Red Poppy Railroad represents Georgetown’s spirit, history

Elvis Presley and the Beatles both played concerts in Georgetown at the same time, while, simultaneously, Batman and the Joker had a standoff. That is how it went down, at least according to the Red Poppy Railroad — a diorama of Georgetown encircled by a train set located behind Mulligan’s Restaurant. The Red Poppy Railroad is run, built and managed by the Sun City Control Modelers club, which has 250 creative members. 

History at the model track is constantly evolving, as new pieces are added and the display grows. The newest harrowing scene is a bank robbery at the display’s United Heritage Credit Union “micro branch.” It’s a miniature replica of the ban’'s first-ever facility in 1954. Although that building specifically wasn’t in Georgetown, the Red Poppy Railroad offers an imaginative version of the city. There are some buildings that make the city scene recognizable, like the iconic Williamson County courthouse and replicas of businesses, which pay the club to advertise. 

When United Heritage Credit Union approached the organization with its model, the Sun City Control Modelers had an idea to make the bank robbery scene. 

“We didn’t think they would like the idea, so we lightly pitched it to them by explaining that we could make a diorama with action,” club member Bob Bishoff said. Mr. Bishoff pressed a button, which activated sirens and shot a miniature person stuck on a platform out the bank’s front door. The bank loved the club’s idea. There was a celebratory opening, just as there would be for any of the bank’s other locations, inside of Mulligan’s. United Heritage Credit Union employees from as far as San Antonio and Tyler drove in to attend the event. 

The Red Poppy Railroad is supported by donations and advertisers, like those who pay to have exact replicas or billboards going down the track. There are three different train tracks: a lower track, an upper track that runs over trusses and a trolley track that runs through the city. The trains can run on track power or lithium batteries. A steam-powered train is about to be added. The train set is run by Radio Control Modelers club members, so it runs on a set schedule. An attendant is present to answer questions visitors may have. Tina Bishoff and Tina Chase are in charge of the landscaping. 

When Christmas and Halloween come around, they go all out with decorations. On Easter Sunday, members will be handing out scavenger hunt worksheets to look for items on the Red Poppy Railroad. The Radio Control Modelers Club is constantly adding and repairing items in the scene, Mr. Bishoff said. He recently added “Penelope’s Cafe” near the baseball field to commemorate a little girl who shoved all of her birthday money into the donation box.

Red Poppy Railroad Schedule
This is the current schedule for the Red
Poppy Railroad at Mulligan’s Restaurant in
Sun City, 150 Dove Hollow Trail, Georgetown.
Schedules are weather permitting.
• Tuesday 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Wednesday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6
p.m.
• Thursday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Friday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
• Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Sunday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.