SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) - It’s ‘All Aboard’ for Northern California’s largest model railroad exhibition, International Rail Fair 2022 (IRF) which returns after a two-year absence to The Grounds in Roseville at 700 Event Center Drive on Saturday, October 22 and Sunday, October 23.

Remember the thrill you felt when, as a child, you looked in wonder at an operating model railroad layout? Share that joy and make new memories with your family at the International Railfair.

Enthusiasts can enjoy a ‘county fair’ worth of model railroad activities and see operating model railroads in different scales and shop vendors who sell model railroad and railfan products. Learn about model railroading, railroad history, and prototypical railroad operations.

IRF is run by members of the Sacramento Modular Railroaders, the Sacramento chapter of the European Train Enthusiasts, Roseville Roundhouse Model Railroad Association, and the Sierra Division of the Pacific Coast Region of the NMRA, all of whom have been putting on model railroad shows for over 40 years.

Operating layouts include the Sacramento Modular Railroaders - Sacramento Central (HO scale), European Train Enthusiasts with two layouts one in HO and one in N scale, Gold Country Model Railroaders (HO scale), Sacramento FreeMo-N (N scale), Sacramento Brick Builders - (LEGO 1:48), BAZ BoyZ (Z scale) and the Sacramento Valley Garden Railway Society (G scale).

Children will enjoy exploring a special starter ‘layout’ and have an opportunity to operate a train on a finished model railroad. Members of the Sacramento Modular Railroaders club provides experienced members to demonstrate to each child how to operate a train on the layout and then turn over the controls to the ‘student engineer.’ After operating the train, the student engineer is promoted to ‘junior engineer’ and given a ‘Junior Engineer’ badge to wear.

New this year is the ‘One Foot Challenge’ inviting the public to create a scale model diorama in a 12”x12” square space. Think you’re up to the challenge?

Dioramas must arrive at the IRF Fall Square Foot Challenge Table by noon on the Saturday of the show, October 22nd. The public will be able to vote until 3:45 pm. on Saturday. The votes will be tabulated, and the winner(s) announced at 4 pm.

“There’s no restriction on what scale can be used, it just needs to be a scale model. Just create a big scene in a square foot,” said Tom Campbell, who’s overseeing the contest. “Entrants must have at least one element that’s related to railroads, and it must have at least one element that is related to the fall season which has a lot of creative possibilities.”

The diorama can be entered for either exhibition or a contest to win the People’s Choice Award and receive a custom trophy. For information on the “One Foot Challenge, contact Tom Campbell at: [email protected]

Hot food and drinks are available at the snack bars during the show and seating is available for those who wish to enjoy lunch.

International Rail Fair 2022 (IRF) will be held at The Grounds in Roseville at 700 Event Center Drive on Saturday, October 22 from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 10am to 4 pm.

Purchase advance tickets online at ticketor.com/internationalrailfair. Cash admission at the gate on the day of the show. Cost: Adult admission is $10, and children ages 12 and under are free. Sunday only, kids ages 13 to 17 is $5. A reminder that parking at The Grounds in Roseville is $10. For additional information visit: www.internationalrailfair.com