Press Release
September 5, 2006

Model Railroad Upgrade At Fairgrounds

Watsonville, CA—Just in time for the 2006 Santa Cruz County Fair, work has been completed on the Model Railroad Facility. The Fairgrounds is the year round home of the Santa Cruz County Railroad Historical Society and their facility has been expanded to include a new rock quarry and forested area. The expansion added to the existing model railroad garden site and upgrading of these facilities. The Railroad Club has added track, new engines, trestles, tunnels, three waterfalls and over 100 live trees. Inspiration and materials for the newly expanded section were supplied by Graniterock and Big Creek Lumber.

These two venerable Santa Cruz County firms have also provided interpretative signs for the area that will give visitors a sense of the history associated with these two companies, the railroads, and our very special part of California. A celebration and official unveiling of the Model Railroad Facility will be held this Friday, September 8 at 5 pm on the Fairgrounds.

The Santa Cruz County Railroad Historical Society is a non-profit educational and historical group with a mission to highlight the importance of railroads; both past and present. The Club was formed in 1975 and moved to their permanent home on the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds in 1995. In addition to the Fair’s Education Days, the club also gives special tours to classes by prior arrangement and is open to the public on Monday evenings from 7:00 to 9:30 pm.

Graniterock has been in business for 106 years, providing construction, building, and road materials to Santa Cruz County and the surrounding area. Located in the Santa Cruz Mountains, Big Creek is a small family-owned lumber company that has been one of the most progressive logging operations in the world.

The Santa Cruz County Fair will run September 12–17, 2006. The theme this year is “A Fair to Remember.”

For more information, contact:
Ben Licari, 831.768.2106,[email protected]
Keith Severson, 831.768.2063,[email protected]
Steve Stagnaro, 408.354.5145,[email protected]