The Bottom Line
- Ride aboard vintage rail car pulled by antique engine.
- Trip was narrated with history and points of interest.
- "Herbie" the engine was an instant hit with children.
- Interesting "turn around" mid-way provided additional entertainment.
- Air conditioned ride offered a respite from Central Florida heat.
- Vintage car (leased) was in less-than-stellar condition and not cleaned in between trips.
Description
- Seasonal narrated round-trip sightseeing train tour, one hour and 15 minutes in duration.
- October 1 to December 31 - Wed., Thurs., Fri. and Sun., 1:00 & 3:00 p.m. and Saturday, 11:00 a.m., 1:00 & 3:00 p.m.
- June 1 to September 30 - Friday & Sunday, 1:00 & 3:00 p.m. and Saturday, 11:00 a.m., 1:00 & 3:00 p.m.
- Purchase tickets from the office/gift shop located next to the railroad tracks at 150 W. 3rd Avenue, Mt. Dora.
- Visit www.inlandlakesrailway.com or call 352-589-4300 for more information.
Guide Review - Inland Lakes Railway Tours
Inland Lakes Railway capitalizes on our fascination of trains, offering narrated round-trip sightseeing tours from Mount Dora to nearby Tavares. Along the approximate six-mile trip, the narration includes brief history of Mount Dora and Tavares interspersed with points of interest and little known historic facts of the area.
If you are a train fanatic you will undoubtedly enjoy this little jaunt to nowhere because you will find out as much history of the train itself as the surrounding area. We learn that the vintage rail car is leased; and, while it is in less-than-stellar condition, it is air conditioned and provides a welcome relief to the hot 95-degree temperature outside. The engine, affectionately known as "Herbie," is a 1942 GE 45-ton antique locomotive with most of its own orginal parts intact.
In an interesting twist that most of us did not expect, midway through the trip — in Tavares — you are on the other side of the rail crossing gridlock in a series of rail-swapping maneuvers. While onlookers sit in their vehicles and either smile and wave or tap their fingers and check their watches, the train is backed up, "turned around" and headed back to Mount Dora.
Every Saturday, enjoy a pizza and soft drink on the Pizza Hut Express which departs from the Mount Dora Station. Reservations are required.
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