Layout Map and Cab Ride

Here’s a video showing at the same time a map of the GGMRC layout and a cab ride from the mainline.
It does help to put all the turnouts in perspective and understand the various sidings! The camera was mounted on the front of GM70, an EMD SD70ACe.

You can find more videos of the GGMRC track here.

Posted in videos | Comments Off on Layout Map and Cab Ride

Video mix: SD70ACe, ES44AC, 2-12-0 and RS-3 engines

Here’s a video showing various engines running during member hours — featuring an EMD SD70ACe, a GE ES44AC, a 2-12-0 steam engine and an Alco RS-3 consist:

You can find more videos of the GGMRC track here.

Posted in videos | Comments Off on Video mix: SD70ACe, ES44AC, 2-12-0 and RS-3 engines

Member’s Rio Grande 2-8-8-2

Here’s a video featuring a member’s D&RGW Rio Grande 2-8-8-2 #3502-L107 engine pulling an UP heavyweight passenger cars with yellow/grey paint scheme:

This video also features a nice view of the complete track, including all the tunnels. The lighted cars look really nice in the tunnels!

You can find more videos of the GGMRC track here.

Posted in videos | Comments Off on Member’s Rio Grande 2-8-8-2

Ride Around the Track

One of our members created a nice video of a cab ride around the main line of the layout. Take a look and see what it is like to ride around the layout:

And here’s the California Zephyr on the track:

You can find more videos of the track here.

Posted in videos | Comments Off on Ride Around the Track

Good News!

We have just heard from the Randall Museum that the building department has given verbal approval to keep the train room and layout as they are. This does need to be confirmed in writing.

It appears that our layout will survive the Museum’s renovation that will start next year. It also means that the work that we have started to define a formal relationship with the Museum and to make the layout available to the public whenever the Museum is open can now go forward. We will also be trying to meet the Museum’s request by modifying the layout to create a new interactive element that let kids run a train when no club members are present.

This is a solid step in the right direction that we think will lead to a better experience for everybody. We will make further posts as this work progresses.

Click here for more information on our campaign to Save the Train!

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Good News!

Museum Working to Save the Train!

We have had two very positive meetings with the Randall Museum and the Parks & Rec. Department to discuss how to Save the Train! The meeting last week included Phil Ginsburg, General Manager. He gave his commitment to work toward Saving the Train!. The meeting this week was a working level meeting. Click here to see a letter that was jointly issued by the GGMRC and the Randall Museum that describes how we are both working to Save the Train! In this weeks meeting they said that the Museum met with the San Francisco Building Department twice. The first time had a very negative result that would lose the train. After the GGMRC researched the codes and found exceptions that would let us stay, the Building Department became much more positive. A third meeting is scheduled between the Museum and the Building Department for the end of May. The Museum expects to get a definitive ruling in that meeting. This means that we should know if we will be able to Save the Train! in early June. We will publish a progress report then. Click here for more information on our campaign to Save the Train!

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Museum Working to Save the Train!

Digital Controls Now Here!

After working on it for the last year, we have completed the conversion and are now running DCC regularly. We will run DCC trains on Saturdays and Wednesday evenings.

Come by and take a look. We would love to have you join us.

Thank you all for your support! This will help us to make running trains on the layout more interesting for us and for you. We will be able to run more trains on the layout at the same time and to run them closer together.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Digital Controls Now Here!

Thanks for your help!

DCC Thermometer 6aWe have exceeded our goal of raising $2,500 to support the conversion of our layout to use the latest digital control system. As of our business meeting in November we had raised more that $2,600. Many thanks to everybody who helped us.

This upgrade will allow us to run more trains on the layout at one time and take advantage of the the sounds and controls that are available on the latest locomotives. This will make running trains more interesting and more realistic.

Our layout was originally designed and built more than 50 years ago. It has proved to be very flexible and has stood the test of time well. However, we have decided to adopt the new digital technologies that are now available.

This upgrade went well beyond what the club had been able to raise on a regular basis to maintain and operate the layout. We need your help to accomplish this upgrade.

We will appreciate your future donations that will help us to continue to improve our layout. Even a dollar or two would help. You can send your donation to:

GGMRC Modernization Fund
P.O. Box 14933
San Francisco CA 94114

Thank you for your support!

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Thanks for your help!

Repairs to the Layout.

Over the past several months the members of the Golden Gate Model Railroad club have worked to fix many things that had become broken and needed repair. These repairs allow us to run more trains and help create a better viewing experience for the public. The repairs are made possible via funding from public donations. Below is a picture of the recently repaired and now operable roundhouse and turntable.

turntable

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Repairs to the Layout.

Ringing in the New Year

It is now 2013 and the Golden Gate Model Railroad Club is eager to begin a new year with changes, updates, and improvements.  You may have noticed small changes to the layout including platform lighting at Union Station, animated house fire scene, operating crossing signals, and replacement of the trestle bridge at the peak of the mountain during the past year.  This year promises to bring more animation and layout upgrades to train operations, scenery, and visible signals.  These new additions and repairs are made possible by the GGMRC membership and public donations.  Stay tuned for updates and news!

Stockton Fire2

Posted in news | Comments Off on Ringing in the New Year