March Luncheon
2025-03-05 11:30 - 13:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Blast 825 Brewery – Orcutt, 241 South Broadway, Orcutt, 93455, 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.

Membership Meeting
2025-03-19 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-04-16 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-05-21 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-06-18 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-07-16 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-08-20 19:00 - 20:00, 2025-09-17 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!

Pacific Coast Region NMRA Convention
2025-03-27 - 2025-03-30
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

National Garden Railway Convention - 2025
2025-06-18 - 2025-06-22
Check back for more details regarding this event.

July Luncheon
2025-07-02 11:30 - 13:30 | Rancho Nipomo BBQ, 108 Cuyama Ln, Nipomo, CA, 93444, United States

"The Garden Express" Family Free Day
2025-07-13 10:00 - 14:00 | San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden, 3450 Dairy Creek Road, San Luis Obispo, California, 93405, United States
Experience a special display of large scale trains during the July Family Free Day at the San Luis Obispo Botanical Garden.
El Chorro Regional Park charges a $3 per vehicle admission fee on weekends and holidays from April through September. Parking lots are located directly across from the garden.

Monarch & Sand Railroad Train Run
2025-07-19 11:00 - 15:00 | Monarch & Sand Railroad, 480 Dixson Street, Arroyo Grande, CA, 93420, United States
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.

August Luncheon
2025-08-06 11:30 - 13:30 | Shell Beach Brewhouse, 1527 Shell Beach Road, Pismo Beach, CA, 93449, United States

A & M Railroad Train Run
2025-08-16 10:30 - 15:00 | A & M Railroad, 4969 Coughlin Way, Santa Maria, CA, 93455-5035, United States
Mark and Sheila Goodman have extended an invitation to the A & M Railroad in scenic Orcutt. This local favorite backyard large scale layout bring the trains up close and personal.
The A & M Railroad consists of two separate large-scale layouts. The original layout has been reconfigured into an 80-ft. oval featured in the center of the garden. In 2021, following 16 months of construction, the new 193-ft. triple main line was completed. This impressive layout is raised 30 inches from ground level for ease of operation and viewing. All three lines cross an arch top drawbridge allowing operators to access the center of the layout. Kit and kit-bashed structures, details and figures are distributed throughout creating unique scenes to delight visitors.
For this Train Run event, guests are encouraged to bring their live steam and battery powered large scale trains to operate.

September Luncheon
2025-09-03 11:30 - 13:30 | The Porch Cafe, 22322 El Camino Real, Santa Margarita, CA, 93453, United States

October Luncheon
2025-10-01 11:30 - 13:30 | Beda’s Biergarten German Restaurant, 3230 Broad Street #130, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401, United States

Central Coast Railroad Festival - 2025
2025-10-03 - 2025-10-05
The Central Coast Railroad Festival (CCRRF) is a broad based festival which focuses on railroading of many types with an eye towards the beauty of the central coast of California.
The festival is designed to attract the attention of avid and casual rail fans as well as curious folks from across the Western United States. It presents historical, educational and recreational events for local citizens, the area’s large population of second homeowners and visitors. The visibility of all local rail entities as well as railroading in general is elevated and enhanced by the Festival. Of course, this is a special opportunity for festival participants to enjoy open days at several CCCGRS garden railroads. A cooperative spirit is developed among all participating organizations to promote their mutual well-being and to expand interest in all things rail!

M & M On Main Street Railroad Open Day
2025-10-04 10:00 - 16:00 | M & M on Main Street Railroad, 250 Main Street, Morro Bay, CA, 93442-2715, United States
In conjunction with the 2025 Central Coast Railroad Festival, the M & M On Main Street Railroad will host an open day for enjoyment of the general public.
The M & M on Main Street Railroad consists of a large irregular shaped oval with approximately 225 ft. of track divided into a single main with three by-pass tracks. Minimum and maximum radius of the curves are 2 ½ ft. and 3 ft., respectively. Several scratch-built structures, including houses, movie theater and retail shops have been added to honor their 14 grandchildren, 4 children and their spouses. Each engine is battery powered and radio controlled. To accommodate the various elevation of the yard, there are two, not yet complete, (but functional), trestle loops, and a ten-foot bridge.
