Roseville California has an intriguing history full of the flavor of the railroad. That was a hobby my sweet husband enjoyed – both modeling, usually with HO, as well as the real McCoy – by just going out to watch the trains and take photos of them. We could hear the trains occasionally from our first house in Roseville, and that was always a fun treat for him.
Apparently, it was the Gold Rush of the 1800s that brought many people to Roseville and changed its landscape from the grasslands of the Maidu Indians (yup, that’s where they got the name for one of their libraries) into a bustling little city right on the path of the first transcontinental railroad in the United States! And at the time, the name of this town was just plain Junction.
A few years later the South Pacific Railroad put their roundhouse in Roseville and the rest, shall we say, was history. Now this bustling community has over 100,000 people (there were only 60,000 or so when we first moved here in the 90s! WOW!). And every year, there are exciting new additions – both residential and business – to keep everyone busy and engaged. But through it all, the train continues to be a major part of this sweet city – situated right in the middle of the community and right “beside” Downtown Vernon where there are often fun and interesting community events and things to do in Roseville CA – from parades, to Tuesday Night Market in the Summer, to a fun sprinkler in the city hall square for the kids to enjoy, to parks galore and so much more.
Plus you can enjoy the Railroad Shows that come visit. UPDATE: This year, 2015, The International Railfair MODEL RAILROAD SHOW, “The West’s Premier Model Railroad Show,” will be held at the Placer County Fairgrounds, 800 All American City Boulevard, Roseville, CA 95678 on November 14-15, 2015 Rain or Shine Saturday 10am – 5pm and Sunday 10am – 4pm. Admission is by Donation: Adults: $8, Kids under 12 Free! Fairgrounds Parking: FREE (how often do you see THAT anymore! 🙂 ) AND $12 Sunday Family Special! This fun family friendly event features:
- Operating Layouts / Vendors / Snack Bars
- TrainMart Consignment Store!
- American and European Model Railroads in
- HO, N, Z, S, O, G, Lionel & Narrow Gauge Will be Represented!
- There is an Outdoor Large Scale Live Steam Train You Can Ride!
- Kids can operate a model train and become a Junior Engineer!
You can get more details, information, fun history and answers to your FAQs (frequently asked questions) at their website – The International Railfair MODEL RAILROAD SHOW 
It’s been many years and we still get to enjoy the sounds of the trains periodically as well as enjoy the sight of them chugging in and out of Roseville, California, doing their part to keep this community alive and healthy and a great place to live! Yes, the trains were definitely a favorite for my husband, along with so many other railroad enthusiasts. And they’ll continue to be a vital part of Roseville’s history going forward as well!
