Railroad History
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Railroad buff Bill Anderson
Located in a Santa Fe Coach Railcar in historic Folsom, the Folsom Railroad Museum offers displays and information regarding city's rich role in the history of the railroad. The museum has a wealth of photographs and historical artifacts in addition to a small gift shop.
It is staffed by knowledgeable volunteers from the Folsom, El Dorado & Sacramento Historic Railroad Association. The organization provides the manpower to restore the railroad cars at the museum. In addition, it is dedicated to preserving and maintaining railroad history in the region. One of the organization’s long range goal is to develop a former rail line from Folsom to Placerville into multipurpose use such as an excursion rail.
The museum is located at 198 Wool St., next to the Folsom Railroad Depot, currently home to the Folsom Chamber of Commerce. The museum is staffed by volunteers and is open on weekends from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Folsom Handcar Derby
It’s surprisingly harder than it looks and takes the strong backs of four individuals and a pusher to propel a specialty built handcar 800 feet along a railway. Each year the
Folsom Handcar Derby hosts competitive teams from throughout the nation who vie for top honors in the timed event. While brute strength is helpful, teamwork and rhythm are equally critical according to handcar enthusiasts.
Spectators line the track to witness this strength event. In addition to team competitions, there is a “pusher” competition to see how far one can push an empty car. The event is open to corporate teams, professional teams and just about anyone else who wants to challenge themselves against brute steel and hydraulics.
Historic Folsom Turntable
When viewing the historic Folsom Turntable, one can image the sound of a train whistle as it signals the need to be literally turned in place for its return visit to the Sacramento waterfront. Since Folsom was one of the end points of the Sacramento Valley Railroad, it was important that the train engine have the ability to turn around.
A number of different turntables were constructed at the site with the last dismantled in 1913. In the 1990s, a 1891 replica of the turntable was constructed where a buried foundation was discovered just off Sutter Street. In the future, the turntable will be part of an interactive display complete with railroad engine with the construction of the Historic Folsom Station.
Heavy railroad engines and their tenders were turned for the return trip. The earliest designs required several men to push them. The A-frame models were so perfectly balanced that a single person could turn an engine, which was an accomplishment considering the engine and tender weighed nearly 70,000 pounds.