Train Organizations

I have belonged to the LCCA, TTOS and TCA at various times over the years. I find that the TCA best meets my interests. I like to read the TCA quarterly, and enjoy going to York. In addition, the TCA can arbitrate disagreements between "trading partners" so long as both parties are TCA members. I have never actually had to file a complaint. But I've come close.

I joined the Lionel LRRC a few years ago and ended up in the LCCA with the merger and switch over last year. I didn't think I was going to like it, but have changed my mind. I am not a collector, but I do enjoy reading their publications. You also get all of the Lionel catalogs mailed to you and they have many events every year that you can attend if they are near by. They have special trains made by Lionel for members only and you also get a discount when buying from Lionel directly. I think they also do a good job of promoting the hobby and trying to get younger folks involved in the hobby. I am sure there is more, just can't think if it right now. I just renewed for another year, so I am happy with the organization and plan to continue my membership.

I am also a member of the MTHRRC and get one of their club cars every year, usually the Premier or Railking offering. They also have a few members only special promotions each year and they are offered at really good prices. I have taken advantage of a couple of those. It's like buying a new item for 2nd hand pricing.

That's all I belong to. If I wasn't so far from York I might join the TCA, but it's just too far for me to attend the York meets. I'd have to spend my train budget on the trip and expenses of staying there for a few days.

I joined LOTS just because they cut you a better deal on their custom Lionel cars that they release & I collect the Warbonnet style cars anyway.

I belong to TCA, BRHS (Burlington HS), & IRM (IL Railway Museum).  

TCA has local Midwest Chapter meetings that I attended in 2002-2003 & then stopped due to career activities.  I plan to start going to a few a year now. They have local layout tours & I believe a modular group.  I like TCA's Train Insurance policy program.  I went to the swap meet at a national 2002 TCA meeting  when it was held in St Charles IL.  I always skim through their national & Midwest Division publications.  I have never been to the TCA York meets & probably will never attend due to he distance & travel costs.  However, in Chicagoland, Milwaukee's annual TrainFest, IRM, Fox Valley Trolley Museum, many hobby stores, monthly Great Midwest Train Show, Chicago History Museum (Chicago, CNW, & CB&Q's 1st steam loco the Pioneer is on display), and Chicago Museum of Science & Industry (CB&Q's Pioneer Zephyr, NYC's 999, & more) are all nearby to satisfy my RR interests.    

BRHS has a local spring meet (usually Batavia IL) & a fall meet at various locations in former BR on-line locations.  This fall it was North Platte NE (Burlington Trailways had a bus depot there).  This meetings have tours of existing CB&Q era buildings (McCook NE depot, round house, museum, etc), active BNSF lines, local RR interest (Golden Spike Tower overlooking UP's Bailey Yard), swap meet, model display (I showed my 3 Corgi BT buses) & model contest, clinics on BR history & BR modeling (usually HO), and a banquet with major presentation & slides on prototype CB&Q era topics.  Half of the fun is rail fanning the active & abandoned lines on the trip to & from the meet to see active trains, museums with depots, layouts, and preserved locos & cabooses.  This is my main train & RR organization.  On the trip to & from North Platte, I saw at least 25 depots (mix of CB&Q, UP, & Rock Island), over 10 cabooses (CB&Q, UP, & Rock Island), & at least 10 preserved Q & UP steam locos (Q: one 4-6-4, three 4-6-0; UP: Big Boy, Challenger, three 4-6-0) and a UP Centinial diesel..  

IRM is nearby, so I buy an annual family pass so that I can visit on the weekends when the CB&Q Nebraska Zephyr, SD24 #504, and NW switcher run on the mainline.  The Frsico steam decapod is also back in operation on select days.  I also like to walk among the barns & drool over the CB&Q 4-6-4, 2-6-0, 2-8-2, way cars (cabooses), RPO, hoppers, & DRGW CZ Silver Bronco dome car.  They also have a publication.  

I used to belong to the company clubs from Lionel, MTH, & K-Line, but dropped out after 5 years or so.  

I may join LCCA to buy some of the modular layout kits.  This may get me over the hump to actually start building a layout.  

Try out some model, RR HS, & RR museum memberships and see what holds your interest.  Or maybe join one for a year or 2 and then try something else for variety.  It all depends on your interests & preferences and also on what organization has the most to offer you in your region.  

Thanks,

CB&Q Bill