to come here one day, and I was hooked. And now I am on the Junior Board. It’s been great ever since.
TBPM: What does this opportunity to serve with Largo Central Railroad mean to you, and why should other kids get involved?
BB: I love it because this is one of the only places where you can go where you can do anything train-related as a kid. I’ve wanted to be a train engineer, train driver since I was like 3 years old. To be able to deal with these smaller trains is just, it means the world. It's so great.
SJ: It gets a lot of younger members to work with trains and machinery. You can't really find a place where kids like me or younger members can come out and just play with trains that you grew up with. And at the same time, you're learning how to engineer, how to build, how to build social skills, how to communicate. Those are things that you're going to need 20, 30 years down the line, if you do work for the railroad or if you become something more.
TBPM: Even though these are smaller trains, they're basically just smaller versions of what real engines are. So you're learning how to work with real engines.
SJ: You have gas engines that run very similarly to the big guys. You have steam
locomotives that are built the same way as they were in the 1920s and 1940s. So you're learning stuff that was done over 100 years ago, just on a smaller scale.
TBPM: Has volunteering here inspired your future career goals?
BB: I’d like to get a job with a railroad and then potentially become a CEO for a railroad.
SJ: For me it's to work, make this hobby keep going up to the big steam locomotives. I am the chairman of the Steam Committee, so I want to learn more from the big guys and build skills.
TBPM: What would you tell other kids who may be interested in volunteering with you all?
BB: Just go search up railroads like this near your house, and then one day, when they're doing passenger rides, take a drive out there. See what it's like and if it's for you. There are 100 things you could do.
SJ: We even have younger members who are not really big into trains, but they just love being around other people and learning the skills. I just tell them: Just do it, try it out, have fun … there are so many other things that you can do here, not just train-related.
Want to get involved? Bring the kids to the next public run and talk to the volunteers. You just might find yourself hooked like Santino, Benjamin and the other Largo Central Railroad volunteers of all ages!
How to Experience Largo Central Railroad with Your Family
Public Runs are offered the first weekend of each month. While there is no admission charge to ride, donations are appreciated to help keep the trains moving. This always makes our Weekend Top Picks in Tampa Bay post!
You can also book the Behind the Rails Tour on public run weekends for $8 for adults, $5 for kids ages 6-12 and $3 for toddlers ages 3-5. Kids ages 2 and younger are free. The tour departs at 3 pm.
Save the date for the holidays! The Rudolph Limited returns this year for nighttime rides through the millions of lights that adorn Largo Central Park. It's one of our favorite ways to see Holiday Lights in Tampa Bay!
Have a kid who loves trains? You can book a private train ride for a birthday party on select days for a $175 donation, plus shelter rental.
Learn more: lcrr.org
*Originally published in the July 2026 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine.