A Message from Your Editor – Winter 2026

By Michael S. Oher, TCA #18-73531 Winter 2025 e*Train

All Aboard The e*Train, fellow train enthusiasts!

I’m Michael S. Oher, your conductor of the e*Train.

As winter settles in and the new year begins, we look ahead to an exciting year for the Train Collectors Association. I find myself reflecting on a fall season defined by momentum, movement, and preparation for what was a landmark moment in our hobby—#York55. This is a time when the energy within the TCA is unmistakable, and everywhere I’ve traveled recently, that excitement has been front and center.

On the organizational side, I was honored to be elected as the Vice President of the Upstate New York Chapter of the Eastern Division, and continue my work as TCA e*Train Editor and my work as a member of the TCA National Social Media Team at the National level, my position within the Metropolitan Division as Webmaster, and my positions within the Eastern Divsion as Webmaster, Social Media & Marketing Chairman, and Youth Advisor to the President of the Eastern Division, where I continue to work closely with Division President Bob Buehler as we expand York Train Fair marketing and focus on new inituatives for the York Train Fair moving forward.

Since our last issue, my travels have also kept me firmly on the rails. After the Fall 2025 York Train Fair kicked off show season, I then attended the Allentown First Frost Train Meet in Allentown, Pennsylvania, at the beginning of November, where the enthusiasm on the show floor was a clear reminder that show season is underway. Later in November, I also visited Greenberg’s Great Train and Toy Show in Edison, New Jersey, connecting with collectors, operators, and families who continue to discover—and rediscover—this hobby through regional shows like these.

I also had the opportunity to attend the Metro-North New Haven Locomotive Shops Open House in New Haven, Connecticut. Getting an up-close look behind the scenes at an active railroad facility was a powerful reminder of the deep connection between prototype railroading and the collecting and operating communities we represent. Experiences like this help reinforce why preserving railroad history—both real and miniature—matters so much.

Looking ahead, I will be traveling to the Amherst Railroad Hobby Show in West Springfield, Massachusetts, later this month, where I will be assisting TCA National at their booth. Amherst is always a highlight of the winter season, and this year it will also serve as the launch point for an exciting new initiative within the Eastern Division. As part of our “take the show on the road” effort, we are expanding our presence beyond York to better meet hobbyists where they already are—on the show floors across the region. This initiative is about visibility, outreach, and building relationships that strengthen the Association as a whole.

Of course, all roads ultimately lead to York, and as we prepare for York in April 2026, the sense of anticipation continues to build. This anticipation represents not only the legacy of the York Train Fair, but its future as well. The work happening now—at regional shows, open houses, and through new initiatives—sets the stage for what will undoubtedly be a memorable and historic future.

As always, if you have ideas, questions, or suggestions on how we can continue to strengthen e*Train, I’d love to hear from you. Please feel free to reach out anytime at [email protected], and let’s keep our shared love of trains rolling strong through the winter and for the rest of 2026.

Ever Upward,

Michael S. Oher, TCA #18-73531

Editor, TCA e*Train