The San Diego Society of N Scale (SDSoNS) is a volunteer 501(c)3 organization located at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum at Balboa Park and proudly displays the Pacific Desert Lines (PDL) road name. The N scale organization has a handful of members who spend their Thursday evenings enjoying scale model railroading.

The History of San Diego Society of N Scale: From Living Rooms to Museum Exhibit

Humble Beginnings: 1972-1974

The whole thing started with an ad placed at the San Diego Whistle Stop train store by our founding father Terry McCann. Our first meeting was held at Terry’s house with Marty and Jan Young, Clyde Farrell and Bill Fannon in the spring of 1972. Not much took place for awhile – a lot of talking and comparing notes – while a train ran around a circle of track taped down on the table. Things continued on like this, meeting at each other’s houses until one night it was decided to form a club called the Southern California N Gaugers. Then came the task of finding a place for a layout.

After about a year or so of running a small layout built in Marty’s garage, some space was acquired at 26th & B St. This was used for about 6-8 months with a large amount of bench work built, but nothing was in operation.

The Camelot and Westbend Era: 1974-1979

In 1974, the club relocated to a more promising space at 50th Street and Trojan Avenue. This move marked a significant turning point, as members leveraged module designs from their contribution to the 1974 National Model Railroad Association (NMRA) Convention in San Diego. These N-Trak standard modules became the foundation for what would evolve into the club’s first fully realized layout.

Progress on the permanent installation was initially slow, with only five to six dedicated members handling construction. However, persistence paid off as the layout—christened “Camelot and Westbend”—became operational with approximately half of its planned scenery completed. The group’s resilience was tested late one night when a plumbing disaster threatened their hard work. In a remarkable display of dedication, members rallied at 1:00 AM for an emergency salvage operation, rescuing much of their creation. Within a short time, Camelot and Westbend returned to operation, demonstrating the club’s determination and collaborative spirit.

Transformation and Growth: 1979-1981

Late 1979 brought an extraordinary opportunity when the newly established San Diego Model Railroad Museum invited the club to become part of its permanent collection in Balboa Park’s Casa de Balboa (formerly the Electric Building). Recognizing this as a chance to reach a wider audience, the club made the difficult decision to dismantle the beloved Camelot and Westbend layout.

In its place, they constructed an 8′ by 28′ modular railroad specifically designed to showcase N scale model railroading and attract new enthusiasts. The club’s membership had now grown to fifteen active participants, allowing for more ambitious displays at events like the Toy Train Association meet in San Diego and several Pacific Coast Region NMRA gatherings.

The club’s expansion continued in 1980 when it merged with the Gandydancers, an Escondido-based N scale group. The Gandydancers contributed not only their beautifully detailed modules but also brought talented new members who enriched the club’s collective expertise. This union catalyzed a formal reorganization, and the group decided to incorporate under a new name: the San Diego Society of N Scale (SDSoNS). By January 1981, the club had achieved official status as a California tax-exempt corporation—a milestone that reflected its growing professionalism and community presence.

The newly incorporated SDSoNS remained active throughout 1981, participating in the prestigious N-Trak display at the San Mateo convention and creating a special holiday exhibit at Bonita Mall in Bonita, California. These public appearances further cemented the club’s reputation and helped draw additional members interested in N scale modeling.

The Museum Era and Pacific Desert Lines: 1982-Present

Early 1982 marked the beginning of the club’s museum chapter, with their modules proudly displayed at the San Diego Model Railroad Museum. These modules served dual purposes: entertaining visitors and providing operational capabilities during the construction of what would become the club’s magnum opus—the Pacific Desert Lines.

With approximately 1,500 square feet of space (roughly 16 feet by 85 feet) at their disposal, SDSoNS embarked on an ambitious California prototype railroad. The layout recreates the original 1855 surveyed route proposed for the San Diego & Arizona Eastern Railroad—a fascinating historical alternative that remained entirely within the United States, unlike the actual line that was eventually built through Baja California, Mexico. Though the club’s modeled route represents a “might-have-been” scenario, it does incorporate authentic segments like the spectacular Carriso Gorge, where their modeled route and the historical line converge.