A Message from Your Editor – Summer 2025

e*Train Issue: Jul 2025 | Posted in: TCA Adventures

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

**June 2025 Keystone Division Lancaster Train Meet**

All Aboard The e*Train, fellow train enthusiasts!

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

As we settle into the rhythm of summer, I find myself looking back on a season filled with connection, discovery, and momentum within the TCA. This hobby continues to thrive not only because of the trains we love, but because of the people we meet along the way. And this year has been a wonderful reminder of that.

Since our last issue, I’ve had the privilege of attending several shows, including the York Train Meet this past April and the Keystone Division’s June Meet in Lancaster, PA. I also visited a great local show hosted by the 4H Trainmasters, and I’m looking forward to a busy summer ahead, including the LCCA National Convention in Scranton this July and Greenberg’s Great Train & Toy Show in Edison, NJ this August. While I won’t be attending the TCA National Convention in Jacksonville, I know it will be a fantastic experience for all who can make the trip.

Throughout these travels, I’ve had the opportunity to meet TCA members from across the spectrum—collectors, operators, historians, junior members, and longtime enthusiasts alike. These conversations, big and small, are what make our organization so special. Whether it’s a quick handshake at a table or a long discussion about a layout’s wiring system, every interaction adds to the richness of our community. No matter how you engage with the hobby, there’s a place for you in TCA—and I’ve seen firsthand how strong that sense of belonging is.

Behind the scenes, I’ve also been working hard to support the digital side of our organization. I recently completed a full rebuild of the METCA website and have officially taken on the role of Webmaster for the Division. I’ve also been collaborating closely with the Eastern Division to help redesign their site and build up their social media presence. At the national level, I continue to assist Art Riccardi in maintaining and growing TCA’s social media platforms, helping showcase the stories, people, and events that keep our association moving forward.

The last issue also marked the final installment of my photo series with TCA President Kevin Quinn here in e*Train. It’s been a joy to document our shared travels—from Trainstock 16 at NJ Hi-Railers, to Springfield, Allentown, Kingston, East Rutherford, and beyond. I’ve had the honor of capturing so many moments with fellow TCA leaders and members, and I’m proud of the record we’ve built together.

Moving forward, I’ll be continuing this project—and expanding it—through Instagram (@michaelohertca) and in the TCA – Toy Trains Discussion Facebook Group. I’ll be sharing both photos and videos from shows, meetups, and behind-the-scenes moments from my continuing TCA journey. I hope you’ll follow along and join the conversation, whether online or in person.

Wishing you a safe, exciting, and train-filled summer. See you at the shows!

As always, if you have ideas, questions, or suggestions about how we can enhance e*Train, I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to contact me anytime at [email protected], and let’s keep our shared love of trains rolling into the fall!

Ever Upward,

Michael S. Oher TCA # 18-73531

Editor, TCA e*Train

Helping TCA with your ebay purchases when you use PayPal

If you’re an ebay user and have a PayPal account you use to make payments, you can designate a donation for TCA when you’re checking out — any amount, small or large.
If you’re a regular seller on ebay, you can pre-designate a percentage of your sales to be donated automatically in your name to TCA as long as the purchaser pays with their PayPal account.

In both cases, you will receive a donation receipt from the PayPal Giving Fund, and enjoy applicable tax advantages.

How to do it:

Click on the image above, or use this link. This will take you to ebay, where you will see the following page (log in to ebay if you are not already):

This offers TCA as an option. Click on the “Add to My Charities” button where indicated with the red arrow. Thereafter, when you make a purchase, at checkout you will be offered the option to make a donation to TCA in any amount of your choosing. Small amounts add up, larger ones are great! It’s always up to you!

The option will appear at the lower part of your checkout page, something like this:

If you’re a regular seller on ebay, you can allocate a portion of your sales proceeds to be donated to TCA. Look at the green arrow marked “Optional” above to see how to do it. Details on how ebay calculates the donation may be read here. This is a wonderful way to share the financial benefits of your hobby with the organization that promotes it!

An added benefit to TCA is that these donations are not subject to normal processing fees, so that makes your donation work harder!

* Note. TCA is not a party to any of your eBay transactions, and does not endorse any products or vendors. PayPal issues the receipts to you for your donation, not TCA.

Shop Amazon and Help TCA

TCA members who shop at Amazon.com can have each of their normal purchases generate a modest payment to TCA! And it won’t cost you anything!

The Train Collectors Association is now a participant with AmazonSmile, which is a special website operated by Amazon that lets customers enjoy the same wide selection of products, low prices and convenient shopping features as on Amazon.com.

The difference is that when customers shop at AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com), the AmazonSmile Foundation donates 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to the charitable organizations selected by customers.

The process is simple. Just search for and select Train Collectors Association when you sign up and shop at smile.amazon.com.

You use your regular Amazon.com username and password, but when you log in to smile.amazon.com, you’ll see that you are supporting TCA with your purchases:

Note that if you just log in to the regular amazon.com, this benefit does not operate.

There are no costs to either you or TCA, but TCA benefits!

This is a great way for TCA to earn extra cash to offset costs, so sign up today to help support TCA.

* Note: TCA is not a party to any of your Amazon transactions, and does not endorse any products or vendors.

A Message from Your Editor – Summer 2025

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