© vintagedapperday.com 2015 to Present
There are Steampunk groups scattered throughout the entire state of Florida. We got a chance to
meet one of the groups at a train robbery in Tavares, Florida. The date was April 30, 2016. The
train was called the Orange Blossom Cannonball. We didn’t know anyone in the group, so we
made sure to arrive early so we had plenty of time to get our tickets and meet some of the people
in the group. We found that there were several things going on in the town at the same time
including an arts and crafts show and a vintage car show.
There were a variety of costumes at the event. Most of the men had top hats with goggles,
some had pistols or knives as part of their gear. The ladies’ costumes varied quite a bit. As
we talked with different people, we found out that one lady bought her entire vintage dress
at a very low price at a thrift store. She said she thought it was from a theatrical company
who had donated costumes to the thrift store. Another lady had a skirt she had made from
a tablecloth. Still others had sewn their own or collected various pieces and made them
work together to make a great costume.
When we got ready to board the train, we saw several participants dressed in more old west style
costumes. They came for several different cities in the state. The train started out of the station
and the men who looked like a sheriff and his deputies started walking up and down the aisles of
the train car, visiting with the passengers.
The next thing we knew, several men came onto the train with bandanas over their faces to mask
their identity. They overtook the sheriff and deputies and started demanding valuables from some
of the passengers. A few of the women dressed in western clothing joined them and helped collect
the “loot”. Several more rode in on horses, shooting and looking very threatening. The took a
strong box off the train and shot the lock off.
Then another group came riding in,
shooting and taking over the bandits.
They quickly rounded up the bad guys and
got the whole situation under control.
After the robbery was over and the
entire situation had played out, the
characters all lined up outside the train
and took a bow. Even the horses and
the extra players were there. It was all
pretty impressive.
Help! We’re locked up in the local jail! Not really. It was just on display
outside the train station. It looked like it had had a lot of use in the past.
This is the Orange Blossom Cannonball. It was a very pretty old engine and one
passenger car with nice wooden seats. The next car looked more like a cattle car that
had been converted to seat passengers on wooden benches around the outside walls .
The sides were completely open to provide air and views as the train moved through the
countryside.
The Tavares train station was very picturesque. It
was an old building with wood siding, and then a
detached covered waiting area was a few yards away.
The main building housed the ticket counter and a
small historical center. They had old photos from
days gone by for the trains of the area. They also had
local information and maps. It was a good
information center.
Of course, since there was a car show going on near the train station, we couldn’t resist
going over to check out the cars. They made for a great photo opportunity. We love
posing with cars that match the era of the clothing we’re wearing.
© vintagedapperday.com 2015 to Present
There are Steampunk groups scattered throughout the entire
state of Florida. We got a chance to meet one of the groups at a
train robbery in Tavares, Florida. The date was April 30, 2016.
The train was called the Orange Blossom Cannonball. We
didn’t know anyone in the group, so we made sure to arrive
early so we had plenty of time to get our tickets and meet some
of the people in the group. We found that there were several
things going on in the town at the same time including an arts
and crafts show and a vintage car show.
There were a variety of costumes at the event. Most of the
men had top hats with goggles, some had pistols or knives as
part of their gear. The ladies’ costumes varied quite a bit. As
we talked with different people, we found out that one lady
bought her entire vintage dress at a very low price at a thrift
store. She said she thought it was from a theatrical company
who had donated costumes to the thrift store. Another lady
had a skirt she had made from a tablecloth. Still others had
sewn their own or collected various pieces and made them
work together to make a great costume.
When we got ready to board the train, we saw several
participants dressed in more old west style costumes. They
came for several different cities in the state. The train started
out of the station and the men who looked like a sheriff and his
deputies started walking up and down the aisles of the train car,
visiting with the passengers.
The next thing we knew, several men came onto the train with
bandanas over their faces to mask their identity. They overtook
the sheriff and deputies and started demanding valuables from
some of the passengers. A few of the women dressed in western
clothing joined them and helped collect the “loot”. Several more
rode in on horses, shooting and looking very threatening. The
took a strong box off the train and shot the lock off.
Then another group came
riding in, shooting and taking
over the bandits. They quickly
rounded up the bad guys and
got the whole situation under
control.
After the robbery was over and the entire situation had
played out, the characters all lined up outside the train
and took a bow. Even the horses and the extra players
were there. It was all pretty impressive.
Help! We’re locked up in the local jail! Not really. It was just
on display outside the train station. It looked like it had had a
lot of use in the past.
This is the Orange Blossom Cannonball. It was a very pretty old
engine and one passenger car with nice wooden seats. The next
car looked more like a cattle car that had been converted to seat
passengers on wooden benches around the outside walls . The
sides were completely open to provide air and views as the train
moved through the countryside.
The Tavares train station
was very picturesque. It was
an old building with wood
siding, and then a detached
covered waiting area was a
few yards away. The main
building housed the ticket
counter and a small
historical center. They had
old photos from days gone
by for the trains of the area.
They also had local
information and maps. It
was a good information
center.
Of course, since there was a car show going on near the train
station, we couldn’t resist going over to check out the cars. They
made for a great photo opportunity. We love posing with cars
that match the era of the clothing we’re wearing.
