Orange County Model Engineers

We are thrilled to announce that birthday parties are back! Party slots are available from 10am-12pm, and 1-3pm on both Saturdays and Sundays. The minimum donation required to reserve a party is $200. We are excited to resume an activity which is fun for our guests and our volunteers. Call us at 949-548-7246 to reserve a party. Please leave a message if you get the answering machine, our birthday party coordinator will get back to you promptly. Feel free to message us here ...on Facebook if you have any questions. All Aboard! Please note that the free train rides every 3rd weekend of the month are still currently suspended due to COVID-19. We hope we will be able to resume them soon. #goathilljunction #costamesa #orangecounty #train

Thank you to the Daily Pilot for stopping by Goathill Junction to talk about our Bridge Fundraiser! https://www.latimes.com//replacement-of-tiny-trestle-at-fa

HELP US REPAIR OUR TRESTLE BRIDGE! Our bridge has been sitting in the park for nearly 30 years and has finally succumbed to weather, sun and insects. The bridge was built by, and dedicated to, local Costa Mesan , World War II hero, and club member Hank Hornsveld. We have set up a Go Fund Me page to accept donations to help restore this massive structure and highlight of our free public train rides. If you would like to help please click the Go Fund Me link below....and feel free to share this post with all your friends. Thank you from the all-volunteer members of the Orange County Model Engineers! https://www.gofundme.com/f/trestle-replacement (HANK HORNSVELD CROSSING THE NEWLY-CONSTRUCTED BRIDGE)

No matter what scale you love....this train pic is great! https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=917252815778875&set=gm.3952033021521225&type=3

OCME is pleased to announce the launch of our Trestle Fundraiser! Funds are needed to rebuild our 30 year old Hank Hornsveld Trestle for future generations. Please visit our website (linked below and in our bio) for detailed information about the project itself and how to donate. Donations are tax deductible. Thank you! http://www.ocmetrains.org

Goathill Junction's Golden Spike Ceremony was 30 years ago today! Photo Credit: Bill Hoey

https://www.facebook.com/groups/196997147760591/permalink/842134623246837/

It’s a sad day in the model railroad world. Charlie Ro was an icon in the G scale hobby and owner of USA TRAINS. Thanks, Charlie, for all the smiles and Christmas memories....nothing was more fun than a red, white and blue box under the tree on Christmas morning! Godspeed my friend. https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/bostonglobe/obituary.aspx

Good Afternoon, The OCME Board of Directors has voted to temporarily SUSPEND ALL PUBLIC ACTIVITIES at the the railroad until further notice due to the COVID-19 Virus. The following club activities have been suspended until further notice: 1.) Public Run Weekends - beginning with March 21st and 22nd. 2.) Birthday Parties - beginning with March 14th.... 3.) Sunburst Youth Academy Work Day - March 14th. 4.) Member Meetings - beginning with April 4th. 5.) Board Meetings - conducted by teleconference beginning April 5th. In addition to the safety of our riders and visitors, we have taken into account the safety and well being of our members. Many members, due to age and health concerns, fit the profile of those who are most at risk. In regards to birthday parties our Birthday Party Coordinator will be calling those who have scheduled parties from March 14th to the end of April to discuss their cancellation and issue refunds. If you have any questions about birthday parties please leave a message on the club's phone, 949-548-7246. We hope this emergency reaches a speedy conclusion, and we pray for the good health of everyone and their families. Please keep an eye on OCME's Facebook and Instagram, which is where we will post updates as they happen. If you have any questions please message us on Facebook or Instagram. Thank you.

Did you know that you could help keep the trains running just by doing your normal shopping? If you would like to support Goathill Junction at no extra cost to yourself then please add Orange County Model Engineers on Amazon Smile at the link below, by doing so Amazon will donate 0.5% of eligible purchases to us. Every little bit helps, thank you! https://smile.amazon.com/ Please note that these pictures were taken pre-COVID. The Goathill Junction Railroad is currently closed to the public due to the pandemic. If you have any questions please feel free to message us via our Facebook or Instagram.

Back in 2018 Mike Massee posted a video on YouTube documenting the firing up and operation of one of our members steam locomotives. Mike recently posted the video of Glenn's Fitchburg Northern on Facebook, which you can watch here.

Today we take a dive into the OCME Archives, back to the first weekend of May in 2001 and Fullerton Railroad Days. For the event that year OCME set up a demonstration track to run some of our trains on. Running on our little railroad were a Pacific Electric Redcar, a Northern Pacific passenger train, and a small gas powered speeder. We also had a small booth with a Shay locomotive displayed on a stand alongside. Photos by Gary Sharp

Earlier this year a series of rain storms passed over Fairview Park which turned the area around Goathill Junction nice and green. Here Locomotive #2 'The Plum Cove' passes by a patch of wildflowers as a rainbow hangs in the sky above. Please note that the Goathill Junction Railroad is currently closed due to COVID-19, if you have any questions feel free to message us on Facebook or Instagram.

WE’LL BE BACK!!! https://www.facebook.com/191420430899958/posts/3304817462893557/?vh=e&d=n

We want you all to stay safe so you can ride our trains once again when this emergency is over. Please watch this Public Service video! https://youtu.be/sjDuwc9KBps

Thank you to everyone who came out to ride last weekend! We had 7 different locomotives running and together they gave over 3,000 free rides! Our next free public run weekend will be on March 21st and 22nd, from 10am-3:30pm, weather permitting. On that weekend we will be celebrating Easter early with a visit from the Easter Bunny at Kathy's Kid's Corner, which will be located at the station. We hope to see you there!

Our train rides through Fairview Park make us very unique in the riding-railroad world. The natural habitat at the Goat Hill Junction Railroad is truly special, changing dramatically from season to season. However, here’s a train ride in Houston that you will never find in Costa Mesa!! https://www.narcity.com//houstons-downtown-aquarium-has-an

Free train rides this weekend! Trains will be running on Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th from 10am-3:30pm, weather permitting. We hope to see you!

A cold and foggy Sunday afternoon saw the return to operation of one of our member’s diesel locomotives, Union Pacific #2003. Here are some photos from #2003’s first trips in many years around the railroad pulling a string of privately owned flatcars. And a quick reminder that the next free public run weekend will be on February 15th and 16th, from 10am-3:30pm, weather permitting.

Thank you to everyone who came out to ride the trains this past weekend! January’s Run Weekend saw the return to passenger hauling service of one of our member’s steam locomotives, K&M Railroad #4. Here are some photos of it heading down The Mountain Division at the end of the day. Our next free public run weekend will be on February 15th and 16th, from 10am-3:30pm, weather permitting.

Fairview Park is lovely and green right now thanks to recent rains, check out these nice photos taken this past week at the railroad. Our next public run weekend will be January 18th and 19th, 10am-3:30pm, weather permitting. We hope to see you there!

Happy New Year train fans!

Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah from all the volunteer members of Orange County Model Engineers! May your holiday be special!