My Ride Aboard the KingsPoint Model Railroad

‍Erwin Weinstein

‍1930 - 2020

‍Our Model Railroad Club was founded at the Kings Point adult community in 1989 thanks to the forward- thinking and dreams  of Erwin Weinstein. Erwin’s fondest hope was to advance the history and growth of model railroading while bringing together those who wished to enjoy the hobby. Erwin sadly passed away suddenly leaving his legacy to us members to guard. 

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‍I believe this was originally written by member Jim Langdoc, a past club president.

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‍Originally, the club was known as the Sunpoint Model Railroad Club and was open to residents of both Kings Point and Sun City Center. Over the next five or six years, these "Pioneers" of the modern day Sun City Center Railroad Club faced a great many obstacles in insuring the future success of model railroading for the seniors of our communities. In the beginning, the members of the Sunpoint Model Railroad Club built individual modules, which when bolted together, formed a complete model train operation. These individual modules were stored in the members’ garages and when temporary space in the Kings Point Clubhouse became available, the modules were transported to the available room and fastened together. The members would then conduct operating sessions and provide entertainment for our residents and visitors to the community. When the room was to be made available for other functions, the modules had to be disassembled, and transported back to the individual garages. The same sequence of events took place for the many train shows that were held in the surrounding area. 

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‍Then in the 1990’s, Sun City Center members, decided to split from the Sunpoint club leaving of course in good standing. The members of the Sun City Center community (members living outside of Kings Point) transferred to the Sun City Center club while the Kings Point members formed the Kings Point Model Railroad Club and operated in their permanent space shared with the hobby shop located in the main clubhouse. The modules were  permanently bolted together and storage and transportation would no longer be necessary. The club continued to enlarge in size as more room became available, finally encompassing the entire room where we operate today.

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‍Since the days of the Sunpoint Club's existence, there has been an almost complete turnover of club members. On a positive note, today both clubs continue their close relationship and assist each other in promoting model railroading. 

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‍From 1989 until 2013, the Kings Point Model Railroad club was a typical analog (direct current) HO scale model train operation running several freight and passenger trains during each operating session. In late 2013, the club members (with assistance from the Sun City Center Club) decided to apply their knowledge and skills to the newer technology known as digital command control (DCC) and thanks to a grant from the King's Point Condominium Owners Association, (COA) the purchase and installation of this new technology became possible. More about the two types of command will be given in the Analog and Digital Command Control page.”

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Richard “Rick” Chancey