ETE Southern California Module SIG

ETE Southern California Module Special Interest Group (SIG)

The Southern California Chapter has approximately 30 members and displays its modules at the annual ETE convention and show in the San Francisco area (EuroWest) and the Great Train Expo Show in San Diego (Del Mar), CA each year. Currently, we have members in four Southern California counties – San Diego, Orange, Riverside and Los Angeles.


SIG Member Erik Nilsen shares some insight with a visitor at a Module Session.
Photo by Cindy Gaw

As a SIG, we meet several times a year at local community centers where we often set up to run trains and fine-tune the layout.

We are continually growing our layout, changing and refining as members bring in new ideas or new energy. Currently, with all our modules set up, we are approximately 24’ by 24’. We have structured the layout with 2 balloon modules – one at each end. As you can see in our Photo Gallery, our scenery is committed to detail including a suburban station, rural station, farm areas, a mountain with tunnel and 2 waterfalls with a lake and appropriate European buildings and signage. Cindy Gaw did an outstanding job on the winter balloon module with the operating ski-lift and ice skating rink! One of our modules is dedicated to honoring all the European Countries represented by our rolling stock and engines with a walk of flags. This year, we introduced Block Signaling to help us maintain safe operations on the layout.

Our layout is unique for HO model railroaders in that we have the ability to run both digital AC ("Three Rail") and DCC ("Two Rail") trains in separate running sessions. Our members collect both formats and enjoy the opportunity to see all their trains run. Usually for show weekends, we run AC one day and DCC the other day.

Our modules are lightweight and typically easy to transport. While some groups require trucks and trailers to move the club's modules. Our preference is to have members create their modules and transport them on their own. The modules are small enough to transport in a car's trunk - though an SUV is nice if you have trains, tools, and other gear.

Page last updated on 11/21/2008 09:17 PM