Hole in the Head Gang to rob train in Parrish this weekend

Back in the 19th century, the most spectacular crimes were train robberies, when gangs of armed bad guys managed to stop trains that were barreling through the countryside, holding the passengers at bay while they rifled through shipments of gold and cash and maybe stole from well-to-do passengers while they were at it.

You’ve seen those robberies in films, and this weekend at the Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish, you can experience one first-hand.

Twice and Saturday and then twice again on Sunday, a vintage train will depart from the museum full of paying customers. It will set off into the Floridian countryside and, at at one point, it will be assailed by a group called the Hole in the Head Gang. They’ve heard rumors about a valuable shipment on board. Federal marshals are on the train to protect that shipment, so any attempted robbery could easily lead to a good old-fashioned Wild West shoot-out. (Passengers and their belongings are safe, of course.)

The train leaves at 11 a.m. each morning, and gets back to the museum in plenty of time for the second run at 2 p.m.

If you can’t make it this weekend, the museum, the marshals and the Hole in the Head Gang will do it all again Nov. 26-27.

Details: Sept. 10-11, Florida Railroad Museum, 12210 83rd St. E,, Parrish. 11 a.m and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. $16 adults, $12 children. Information: 941-776-0906, frrm.org.

This story was originally published September 7, 2016 at 5:00 PM with the headline "Hole in the Head Gang to rob train in Parrish this weekend."