San Diego Model
Railroad Club
The following organizations are affiliated with the San Diego Model Railroad Museum. It is the volunteer effort of their membership that makes the construction and operation of the museum exhibits possible.
San Diego Model Railroad Club
La Mesa Model Railroad Club
San Diego Society of N-Scale
San Diego Model
Railroad ClubThe San Diego Model Railroad Club (SDMRRC) is comprised of the 2700 sq. ft. Cabrillo & Southwestern O-Scale Exhibit and the 4500 sq.ft. San Diego & Arizona Eastern HO-Scale Exhibit. Although several hundred model railroad clubs exist today, very few are as large and as old as the SDMRRC. Founded in 1939, the club has existed at vaious locations throughout the decades. It merged with the O-Scale Balboa Model Railroad Club in 1950 and move into the House of Charm in Balboa Park at that time. It remained there until 1978, and moved into it's current museum location in 1982.
Club work sessions occur every Friday night. Business meetings occur the first Friday night of January, March, May, July, September, October, and November. For additional information call Jim Nemitz at (619) 281-6928
La Mesa Model RR ClubThe club was formed in 1961 by a group of high school students who were unable to join other San Diego area clubs because of membership age restrictions. With the assistance of a group of adults, the club was incorporated in 1962 to obtain space from the City of La Mesa in a retired fire station called Nebo Hall. In 1978 the City of La Mesa announced plans to raze Nebo Hall as part of a redevelopment scheme. This led to an alliance with the San Diego Model Railroad Club and together they formed the San Diego Model Railroad Museum. Shortly afterward the San Diego Society of N-Scale joined the museum. In 1982 the museum opened to the public.
Membership in the La Mesa model Railroad Club is open to anyone supporting its objective of constructing an HO scale model of the Tehachapi Pass. There are no specific membership requirements, although children under 13 years of age are not normally admitted unless accompanied by a parent or adult sponsor. The club welcomes both beginning and experience modelers who share any of its goals or interests. It meets at the museum every Tuesday night at 7:30 to work on the layout. Business meetings are held quarterly on the second Tuesdays in March, June, September, and December at 8:00 P.M. For more information contact John Rotsart at (619) 696-0199.
San Diego Society of N-ScaleShortly after the founding of the San Diego Model Railroad Museum a group of N-Scale modelers decided to leave the confinement of their basement join the new organization. A layout was designed to take advantage N-Scale's small size (160 to 1) by offering sweeping vistas, large yards and detailed cityscape. Based on a proposed turn of the century railroad linking San Diego to points east, the Pacific Desert Lines is one of the largest N-Scale layouts in the world
Membership in SDSONS is open to anyone interested in model railroading. Children under 16 require supervision of a parent or adult sponser. The club welcomes beginners and modelers at all levels of experience. Many club members are expert modelers whose award winning works have appeared in national magazines. They are happy to pass along tips, techniques, and information to anyone interested in modeling.
SDSONS meets at the museum every Friday evening at 7:30 to work on the layout. Business meetings are held on the third Friday of March, June, September, and December. For additional information contact Darryl Smith at (619) 233-6427.
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All photos copyright (c) Pentrex