A Message from Your Editor – Summer 2026

By Michael S. Oher, TCA #18-73531 Summer 2026 e*Train

All Aboard The e*Train, fellow train enthusiasts!

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

Before we get started, I wanted to take a moment to personally thank everyone for their patience over the past few months.

This past spring was a particularly difficult season for me. Around the time the Spring edition of TCA e*Train would have been published, my family suffered the loss of a loved one. At the same time, I was dealing with ongoing health issues caused by a poorly functioning gallbladder. After months of tests, doctor’s appointments, and uncertainty, I recently underwent surgery to have it removed.

I’m happy to say the surgery was successful, and I’m feeling better each day. Unfortunately, because my surgery took place the same week as the TCA National Convention, I was unable to attend this year’s convention in Grapevine, Texas, as I’d originally hoped to. I was certainly disappointed to miss seeing so many friends and fellow TCA members, but I know the TCA spirit was well represented.

I also want to sincerely thank everyone throughout the TCA who reached out with kind words and well-wishes. Your support and understanding during this time meant more to me than I can adequately express.

Even with those challenges, the passion and enthusiasm within the Train Collectors Association have continued to inspire me. Whether at local train shows, trackside with fellow railfans, or through conversations with members across the country, I’m continually reminded that TCA is much more than an organization—it’s a community.

On the organizational side, I continue to work to reinvent the Upstate New York Chapter of the Eastern Division as it’s Vice President, and I am honored to 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. Together, we’re continuing to expand the York Train Fair’s presence through new outreach initiatives designed to introduce more people to the Association and the hobby we all enjoy.

Fortunately, before my surgery, I was able to experience one of the year’s most memorable railfan events as thousands gathered across northeastern Pennsylvania to witness Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4014 during its tour East. From the Tunkhannock Viaduct to the incredible side-by-side races alongside Reading & Northern No. 2102 through Pittston, Moosic, and Scranton, it was a trip that celebrated not only historic steam but the friendships and camaraderie that make this hobby so special.

While I do plan to keep my train-related travel schedule a bit lighter than usual this summer as I continue to heal, I still plan to be in Edison, New Jersey, this August with the Eastern Division promotional booth at the Greenberg show. I look forward to connecting with collectors, families, and fellow hobbyists there as we continue spreading the word about the York Train Fair and the TCA.

As we look ahead to the remainder of 2026, preparations are already underway for another exciting York Train Fair this October. Behind the scenes, many dedicated volunteers continue working hard, expanding our outreach, and ensuring that future generations discover the same joy in this hobby that has brought us all together.

As always, thank you for your continued support of TCA e*Train. If you have an article idea, photos to share, or suggestions for future issues, I’d love to hear from you. Please feel free to reach out anytime at [email protected].

Finally, I’d like to leave you with one personal thought:

Everything I do within the Train Collectors Association—from editing TCA e*Train to promoting the York Train Fair, to traveling across the country representing this incredible organization—is done in memory of my father, Jay R. Oher (TCA #96-42851).

For more than 30 years, my father was a passionate American Flyer collector and a proud member of the TCA. He introduced me to this hobby as a young boy and taught me that trains were about much more than what sat on the layout or the display shelf. They were about preserving history, building friendships, and giving back to a community that welcomed everyone who shared that same passion. Some of my fondest memories are of attending York together, walking the dealer halls, and learning from the people who make this Association so special.

When he passed away in March 2023, I made a promise to myself that I would continue giving back to the hobby that meant so much to both of us. Every article I edit, every photo I take, every social media post I publish, every website I maintain, and every mile I travel is my way of honoring the legacy he left behind.

I hope he’d be proud.

Until next time, keep the trains running, enjoy the hobby, and take care of one another.

Ever Upward,

Michael S. Oher, TCA #18-73531

Editor, TCA e*Train