Model Railroading > San Francisco Randall Museum Reopens With Historic HO Layout

The historic Randall Children's Museum Located in the Corona Heights neighborhood of San Francisco
reopened last Sunday after being closed for major renovation since 2015.

In the basement is the model railroad that was constructed by members of the Golden Gate Model
Railroad Club in 1961. With the reopening, the model railroad is on display now all the time
the Randall Museum is open, Tuesday through Saturday, 10AM to 5PM.

When volunteers are not present to run trains, button activated automation operates an F40 powered
Amfleet train on one route and SP Budd RDC #10 on another.

This model railroad is unique in that it can be viewed in a public setting during much of the week in
the basement of the free admission Randall Children's Museum.

The Randall Museum is administered by the San Francisco Recreation & Park Department and all
volunteers are required to be screened by that agency.

If you are interested in being a model railroad volunteer at Randall Museum, please contact me.

Regards, Jim Evans

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This is great news. I was under the impression that the layout was going to be dismantled.

Warren

Very nice! Always good to see a model railroad come back on line. Love the Western Pacific train.

SantaFeRuss

Wow. I thought it was long gone. I was born and raised just down the hill from the Museum and spent many an hour up there. Thanks for posting.

Is there a barrier surrounding the layout ?

Posted from iPhone

Nice. if I lived close would volunteer.

In pic 3, is that 3 rail I see, and what runs on the ng line?

Glad you didn’t,t have to tear it down

Yes, there is now a sturdy tall glass barrier and there will be two doors to secure the area where
the automation computers are.

I was there most of the day today and noticed the kids really enjoy slamming the automation buttons.
They don't seem to care what they do! We may install some dummy ones just for them to push!

Regards, Jim Evans

CPRR Wrote:
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> Nice. if I lived close would volunteer.
>
> In pic 3, is that 3 rail I see, and what runs on
> the ng line?


Also in pix two.

Yes, the layout has a narrow gauge section but must of been from many years ago since few today know anything
about who developed it or if it ever operated.

Regards, Jim Evans

FiveChime Wrote:
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> Yes, the layout has a narrow gauge section but
> must of been from many years ago since few today
> know anything
> about who developed it or if it ever operated.
>
> Regards, Jim Evans

When I was a member 75-80, a guy named Paul was the narrow gauge modeler.
The best part of those days was closing the Randal museum down and heading up to Lee Irwin's California Summit Railroad at the corner of Roosevelt and Museum way. An all SP layout with FULL size EMD control stands operating the 1:87 scale layout with sound recordings he made up on Donner pass as back ground effects. Some of my best modeling memories... That was a fun SP layout.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 02/15/18 11:47 by dmaffei.

Glad to see the model railroad is running again and on public display. Good for the hobby. Thanks to all who worked to preserve the layout and now operate it. Kudos must be in order for dealing successfully with the city. I will have to get up there and see it again.

Gerry