The Californian Railroad Open Day
2024-10-05 10:00 - 16:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | S & P Californian, 873 Via Seco, Nipomo, CA, 93444-5426, United States
In conjunction with the 2024 Central Coast Railroad Festival, the Californian Railroad will host an open day for enjoyment of the general public.
The garden railway features a 1/5 scale version of Walt Disney’s Carolwood Pacific Barn, a miniature train station and passenger platform and the towns of Succulent, Fountain, Willow and Solvang, a European style village. The lower loop has over 150 feet of track and two reversing loops. The upper loop has over 150 feet of track and “S” curves traveling through giant redwood and miniature Alberta spruce trees. The HO double deck layout features model areas of San Francisco including a 3D printed Golden Gate Bridge. Painted Ladies, Ferry Building, and Coit Tower, Disneyland has main street station, fire house, castle, and the haunted mansion, a Sierra Nevada style mining area, small towns, industrial areas and a circus.

Orcutt & Islay Creek Railroad Open Day
2024-10-06 10:00 - 16:00 | Orcutt & Islay Creek Railroad, 246 Eastbourne Terrace, Santa Maria, CA, 93455-3622, United States
In conjunction with the 2024 Central Coast Railroad Festival, the Orcutt and Islay Creek Railroad will host an open day for enjoyment of the general public.
The Orcutt & Islay Creek Railroad in Santa Maria, California is one of the longest, continuous operating garden railroads on the central coast. This “could have happened” railroad is modeled in the spirit of the Pacific Coast Railway, a 3-ft. narrow gauge railway that connected Port Hartford to Los Olivos via San Luis Obispo and other communities. The railroad is designed specifically to accommodate the unique needs of live steam locomotives and their consists. Thoughtful planning and construction allow easy roadbed and track maintenance, and continuous accessibility to rolling stock in motion. Kit and kit-bashed structures are gradually being replaced with scratch-built features, many of which include lighting and other effects.

Mountain View Railroad Open Day
2024-10-06 10:00 - 16:00 | Mountain View Railroad, 1905 View Drive, Santa Ynez, CA, 93460, United States
In conjunction with the 2024 Central Coast Railroad Festival, the Mountain View Railroad will host an open day for enjoyment of the general public.
Located in the Santa Ynez Valley, the Mountain View Railroad combines the charm of large-scale model trains in the garden, full-sized railroad artifacts and breathtaking views of Figueroa and Grass Mountains. Garden walkways allow visitors to follow model trains through forests of dwarf trees. Trains cross bridges, pass custom-built buildings and circumnavigate a koi pond. Also featured in the garden is a full-size caboose and line shack. An impressive collection of railroad related items compliments the garden railroad, including a railroad lamp and lantern collection, operating railroad signals and other nostalgic ephemera. The railroad is divided into two sections. Trains operate by both on-board battery power as well as track-power.

Canceled: October Luncheon
2024-10-09 11:30 - 13:30 | CA
Please consider joining our “Celebration of the Season” later this month.
Contact us at contact@cccgrs.org for more details about this month’s CCCGRS luncheon.

Membership Meeting
2024-10-16 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-01-15 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-02-19 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-03-19 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-04-16 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-21 19:00 - 20:00 | Zoom Video Communications
Join us online or by phone for information about on-going projects and upcoming events while visiting with your favorite garden railway hobbyists.
Members will receive a meeting invitation and agenda via email prior to the meeting. Want to test your Zoom connection before the meeting? Just send us a request at: contact@cccgrs.org.
Not a member yet? We have been waiting for you to join us!

Seasonal Celebration at Cascade Peak & Buena Vista Railway
2024-10-26 11:00 - 15:00 | Cascade Peak & Buena Vista Railway, 6450 Park Hill Road, Santa Margarita, CA, 93453-8625, United States
We invite you to celebrate a successful 2024 at this seasonal event hosted at the Cascade Peak & Buena Vista Railway.
Michelle and Mark Edwards will prepare the Santa Maria-style chili feed, while guests are encouraged to bring a complimentary dish.
A large scale model railroad marketplace will be included this year with silent auction items, bargain bin items and a few other surprises are planned.
This Disney Parks inspired garden railroad is located only 4 miles east of Santa Margarita. Guests are encouraged to bring their battery, DCC and DC track powered large scale trains to operate on the line.

November Luncheon
2024-11-06 11:30 - 13:30 | Rooster Creek Tavern, 200 East Branch Street, Arroyo Grande, CA, 93420, United States
The Central California Coast Garden Railroad Society members and friends meet monthly to socialize and share a good meal with friends and colleagues. Attendees connect with local hobbyists, learn information important for the success of your garden railroad, and discover new opportunities, while supporting local small businesses.
Guests are always welcome, but please let us know in advance if you plan to attend. We would like to include you in reservation we provide to the restaurant prior to our visit.
Contact us at contact@cccgrs.org for more details about this month’s CCCGRS luncheon.

Holiday Gathering
2024-12-04 11:30 - 13:00 | Milestone Tavern, 972 Foothill Boulevard, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States
The Central California Coast Garden Railroad Society members and friends meet monthly to socialize and share a good meal with friends and colleagues. Attendees connect with local hobbyists, learn information important for the success of your garden railroad, and discover new opportunities, while supporting local small businesses.
Guests are always welcome, but please let us know in advance if you plan to attend. We would like to include you in reservation we provide to the restaurant prior to our visit.
Contact us at contact@cccgrs.org for more details about this special CCCGRS gathering.

Charles Paddock Zoo Holiday Magic Train Display
2024-12-21 08:00 - 14:00 | Charles Paddock Zoo, 9305 Pismo Avenue, Atascadero, CA, 93422, United States
CCCGRS returns to the Charles Paddock Zoo (Atascadero) to present a holiday garden railroad layout as part of the popular annual Holiday Magic celebration.
Set-up: 8-10:00 AM
Holiday Magic Festivities: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM

January Luncheon
2025-01-08 11:30 - 13:30 | Paso Robles Brewing Company, 201 Spring Street, Paso Robles, CA, United States

February Luncheon
2025-02-05 11:30 - 13:30 | G Brothers Smokehouse, 885 East Foothill, San Luis Obsipo, CA, 93405, United States

Jackson & Valle Vista Railway Open Day
2025-02-15 11:00 - 15:00 | Jackson & Valle Vista Railway, 333 Elks Lane, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401, United States
Tucked in the tiny Valle Vista trailer park is the Jackson and Valle Vista railway. A fictional high desert / Sierra narrow gauge railway built on a low budget consisting of used equipment purchased from other narration railroads. The JVVry has approximately 120 ft of main line “loop”, due to its unique shape it seems larger. The Jackson and Valle Vista railway services McDonough to the north and Jackson to the south as well as points between. Each town has sidings as well as storage track. The railway has four simple bridges and one tunnel. Structures include a handmade two stall engine house, freight house and platform as well as some of the “usual” plastic buildings. You’ll also see a few of the locals out and about. Hope you enjoy!

March Luncheon
2025-03-05 11:30 - 13:30 | Blast 825 Brewery – Orcutt, 241 South Broadway, Orcutt, 93455, United States

Pacific Coast Region NMRA Convention
2025-03-27 - 2025-03-30 | CA
Garden railroads of the central California coast will be among the destinations enjoyed by convention delegates.
Visit the convention site for more details.

PCR NMRA Layout Tour: S & P Californian
2025-03-28 13:00 - 17:00 | S & P Californian, 873 Via Seco, Nipomo, CA, 93444-5426, United States
In conjunction with the 2025 Pacific Coast Region NMRA Convention, the Californian Railroad will host an open day for enjoyment convention delegates.
The garden railway features a 1/5 scale version of Walt Disney’s Carolwood Pacific Barn, a miniature train station and passenger platform and the towns of Succulent, Fountain, Willow and Solvang, a European style village. The lower loop has over 150 feet of track and two reversing loops. The upper loop has over 150 feet of track and “S” curves traveling through giant redwood and miniature Alberta spruce trees. The HO double deck layout features model areas of San Francisco including a 3D printed Golden Gate Bridge. Painted Ladies, Ferry Building, and Coit Tower, Disneyland has main street station, fire house, castle, and the haunted mansion, a Sierra Nevada style mining area, small towns, industrial areas and a circus.

PCR NMRA Layout Tour: Cascade Peak & Buena Vista Railway
2025-03-29 12:00 - 18:00 | Cascade Peak & Buena Vista Railway, 6450 Park Hill Road, Santa Margarita, CA, 93453-8625, United States
In conjunction with the 2025 Pacific Coast Region NMRA Convention, the Cascade Peak & Buena Vista Railway will host an open day for enjoyment convention delegates.
The inspiration for our central California garden railway is the “Happiest Place On Earth.” Not one you might visit today, but one you knew growing up – or might have known if plans had developed as intended. This freelance 2300 sq. ft. layout is sighted above a “counter height” retaining wall. Denver and Rio Grande Western (LGB) rolling stock still operate under that historic herald on this tourist destination line. As with most projects of this scope, ours will never truly be finished, but the Main Street Trolley (50 ft.), perimeter loop (365 ft.), and Mine Train around through Nature’s Wonderland (100 ft.) are now complete. We invite you to preview these lands, in the hope you will return and share the excitement as our story unfolds.
See a detailed description of the Cascade Peak and Buena Vista Railway here.

PCR NMRA Layout Tour: Longhorn Railroad
2025-03-29 13:00 - 17:00 | Longhorn Railroad, 5686 Loma Real, Paso Robles, CA, 93446-9409, United States
In conjunction with the 2025 Pacific Coast Region NMRA Convention, the Longhorn Railroad will host an open day for enjoyment convention delegates.
The Longhorn Railroad is named after our beloved pet Longhorn cow! Tim has dreamed of building a G gauge railroad for over 30 years, and finally, that dream is coming to life. The railroad design is centered around fun and accessibility. We built elevated benchwork throughout to support the track. The layout includes a large main yard, featuring a “Timesaver” switching puzzle, as well as a 230-foot main line that loops around trees and the yard, next to the shop and “Man Room”! Track power is available for visiting neighbors and friends to run their own trains; however, we’re in the process of transitioning to RailPro control with power from onboard batteries. We are excited to expand the railroad over time – this is just the beginning!

PCR NMRA Layout Tour: Monarch & Sand Railroad
2025-03-29 13:00 - 17:00 | Monarch & Sand Railroad, 480 Dixson Street, Arroyo Grande, CA, 93420, United States
In conjunction with the 2025 Pacific Coast Region NMRA Convention, the Monarch & Sand Railroad will host an open day for enjoyment convention delegates.
Lucinda and I welcome you to the M&SRR. During your visit, adults can enjoy our Airwire-controlled locomotives from our patios and our decomposed granite pathways while the consists circulate on 300 feet of track, including a mainline, a yard, a loop, a wye, and an agricultural siding. Children (without adult meddling!) can operate a locomotive and cars on our farm diorama, giving cats, cows, and ducks rides around the farm. We hope everyone will enjoy our circus diorama and our operating Western-Cullen-Hayes No. 333 Crossing Bell. We look forward to your visit. Full Disclosure: As railroads are in real life, the M&SRR is subject to unpredictable toxic derailments, especially frequent in the months following Fourth of July fireworks sales.

April Luncheon
2025-04-02 11:30 - 13:30 | Bon Temps Creole Cafe, 1819 Osos Street, San Luis Obsipo, CA, 93401, United States

Conejo & Tortuga Railroad Train Run
2025-04-19 11:00 - 15:00 | Conejo & Tortuga Railroad, 548 Moss Avenue, Paso Robles, CA, 93446-2766, United States
Each year, Bernie Meister shares significant expansions of the Conejo & Tortuga Railroad and 2024 is no difference. The double-track project expanding the primary right-of-way has expanded your experienced on this scenic desert line.
Bernie and Vicki welcome visiting battery-powered trains to “populate” the layout during this early summer morning train run.

Mountain View Railroad Train Run
2025-05-03 10:00 - 15:00 | Mountain View Railroad, 1905 View Drive, Santa Ynez, CA, 93460, United States
Join us for a special train run in the Santa Ynez Valley, with a sweeping vista of the Figueroa and Grass Mountains, at the Mountain View Railroad – a garden railroad where working G-gauge model trains navigate through sculpted miniature forests to delight the child within. Meandering through the walkways surrounded by 700 dwarf Alberta spruce and redwood trees, a visitor is transported into a Disneyesque environment with miniature trains making their way through forests, over bridges, by custom-built buildings and around a koi pond, with whistles signaling their passage. Don has a life-size caboose, which he built himself. It houses an authentic caboose seat, which holds a huge, serenading animatronic bear. In the garden stands a line shack that also was designed and built by Morgan with the help of his gardener. It is constructed out of uneven wood planks, and it is a favorite spot to sit and take in the expansive view, both of the mountains and of the garden railway. Don has a railroad lamp and lantern collection plus an operating wigwag and Griswold crossing devices.
Members are encouraged to bring both battery and track powered trains for this event. Guests should bring a lunch to enjoy and a dessert to share with others. Water and other drinks will be provided for your enjoyment.
Read more about Don Morgan’s Mountain View Railroad here.

May Luncheon
2025-05-07 11:30 - 13:30 | Pig Iron, 508 S Main Street, Templeton, CA, 93465-5101, United States

Arroyo Grande Valley Railroad Train Run
2025-05-17 11:00 - 15:00 | Arroyo Grande Valley Railroad, 409 Corralitos Road, Arroyo Grande, CA, 93420-4929, United States
Welcome to the Arroyo Grande Valley Railroad, one of the newest garden railroads on the central coast. This folded dogbone layout includes over 350 feet of mainline with 4-foot minimum radius curves and a maximum 3% grade supported on a “ladder-style” roadbed. Custom crafted cliffs and rock faces artistically create a natural backdrop, while drought tolerant plants fill the scene. Future additions will include the Village of Arroyo Grande, along with mining and petroleum industries. Chuck and Judith have visited countless garden railroads, attended workshops and invested years planning this “model railroad for the garden.” They are eager to share with visitors how they incorporated a garden railroad into their central coast landscape.

June Luncheon
2025-06-04 11:30 - 13:30 | Rock & Roll Diner, 1300 Railroad Street, Oceano, CA, 93445, United States

Charles Paddock Zoo Ice Cream Zoofari Train Display
2025-06-07 17:00 - 20:00 | Charles Paddock Zoo, 9305 Pismo Avenue, Atascadero, CA, 93422, United States
Cool down on a warm summer evening at the Charles Paddock Zoo (Atascadero) while you enjoy a our special garden railroad layout as part of the popular annual Ice Cream Zoofari event.
Set-up: 3:45-5:00 PM
Ice Cream Zoofari Festivities: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
