The Niles Western

The focus of the new layouts is Southern Pacific and Western Pacific, but our old fictitious railroad, the Niles Western, was what started it all when we were at the old Niles Depot site on Mission Boulevard.

Just for fun, here’s a look back at the NWRR with pictures of the old HO scale layout and a complete history of Jebidia Niles’ dream to connect the East Bay to Stockton.

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Tri-City Society of Model Engineers, Inc.
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Contact us

Hours of operation and location:

The model railroads are currently being constructed so there are no regular operating hours during this time. Work nights are Fridays around 7:30 p.m. and they are open to perspective new members and the public. If you are interested in joining the TCSME, please stop by on a Friday night, call (510) 797-4449, or e-mail us.

The Tri-City Society of Model Engineers’ Model Railroads are located at 37592 Niles Boulevard in Fremont, California, at the Niles Town Plaza.

The historic WP/SP crossing at Niles Tower will be featured in both layouts.

The Niles rail yard and surrounding buildings will be the focal points of both layouts, as seen in this early-1930s view showing both the passenger and freight depots, as well as the water tower.

HO Scale Layout Photos

N Scale Layout Photos

We are seeking new members to help construct  our HO and N scale layouts. You are invited to become a member of the Tri-City Society of Model Engineers and help with all aspects of modeling the area railroads. Experienced modelers as well as enthusiastic newcomers with an eagerness to learn are encouraged to help with the new layouts. If you have an interest in layout planning, bench work, wiring, track laying, scenery, or railroad operations, we welcome your participation as a member of the TCSME.

The layouts are based in Niles and the surrounding communities of the Bay Area. Attention is being given to accuracy and detail in both the track plans and surrounding scenery. The modeling era is the mid-1970s, but all industries and towns are being represented as they were in their prime.

The HO scale layout features the Southern Pacific mainline from Niles to San Jose with the many industries in Niles, Newark, Union City and other intermediate communities, as well as both Southern Pacific and Western Pacific lines through Niles Canyon to Pleasanton and Livermore. San Jose Cahill St. Station is featured as the model railroad’s large passenger terminal. A section will also feature the BART line through Fremont.

The N scale layout features the SP and WP mainlines from Niles to Oakland with intermediate communities such as Decoto, Alvarado and Hayward.

Our goal is to provide visitors with the history of the area through the model railroads. With the Southern Pacific, the Western Pacific, the South Pacific Coast and the many industries they served, the choices of what to model are almost limitless. Consider that the area had everything from quarries to brick works to packing sheds to salt works to automobile manufacturing to steel production – to name only a few. The opportunity to model the prototypes is limited only by your interest in doing so.