The San Ramon Branch Line Modelers Group was born out of an N-Scale Danville depot scratchbuild Covid project model in 2021 by group founding member, Dave Connery, MMR (Master Model Railroader). Interest gained among his circle of friends, including: Pete Birdsong, MMR, Brian Booth (R.I.P.), Wayne Floyd, Lisa Gorrell, Paul Ingraham, Steve Lane, Mike O’Dorney, and Doug Smith (R.I.P.) – to model as much of the former Branch Line in N-Scale as accurately as possible (“prototypically”) in the 1914-1924-era, as an operational, portable sectional and modular layout, to display at National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) [add link], Pacific Coast Region (PCR) [add link] events and at local historical museums, and an art gallery – in cities related to the Branch Line’s former operations, including Concord – at the Concord History Museum [add link], in Danville at the Museum of the San Ramon Valley [add link], and in Pleasanton at the Firehouse Arts Center – Harrington Gallery [add link].
Each layout showing was well documented. Our Concord Museum showing, which ran from November 2022 through March 2023, included the filming of the TSG Multimedia-produced [add link] – 22min San Ramon Branch Layout Tour video on YouTube [add link]. Paul Ingraham and Steve Lane gave a speaking presentation on the Branch Line and the Model at the Concord Museum Event Center on May 28, 2023. Link to recording: [add link to mp4]
Our Museum of the San Ramon Valley layout showing was in the former freight room / current museum exhibit space of the Museum of the San Ramon Valley (MSRV), housed in the relocated and very well-restored former Danville Depot of the San Ramon Branch Line. This layout showing ran from November through December 2023. During this showing, Paul Ingraham and Steve Lane gave a Zoom presentation on the History of the San Ramon Branch Line and the San Ramon Valley. The Zoom video [add link] can be found on the MSRV YouTube video site.
We also did a presentation on Modular and Sectional Model Railroading using the San Ramon Branch Line project and other examples. This presentation was intended to be of interest to anyone interested in building a modular or sectional display or home layout. It covers the key elements of basic model railroad layout design and fundamental operations. It was recorded as a segment on TSG Multimedia’s “Talking Trains” monthly live podcast – Paul Ingraham and Steve Lane presented on behalf of the Group. The video [add link] for this can be found on TSG Multimedia’s YouTube Channel.
Due to aging, health and vision issues, and two members no longer alive – The Group is no longer active. This website serves as an online legacy – to honor the Group, the Layout, the Individuals, and the work that was generated during the San Ramon Branch Line Model project’s public display and presentation run from 2022 through 2025.
Group member, Steve Lane will continue to keep the site active as a reference for new and old modelers and history buffs to learn and hopefully be inspired from.
Meet the Modelers [link to new page]
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San Ramon Branch Model Railroad 