Toy Train Resource Links

The internet is rich with information about toy trains. Your favorite search engine will find millions of pages!

Although we can’t keep exhaustive listings here, the following may be of assistance. We are not responsible for content on other sites.

General Information about the Toy Train Hobby

World’s Greatest Hobby. A site rich in information, with links to manufacturers and other resources.

Model and Scale Train Manufacturers

Accurail
Aristro-craft Trains
Athearn Model Trains
Atlas Model Railroading Co.
Bachmann Trains
Broadway Limited
Kato USA
LGB
Lionel
Marklin
Menards
Micro-Mark Model Train Supplies
MTH
USA Trains
USA Track Standard Gauge Track Only
Walthers

Historical Background to Model Train Manufacturers

Index of Model Train Manufacturers
Cornucopia of Toy Trains
Toy Train Hall Of Fame

TCA Divisions and Chapters

Check our list. There are several dozen local sites in operation.

Insurance for Train Collections

J. A. Bash & Company. Insurance coverage for members of the Train Collectors Association.

Publications and Websites

There are many excellent publications related to toy and model trains and many are available with as a digital subscription.
Kalmbach Publishing publishes a number of books about toy trains, and real ones too.
O Gauge Railroading a great resource for operating and modeling O scale layouts and trains.
Cowcatcher Magazine a blend between model and today’s railroad News.
RailServe what isn’t on RailServe? Shows, railroadiana, webcams, photos and much more.

About Real Railroads

Trains Magazine
Railfan and Railroad
Railpace
Operation Lifesaver
Cyberspace World Railroad

Boy Scout Railroading Merit Badge

Visiting the Strasburg Area

Local lodging and nearby attractions in Strasburg and Lancaster County.

Pennsylvania Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau
Lancaster County Museums
The Town of Strasburg

Railroad Sites Near National Toy Train Museum

Strasburg Rail Road
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
Red Caboose Motel
Choo Choo Barn

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.