Long Time Collector Don Rosa

For many past decades, American Flyer S Gauge toy train collectors knew or knew of Don Rosa as an American Flyer S gauge toy train collector extraor-dinaire, living in Sacramento/Placerville, California. Don’s commitment to collecting the best of Ameri-can Flyer S gauge pieces in perfect or near perfect condition started over 50 years ago, in the Sacramen-to/Sierra Foothills areas in the State of California. Working as an owner and operator of Livestock, Equip-ment and Supply in Elk Grove, Cali-fornia, Don Rosa managed the Fam-ily business and cultivated farmland in Natomas, California, with a life-long dedication to agriculture and a passion for raising Hereford cattle. The money from these ventures fueled Don’s passion for collecting American Flyer S gauge toy trains. Don was renowned across the United States for his expertise in American Flyer S gauge toy trains and AC Gilbert collectibles. Don founded the Sacramento Valley American Flyer Club and actively participated in the Golden Gate American Flyer Club, Toy Train Operating Society, Train Collector’s Association, National Association of S Gaugers and the AC Gilbert So-ciety.
Don and his lovely wife Sue, were extremely proud of their operating American Flyer toy train layout, which consumed a good portion of their home in the Sierra Foothills, with Don and Sue decorating the layout extensively, from a large circus venue complete with Midway, Circus Tent and more American Flyer circus cars than you can imag-ine; a Passenger Station complex with Union Pacific and Northern Pacific passenger trains running in and out; industrial and housing complexes with all of the hard to find American Flyer buildings; 4-8-4 North-ern steam locomotives steaming through the coun-tryside; and many are hard to find American Flyer S-gauge accessories. Visiting the Don Rosa toy train room, covered with so many great toy train sets, cars and locomotives, was difficult to take in during a sin-gle visit. Each time you came back came back, you saw a new jewel you missed the time before.

Rosa va an extremely meticulous S gauge toy train collector, in acquiring and trading for America Flyer S gauge toy trains. If it wasn’t per-fect, it wasn’t in Don’s toy train room. The tini-est flaw was cause for the piece to be sent back. Don knew that the quality he was – looking for, new condition or rarity, and his collection lived up to his expectations. Don Rosa’s American Fly-er S gauge toy train collection is now being auctioned by Harris Toy & Train Auctions of Reno, Nevada, on – January 17, 2026, starting at 7:00 AM Pacific Stan–dard Time. Visit www.harristoytrainauctions.com.
– The meticulousness that Don was known for is shown in his box sets collection, which number in excess of 50 to be offered at auction. Most of Don’s box sets were – perfect, to the presence of proper instruction manu-als, boxes with inserts and proper colors of the various toy train pieces. Don spent many hours researching and upgrading all of his collection to ensure the quality that he was look-ing for. American Flyer S gauge toy train collectors now have an opportunity to own a piece of the late Don Rosa’s American Fly-er S gauge EMPIRE!

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