The Train Collectors Association publishes three primary resources regularly: TCA e*Train, Train Collectors Quarterly, and National Headquarters News. The latter two publications are produced specifically for TCA members as print publications that are also available online (must be logged in). TCA e*Train has always been a digital-only publication available to everyone. Discover more on this page.
Looking for hundreds of accurately written articles about toy trains, the train hobby, collecting trains, operating trains, and other subjects of interest? TCA e*Train is THE premier online magazine available to train collectors, hobbyists, and the public here on our website.
Explore a treasury of well-researched information dating back to March 2002—when the publication began—and which never grows old! Also, discover how you can contribute to the magazine as an author.
TCA’s exclusive magazine just for members is The Train Collectors Quarterly. With a publishing history going back to 1955, this publication is a treasure—and all past issues are archived online for members to view in PDF format.
TCA’s Official Newsletter is the National Headquarters News, issued to members five times a year. Several years’ worth of past editions are archived online, and even earlier editions are available through the National Toy Train Library.
Unlimited access to our current and archived TCA publications is certainly a valuable advantage that comes along with joining the Train Collectors Association. And there are many more. Are you ready to make new friends who enjoy the toy train collecting hobby as much as you do? Camaraderie and fun are a few additional benefits of membership. Learn more and get involved today!
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.
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.