| |
|
The Gold Coast Modular
Railroad Club (GCMRC) was founded
in 1987. The club was based out of a member's
garage until late 1993, when we built a layout in a
vacant strip-mall storefront, rent free, in
Camarillo, California. The club lost its
lease and moved out in December of 1996.
From 1993 to 1996 the GCMRC was recognized
as one of the largest model railroads in
California, at 4500 sq. ft. with 700 feet
of main line track. We soon joined forces
with the Murphy Auto Museum in Oxnard, CA,
displaying layouts at both locations over
the years. When the museum closed in July
2024, the club rented its current space
in Camarillo, returning to its roots.
The club has been a non-profit charitable
exempt corporation under Internal Revenue
Code section 501(c)(3) since 2013.
|
| |
 |
|
Mission
Statement
The Gold Coast Modular Railroad Club's
mission is to educate the general public
on the appearance and operations of
railroads, and the contribution
railroads have made and continue to make
in the development of our nation. We also
provide mentorship and instruction to new
and young modelers getting started in the
model railroad hobby. The club accomplishes
our goals by designing, constructing,
maintaining, and operating for exhibition
to the public, scale model railroads,
and by maintaining a multi-media repository
of railroad related materials.
|
| |
|
Past
Efforts
We set up portions of our Dunsmuir and
Kaboom Valley modules, from our previous
Camarillo setup, as well as newer
modules at the Ventura County Fair
(August 2-13, 2000; August 1-12, 2001;
July 31 - August 11, 2002; July 30 -
August 10, 2003; August 4-15, 2004;
August 3-14, 2005; August 2-13, 2006;
August 1-12, 2007; July 30 - August 10,
2008, August 5-16, 2009, August 4-15,
2010,
|
| |
|
We
set up our exciting scenic display using
the modules from our Camarillo setup and
newer modules at the California Oil
Museum, October 14, 2007 through
February 10, 2008. Our layout had been
abbreviated from our setup at the
Ventura County Fair and was 12 ft. x 27
ft., using the Kaboom Trestle, Coal
Canyon and parts of the Golden Valley
from the Camarillo set-up and new
modules, consisting of a Lumber
Processing Mill and Pond, an engine
repair facility, a packing yard,
slaughterhouse, icing rack and a round
house with an operational turntable.
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
Current
Efforts
Our
current permanent layout consists of 13 sections
(or modules) varying in size between 4' x 4' and
4' x 8'. Some of the modules date to the club's
earliest days, while others were built when we
moved into our current location. Features include
a two-module canyon, two rail yards, and multiple
town displays. While some sections are largely
complete, others are still under construction
or active refurbishment. As the saying goes,
no model railroad is ever complete!
Our
Traveling Layout, consisting of
11, 2' x 6' modules that can be setup in
about 3 hours and torn down in 2,
has been displayed at the Ventura County fair
and other venues since 2010. Many VC fair
attendees make a special trip to the Gems
and Mineral Building each year to check out
the updates to the layout.
We
will be back at the fair this year. Come
check us out!
|
| VIDEO |
| Ride
the Gold Coast Modular Railroad
to the Chattanooga Choo Choo tune
......Video by Frank at the Murphy Auto
Museum. |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
