Very disappointing and frankly disturbing news....please read.

So this begs the question...What can we do to help?

I'm sorry to learn of this and TCA's decision to do it makes absolutely no sense to me. I agree and think that the TCA should change its name in order to recognize model train operators as well as collectors. 🤔

@John Sethian posted:

So this begs the question...What can we do to help?

I think all TCA members who subscribe to OGR and/or CTT should write to the TCA National and ask them to reconsider their decision. Their decision is very short-sighted and cutting ties with the 2 magazines that support the 3-rail toy train hobby is a big mistake in my opinion. They will receive a letter from me very shortly.

A name change for TCA might be in order; or I wonder if a merger of the TCA and what seems to be left of TTOS might be a possibility.

short sighted indeed - I am 62, TCA member - Digital OGR subscriber - I will certainly email them - do they accept email? (pun)

I've always wondered who they were reaching by putting ads on the Round the Clock placemats... Maybe they work better than I thought?

TCA looking for a younger audience?  The technologies of todays O Gauge trains and accessories should be the focus.  The younger folks may find it interesting but only if they are aware of it.  The lack of media covering the topic will not help TCA get the word out'..

Stunning decision to say the least. It doesn’t bode well for next week.

Support of major participants such as TCA, Lionel, OGR, etc for each other has been important for the hobby for many years. And has, in our opinion, been a factor in their success. In the past few years, each participant appears to have made a decision that the other’s services cost more than can be justified.

Perhaps a meeting between the parties before the Fall show would be beneficial. Or has that train, like most passenger trains, left the station.

I just emailed the TCA asking them to reconsider their decision.

O Scale Kings changed its name to O Scale Central in 2022 because the organization felt that the "Kings" name was archaic and out of touch.  Perhaps TCA needs to consider doing something similar?

As a TCA member, I think that the organization should support the media that supports the hobby.  We are all dependent on each other.  I am not sure where TCA can find a younger audience than through the modeling magazines especially since the magazines all have digital editions.  NH Joe

It sounds like a budgeting decision more than a strategic advertising plan, but what do I know.

The TCA and the York meets have been an an endless source of interest and discussion on this Forum for over 20 years. The York meet has its own sub Forum here ( free to the organization I'll wager) and is extremely popular and a great source for up to the minute news.

It is incomprehensible to me why the TCA would wish to cancel that relationship and go it alone. Especially just before the April Meet. "Disconnected" is the only term that seems to apply here.

John

It's time to remind everyone that the TCA and the folks who put on the York meet are two different entities. A decision by the TCA should not be equated to a decision by the Eastern Division.

Lionel is by far the major manufacturer of toy trains (dollar value) in the United States and places two pages of full ads in every print edition of OGR.  The lack of Lionel advertising in CTT has more to do with previous opinions in CTT editorial towards Lionel than lack of utility, I gather.  If Lionel believes they can reach important segments of their consumer audience through print OGR, it's baffling to think that TCA thinks otherwise.  Hopefully they will reconsider if finances allow.

OGR just recently added a forum on 3D printing. Discussion threads range from the latest Bluetooth control applications to laser cutting of materials. This is a forward thinking, forward moving constituency that is adopting innovations in technology. I'm not clear on why a business seeking "younger demographics" would want to eject action-oriented first adopters on the internet from their portfolio.

Exposure is everything and by withdrawing from OGR and CTT they lose an Outlet to the casual reader that picks up These Magazines.The O Gauge Forum gets alot of viewers,casual and committed.I think that their name will disappear and LCCA will Prosper.

I don’t know how much the TCA is contracted to pay OGR as a sponsor/customer but if the TCA can measure how many new members it picks up from the OGR and the bottom line is less than they pay out then I can see why they are leaving.

The only reason I joined is for the York meet, which I first learned about through this forum.

And I agree, they need a rebrand and an update to their web site. The word 'toy' makes me think of tin plate and pre/post war. The name alone may be a turnoff to people running modern/scale trains. Just my opinion.

Wow.  This is disappointing news. 

I realize that today's economic environment is very challenging for any business or organization such as the TCA and tough decisions have to be made. Having said this I hope that the TCA will reconsider their decision, OGR and CTT are much more than simply a print medium and it would be very short sighted to think so.  This forum is the melting pot of our hobby bringing together both young and old, the novice and experienced.  OGR enables the novice to ask questions and to learn about all aspects of our great hobby which can be the path to TCA membership. It seems less likely that a newcomer will become a TCA member first and then learn about the hobby.   To the TCA officials please take a little time to sit down with Alan and discuss ideas outside of the box, you might just be surprised what Alan can come up with. Best of luck to the TCA and OGR.

Y’all are being too diplomatic, and polite for me. It’s a dumb--- move by archaic thinking dumb---es. I learned of the TCA thru OGR magazine and forum. Without the info I acquired from OGR, I probably wouldn’t have joined. By the way, TCA membership’s opinion wasn’t asked for. This was all the politicos sitting up high.

I think there's a major oversight in all these fears about the average age of members of the hobby being past retirement age: yes, people age and eventually pass on, but thanks to a thing called time, new people are reaching retirement age every day.  Every year, 75 year-olds become 76, but 74 year-olds become 75.  Especially considering the ever-increasing life expectancy, it's not like there will ever be a shortage of folks in their golden years.

As a younger, working-age guy, I know I'm the exception, not the rule, and that's totally ok!  I know the internet and social media (combined, I believe, with the pandemic and stay-at-home orders, and now remote work to the present day) have served to draw many younger folks into the hobby, which is fantastic.  But let's face it, our hobby is expensive and time-consuming which is perfect for individuals post-retirement, but not exactly tailor-made for people in earlier studying, working, marrying, traveling, raising kids, and saving for college stages of their lives, except for die-hards like me.

My two cents: I think this is a major failure of understanding one's customer base on behalf of the TCA.

I also am disappointed that TCA would make this kind of decision and wonder if it is the result of a recommendation from a hired consultant who doesn't really have a grasp of the nature of this hobby.   

Options mentioned above would be more productive: I agree that organization's name should be changed to reflect the more diverse interests of the current membership and that consolidation with TTOS would make a lot of sense.  "Association of Train Collectors & Operators (ATC&O)" perhaps would keep in mind the old Chesapeake & Ohio Railway motto, "C&O for progress."

I also think that "toy" and "toy trains" are overused and this adversely affects image and recruiting new members among many age groups - and not just teens and young adults.  Some years ago, when we were planning a trip to Strasburg for a ten year old nephew and his friend, their reaction to visiting the National Toy Train Museum was negative.  They did not want to visit a "toy train museum."  There are so many other naming options: Electric trains, model trains, or something like "Train Collectors and Operators Museum."

FWIW, as a related issue, I believe four organizations in this sector of the hobby (TCA, TTOS, LCCA, and LOTS) is at least two too many competing for the shrinking number of hobbyists and hobbyists' dollars.  I personally, as I get older, am reducing the number of organizations I belong to.  I just can't keep up with multiple organizations that cover pretty much the same territory. 

@PGentieu posted:

"Association of Train Collectors & Operators (ATC&O)"

Ha, ha,  How about Train Association of Collectors and Operators.  That way it can be abbreviated as TACO.  Mmmm, today, 4/11/2023 is a Tuesday, so I guys I have TACO's on my mind.

Stu

Stupid is what stupid does.  Am I surprised? NO.  

Meh, I wouldn't sweat it Alan.  I'm a TCA member for now, but the writing is on the wall.  Lionel (and several other big-name vendors) don't go to York anymore.  The Big E is going to overtake York, and the TCA will eventually fade into irrelevance since new folks will no longer have a reason to join.  My $.02.

Hopefully the TCA sees this thread, and realizes how dumb a move that was!…..Arnold hit it on the head, between the OGR, and CTT, not only are they both the super highways for anything & everything O scale, but they’re the ONLY highways……sure there’s some FB groups, etc, ….but to be sure they don’t have the beacon power of a dedicated print media, and then backed up with a very strong online presence,……what’s really puzzling to me, is why would you shut out a large percentage of your customer base??……it’s like they’re going dark on purpose,……

Pat

Lordy, Lordy!  It seems like it's every day now.  No matter what I pick up, open up, or tune into nowadays there's some discomforting change to our 'happy places'.  It's no wonder Sheldon can't stand changes in and to his routines and associations! 

That said, I guess the TCA's decision of where they get the most bang for their buck is not unlike the decision a few years ago that the 'gorillas' of our shows/meets...Lionel, MTH, Atlas, et alia...announced they would be more selective of their traveling show venues/schedules, focusing on growth (read: youth) potential.  And, so, their presence at, for instance, York meets has diminished from what we once enjoyed looking forward to.

I doubt letters and emails bearing grump and grouse to TCA headquarters will change anything.  Perhaps it will only reinforce the 'curmudgeon' label many of us old pharts get tagged with lately!  (Yeah, I heard you!...as I left the service area of the local auto dealership I'd patronized for the past 30+ years!  They dumped their 30-minute Quick Lube oil change area, replacing it with additional "more versatile" hoists for which you now have to make an appointment...which I did...only to wait in their lounge for 2 hours...before the "paperwork" was finally done!   We're all done and going elsewhere, folks!  They decided to change.  Me too!) 

Most organizations are going through this sort of angst.  I just got the annual financial info from one of the prototype groups of which I've been a 25+ year member.  The numbers are not good...at all!  Sure, it's a fallen flag group.  And the faithful's demographics reflect reality.  But, who hasn't heard...or felt...the belt-tightening in our own personal budgets??   And, no, my wife and I don't call our favorite restaurants, retail stores, travel agents, sports venues, etc., etc, etc. to have an open discussion with them before making the hard budgetary decisions, either.

Yes, some open-minded discussion would've been welcome before this topical decision was made.  But, very few organizations take the time to do so nowadays.  It is what it is. 

(sigh)

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, continuing fun and enjoyment awaits in the basement and workshop.  Getting together with friends for commiserations, celebrations, ...and libations...continues unabated. 

KD

Interesting to see all the things via google which are called TCA.

OGR and CTT are not their problem and should be part of their new plan.

Hmm.  The phrase that comes to mind regarding the TCA's short-sighted decision is:  "Oh Magoo, you've done it again!"

Sheesh.

George

That really doesn' t make any sense. OGR is, I think, the primary magazine in the hobby best suited to their mission as a group.

Here is the TCA "contact us" link.  I just expressed my concerns.

I am a digital subscriber and a supporting member of OGR.

I am not a member of the TCA and have no plans to become one.

I will do whatever I can to support OGR. It is my link to the hobby and I find it invaluable.

Oh no. That’s terrible 😞

It sounds like both OGR and CTT could use another advertiser or two.  I just bought some layout supplies today from both Michaels and Hobby Lobby. 

Mike

I have zero knowledge about TCA. Aside from financially dropping support for this forum (I assume) why does this decision matter. For me they are an irrelevant organization.  I guess my question should be "why should I care? "  From the posts many folks think otherwise.   

On the other hand, virtually anytime I do a search for information, there is a link back to this forum. And its all the time. Very grateful for the scope of information on this forum and why I choose to support it.

I'm one of those younger people in the hobby (35 with young kids). I'm in the hobby because I was into it when I was a kid, not because I was drawn in recently.

I will say that this hobby in general needs to get with the times. I use my phone for everything. I'm a software engineer so I have great desktop machines, but my phone is constantly in use. This forum, and the people on it, are not exactly friendly to using phones (just go take a look at the Base 3 conversations) or consuming/sharing information in a way that resonates with younger folks. The explosion in popularity of the various YouTube channels isn't an accident. That content is resonating with people!

If the TCA is truly trying to cater to a younger audience, has this forum positioned itself to be a prime place to capture that demographic? Sounds like from the TCA's eyes, the answer is no.

CTR, "I am not a member of the TCA and have no plans to become one" Your loss.

I’m in my mid-30’s and am a TCA member, but that was only to buy some custom runs only offered to members. Other than that, I have no reason to be a member.  If they don’t support the sites like OGR, what’s the point of saying they want a younger demographic? The younger folks live on the internet and OGR is the site we tend to hang around on since it’s a wealth of information available instantly.

When I first read Alan's title, I thought that something/someone committed a major faux-pah here on the forum! After I opened it and read it, I was really surprised/shocked the such a decision was made  by TCA. I am not a member of TCA, as a two-railer their field of interest has no real interest to me. As an aside, when I visit a friend in Baltimore, I do read his CTT and enjoyed looking at the past. Note that between reading his print OGR and using this forum, I became a subscriber.

With the above having been said, I think that TCA is making a mistake as both the print/digital magazine and this forum does reach a large portion of the three-rail hobby that includes some young folks. There is hope for the future of the hobby. As to the loss of the advertiser, one person above said "why should I care?"; well, there is a loss of revenue that will have to made up somewhere.