Just joined TCA!

Alan Mancus posted:

you cant go in orange hall if your not a tca member. that is where the dealers MTh Lionel etc are! 

This is incorrect!  You can't visit the member halls as a member of the public.

The dealer halls (Orange and Purple) are open to the public on Friday and Saturday.   Register at the ticket booth just inside the lobby of the Orange Hall.  Cost is $10 per person.  Children under the age of 18 are free when accompanied by a paying adult.  You may not enter ANY hall as a member of the public on Thursday.

If you know a TCA member, I recommend registering as a guest of that member.  To do that, go to the Silver Hall and visit the registration desk prior to the meet.  Guest admission is $23 and gets you into all the halls on each day of the meet. 

-Greg

Seth Thomas posted:

Gunrunner,

Please tell me if I am not a TCA member may I bring two additional non -members from KY and be able to register at the silver hall.  We wish to enter all of the halls during the York show to shop trains.

thanks 

Seth Thomas

Alan Mancus posted:

you cant go in orange hall if your not a tca member. that is where the dealers MTh Lionel etc are! 

The above information is wrong.

York attendees basically fall into three categories: member, guest of member and public.

Member: pays the full registration fee, has access to all halls on all days

Guest of member: pays the full registration fee, has access to all halls on all days. Must be "sponsored" by a member, but I honestly don't know if that member needs to be present when picking up your show credentials. You can only attend York as a guest of a member once.

Public: pays a reduced entrance fee, but only has access to the "dealer halls" (Orange and Purple), and only on the last two days of the meet. No entrance is permitted to the "member" halls (Blue, Silver, Red and White). You can attend as a member of the public as many times as you wish. Note that you can join the TCA the day of the show and, once the full registration fee has been paid, you will have access to all halls on all days.

TRW

You can register and attend all the halls in York one time as a guest.  You will need identification and pay $23.  You will now need to go to the Silver hall to get register and get your guest badge.  It will give you access to all halls all three days.

The other option Friday and Saturday you can gain access to the Orange and Purple Halls by buying a wristband at the Orange hall.  No identification needed.

Greg Houser posted:

Alan Mancus posted:

you cant go in orange hall if your not a tca member. that is where the dealers MTh Lionel etc are! 

This is incorrect!  You can't visit the member halls as a member of the public.

The dealer halls (Orange and Purple) are open to the public on Friday and Saturday.   Register at the ticket booth just inside the lobby of the Orange Hall.  Cost is $10 per person.  Children under the age of 18 are free when accompanied by a paying adult.  You may not enter ANY hall as a member of the public on Thursday.

If you know a TCA member, I recommend registering as a guest of that member.  To do that, go to the Silver Hall and visit the registration desk prior to the meet.  Guest admission is $23 and gets you into all the halls on each day of the meet. 

-Greg

Seth:

If you wish to register as a guest of someone you most likely will need to meet them in line when you get your guest badge as the member needs to sign the guest registration form.  If you know a member locally you may have them sign it and bring it with you.  Here is a copy of the form you can print:

You'll need one for each guest but only need to find one member as a member may have multiple guests.   A person may only register as a guest once so you will not be able to do so for future meets if you do so now.

If you are arriving in time to attend the forum breakfast (see separate thread by Putnam Division) I will be glad to sign your guest forms.  If not, I will be in the lobby of the Orange Hall prior to the meet opening on Thursday - contact me offline via the email in my profile.  I'd be glad to meet you in the Orange Hall to sign the forms.

Of course, if your plan all along is to join the TCA on the spot all of the above becomes moot.  Just go to the registration desk inside the Silver Hall.

Regardless, I highly recommend you read this primer for everything you need to know about the meet:

http://tcaetrain.org/2d-articl...Fall2019/index.shtml

-Greg

What?

Please see what PAPERTRW wrote about 3 posts above this one.  He's perfect with his response.

Stu

Seth (and everyone else): You may also join the TCA on a Trial Membership.  It's non-renewable and costs $20.  You can sign up at the York Meet and begin attending the York Meet (and any other TCA Meet) right away.  It's good for 6 months.

-Greg 

The last several years the girls at the registration desk were sponsoring guests, but remember you can only do this once and you must have ID

Dennis LaGrua posted:

For your $50 membership you will get a quarterly newsletter, a membership card and are granted permission to buy a ticket online to attend the full York event.  Isn't that nice of them?  IMO, its just not worth it.

Steve,

IMHO TCA membership is well worth the $50 membership fee

If you have a real interest in toy trains, 100 + years old or new, the TCA is the place to learn about them, either through the Museum in PA, the TCA library, the TCA website or the TCA Quarterly (a true magazine). 

You will also get the Headquarters News quarterly that lists trains for sale (you can list yours there too, free) and keeps you up to date on division and other TCA meets (this might be the "newsletter" referred to above as that is what the TCA calls it). By the way, this "newsletter" is usually around 100 pages long.

Just walking York (a super bargain at $12 for 3 (soon to be 2) most enjoyable days looking at the offerings and talking to vendors, you'd be amazed how much you can learn.

You may (probably will) even make new friends.

I'd like to hear your thoughts after you've been a member for a while.

Welcome

Hi All,

I’m coming for my first TCA meet and also found this confusing, especially because the website has conflicting info about needing a sponsor and which halls you could attend.

The latest is that you may attend the TCA meet at York one time without a membership. You can go to all halls. You no longer need to be sponsored by a member to do this. You pay a fee for the entire meet and can attend all 3 days.  It was $25 for adults. My son was free. This is to encourage people to check it out and then join if they like it.  However, you can only do this once. After that you need to join. My dad and I bought this type of entry and I will most likely join the TCA anyways. 

I hope that helps! See you soon !!!

Alan Mancus posted:

you cant go in orange hall if your not a tca member. that is where the dealers MTh Lionel etc are! 

I think that is incorrect.

As a one time guest you can register at the silver hall and go into the orange and purple halls on Friday and Saturday ( that's about 50% of the total tables). The other halls are for members only.  Thursday all halls are for members only.

I strongly suggest you join tca in the silver hall on Thursday morning or as soon as you get there.  Coming from Kentucky is no short drive and the extra $50 gets you into the other 4 halls.  

Unless you only want to shop at a specific vendor, it would be well worth the extra $50 to see the other 1500 or so tables.

Steve, Welcome to the TCA!  

Sorry I won't be able to welcome you in person at York next week since I am getting my knee replaced in 3 weeks.  I hope to be recovered by the spring meet and see you there!

Dennis LaGrua posted:

For your $50 membership you will get a quarterly newsletter, a membership card and are granted permission to buy a ticket online to attend the full York event.  Isn't that nice of them?  IMO, its just not worth it.

Puhleeeze, not this old crud again.  OK, you don't like TCA - I get it.  We ALL get it.  We got it the last time, and the time before that, and the time before that, and the time before that.  Why insist on ruining it for the rest of us?  Why do you bother posting about a meet that you aren't ever going to attend?  Get over yourself, dude.

Mallard4468 posted:

Dennis LaGrua posted:

For your $50 membership you will get a quarterly newsletter, a membership card and are granted permission to buy a ticket online to attend the full York event.  Isn't that nice of them?  IMO, its just not worth it.

Puhleeeze, not this old crud again.  OK, you don't like TCA - I get it.  We ALL get it.  We got it the last time, and the time before that, and the time before that, and the time before that.  Why insist on ruining it for the rest of us?  Why do you bother posting about a meet that you aren't ever going to attend?  Get over yourself, dude.

SHHHHH!!!!!!

The original thread and that comment were from around 2 months ago.  So maybe he doesn't chime in here (yet again, as you correctly observe) to say the same old thing. Then again, it could be like Beetlejuice.....

(It's just unfortunate that that response was re-quoted a couple times today when the thread got resurrected for an actual follow up question)

-Dave

Mark Boyce posted:

Steve, Welcome to the TCA!  

Sorry I won't be able to welcome you in person at York next week since I am getting my knee replaced in 3 weeks.  I hope to be recovered by the spring meet and see you there!

Out with the old in with the new. Good luck with that Mark. My late uncle had both of his done at the same time, he said it was the best thing he did.

Thank you Dave!  Hopefully it will be in good shape to see you at York in the spring!!

Yes, good luck with the surgery!  My 79 year old mom had both hers replaced at the same time 2 years ago and while the first few weeks of recovery were tough she was thrilled she did it because she could finally move like a normal person and do so without pain.

-Greg

Mark, I am definitely planning on hitting the spring meet. April is one of my favorite months ever since I was a kid. I've got the chance to experience April in a few different places over my lifetime and definitely want York to be one as well. Just remember like my late uncle, "got to take it easy for a bit, but I'll be down to see you sometime after that", he'd said from his recliner. He used to come and pick me up going wherever he needed young assistance. You'll be doing that I'm sure as well and be back at York in the spring.

Greg, Thank you very much!  My wife has had both her’s replaced, the second one just in July.  I have seen the first few weeks are rough, but since the knee is getting worse quickly, I’ll take the rough weeks.

Dave, my wife is a retired RN.  She knows better but pushes herself a little too much.  She will keep me in line though!  I agree I like April and May best.  I figure 5 1/2 months after surgery I should be good to go to York.

To all the 1st York attendees,

Prepare yourself to be blown away from the sheer size of York. Comfortable walking shoes, cash, cash, and more cash. Buy it when you see if the price is right as it will be gone on your next go-tnrough or you will not remember where you saw it. Bring pen/paper to write notes if you are looking for something in particular.

Be prepared to make new friends in the hobby. This is the BIG dance! Well worth the $50 TCA membership, quarterly magazine, the buy-sell magazine. Besides York costs you $15 to go, the best $15 spent to go to a huge show.

As for the negative nancy, disregard the crud. You notice he or she will not chime in since we all have only positive comments to make here.

Enjoy York, you newbies! Lol!

Ted is absolutely right!  I was amazed my first trip which was two years ago.  Well worth it!

Besides that, I met Ted in person!!  Can’t get any better than that!!  

Welcome to the TCA family.  I LOVE  going to York twice a year.  Seeing friends, buying trains, just the whole feeling is great.  When I enter those gates I feel like a kid again. My aches and pains leave ( until I come home haha)  and I have a blast.  The $50 membership fee is NOTHING.  Those that complain have thousands invested in trains and they complain about $50 hahahahahahaha..   I have no trouble paying double  for the relaxation and fun I have.  Be ready to be overwhelmed, pace yourself and have fun!!

Jim and I will follow your lead, caboose1, to join TCA at the Silver Hall On Thursday morning. I've also been looking for a great pain relief this year.  So we will see you there "kid" on Thursday

I was hoping to sell my mom's house before the show, but not yet.  So no big ticket engines this trip...

Ted Bertiger posted:

To all the 1st York attendees,

Prepare yourself to be blown away from the sheer size of York. Comfortable walking shoes, cash, cash, and more cash. Buy it when you see if the price is right as it will be gone on your next go-tnrough or you will not remember where you saw it. Bring pen/paper to write notes if you are looking for something in particular.

Be prepared to make new friends in the hobby. This is the BIG dance! Well worth the $50 TCA membership, quarterly magazine, the buy-sell magazine. Besides York costs you $15 to go, the best $15 spent to go to a huge show

Enjoy York, you newbies! Lol!

No one knows York like Ted! His advice is gold.....

About two years ago I attended York for the first time. I knew Ted from the old AOL boards but had never met in person. When Ted heard it was going to be my first time he arranged to meet me outside the hall where you pick up your badge. He then took me under his wing and gave me a first hand tour along with advice on what to be sure to see and what to watch out for. 

Ted invited  me to dinner with a group from the old AOL board that I had known for years but never met... it was one of the most enjoyable days I've had in this hobby! And it was all because Ted took the time to show me the ropes... I'm forever thankful Captain!

My first time was awesome and I'm sure yours will be also!  

Rich,

We are waiting for your return to York. The old AOL core group still wines and dines at the same places on Thursday and Friday nights. Been doing this for almost 15 years since the end of the AOL BBQs and the Viking Club dinners. 

Yep, Rich was spinning like a top and was totally amazed at the size of York. It was a pleasure to meet up and dine with an old AOL board member. Those were the days posting on the boards. 

P.S. You first-timers will be blown away. 

Mallard4468 posted:

Dennis LaGrua posted:

For your $50 membership you will get a quarterly newsletter, a membership card and are granted permission to buy a ticket online to attend the full York event.  Isn't that nice of them?  IMO, its just not worth it.

Puhleeeze, not this old crud again.  OK, you don't like TCA - I get it.  We ALL get it.  We got it the last time, and the time before that, and the time before that, and the time before that.  Why insist on ruining it for the rest of us?  Why do you bother posting about a meet that you aren't ever going to attend?  Get over yourself, dude.

Great response. I totally agree.

I just want to ad that another advantage of buying from a TCA member is you have some recourse if there is a problem. Recently I had an issue with a vendor and I tried everything to get in touch with the vendor and when I finally gave up I filed a complaint with the TCA. Although the TCA cannot force someone to refund funds they can take away their membership. They were able to contact the vendor who then contacted me and we worked out an agreement to resolve the situation to both our satisfaction. I am so grateful to the TCA for stepping in and helping in this situation. I have been a member for 18 years and this was the first time (and hopefully the last time) that I had to use this service. 

Through the TCA I have gotten to meet some of the most talented people in this hobby, made some great friends, had loads of fun looking at and buying trains and train related items at York. I enjoy the Quarterly magazine. I also went to one convention and I had a great time at that event as well. I was also able to buy trains at York with a down payment and a note with a promise to pay the difference and the seller let me take the train home. I always paid the person but not all sellers will do this of course. York was the reason I joined the TCA but it is everything combined that keeps me renewing every year. 

Mark Boyce posted:

Ted is absolutely right!  I was amazed my first trip which was two years ago.  Well worth it!

Besides that, I met Ted in person!!  Can’t get any better than that!!  

Mark,

Was nice to run into you at York after talking here and on facebook. We will see you next April York and will leave some bargains behind for you to buy then!

Ted

Ted Bertiger posted:

Mark Boyce posted:

Ted is absolutely right!  I was amazed my first trip which was two years ago.  Well worth it!

Besides that, I met Ted in person!!  Can’t get any better than that!!  

Mark,

Was nice to run into you at York after talking here and on facebook. We will see you next April York and will leave some bargains behind for you to buy then!

Ted

Thank you. Ted!  Have a great time at York!

Polarxpress3 posted:

Good Day Gents... just joined TSA this morning... now waiting for my packet in the mail. Will be coming to York this year in October. How do I go about getting my tickets for that?

 

Thanks in Advance....

Steve

Steve,

Nice to meet another train folk and an OGR forum member. Only 5.5 hours in the orange hall today! Just think there are 5 more halls to investigate. Pace yourself as the rate you are going, you should be done with all the halls by next Wednesday! Lol!

Hahahahaha! It was a heck of a day to say the least. Had a blast. 

Steve......great to meet you in person!

Peter

Welcome to TCA, Steve!! I'm glad you enjoyed your first York; hopefully, the first of many for you. 

John

Steve was everywhere, I think we have him firmly hooked again.

Sounds like he has already been reeled in, John!!

Mark Boyce posted:

Sounds like he has already been reeled in, John!!

this year I brought a mentor friend from KY  and the two of us were reeled.  I can't say why mentor had not attended prior meets but I know it's not the cost charged by TCA. 

I've either had illness or health issues for myself or issues with my mother or my wife's mother for the past eight years which prohibited my attending.  And just nearly missed this meet, but we did attend and we are so very glad.

Jim and I were discussing on our way home Friday night from the show that each and every TCA  member who attends could draft some sort of version of  "Clems Primer" but we are not.  Going to leave it to Clem.  And So very sorry Clem could not attend and we wish him well.

I was so happy to find so many great deals.  My list primarily contained accessories and products to grass my layout.  My car was full as I drove out St. George.  I did manage though to load up my last purchase. A great deal on the Z4000 now lying in my train room floor.   

I must say that with all the numbers of enthusiastic train members attending, I couldn't think of one time I witnessed any tempers flaring in  the crowded isle or on the parking lot.

That my friends is a wonderful environment in which to enjoy our train hobby. 

John

WELCOME to TCA!!!!!!

Jesse   TCA   12-68275