The Train Collectors Association (TCA) is an international

non-profit organization A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...

of people who operate and collect

toy train A toy train is a toy that represents a train. It is distinguished from a model train by an emphasis on low cost and durability, rather than scale modeling. A toy train can be as simple as a toy that can run on a track, or it might be operated b ...

s, toy train accessories, toy train books, toy train paper, and anything else

rail transport Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a p ...

related. TCA was founded in October 1954 in

Yardley, Pennsylvania Yardley is a borough in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Yardley borders the Delaware River and Ewing, New Jersey to its east and Lower Makefield Township to its north, west, and south. The United States Post Office assigns many addresses in Lower Ma ...

and is currently headquartered in

Strasburg, Pennsylvania Strasburg is a borough in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. It developed as a linear village stretching about along the Great Conestoga Road, later known as the Strasburg Road.Susan M. Zacher, NRHP Nomination Form Strasburg/ref> The population ...

. The National Toy Train Museum affiliated with TCA is included in the " List of museums in Pennsylvania".

Museum and Library Operations

TCA owns and operates the National Toy Train Museum (NTTM) and the National Toy Train Library (NTTL) which are located at 300 Paradise Lane, Strasburg, Pennsylvania.

Gauges and Manufacturers

All gauges (scales) of trains are collected and operated by members. Partiality for a particular gauge is a personal preference of each member. These gauges include

HO gauge HO or H0 is a rail transport modelling scale using a 1:87 scale (3.5 mm to 1 foot). It is the most popular scale of model railway in the world. The rails are spaced apart for modelling standard gauge tracks and trains in HO.NMRA"M ...

, S gauge, O gauge/

O scale O scale (or O gauge) is a scale commonly used for toy trains and rail transport modelling. Introduced by German toy manufacturer Märklin around 1900, by the 1930s three-rail alternating current O gauge was the most common model railroad sca ...

, G gauge/

G scale Large scale or G scale (, G gauge) is a track gauge for model railways which is often used for outdoor garden railways because of its size and durability. G scale trains use a fixed track gauge of to accommodate a range of rail transport m ...

, Standard Gauge,

1 gauge 1 gauge, gauge 1 or gauge one is a model railway and toy train standard that was popular in the early 20th century, particularly with European manufacturers. Its track measures , making it larger than 0 gauge but slightly smaller than wide gau ...

, and

2 gauge Gauge 2 (also called 2 gauge or II gauge) is a model railway gauge, originally , then standardised in 1909 at , a 20% reduction and a change in definition: from mm to inch. It has since fallen into disuse. The gauge was introduced by Märklin a ...

. Other small gauges (less than 1:148) include

N gauge N scale is a popular model railway scale. Depending upon the manufacturer (or country), the scale ranges from 1:148 to 1:160. In all cases, the ''gauge'' (the distance between the rails) is . The term N ''gauge'' refers to the track dimensions, ...

T gauge T gauge (1:450 or 1:480) is a model railway scale with a track gauge of , referred from "Three-millimeter gauge" or "Third of N scale". It was introduced at the Tokyo Toy Show in 2006 by KK Eishindo of Japan, and went on sale in 2007. It is th ...

TT gauge TT scale is a model railroading scale, whose name stands for ''table top''. Its 1:120 scale (from a common engineering scale where one inch equals ten feet) and gauge are roughly halfway between HO scale (1:87) and N scale (1:160). Its original ...

. and

Z gauge Z (or z) is the 26th and last letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its usual names in English are ''zed'' () and ''zee'' (), with an occasi ...

. In addition, all manufacturers are collected and operated by members. Again, partiality for a particular manufacturer is at the preference of each member. Manufacturers doing business in today's market include Lionel; MTH; Weaver; Williams; American Models; Atlas;

Bachmann Bachmann is a surname of Switzerland and Germany. It originates as a description of the bearer as dwelling near a brook (''Bach''), such as a farm "Hofstatt am Bach" also called "Bachmanns Hofstatt" near Hinwil or Dürnten (recorded 1387), or the ...

; Kato; and Walthers. Vintage manufacturers include

Lionel Corporation Lionel Corporation was an American toy manufacturer and holding company of retailers that had been in business for over 120 years. It was founded as an electrical novelties company. Lionel specialized in various products throughout its existence. ...

Ives Ives is both a surname and a given name. Notable people with the name include: Surname: * Alice Emma Ives (1876–1930), American dramatist, journalist * Burl Ives (1909–1995), American singer, author and actor * Charles Ives (1874–1954), Amer ...

K-Line K-Line Electric Trains is a brand name of O gauge and S gauge model railway locomotives, rolling stock, and buildings. Formerly the brand name under which Chapel Hill, North Carolina-based MDK Inc. sold its products, K-Line was then acquired ...

, Forney, Beggs,

Bing Bing most often refers to: * Bing Crosby (1903–1977), American singer * Microsoft Bing, a web search engine Bing may also refer to: Food and drink * Bing (bread), a Chinese flatbread * Bing (soft drink), a UK brand * Bing cherry, a varie ...

Bassett-Lowke Bassett-Lowke was an English toy manufacturing company based in Northampton. Founded by Wenman Joseph Bassett-Lowke in 1898 or 1899, the company specialized in model railways, boats and ships, and construction sets. Bassett-Lowke started as a ...

American Flyer American Flyer is a brand of toy train and model railroad manufactured in the United States. The Chicago era, 1907–1938 Although best remembered for the S gauge trains of the 1950s that it made as a division of the A. C. Gilbert Comp ...

(Lionel is now producing American Flyer), Marx, McCoy, Voltamp, Dorfan, Fandor, Howard, and many others. There are more than 300 different manufacturers many of whom have items on display at the NTTM.

Standards

Standards for condition and grading have been developed by TCA that are widely accepted by individuals, websites, and

auction houses An auction is usually a process of buying and selling goods or services by offering them up for bids, taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder or buying the item from the lowest bidder. Some exceptions to this definition exi ...

. These include condition codes for original trains, for train paper, for restored trains, and for reproduction trains. These condition standards, together with the rarity of the item, will help to determine the dollar value and the collectability of a particular train or accessory.

Publications

TCA issues three publications during the year, the Train Collector Quarterly (a magazine dedicated to

tinplate Tinplate consists of sheets of steel coated with a thin layer of tin to impede rusting. Before the advent of cheap milled steel, the backing metal was wrought iron. While once more widely used, the primary use of tinplate now is the manufacture ...

and

contemporary Contemporary history, in English-language historiography, is a subset of modern history that describes the historical period from approximately 1945 to the present. Contemporary history is either a subset of the late modern period, or it is o ...

trains), the National Headquarters News (listing of the monthly Chapter and Division meets as well as other information), and the e*Train (an

online magazine An online magazine is a magazine published on the Internet, through bulletin board systems and other forms of public computer networks. One of the first magazines to convert from a print magazine format to being online only was the computer mag ...

). Other organizations reference TCA and the York Meet in their publications and websites. Examples are Collectors Weekly, the Toy Train Paper and Memorabilia Group and Tandem Associates

Education

Divisions and Chapters of TCA host local train meets or train shows on a schedule throughout the United States where members may buy, sell, trade trains, or just enjoy the fellowship of collecting. Most shows are open to the public and may include educational segments, kids activities, and train doctors who can repair trains. The most prominent show, the York Train Meet, sponsored by the Eastern Division of TCA, is held over a three-day period twice a year in April and October in

York, Pennsylvania York (Pennsylvania Dutch: ''Yarrick''), known as the White Rose City (after the symbol of the House of York), is the county seat of York County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in the south-central region of the state. The populatio ...

. This show has 2000 tables of trains, large operating train layouts, and is open to TCA members and their guests. Some local divisions and chapters assist the Boy Scouts of America with the Railroading Merit Badge. Information about the Central Indiana Chapter.

References

{{Reflist

External links

Museum information video produced by the Train Collectors Association
1954 establishments in Pennsylvania