How to Make a Wooden Strombecker Locomotive run!

e*Train Issue: Feb 2008 | Posted in: Operating & Layouts

By Mike Stella

There are probably a number of old-timer TCA members that paid $1.00 as a kid and purchased a Strombecker kit of an early American steam locomotive, and had a great time mixing the packet of wood glue, and holding the pieces together waiting for that glue to dry.

I have had a lot of fun locating a few of these wooden kits and spending enjoyable hours sanding, filling, painting, and gluing. (All parts included, even the glue!)

**Here is the easiest way to make your Strombecker “run” around your railroad**.

I have been pleased with the final results but a static model is not as much fun as one that can run the “miles” around my Lionel railroad. The solution was easy. I simply took a few old Lionel flatcars, mounted simulated wooden ties, used some Flyer rails, and “chained” my locomotives down so as not to lose them in a long tunnel.

I pretend they are on the way to the Sacramento Railfair to take part in the celebration of American Steam Power. I’ve written articles in the past about special flatcar loads I have added to my roster. One even showed up in the Lionel catalog a year later! I know there are many TCA members that have created their own loads and it would be great to see them all.

Happy Collecting!

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.

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.

How to Make a Wooden Strombecker Locomotive run!

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