#York55: Building the Story—and Then Living It
By Michael S. Oher, TCA #18-73531 Winter 2026 e*Train
As a member of the Train Collectors Association, York has always been more than a train show to me. It is where history, community, and shared memory come together in a way that few events can replicate. Twice a year, the York Fairgrounds becomes a meeting place not just for buying and selling trains, but for reconnecting with people, ideas, and traditions that have shaped this hobby for generations.
This past October’s York Train Fair carried special meaning for me. It marked my first York Train Fair serving in my official role as Social Media and Marketing Chairman of the Eastern Division, and it gave me a front-row seat to how much preparation, coordination, and intention go into making York what it is. It also allowed me to experience the show in a very different way—both behind the scenes and on the show floor.
What ultimately became known as #York55 was not the name of the show itself, but rather a comprehensive social media campaign and fully revamped marketing initiative built around a milestone. The campaign served as a celebration of 55 years of history, memories, and tradition associated with the York Train Fair, unfolding deliberately over the 55 days leading up to the 55th year of shows. For me, it represented an opportunity to help tell York’s story in a way that respected its past while opening doors for its future.
Rebuilding from the Ground Up: The York Train Fair Website
One of the most significant efforts leading up to the show was the complete rebuild of the York Train Fair website over the summer. This was not a cosmetic update or a rearranging of existing pages—it was a ground-up redesign driven by a very practical question: Could someone who had never attended York understand what it is and how to experience it within minutes of visiting the site?
As members, many of us already know how York works. But from an outreach standpoint, that familiarity can become a blind spot. The rebuilt website was designed to be user-friendly, recognizing that most first-time visitors would learn about York through this site after seeing a social media post. Navigation was simplified, language clarified, and long-standing assumptions about insider knowledge were intentionally challenged.
Information about the halls, Kids Korner, policies, schedules, and public-facing initiatives was reorganized, so it was easy to find and easy to understand. In many ways, the website became York’s digital front door—welcoming, clear, and confident.
#York55 Online: A Campaign With Purpose
With the rebuilt website in place, the #York55 social media campaign launched 55 days before the show. Rather than relying on sporadic announcements, the campaign was designed as a sustained narrative—one that unfolded gradually and intentionally.
A defining pillar of #York55 was historical content. Vintage trains, legacy manufacturers, long-running layouts, and decades of York memories were featured prominently. This was not nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. History provided context. It explained why York matters and why the Train Collectors Association has endured.
At the same time, the campaign highlighted people—collectors, operators, families, and volunteers—because York has always been about more than objects. Through a combination of organic engagement and targeted advertising, the campaign reached nearly half a million individuals.
From Digital Strategy to Real-World Results
When the doors opened in October, the effects of the #York55 groundwork became tangible almost immediately. While official attendance figures have not yet been finalized, the on-the-ground indicators—particularly on Friday—were striking.
Anecdotally, for the first time in nearly a decade, parking extended all the way out to the fence. Public admission lines remained consistently long throughout the day, and the newly introduced one-day pass option sold out. From my perspective, walking the halls, it felt as though York was being experienced by a broader audience.
Just as noticeable was the makeup of the crowd. Alongside York’s core group of legacy collectors, there appeared to be a greater number of younger faces, families, and first-time attendees than I have seen in recent years. York did not feel changed—it felt expanded.
Late Nights Before the Doors Opened
Some of the most meaningful moments of the week happened before the main show even began. In the final days leading into the show, I spent time with friends, including Captain Andy and Stu Rankin. One evening, after long days of preparation, we gathered at Captain Andy’s RV and ran trains late into the night on his mobile N-scale layout purchased at the pre-show.
Those quiet hours were a reminder of what sits at the heart of York: friends gathered around trains, sharing knowledge, laughter, and enthusiasm.
Honoring My Father Through American Flyer
York also allowed me to honor my father in a deeply personal way. In the month leading up to the show, I worked with friends to design and build a 4’×8′ American Flyer layout showcasing highlights from his collection. Each locomotive and car carried memories of time spent together and a shared love for the hobby.
Presenting select pieces from my father’s collection and sharing his story later in the week at the Flyer Nut meeting was one of the most meaningful moments of the week for me.
A Visit to a True Masterpiece
During York week, I visited the legendary Ron Dubbs layout—constructed entirely of stained glass over the course of 40 years. It was unlike anything else I’ve ever seen, blending artistry, engineering, and patience into a single extraordinary creation.
Helping share that layout with a broader audience through local media coverage was rewarding, not as promotion, but as a celebration of what lifelong dedication to the hobby can produce.
Sharing York Beyond the Halls: Working With FOX43
One of the most rewarding aspects of York week was the opportunity to help share the show—and the broader hobby—with an audience far beyond the fairgrounds. In the lead-up to the show, I worked closely with FOX43, the local FOX affiliate, to help tell York’s story in a way that felt authentic, accessible, and true to what makes the Train Collectors Association special.
For many people in the region, local news coverage is their first exposure to York. That reality shaped how we approached media outreach. The goal was not simply promotion, but education—showing viewers that York is not just a marketplace, but a living community built on history, craftsmanship, and human connection.
A Spotlight on Craftsmanship: The Ron Dubbs Layout
After seeing Ron Dubb’s impressive layout, a centerpiece of that outreach was a feature on the legendary layout. Built entirely of stained glass over the course of more than 40 years, Ron’s layout is unlike anything else associated with York—part railroad, part fine art, and entirely the product of lifelong dedication.
Recognizing its broader appeal, I collaborated with FOX43 to arrange coverage that highlighted the artistry and patience behind the layout, rather than just its scale. The result was a story that resonated well beyond the hobby, highlighting how model railroading can intersect with art, engineering, and personal expression. For me, it was a powerful example of how York can connect with the public when we tell the right stories.
See that story below:
Talking York: An On-Air Conversation
As part of that coverage, Bob Buehler and I also had the opportunity to sit down at FOX43 studios with James Tully for an interview about the York Train Fair itself. The conversation centered on what makes York unique, why it has endured for over half a century, and how it continues to evolve.
Being able to speak about York in that setting—on behalf of the hobby and its members—was both humbling and energizing. It reinforced the idea that York’s story matters not just to those of us inside the halls, but to the broader community as well.
York Live: Bringing the Show to the Public in Real Time
FOX43’s involvement continued during the pre-show, when reporter Sedona Meadows came out to the fairgrounds for live coverage. Seeing York presented live on television—trains running, halls buzzing, and people actively engaged—was a powerful moment.
Live hits were conducted from Captain Andy’s mobile layout at his RV in the early hours of the morning as well as from the Purple and Orange Halls, giving viewers a real-time sense of the scale and energy of the show. For those who had never attended York, it offered a window into what the experience actually feels like. For members watching from home, it was a point of pride to see the hobby represented so positively and accurately.
Check that story out here:
Extending the Reach of #York55
From my perspective, the FOX43 coverage fit seamlessly into the broader goals of #York55. Social media, the rebuilt website, and traditional media all worked together to tell a consistent story—one that honored York’s history while making it approachable for new audiences.
Seeing that story carried across platforms reinforced something I felt repeatedly throughout the week: when we are intentional about how we present York, people respond. Media coverage did not replace the in-person experience, but it extended it—inviting curiosity, sparking conversation, and helping ensure that the York Train Fair remains visible, relevant, and understood far beyond the walls of the halls themselves.
Strengthening Local Ties: A Renewed Collaboration With Explore York
An important—and very intentional—part of the broader #York55 effort was the revitalization of our collaboration with Explore York, the official tourism and visitors organization for York County. For a show as deeply rooted in the local community as the York Train Fair, strengthening that relationship was both practical and symbolic.
Working more closely with Explore York allowed us to better position the Train Fair not just as an event, but as a regional destination. York week brings thousands of visitors into the area, many of whom are staying multiple days, dining locally, and exploring beyond the fairgrounds. By aligning our messaging and sharing resources, we were able to help visitors more easily connect their York Train Fair experience with the broader offerings of the city and county.
From a member’s perspective, this collaboration reinforced the idea that York does not exist in a vacuum. The Train Fair is part of a larger ecosystem—one that includes local businesses, hotels, restaurants, and cultural attractions. Strengthening ties with Explore York helped ensure that visitors felt welcomed not only inside the halls, but throughout the community as a whole.
This renewed partnership also complemented our broader outreach goals. Just as #York55 sought to make the show more accessible and understandable to first-time attendees, working with Explore York helped bridge the gap between the Train Fair and the general public. It was another example of how thoughtful collaboration—grounded in mutual benefit—can help sustain York’s long-term vitality while deepening its connection to the place it has called home for more than half a century.
As we look ahead, this relationship is one we intend to continue building. Strong local partnerships strengthen the show, enrich the visitor experience, and help ensure that York remains not only the home of the Train Fair, but an integral part of its story.
A Visit to the Shempp Collection
One of the quieter—but deeply memorable—experiences of York week was a visit to the Shempp Collection with my new friend Dr. Martin A. Folb (TCA #60-425) of California. In the midst of a show defined by scale, crowds, and constant motion, the opportunity to step into a private collection housed at the Thomas T. Taber Museum offered a very different perspective on the hobby—one rooted in patience, curation, and personal vision.
The Shempp Collection, a culmination of the lifelong work of late TCA member LaRue Shempp of Williamsport, PA, is the kind of place that reminds you why so many of us were drawn to trains in the first place. Thoughtfully arranged and meticulously cared for, the collection reflects decades of intentional collecting rather than accumulation. Each piece felt chosen for a reason, and each display told a story—about manufacturers, eras, and the individuals who preserved them. It was not about excess or spectacle, but about stewardship.
Visiting the collection with Martin made the experience even more meaningful. Though we had only recently met, the conversation flowed easily, as it often does when two people share a genuine enthusiasm for the same subject. We talked about differences in regional collecting cultures, how tastes evolve, and the ways private collections quietly sustain the institutional memory of the hobby. It was a reminder that York is not only a marketplace or an event—it is also a place where new friendships form around shared respect for history and prestige.
What struck me most about the Shempp Collection was how it mirrored the broader themes of #York55. Just as the campaign sought to honor the past while remaining relevant to the present, the collection itself stood as a bridge between generations—carefully preserved, thoughtfully interpreted, and clearly loved. Walking through it reinforced something I felt repeatedly throughout the week: the future of the hobby depends as much on these private, personal efforts as it does on large public shows.
That visit, quiet and unhurried, became one of those moments that linger long after York ends. It was a reminder that behind every great collection—and every great show—are people willing to invest time, care, and friendship into keeping this hobby alive.
Kids Korner and the Next Generation
One of the most encouraging aspects of this year’s show was the expanded Kids Korner. With interactive layouts—including a mobile layout housed in a pop-up camper—Kids Korner remained busy throughout the show. More than 100 families and children passed through during the weekend, many experiencing York and the TCA for the first time.
Combined with the one-day pass option, Kids Korner felt like a genuine invitation—welcoming new families without compromising the character of the show.
Looking Ahead
Looking toward 2026, the momentum generated through #York55 continues. Plans are underway to attend regional shows such as Amherst, Allentown, and Edison, allowing York to maintain a visible presence beyond the fairgrounds and to build relationships across the broader hobby community.
This forward-looking work also connects directly to my recent election as Vice President of the Upstate New York Chapter of the Eastern Division. I see that role as an extension of the same philosophy behind #York55: strengthening the hobby from the ground up. Strong chapters create engaged members, engaged members sustain divisions, and strong divisions ensure the long-term health of York and the TCA itself.
Our social media efforts continue to expand as well. A presence on TikTok has launched to connect with younger audiences, and the Mighty Casey, a staple of Kids Korner, has been sent out on what can only be called a “world tour” leading up to the next York Train Fair—appearing at shows, layouts, and events across the northeast, sparking conversation along the way.
That sense of continuity—of respecting what has come before while actively preparing for what comes next—has stayed with me well beyond York week. We are not letting the momentum generated by #York55 slow. New initiatives are already moving forward, shaped by what we learned and what we saw resonating with members and first-time visitors alike. One of the most exciting efforts currently underway is the rebranding of Kids Korner into Imagination Station, intending to make it even more engaging, more visible, and more clearly positioned as a gateway for the next generation of collectors and operators. It is a continuation of the same philosophy that guided #York55: intentional growth, thoughtful presentation, and a commitment to ensuring that York remains vibrant and relevant for years to come.
As we carry this momentum forward, I look forward to seeing many of you on show floors throughout the region and to welcoming all of you back home to the York Train Fair this spring.
Carrying the Legacy Forward
As the week came to a close, my thoughts often returned to my father and his love for the Train Collectors Association and the York Train Fair. He believed deeply in the organization—not just for the trains, but for the people, the history, and the sense of belonging it created.
Serving as the editor of this fine publication, Social Media and Marketing Chairman for the Eastern Division, Webmaster for the Metropolitan Division, Webmaster for the Eastern Division, Youth Advisor to the Presidrent of the Eastern Division, and now as Vice President of the Upstate New York Chapter of the Eastern Division, has allowed me to contribute to that legacy in a meaningful way. I truly hope he would be proud—not just of the work I am involved in, but of the direction York continues to move: honoring the past, welcoming new faces, and ensuring that the tradition we all care about remains strong for generations to come.
