News

CTTC August Meeting – August 27, 2025

August 26, 2025 No Comments

The August CTTC Meeting will be Wednesday, August 27, at 7:00 PM.
Doors open around 6:45 PM.

ZOOM:

Club Business (7:00 – 7:40)
Show and Tell Pt 1 (7:40 – 8:20)
Show and Tell Pt 2 (8:30 – 9:00)

Announcements

  • Show and Tell presentations should be 5–7 minutes in length
  • Please take side conversations away from the train table as a courtesy to others.
  • Feel free to help fold chairs at the end of the meeting.
  • Volunteer Opportunities at Bosse Toy Train Museum
    • We’re looking for volunteer docents.
      Open the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Saturdays each month, 10:00–1:00
      (You don’t have to work every weekend!)
      Talk to Kal if you’re interested.
    • High School Service Hours
      • Volunteer hours at the museum can count toward high school service requirements.
        We’re currently looking for:

        • Docents

        • Ticket agents

        • Research to write summaries of train sets for the self-guided tour (Research can be done remotely)

      • Talk to Kal if you or someone you know might be interested.

CTTC July Meeting – July 30, 2025

July 1, 2025 No Comments

The July CTTC Meeting will be Wednesday, June 30, at 7:00 PM.
Doors open around 6:45 PM.

ZOOM:

Club Business (7:00 – 7:40)
Show and Tell Pt 1 (7:40 – 8:20)
Show and Tell Pt 2 (8:30 – 9:00)

Announcements

  • Show and Tell presentations should be 5–7 minutes in length
  • Please take side conversations away from the train table as a courtesy to others.
  • Feel free to help fold chairs at the end of the meeting.
  • Volunteer Opportunities at Bosse Toy Train Museum
    • We’re looking for volunteer docents.
      Open the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Saturdays each month, 10:00–1:00
      (You don’t have to work every weekend!)
      Talk to Kal if you’re interested.
    • High School Service Hours
      • Volunteer hours at the museum can count toward high school service requirements.
        We’re currently looking for:

        • Docents

        • Ticket agents

        • Summer help to write summaries of train sets for the self-guided tour (Research can be done remotely)

      • Talk to Kal if you or someone you know might be interested.

OLD BUSINESS

  • Food Bank Fund Drive
    • Conner sent out a nice letter encouraging everyone to participate in the Food Bank of Santa Barbara Food Drive.
    • Members have 2 options for this:
      • Personal Checks or online donations to receive the tax benefits.
        • If you do this, please let us know so we can count the number of people.
        • You do not need to tell us the amount!
      • Cash
        • If you want to do this, please give the cash to Art Bossé
        • Art will write a check to the Food Bank with the total.
    • At the June meeting, we collected $XXX in cash contributions.
  • July 4th at Fred’s Dinner
    • Fred and Cyndy Duerner will be hosting a dinner at the Glenn Annie Ranch on Friday July 4th, 6:00pm
      • Bring your own main dish
      • Bring a shared side dish
      • Stay to watch the Drone Show
  • Dave Halbeisen’s 35th Annual Festival of Toy Trains
  • Donna Peterson has reached out the Santa Barbara Public Library
    • The Library is willing to wave the usage fee for the non-profit organizations
    • There is need to discuss the logistics for
      • Loading / Unloading
      • Security of the layout and trains
      • After hour access
        • Final touches of the layout have been done after hours in the past

New Business

  • Club Dinner – 12/13/2025 ? 
  • Club Dessert Location ideas

CTTC June Meeting – June 25, 2025

June 23, 2025 No Comments

The June CTTC Meeting will be Wednesday, June 25, at 7:00 PM.
Doors open around 6:45 PM.

ZOOM:

Club Business (7:00 – 7:40)
Show and Tell Pt 1 (7:40 – 8:20)
Show and Tell Pt 2 (8:30 – 9:00)

Announcements

  • Show and Tell presentations should be 5–7 minutes in length
  • Please take side conversations away from the train table as a courtesy to others.
  • Feel free to help fold chairs at the end of the meeting.
  • Volunteer Opportunities at Bosse Toy Train Museum
    • We’re looking for volunteer docents.
      Open the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Saturdays each month, 10:00–1:00
      (You don’t have to work every weekend!)
      Talk to Kal if you’re interested.
    • High School Service Hours
      • Volunteer hours at the museum can count toward high school service requirements.
        We’re currently looking for:

        • Docents

        • Ticket agents

        • Summer help to write summaries of train sets for the self-guided tour (Research can be done remotely)

      • Talk to Kal if you or someone you know might be interested.

Old Business

  • Dave Halbeisen’s 35th Annual Festival of Toy Trains
    Dave was unable to attend; no updates available.
  • Annual CTTC Dinner
    • Suggestions for location are now being taken.
    • Individual billing is preferred for fairness and financial stability.
    • Date depends on if/when Dave’s Festival is scheduled.
    • Dessert after dinner is still open for discussion.

New Business

  • Food Bank Fund Drive
  • July 4th at Fred’s
  • July Meeting Location
  • Dave Halbeisen’s 35th Annual Festival of Toy Trains
  • Annual CTTC Dinner

CTTC May Meeting – May 28, 2025

May 26, 2025 No Comments

The May CTTC Meeting will be Wednesday, May 28, at 7:00 PM.
Doors open around 6:45 PM.

ZOOM:

Club Business (7:00 – 7:40)
Show and Tell Pt 1 (7:40 – 8:20)
Show and Tell Pt 2 (8:30 – 9:00)

 

Announcements

  • It has been requested that individual Show and Tell presentations be 5–7 minutes in length.

  • Please take side conversations away from the train table as a courtesy to others.

 

Old Business

    • Conner and family visited the Grand Canyon over spring break and got to ride on the Railway, which included a train robbery.

    • Dr. Charlie was in New York and told a great description of visiting the subway, which led to some great stories of the hidden control room and some very old switch levers.

    • Bosse Toy Train Museum

      • Now open the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Saturday starting in May.

      • Work on the expansion is coming along, and the hope is that the expansion will open by the end of the year.

New Business

  • Bosse Toy Train Museum:

    • Father’s Day Special – June 14, fathers with children get in free. Tell your friends.

    • Looking for Volunteer Docents.

      • With the increase in weekends and the upcoming expansion, more help is needed. It doesn’t have to be every weekend. Talk to Kal if interested.

    • High School Service Hours:

      • The museum is a 501(c)(3), and volunteer hours count towards high school service hours.

      • Summer help needed for writing summaries of train sets on display. Interested? Talk to Kal.

  • Dave Halbeisen’s 35th Annual Festival of Toy Trains:

    • Any updates on whether it will be held this year?

    • There was talk of hosting it at one of the Library’s satellite sites or the Montecito Public Library.

    • Any suggestions are welcome.

  • Annual CTTC Dinner:

    • Do we still want it at the Timbers?

    • We are requesting this year to have separate checks.

    • Date depends on the Festival of Toy Trains.

  • Annual CTTC Dessert:

    • This was usually held at the Library after the dinner.

    • Do we want to hold this again this year?

    • Location is unknown, depending on the Festival of Toy Trains location and policies.

    • Any suggestions are welcome.

CTTC March Meeting March 26, 2025

March 25, 2025 No Comments

The March CTTC Meeting will be Wednesday, March 26, at 7:00 PM.
Doors open around 6:45 PM.
Theme: Member’s Choice

ZOOM:

ZOOM Meeting Club Business (7:00 – 7:40)
ZOOM Meeting Show and Tell pt 1 (7:40 – 8:20)
ZOOM Meeting Show and Tell pt 2(8:30 – 9:00)

Thank You, Bob Sponsel!

One year ago, Bob Sponsel graciously opened his garage to the Coast Toy Train Club, providing us with a dedicated space for our monthly meetings. Thanks to his incredible generosity, we’ve not only had a place to gather but also the opportunity to build a permanent layout and grow our community in ways we never imagined.

Bob’s kindness, knowledge, and friendly nature have been invaluable to our club, and we are deeply grateful for all he has done. His support has truly been a godsend, and we cannot thank him enough for his hospitality and dedication.

Thank you, Bob, for everything you’ve done to help our club thrive!

 

OLD BUSINESS:

  • NMRA Pacific Coast Region Convention
    • March 27 – 30
    • San Luis Obispo
    • Our Own Irwin Nathanson will be presenting
  • March 1 L&N Eastern Kentucky Operating Session will have CTC working.
  • Special THANK YOU top Donna Peterson for sponsering the club’s table extension.
  • Great Train Show
    • March 8 – 9
    • Ventura, CA

NEW BUSINESS:

  • Bosse Toy Train Museum 
    • Starting April, will be opened the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Saturday of each month.

CTTC January Meeting January 29, 2025

January 26, 2025 No Comments

The January CTTC Meeting will be Wednesday, January 29, at 7:00 PM.
Doors open around 6:45 PM.
Theme: Member’s Choice

ZOOM:

ZOOM Meeting Part 1 (7:00 – 7:40)
ZOOM Meeting Part 2 (7:40 – 8:20)
ZOOM Meeting part 3 (8:30 – 9:00)

Irwin Nathanson is bringing an incredible lineup of HO trains to our next meeting! Get ready to see European masterpieces, including German (and possibly British) locomotives, with dazzling sound and light functions. Highlights include operating passenger cars—one featuring servo motors, sounds, and lights, and an ‘entertainment car’ with disco vibes. Plus, a camera-equipped loco streaming live video to his iPhone! Irwin will also showcase his NCE PowerPro DCC System to demonstrate all the advanced features. Don’t miss this exciting Show and Tell!

OLD BUSINESS:
  • 34th Annual Festival of Toy Trains – A Wonderful Success!

The 34th Annual Festival of Toy Trains was a fantastic event, thanks to all of you who contributed your time and effort! The excitement was palpable as people lined up outside the library, eagerly waiting for the show to open.

We faced a few minor challenges with the TMCC system on the first day, but thanks to the team’s quick thinking, we switched to conventional mode while troubleshooting. By Saturday, we made some progress, and by Sunday, everything was running smoothly.

A heartfelt thank you goes to everyone who helped make this event possible. Special thanks to Al, Christopher, Cad, Conner, Nick, Christine, Charlie, and Jeremy for your hard work during setup, and an extra BIG thank you to Christopher and Conner for expertly running the show.

Lastly, a big shout-out to those who stayed to help with takedown: Al, Christopher, Nick, Rob, and Christine. Your efforts made all the difference!

  • Bosse Toy Train Museum – A Memorable Weekend

The Bosse Toy Train Museum was buzzing with excitement during the same weekend as the Festival of Toy Trains! A special thanks to Conner for working double time that weekend—your extra effort truly kept things running smoothly.

Of course, the weekend wasn’t without its memorable moments, including the “Disaster of Derailment Gulch”. Despite the unexpected detour, Charlie came to the rescue, getting the trains back on track in no time.

Overall, it was a fantastic showing filled with fun, teamwork, and a little bit of humor. Thank you to everyone who contributed to making this weekend a success!

  • Annual Club Dinner at The Timbers – A Wonderful Evening

Our Annual Club Dinner at The Timbers was a resounding success! We had a private room that provided a comfortable, friendly atmosphere for great conversation. The turnout was fantastic, and it was a pleasure to catch up with everyone in such a relaxed setting.

A big thank you to all who attended and helped make this event such a memorable evening. Here’s to many more enjoyable dinners and good times together!

 

Club Dessert at the Library – A Sweet Sendoff

Our latest Club Dessert at the library was a fun and memorable one! While it will be the last dessert at the library for a while, don’t worry—it had nothing to do with law enforcement making an appearance! That’s right, for the first time since I’ve been coming to the dessert, the Sheriff showed up. We offered her a chance to blow the whistle and enjoy some desserts with us, but it seems we didn’t have any donuts, so she decided to head out.

Thanks to everyone who brought and enjoyed the treats and the good company. We’ll be looking forward to the next dessert gathering—location to be determined!

NEW BUSINESS:
  • Club Shirts

We have some club shirts still available. Cost $35

  • Dues

Annual dues for 2025 remain at $10.

If you haven’t paid your dues yet, please do. Make checks out to Art Bosse.

Election of Officers

We will be having election of officers, current positions are:

    • President – Kalvin Quinkert
    • Vice President – Mike Topping
    • Treasurer – Art Bosse
    • Secretary –  vacant

Anyone interested in running for any of these positions, please let me know.

Club Dinner – Dec 14

November 29, 2024 No Comments

Annual Club Dinner at The Timbers

$25 per plate to be paid at the 12/4 club meeting.

Enjoy a four-dinner selection:

    • Tri Tip Dinner: Mashed potatoes and veggies
    • Local Catch: Rice pilaf and veggies
    • Chicken Piccata: Fettuccine pasta and veggies
    • Roasted Vegetable Lasagna: Marinara and roasted veggies
    • Beverage Station: Iced tea, water, lemonade

          Alcoholic drinks: On separate tabs

Timbers Roadhouse
10 Winchester Canyon Rd
Goleta, CA 93117

CTTC November Meeting December 4, 2024

November 29, 2024 No Comments

The November CTTC Meeting will be Wednesday, DECEMBER 4th, at 7:00 PM.
Doors open around 6:45 PM.
Theme: Member’s Choice

ZOOM:

ZOOM Meeting Part 1 (7:00 – 7:40)
ZOOM Meeting Part 2 (7:40 – 8:20)
ZOOM Meeting part 3 (8:30 – 9:00)

OLD BUSINESS:
  • November Meeting Update
    Due to Thanksgiving scheduling conflicts, the November meeting has been rescheduled to December 4th. Be sure to update your calendars!
NEW BUSINESS:
  1. Club Shirts Available
    Members who have ordered shirts can pick them up for $25.00 each. We also have limited extras in various sizes available for purchase at the same price. Prices will increase to $35.00 on January 1st due to supplier costs.

  2. 34th Annual Festival of Toy Trains

    • Location: Goleta Library
    • Setup: Friday, December 13th (Time to be determined)
    • Show Dates:
      • Saturday, December 14th, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
      • Sunday, December 15th, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
      • Members are welcome to bring their O-gauge and Standard gauge trains to run on the display.
      • Take Down:
        Monday, December 16th (Time to be determined)

  3. Bosse Toy Train Museum Opening – Call for Volunteer Docents

    We need volunteer docents for the Bosse Toy Train Museum, which will be opened on the same weekend of the Festival:

    • Saturday, December 14th: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
    • Sunday, December 15th: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

  4. Annual Club Dinner at The Timbers
    $25 per plate, due at the 12/4 meeting.

    Enjoy from these  four dinner selections:

    • Tri Tip Dinner: Mashed potatoes and veggies
    • Local Catch: Rice pilaf and veggies
    • Chicken Piccata: Fettuccine pasta and veggies
    • Roasted Vegetable Lasagna: Marinara and roasted veggies
    • Beverage Station: Iced tea, water, lemonade
    • Alcoholic drinks: On separate tabs

Dave Halbeisen’s 34th Annual Festival of Toy Trains

October 27, 2024 No Comments

34th Annual Festival of Toy Trains

34th Annual Festival of Toy Trains: A Timeless Celebration of Model Train Magic

Dates:

  • December 14: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
  • December 15: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Location: Goleta Valley Library, 500 N Fairview Ave, Goleta CA 93117

For the past 34 years, Dave Halbeisen has curated and shared his remarkable collection of model trains, turning the library into a miniature wonderland filled with the charm and nostalgia of Lionel Standard and 3 rail O-Gauge trains. The display features a delightful array of colorful accessories and scenes, spanning the eras from Lionel prewar to modern, offering a journey through the rich history of model train craftsmanship.

Attendees can expect an interactive and immersive experience as Dave strolls around the display with a TMCC Cab1, inviting young enthusiasts to take part in the magic. The opportunity to blow the whistle or horn adds a hands-on element, creating cherished memories for the next generation of train enthusiasts.

The Festival of Toy Trains has become a cherished tradition in the community, bringing together families, friends, and train enthusiasts to celebrate the timeless allure of model trains. The event continues to capture the imagination of all ages, offering a unique blend of nostalgia, education, and entertainment.

Join us at the Goleta Valley Library on December 14, from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, and December 15, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM, to witness the magic of the 33rd Annual Festival of Toy Trains. Admission is free, and all are welcome to experience the joy and wonder of model trains in this enchanting community event.

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CTTC October 30, 2024 Meeting

October 27, 2024 No Comments

The October CTTC Meeting will be Wednesday, October 30th, at 7:00 PM.
Doors open around 6:45 PM.
Theme: Member’s Choice

ZOOM: 

Old News:

  • September CTTC Meeting: Held at Fred and Cyndy Duerner’s Glen Annie Ranch. A big thank you for a real fun time!
  • Rick Cremeen’s Garden Railroad Weekend: Thank you to everyone who participated!

New News:

  1. November Meeting Update
    Due to Thanksgiving scheduling conflicts, the November meeting has been rescheduled to December 4th. Be sure to update your calendars!

  2. Club Shirts Available
    Members who have ordered shirts can pick them up for $25.00 each. We also have limited extras in various sizes available for purchase at the same price. Prices will increase to $35.00 on January 1st due to supplier costs.

  3. 34th Annual Festival of Toy Trains

    • Location: Goleta Library
    • Setup: Friday, December 13th (Time to be determined)
    • Show Dates:
      • Saturday, December 14th, 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM
      • Sunday, December 15th, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
        Members are welcome to bring their O-gauge and Standard gauge trains to run on the display.
    • Take Down: Monday, December 16th (Time to be determined)

  4. Bosse Toy Train Museum Opening – Call for Volunteer Docents
    We need volunteer docents for the Bosse Toy Train Museum, which will be opened on the same weekend of the Festival:

    • Saturday, December 14th: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
    • Sunday, December 15th: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM

  5. Annual Club Dinner at The Timbers
    Enjoy a four-dinner selection:

    • Tri Tip Dinner: Mashed potatoes and veggies
    • Local Catch: Rice pilaf and veggies
    • Chicken Piccata: Fettuccine pasta and veggies
    • Roasted Vegetable Lasagna: Marinara and roasted veggies
    • Beverage Station: Iced tea, water, lemonade

          Alcoholic drinks: On separate tabs

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