Fostoria, the city named for Charles Foster, was formed in 1854 when the villages of Rome and Risdon officially united. It was also the year the Fremont and Indiana Railroad began laying track for its line that originated in Fremont and passed through Fostoria and Findlay on its way to Indiana.

In 1872, the Chesapeake & Ohio completed the section of track that ran through Fostoria. The C & O ran between Columbus and Toledo and was principally a coal hauler, but by 1877 the C & O was running four passenger trains a day in both directions. On July 22, 1873, the Baltimore & Ohio line reached Fostoria on its way to Chicago from the eastern seaboard and, in the 1880’s, two more railroads came through Fostoria. The New York, Chicago & St. Louis, better known as the Nickel Plate was routed through Fostoria in spite of fierce lobbying by Norwalk. The last railroad to come to town was the New York Central, originally known as the Atlantic & Lake Erie Road.

In addition, Fostoria was served by three inter-urban lines between 1898 and 1932: the Tiffin, Fostoria & Eastern Electric Railway, the Toledo Fostoria & Findlay, and the Fostoria & Fremont. These carried freight and mail as well as passengers. The TF&E and the TF&F also operated amusement parks near Bascom and Arcadia to induce ridership. Meadowbrook Park in Bascom was originally owned by the TF&E.

Today, trains are still an indelible part of the Fostoria landscape. In fact, over 180 trains a day pass through our town, making it one of the most attractive locations in the United States for rail fans.