Our Story
A Practical Idea, Built to Last
Santa Clarita Railroad began in Southern California in 1999 with a simple goal: to create practical tools that help model railroaders care for their locomotives and rolling stock with greater ease and confidence.
One of our earliest creations was the Original Handy Holder—a cushioned cradle that keeps a model secure while leaving both hands free for cleaning, repairs, detailing, and maintenance.
By August 2000, Santa Clarita Railroad products had found their way into the pages of Garden Railways magazine. The original black-and-white advertisement shown here is a piece of our history and a reminder of where our journey began.
Returning to Our Roots
After stepping away for a number of years, our family returned to Santa Clarita Railroad with the same hands-on spirit and a renewed vision. We brought back the Original Handy Holder, expanded the collection for G, O, HO, and N scale modelers, and continued improving our products around the way hobbyists actually work.
That same practical thinking led to our newest innovation: the Pro Pak Storage System. Developed and tested over two years, Pro Pak was created to help model railroaders protect, organize, store, and transport their rolling stock—including longer cars that can be difficult to carry securely. With purpose-designed storage boxes, Easy-Lift Sheets, and a coordinating carrying case, Pro Pak extends our original mission beyond the workbench.
Built for the Journey Ahead
Today, Santa Clarita Railroad remains a small, family-run Southern California business. Every product begins with a real need and a straightforward question: How can we make this easier while better protecting the models people value?
More than 25 years after our first magazine advertisement, our products have evolved, but our purpose has remained the same: thoughtful design, practical solutions, and dependable protection throughout the model railroading journey.
Santa Clarita Railroad
Home of the Original Handy Holder Since 1999.