Collector and Operator Clubs

TCA probably has the best historical knowledge on the collecting side.  While I am not a Lionel collector and never will be, my TCA membership has taught me a lot about toy and model trains in general.  I have some Lionel trains, but the one's that really only interest me are the scale offerings and ironically their standard gauge equipment. 

TCA tends to be Lionel centric and geared more towards the "toy" operator and collector as opposed to a scale model railroader, but I value my membership there a lot.  I have learned a great deal about a lot I do not collect.  The history of this hobby is certainly a fascinating one. 

Honestly, most of the 3 rail operating clubs I am familiar with tend to be DCS centric.  I am very ecumenical when it comes to my trains, so I don't have any issue with brand.  Best model always wins, and I have different criteria for my models based on what my goals are.

This forum is of course also a great resource and one reason why I am still active hear after 15 years of membership.

TCA has local chapters,so depending on where you live you can join a Chapter and go to meets where you can meet people and have the possibility of an operating Layout.LCCA is also a very good Organization but does not offer local chapters and meets but their national meets are excellent.These are the two largest Clubs.

Mikey

Thanks for the comments on TCA and LCCA.  I noted that nothing was said about the operating societies.  I looked at them through the links on OGR, and it doesn't seem like they're very active.  I'll look more into TCA and LCCA, and see which one has more interest for me.  The fact that LCCA doesn't have local clubs may not be that important to me in the long run.

Thanks again.

@texgeekboy posted:

Thanks for the comments on TCA and LCCA.  I noted that nothing was said about the operating societies.  I looked at them through the links on OGR, and it doesn't seem like they're very active.  I'll look more into TCA and LCCA, and see which one has more interest for me.  The fact that LCCA doesn't have local clubs may not be that important to me in the long run.

Thanks again.

If you’re looking for an operating society, I would highly recommend the Nassau Lionel Operating Engineers (NLOE). I’ve been purchasing their cars for a number of years, and they do a fabulous job.

http://www.nloe.org/nloe/Welcome.html

Texgeekboy, are you located in Texas.   There are some operating clubs in the larger cities.

@texgeekboy posted:

Thanks for the comments on TCA and LCCA.  I noted that nothing was said about the operating societies.  I looked at them through the links on OGR, and it doesn't seem like they're very active.  I'll look more into TCA and LCCA, and see which one has more interest for me.  The fact that LCCA doesn't have local clubs may not be that important to me in the long run.

Thanks again.

LOTS and TTOS (I've been a member of both at one time or another) can be valuable if you live where they have active members.  Although I'm a member of LCCA, my impression is that it has become a marketing arm of Lionel.

Since you aren't interested in conventions or club-exclusive cars, I'd suggest TCA as a national organization - it maintains the museum and library that are important archives for our hobby.

I agree with the preceding suggestions regarding finding a local club - you'll meet new people and learn a lot about trains. 

Thanks all.  I'll check into TCA.  I did go to a local operating society, but they were bewildered when I asked them about TVS diodes.  The head guy got his tech expert to come over, and he didn't even know much about that.  The info on this site far surpassed their expertise IMHO.  Then again, I may have gotten them on a bad day.

@texgeekboy - Since your primary objective is “to expand my knowledge base”, and since you’ve said you’re not interested in buying club cars or going to meetings, I’m wondering if you’d be just as well off to save your money and just use the Search function of this Forum as well as watch the issues that are Posted here daily? Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to dissuade you from joining a club (heck - I’m a member of two of them myself) but IMO learning ‘from the online presence of this forum’ including interacting directly with techies who are very knowledgeable and seeing accompanying videos and pics has really broadened my knowledge base. Not to mention the ‘immediacy’ of it all. Just my 2 cents worth.

@PH1975,

I plan on exploiting the knowledge here as often as a I can.  Yeah, joining a collectors club may not give me what I want, but since it isn't a life long commitment, I'll probably give it a whirl.

Thanks.

The OP posted:

"FWIW, I don't plan on buying club exclusive offerings, or even going to annual meetings.  I mainly hope to be able to expand my knowledge base through the publications and online presence of whatever club I join.  Sure, I could join them all, but I really don't think I'd get my money's worth from joining all of them."

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It sounds to me like the OP expects to get a lot of knowledge from different sources.  I wonder what the OP thinks he can contribute to others???  Or is willing to share or contribute???

A source of good information can be an operating club where members actually build layouts and operate trains.   My experience is that is where you find some of the friendliest and most knowledgeable people in the hobby.  This forum is the other place.  Real world experience is really hard to beat.