Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad in Folsom, California

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Folsom, California · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesAfter a pause, rides were set to resume in 2026; check the calendar

The Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad is a volunteer nonprofit bringing train rides back to Southern Pacific's historic Placerville Branch, a Gold Country line whose roots reach the 1850s, with excursions and motorcar rides boarding in Folsom.

  • Line roots date to 1855
  • 15 miles of track, Folsom to Latrobe
  • Volunteer-run 501(c)(3)
  • Kids under 4 ride free
  • Boards at Hampton and Oak stations

Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad at a glance

Hours
Ride dates vary; the railroad announced in 2026 that rides would resume that year, so check its calendar
Admission
Prices vary by ride; children under 4 ride free
Train rides
Train excursions and motorcar rides between Folsom and Latrobe when service is running
Seasonal events
Pumpkin Patch train, Big Day of Giving
Best for
Families with young kids and Gold Country history fans
Best ages
Ages 2 and up
Parking
Hampton Station: lot behind the Hampton Inn; Oak Station: California Family Fitness lot
Accessibility
Contact the railroad before your ride about special needs

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Folsom.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

A Gold Rush railroad that was never abandoned

This line began in the middle of the Gold Rush. Construction on the Sacramento Valley Railroad started in Sacramento in February 1855 and reached Folsom in January 1856. The first company to carry the Placerville and Sacramento Valley Railroad name was incorporated on June 12, 1862, and its track pushed east from Folsom to Latrobe in August 1864 and Shingle Springs in June 1865. More than twenty years passed before the final stretch into Placerville was finished on March 29, 1888.

That same year the line became part of Southern Pacific. For a century it carried timber from the El Dorado National Forest, fed by some 65 miles of logging railroads, along with fruit packed in Placerville. When the Michigan California Lumber Company closed its Camino mill in 1986, the branch lost its main reason to exist, and Southern Pacific ended service between Folsom and Placerville in August 1989, less than 18 months after the line's 100th birthday.

Years of brush, floods and washouts followed, but the line was never abandoned. In 1991 the City of Folsom, El Dorado County, Sacramento County and Sacramento Regional Transit formed a joint powers authority to preserve the corridor, which was rail-banked in 1995. In 2008 the authority sought an excursion operator, and the Folsom, El Dorado and Sacramento Historical Railroad Association won the job, creating today's Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad as a separate nonprofit on August 8, 2008. Its volunteers have been clearing, repairing and running the railroad ever since, and the group is now working to get trains back on track.

Riding the old Placerville Branch

The railroad describes its service as scenic train excursions and motorcar rides over 15 miles of track between Folsom and Latrobe, in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Rides board at two stations in Folsom: Hampton Station, at 155 Placerville Road next to the Hampton Inn, and Oak Station, at 700 Oak Avenue Parkway near California Family Fitness. A diesel train has worked out of Hampton Station, and the route includes a stop at the Willow Springs Grotto.

The real attraction is the line itself, a piece of the original Placerville Branch that carried Gold Country timber and fruit for a hundred years. The railroad's website tells that history in depth, with Theodore Judah's 1855 map of the Sacramento Valley Railroad and photos from the Southern Pacific years. After a pause while volunteers worked on the line, the railroad announced in 2026 that rides would resume later that year, so check the calendar at psvrr.org before planning a visit.

Don’t miss

  1. Hampton StationThe main boarding spot, with restrooms at the next-door Hampton Inn and food nearby, including In-N-Out Burger and Mikuni Sushi.
  2. Willow Springs GrottoA stop along the route with a porta potty, useful to know with young riders.
  3. Motorcar ridesBesides train excursions, the railroad runs motorcar rides on the branch, a different way to see the line.
  4. The Placerville Branch history pageThe railroad's own history traces the line from 1855 to today and is worth reading before you ride.

Small riders and loud horns

Children under 4 ride free and do not need tickets, which makes this an easy first train ride when service is running. The railroad warns that the locomotive horn can be loud and suggests earplugs for noise-sensitive kids; crews can hand out disposable foam ones. Trains run rain or shine, so hats, sunscreen and layers are smart.

There are no bathrooms on the train or motorcar, so plan a stop at the Hampton Inn & Suites next to Hampton Station before boarding. The crew asks that children never climb or sit on railings, and closed-toe shoes are strongly recommended.

Plan your visit: tips for Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad

  • Buy tickets online; rides sometimes sell out, and only Visa and MasterCard are accepted.
  • Use the restrooms at the Hampton Inn & Suites before boarding; there are none on board.
  • Bring earplugs for kids who dislike loud noises.
  • Pets are not allowed, but genuine service animals are welcome.
  • Join the mailing list on psvrr.org for ride announcements.

The railroad has posted a Pumpkin Patch flyer on its site, a fall ride families can watch for once service resumes. Its mailing list and Facebook page are the quickest way to hear when seasonal trains return. Meanwhile, see our roundup of Halloween and fall train rides in California for other options this autumn.

Volunteers with their sleeves rolled up

The Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a project of the Folsom, El Dorado and Sacramento Historical Railroad Association. Volunteers do the work, from brush clearing to running trains, and the group is actively recruiting more. You can help by volunteering, giving during its Big Day of Giving drive, or donating through Facebook, which charges the railroad no processing fees, or through Square.

Folsom's other rail stops

The Folsom Railroad Museum is right in town, and the little Folsom Valley Railway is about a mile away in City Park. The California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento is about 19 miles west. For the full picture, see train museums across California.

Every train museum in California

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi dreaming about his toy turtle, green bone and yellow ball
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

This railroad asks riders to come ready for sun, wind or rain, with hats, sunscreen and layers. That made me smile, because Rally takes packing very seriously too. In our book he fills his little suitcase with his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball before the trip. I think every small rider deserves one favorite thing in the bag, right next to the sunscreen.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad: 20 questions answered

Is the Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad running train rides right now?

Check the calendar first. After a period without regular rides, the railroad posted in 2026 that it was working to get back on track and that train rides would resume later that year. The calendar at psvrr.org, its mailing list and its Facebook page show which rides are scheduled before you plan a trip.

Where do you board the Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad?

Rides board at two Folsom stations. Hampton Station is at 155 Placerville Road, next to the Hampton Inn, and Oak Station is at 700 Oak Avenue Parkway, near California Family Fitness. Your ticket tells you which station to use. The Sibley Street address on the website is mail only, not a boarding point.

Where do I park for the Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad?

For Hampton Station, park in the lot behind the Hampton Inn on the side facing the tracks, then cross Placerville Road at the railroad's temporary crosswalk, waiting for the crossing guard if one is on duty. For Oak Station, park in the corner of the California Family Fitness lot nearest the intersection and check in where the tracks cross the sidewalk.

How much are Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad tickets?

Prices are listed by ride on the railroad's website rather than as one fare. When service runs, tickets are sold online and at the boarding location on the day of the ride, but trains can sell out, so the railroad recommends buying online. Children under 4 ride free and do not need tickets. It accepts Visa and MasterCard.

Where does the Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad go?

The railroad runs scenic excursions and motorcar rides over 15 miles of track between Folsom and Latrobe on Southern Pacific's historic Placerville Branch, in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Rides board in Folsom, and the route includes a stop at the Willow Springs Grotto. Exact trip lengths vary by ride.

What is a motorcar ride on the Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad?

Along with regular train excursions, the railroad offers motorcar rides on the same historic track between Folsom and Latrobe. There are no bathrooms aboard the motorcars, so plan ahead. Check psvrr.org for when motorcar rides return.

Is the Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad good for toddlers?

It can be a good first train ride. Children under 4 ride free, and trains run rain or shine. The railroad notes the locomotive horn can be loud and suggests earplugs for sensitive kids; crew members can provide foam ones. Use the restroom before boarding, since there are none on the train.

Are there bathrooms on the Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad?

No, there are no bathrooms aboard the train or motorcar. Restrooms are available at the Hampton Inn & Suites next to the Hampton Station boarding location, and there is a porta potty at the Willow Springs Grotto along the route. Plan a stop before boarding, especially with young children.

What should I wear on the Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad?

Trains run rain or shine, so dress for the weather. Depending on the season you may face wind, rain, cold, heat or strong sun, and the railroad recommends a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and layers. Closed-toe shoes are strongly recommended for safety around the tracks and equipment.

Can dogs ride the Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad?

Pets are not allowed on the trains. The railroad does welcome genuine service animals. If you are traveling with a dog, plan for someone to stay with it off the train, or leave it at home for the day.

Is the Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad accessible for wheelchairs?

The railroad says it is usually able to accommodate passengers with special needs, but asks that you contact it before your ride so the crew can prepare. Use the contact form at psvrr.org or call (916) 597-0107. Detailed boarding information for wheelchairs is not posted online.

How old is the Placerville Branch railroad?

Very old for California. Construction on the Sacramento Valley Railroad began in February 1855 and reached Folsom in January 1856. The first Placerville and Sacramento Valley Railroad was incorporated in 1862, reached Shingle Springs in 1865, and finally reached Placerville on March 29, 1888.

When did Southern Pacific stop running to Placerville?

Southern Pacific ended operations between Folsom and Placerville in August 1989, less than 18 months after the line's 100th anniversary. The branch had depended on timber traffic, and when the Michigan California Lumber Company closed its Camino mill in 1986, the main reason for the line disappeared.

Who owns the Placerville Branch corridor?

The Sacramento-Placerville Transportation Corridor Joint Powers Authority, formed on October 1, 1991, by the City of Folsom, El Dorado County, Sacramento County and Sacramento Regional Transit, acquired the corridor to preserve it. It was rail-banked in 1995, and in 2008 the authority chose this nonprofit to run excursions.

Who runs the Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad?

It is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a project of the Folsom, El Dorado and Sacramento Historical Railroad Association, which was chosen as excursion operator in May 2008. The new railroad was incorporated on August 8, 2008, to operate the line.

How can I volunteer with the Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad?

The railroad is actively recruiting volunteers to support local history and help get trains running again. Use the contact form on psvrr.org, which it says gets the fastest response, or call (916) 597-0107. The railroad's history page shows volunteer crews clearing brush along the line.

How can I donate to the Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad?

You can donate through Facebook, which charges the railroad no processing fees, or through Square, both linked from its website. The railroad also takes part in the Big Day of Giving each May. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, donations support restoring the line and restarting rides.

Does the Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad run a pumpkin patch train?

The railroad has posted a Pumpkin Patch flyer on its website, a fall event to watch for. Whether it runs in a given year depends on when rides resume. Watch the website, mailing list and Facebook page for fall announcements.

How do I contact the Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad?

The railroad prefers its online contact form at psvrr.org, which it says gets a quicker reply. For immediate help, call (916) 597-0107. Its mailing address is 705 Sibley Street, Folsom, CA 95630, but that is not a boarding location.

What other train attractions are near the Placerville & Sacramento Valley Railroad?

Folsom has the Folsom Railroad Museum and the Folsom Valley Railway, both within a mile or so. The Sacramento Valley Live Steamers Railroad Museum in Rancho Cordova is about 8 miles away, and the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento is about 19 miles west.

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