Welcome to the Los Angeles Division, NMRA

Love trains? So do we! We are a group of model railroaders in Ventura and Los Angeles counties who share our love of trains and modeling by educating people and promoting the hobby of model railroading, helping all modelers - from beginners to experts - build their skills and capabilities, and holding in-person and virtual events.

Please look around the site to learn more about the Los Angeles Division, the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA), local rail-related museums, groups, and hobby shops, and upcoming local, regional and national model railroad events.

Spotlight On The Southern California N Scale Meet & Train Show

The Southern California N Scale Meet & Train Show was held on May 30, 2026 and was a great success! The show is an annual event organized by Frank Hinojoso bring together SoCal N Scalers and raise money for the Lomita Cavalry Church youth group. It featured clinics, vendors, and layout displays by different groups. It was a great day of talking with friends, making new friends, buying more train stuff (you can never have enough!) and being inspired by the awesome work of different modelers.

There was more good stuff than can fit in one Spotlight, so I am breaking it up over two months. This month features layouts by Orange County N'gineers, Group 160 NTrak Club, and a couple of dioramas displayed at the show. Click on any photo to see a larger version and some information about it.

The Orange County 'N' Gineers layout featured a variety of T-TRAK modules.
img

The Orange County 'N' Gineers layout featured a variety of T-TRAK modules.
A great underpass on one of the Orange County 'N' Gineers T-TRAK modules.
img

A great underpass on one of the Orange County 'N' Gineers T-TRAK modules.
Are they loading or unloading the truck? One of the Orange County 'N' Gineers T-TRAK modules.
img

Are they loading or unloading the truck? One of the Orange County 'N' Gineers T-TRAK modules.
Notice how the Orange County 'N' Gineers combined single and double T-TRAK modules to create a large, unified scene.
img

Notice how the Orange County 'N' Gineers combined single and double T-TRAK modules to create a large, unified scene.
A very realistic trackside scene on one of the Orange County 'N' Gineers T-TRAK modules.
img

A very realistic trackside scene on one of the Orange County 'N' Gineers T-TRAK modules.
Using two double T-TRAK modules to capture a riverside scene. Orange County 'N' Gineers.
img

Using two double T-TRAK modules to capture a riverside scene. Orange County 'N' Gineers.
Some of the detail on the lakeside T-TRAK module on the Orange County 'N' Gineers layout.
img

Some of the detail on the lakeside T-TRAK module on the Orange County 'N' Gineers layout.
The Group 160 NTRAK Club layout.
img

The Group 160 NTRAK Club layout.
These three bridges over the river show how to create a sense of distance in a small area on the Group 160 NTRAK Club layout.
img

These three bridges over the river show how to create a sense of distance in a small area on the Group 160 NTRAK Club layout.
A hot freight runs across the bridge on the Group 160 NTRAK Club layout.
img

A hot freight runs across the bridge on the Group 160 NTRAK Club layout.
A nicely detailed scene on a module on the Group 160 NTRAK Club layout.
img

A nicely detailed scene on a module on the Group 160 NTRAK Club layout.
Kathy's Boutique, Ted's Barber Shop and the Arnold Savings and Loan on the Group 160 NTRAK Club layout.
img

Kathy's Boutique, Ted's Barber Shop and the Arnold Savings and Loan on the Group 160 NTRAK Club layout.
West Appliances, Ron's Pool Hall, Ferber's Books, and the McCoid 5 & 10 on the Group 160 NTRAK Club layout.
img

West Appliances, Ron's Pool Hall, Ferber's Books, and the McCoid 5 & 10 on the Group 160 NTRAK Club layout.
A train rolls through a scene on the Group 160 NTRAK Club layout.
img

A train rolls through a scene on the Group 160 NTRAK Club layout.
I guess he took a wrong turn! An example of the great detail on a module on the Group 160 NTRAK Club layout.
img

I guess he took a wrong turn! An example of the great detail on a module on the Group 160 NTRAK Club layout.
Photos don't do it justice, but this module which featured a moving tornado touching down and flying away on the Group 160 NTRAK Club layout was amazing!
img

Photos don't do it justice, but this module which featured a moving tornado touching down and flying away on the Group 160 NTRAK Club layout was amazing!
A wider view of the module which featured a moving tornado touching down and flying away on the Group 160 NTRAK Club layout.
img

A wider view of the module which featured a moving tornado touching down and flying away on the Group 160 NTRAK Club layout.
A detailed scene on the Group 160 NTRAK Club layout.
img

A detailed scene on the Group 160 NTRAK Club layout.
A fantastic one-square-foot module by NMRA Pacific Southwest Region president Joel Morse showing a milk stop on the New York, Ontario and Western Railroad.
img

A fantastic one-square-foot module by NMRA Pacific Southwest Region president Joel Morse showing a milk stop on the New York, Ontario and Western Railroad.
The "White's Farm" T-TRAK module by your website editor, Mark Fischer.
img

The "White's Farm" T-TRAK module by your website editor, Mark Fischer.

Text and photos by the LA Division Webmaster, Mark Fischer, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

We need your help! If you have photos of a model you are proud of, a cool train-related thing you saw in the area or on a trip, or have some interesting news, please contact us so we can share it with the rest of the world.

See More Spotlight Articles >>>

Upcoming Events

Some of the upcoming railroad-related events over the next month or two include:

June 1 - Glendale Model Railroad Society Open House, Glendale
June 7 - TTOS/Southwestern Division Meet & Open House, Arcadia
June 23-27 - National N-Scale Convention, Milwaukee
July 12 - TTOS/Southwestern Division Train Meet, Arcadia
June 27 - Los Angeles Model Railroad Society Open House and Swap Meet, Harbor City
July 25 - Roundhouse Gang Swap Meet, San Bernardino
July 27-August 2 - NMRA National Convention, Chattanooga, TN

See More Events >>>

The Los Angeles Division

We are a group of more than 200 railroad modelers in Los Angeles and Ventura counties in southern California. We are one of 150 local groups, called "divisions", of the National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) across the world. The Los Angeles Division is part of the Pacific Southwest Region of the NMRA, which includes three other divisions covering Southern California, Arizona, and Southern Nevada.

We hold a monthly virtual meeting on the first Thursday of every month at 7pm. These informal "Sand House Chats" are a round-table where members can share information and talk about whatever interests them.

All Division members receive the "LA Division Coupler," the Division's quarterly newsletter via email.

In addition to our website, we share information on multiple social media sites.

The Los Angeles Division, NMRA Facebook page (a public page that anyone can "like" to follow)
The NMRA Los Angeles Division - A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Facebook group (a private group for Division members)
The Los Angeles Division, NMRA Instagram page (Coming Soon!)

Learn More About the LA Division >>>

The NMRA

The National Model Railroad Association is a 501(c)(3) not for profit educational organization that was founded in 1935. It is a world-wide organization with over 16,000 active members, associates, families and clubs dedicated to the hobby of scale model railroading in all its facets, supporting a hobby of many diverse interests that all relate to the greater world of trains and railroads.

Learn More About the NMRA >>>