About

The San Joaquin Valley Toy Train Operators, Inc. (SJVTTO, Inc.) is a non-profit organization whose members collect and operate model trains in all gauges. Whether you are someone who likes to run toy trains in circles, model an exact-date railroad, model a scene, or anything else in between, you are welcome. We welcome anyone who likes trains. You don’t even need to own any trains (model or real).

This club was formed in 1975 by a group of five toy train enthusiasts eager to promote and enjoy the latest trains offered by various manufacturers and exchange ideas on new technology as well as advice on maintaining and restoring older trains. We also focus on designing, building, and operating model railroad layouts. Over the years, the club has had many different modular railroad layouts. Presently, we have four portable layouts in O, HO, N, and Z gauges, which we set up at public locations. We have taken them to care facilities, Amtrak stations, train shows, libraries, museums, and other places. There is also a stationary HO layout at the clubhouse.

Oustide club activities have also been on the club schedule. We have taken Amtrak to Sacramento and the California State Railroad Museum. We’ve ridden the train at Railtown 1897 and had a private roundhouse tour. Also we have visited private layouts and there will be plenty more activities in the future.

A generation ago, the sight of toy streamliners flashing by in department store windows made children wish that a toy train would magically appear under their own tree on Christmas morning. Each year, on the first full weekend in December, we hold a public toy train show at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds. This annual event evokes memories of those childhood dreams and introduces the toy train hobby to today’s children. Shoppers find bargains in a large variety of trains and train-related items on the sales tables amid trains operating on beautifully detailed layouts.

Our annual dues are $50. Monthly club meetings are on the first Sunday of each month unless a holiday falls on that weekend. In that case, we meet the second Sunday. The doors of the clubhouse open at 12:30 pm, and the meeting starts at 1:30 pm. The clubhouse is in the Scout Hall building at 4717 Elm Street in the city of Denair. Please come and see what we are all about.