Toy Train Expo & Sale - Click on the Cal-Stewart button at upper left

What is TCA? What is Nor-Cal?
The Train Collectors Association (TCA) was founded in 1954 in Yardley, Pennsylvania. The mission of the TCA is "to preserve an important segment of history- tinplate trains- through research, establishment of collecting standards, education, community outreach, fellowship, and to promote the growth and enjoyment of the hobby." The TCA embraces all aspects of the toy and model train collecting and operating hobby. The TCA "Kids Club" program encourages the development of new generations of collectors. The TCA Headquarters Office and Museum are located in Strasburg, Pennsylvania, in the Pennsylvania Dutch countryside, adjacent to the Strasburg Railroad and the Red Caboose Motel. TCA membership as of October 2011 was 28,343.

There are nineteen regional Divisions within the TCA. The Northern California Division (Nor-Cal) was formed in 1957 in order to provide a local venue for meetings. Nor-Cal holds meetings once a month, normally on the second Saturday of the month, at the Veterans Memorial Hall in Lafayette. Trains are bought and sold at meetings, between members only, but guests are welcome to attend (see details below, under "How to Join..."). Nor-Cal also holds the big Spring Cal-Stewart Meet in Santa Clara in March. There are currently (as of 11-20-2011) 353 dues-paying members in Nor-Cal.

Why join Nor-Cal?
Although collecting and operating our trains is certainly a joy in itself, the full measure of enjoyment is in meeting with people of similar interests. In Nor-Cal you will find people who "speak your language" and share in the pleasure of collecting and operating toy and model trains. You can find lifelong "train buddies" in Nor-Cal.

The monthly Nor-Cal train meets offer the enjoyment of meeting
with fellow Nor-Cal members, and also offer the opportunity to browse the many train items offered for sale. Of course the meets also provide the opportunity to sell some of your excess trains.

All Nor-Cal members receive the "Nor-Cal Express," an 8-page illustrated newsletter, with four to six pages of original toy train material, four times a year. Members have the free use of tables for selling trains at local meets. (TCA members who are not also Nor-Cal members will be charged a fee of $10 for table use at a Nor-Cal meet). The December meet includes the annual FREE luncheon for members and their families! As concurrent members of the national TCA, Nor-Cal members receive the "TCA Quarterly" full-color magazine (forty pages!) four times a year and the "National Headquarters News" (which includes the "Interchange Point" buy/sell pages) six times a year. Members are eligible to attend the regional meets such as the Cal-Stewart Meets in February/March in Santa Clara and October/November in Pasadena, the York (Pennsylvania) Meets in April and October, other regional meets, and the TCA National Convention that occurs every June (in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2012). Special souveneir train cars and accessories, and sometimes locomotives, are available to the members at these events. Members may visit the splendid TCA National Museum in Strasburg, Pennsylvania, free of charge. Additionally, members may avail themselves of the various services offered through the National Office, including use of the Toy Train Research Library and special insurance for their trains. Finally, the national TCA offers many on-line services to members, including buy/sell/wanted ads, and the online "E-Train" magazine.

Nor-Cal Survey of Interests
A June 2008 online survey indicated that Nor-Cal members collect and/or operate toy and model trains in the following proportions [votes for each gauge divided by the total votes]:
Standard Gauge (and Wide Gauge): 10%
O-Gauge 3-Rail: 41%
O-Gauge 2-Rail: 4%
S-Gauge (American Flyer and other manufacturers): 14%
G-Scale (the Garder Railway sized trains): 3%
HO-Gauge: 12%
N-Gauge: 4%
Z-Gauge: 5%
Erector and Meccano Sets: 6%

Of course, many members collect and operate more than one gauge.

How to join TCA: You must first join the National TCA, then you can join the Nor-Cal Division. Click here to be connected to the TCA National new members application page. After joining TCA National you may come to a regular (monthly) Nor-Cal meeting and join there. Note that guests are welcome to come to a Nor-Cal meeting to check it out. However guests cannot buy or sell, and multiple repeat visits by guests are not approved.

Future Nor Cal Meeting Locations: at the Lafayette Veterans Memorial Hall, 3780 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Lafayette, unless noted otherwise.
April 14, June 9, July 14, August 11, September 8, October 13, November 10, December 8, 2012, all at the Lafayette Veterans Memorial Hall
March 2,3 and 4, 2012, Cal-Stewart at the Santa Clara Convention Center
May ?, Sacramento

Nor-Cal Meeting times: Hall open for setup at 9 AM. Business meeting at 9:30. Trading 10-11:30.

Read the "Nor-Cal Express" newsletter (in full color)- Click "Newsletter" above.

Browse the "Photos" and "What's New" pages by clicking above.

Designed by Richard White and Aase White Design

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This website updated on January 14, 2012