Model Railroad Clubs – The California List

We have recently covered all of the clubs that deal with model train sets up to California. That is where this post will focus on since it has one of the largest groupings of clubs in the country…After all California has the largest population in the United States, it makes sense to have the biggest number of model railroad clubs.

California

Eel River Valley Railroad – The stated purpose of this club is to preserve the rich history of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad along with the history of the North Coast of California. This is done through a series of modules depicting several areas of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad between Schell vile and Eureka California.

California Southern Model Railroad Club – Located in Norwalk, California, it was formed in 1984 with the merger of the North Orange County Modular Railroaders and the Cerritos Valley Model Railroad Club. The purpose was to build and operate a large permanent HO scale railroad for the enjoyment of its members. Construction on the club's first layout began shortly after acquiring suitable quarters in the city of Norwalk.

Orange County Module Railroaders, Inc. - The original group was started by local Southern California model railroad manufacturers in the early 1970s, as a way to display their products at hobby shows. Organized as the Southern California Module Builders, the club met at the Campbell Scale Models factory. They displayed their first operating modular layout in 1973. Clearly they have a long successful history as a modelers club.

Southern California N-Scale Model Railroading
– They were created in 1999 by members from five local Ntrak and N Scale clubs who became actively involved in designing and developing the 2000 National Ntrak Convention in San Jose, CA and needed a vehicle to plan and execute the event.

Gold Coast Modular Railroad Club
- Founded in 1987 and is a non-profit "mutual benefit" corporation - 501(c)7 IRS status. The club was based out of a garage until late 1993, when we were able to set up in a large vacant store, rent free, in a Camarillo, California strip mall. They are now located in a new location, check the website out for their new one.

Monterey & Salinas Valley Railroad
– The mission of this club is to construct a HO scale model railroad depicting the narrow gauge MSVRR (if it had survived) and the standard gauge Southern Pacific Railroad as it is, in and around the greater Salinas Valley; Watsonville Jct. to Cuesta Grade.

Angels Gate Hi-Railers Model Railroad Club
- The club was founded by John Pignatelli, Don Lewis, Howard Packer and Matt Jackson in December, 1995. Formation grew out of a search by some members of the Valley Toy Train Club's "Tinplate Trackers" O-Gauge modular group for a site for a permanent layout and/or a site where modules could be set up on a long-term basis.

The Alameda County Central Railroad Society
– They are a model railroad club. We maintain two layouts (HO and O scale) at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, California.

The Belmont Shore Model Railroad Club – Started out as a small group of modelers gathered together in the Belmont Shore City Library with the intent to form the country's first N-scale model railroad club. The club first took shape in the basement of a hobby shop in Long Beach. Soon there after, it found a home in Signal Hill. This was the clubs first real start featuring a full size layout. Boasts a premier club, the envy you might say of all other railroad clubs in the country.

Coachella Valley Model RailRoaders – This club models in HO scale with 30 inch minimum radius, using DCC control and they are located on the Riverside County Fair National Date Festival Fairgrounds in Indio, California.

Sacramento Central Railroaders
- The Sacramento Modular Railroaders is a non-profit, educational-historical corporation registered in the State of California. The Sacramento Central Railroad (SCRR) is our modular HO scale model railroad, which depicts operations between Gerber, CA in the north and Stockton, CA in the south with a major yard facility in Roseville, CA.

Antelope Valley Model Railroad Club - Was founded in early 1983 as the Alta Vista Model Railroad Club to promote the hobby of model railroading in the Antelope Valley. This was to be accomplished through the construction of a premier HO scale display layout having prototypical train operations and scenic details familiar to California.

Glendale Model Railroad Club
- On April 4, 1949, 16 men gathered together at a local hobby shop and formed the Glendale Model Railroad Club. Meetings rotated between the hobby shop and various members' homes while bylaws were drafted and monthly dues were established.

Golden Gate Model Railroad Club
– They have a layout that is the result of nearly forty years' effort to create a railroad in miniature with the communities it serves and combined with engineering and geographical features found on railroads in California.

Los Angeles Model Railroad Society - is a non-profit California corporation made up of a diverse group of model railroad enthusiasts of many ages, professions and backgrounds. The LAMRS has been promoting the hobby of model railroading for more than twenty five years and is the proud operator of the HO Scale Great Lakes & Western (GL&W) Railroad.

San Diego Society of N Scale – Located in the San Diego Model Railroad Museum, this club provides its members with a variety of how to guidance online, as well as visitors.

Pasadena Model Railroad Club - operates the Sierra Pacific Lines; which is one of the largest HO Scale operating Model Railroads in the world covering almost 5000 square feet. The railroad has over 30,000 feet of hand laid steel rail. The 1700 foot single to quad track mainline with ten cabs allows for operating of up to ten 30 foot trains (up to 60 cars long).

The Santa Susana Railroad Historical Society – is dedicated to the preservation of the historical Santa Susana depot and to uniquely educate the public about California's rich railroad history and the enjoyment of model railroading. They have one of the more unique websites that you can navigate around and learn a lot of the model railroading culture in California.

Silicon Valley Lines Model Railroad Club - Founded in 1979, Silicon Valley Lines (SVL) is an HO Scale Model Railroad Club located in San Jose, California. In 1999, we moved to our current location on 148 E. Virginia Street in San Jose, where our new 23' x 72' layout is now in operation.

The Coastal Valley Lines
- is an informal association of novice to expert model railroaders from around the Sonoma County area. The group operates its HO modular railroad at public and private events, and also gathers for clinics, work sessions and regular monthly meetings.

Black Diamond Lines Model Railroad Club
- began back in July 1981 as a group of model railroaders who gathered in the back of a local Antioch, California hobby shop. Later that year, we decided to make things official and we were incorporated as a non-profit organization.

Pomona Valley Model Railroad Club
- are a group of model train enthusiasts who for the last 49 years have honed their skills and talents into forming what is now a club for all ages to enjoy. From old-time steam, to modern era SD90MACs, this club has something for everyone.

Wrap Up

Keep in mind that this was simply a small sample of the many, many model railroad clubs found in the state of California. If you have a favorite that was overlooked above, please share it in the comments section.

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