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Saturday 10am - 4pm Sunday 10am - 4pm

San Diego Electric Railway Association

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San Diego Electric Railway Association

The offical page of the San Diego Electric Railway Association (SDERA) and the National City Depot Turn left one block later onto West 23rd St.

San Diego Electric Railway Assn., Inc is a 501.c.3 Non-profit Corporation
DBA: San Diego Electric Railway (SDERy)
and The National City Depot

National City Depot is at 922 West 23rd St, National City, CA 91950

The Depot is located at the corner of Bay Marina Drive and Marina Way in National City. Take Interstate 5 about 10 miles south of downtown San Diego, exit at Bay Marina Drive and g

o west 1 block and turn right on Cleveland Ave. The Depot is straight in at the end of the street. The Depot is open Saturdays and Sunday 10 am - 4 pm and by appointment.

07/04/2026

🇺🇸 Happy Independence Day! 🇺🇸

The National City Depot will be closed on Saturday, July 4, so our dedicated volunteers can spend the holiday with their families and loved ones.

We are incredibly grateful for the time and passion our volunteers give throughout the year to preserve and share San Diego’s rich railway history. We appreciate your understanding as they take a well-deserved day to celebrate Independence Day.

We’ll reopen for our regular hours on Saturday, July 5, and look forward to seeing you then!

From all of us at the National City Depot, have a safe, happy, and memorable Fourth of July!

05/10/2026

You may notice construction activity in front of the National City Depot as work continues on the City of National City’s Bayshore Bikeway expansion project.

The good news! The museum is still OPEN, and parking remains available for visitors.

We’re excited to continue welcoming guests while these projects take shape around the Depot. Stop by, explore the exhibits, and check out San Diego’s railway history up close.

05/02/2026

We’re making progress on restoring our historic Birney streetcar.

With fresh paint and ongoing bodywork, this project is reviving a key piece of the San Diego Electric Railway Association’s collection, thanks to our dedicated volunteers.

But the next phase is even bigger.

Car 54 and Car 138 are up next. Both are major restoration projects that will require significant structural repairs, specialized craftsmanship, and funding to be preserved for future generations.

We’re seeking:
• Donations to keep projects moving
• Corporate sponsors to support hands-on preservation
• Community partners who want to be part of this effort

Your support helps bring these historic streetcars back to life.

Donate here: www.sdera.org/donate

If you’re interested in sponsoring a project or contributing, we’d love to connect.

Help us preserve San Diego’s railway history for future generations.

Photo credit: Jim P.

04/13/2026

The San Diego Electric Railway Association is seeking passionate volunteers to help us expand our impact and preserve transit history at the historic National City Depot.

We’re currently seeking:
• Grant Writers
• Fundraising Coordinators

This is a great opportunity for anyone with experience in nonprofit development, grant research, donor outreach, or fundraising strategy who wants to make a real difference in the community.

What you’ll do:
• Identify and apply for grants that support restoration, education, and preservation
• Help develop fundraising campaigns and donor outreach strategies
• Support ongoing efforts to expand exhibits, restore historic railcars, and enhance visitor experiences

Why volunteer with us:
• Be part of preserving Southern California’s rail history
• Contribute to meaningful, visible projects
• Build or expand your nonprofit development experience

If you’re interested or know someone who might be a great fit, send us a message or visit us at www.sdera.org for more information.

Help us keep history moving.

04/09/2026

Join us for our next SDERA Meeting!

📍 Where: National City Depot
📅 When: Saturday, April 25 at 4:00 PM

At this meeting, we’re excited to welcome historian and archaeologist Douglas W. Mengers, who will present “San Diego Trolleys.” The presentation will explore the city’s transit history, starting from the first horse-drawn trolleys in 1886 and covering the rise and decline of the San Diego Electric Railway.

🚉 Depot tours will be offered before and after the meeting.
☕ Light refreshments will be served.

This event is open to the public. Come and explore the legacy of San Diego’s railroads with us!

Address

922 W 23rd Street
National City, CA
91950

Opening Hours

Saturday	10am - 4pm
Sunday	10am - 4pm

Telephone

+16194744400

Website

http://www.sdera.org/

Alerts

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