Tag Archives: York-TCA

TCA Eastern Division York Train Meet – April 2026

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I attended the TCA Eastern Division York Train Meet on Thursday this week. I like the Thursday show because it starts late enough in the day that I can leave NJ a little and miss the Philadelphia rush hour traffic. But this is to be the last Thursday event date, they are going over to a Friday-Saturday-Sunday in the Fall. I’ll miss the more relaxed Thursday event.

So why does a Proto48’er go to a mostly 3-Rail event. Because there is some 2-Rail at the show. Besides, with the modern 3-rail models there isn’t much difference converting a 2-rail or 3-rail model to Proto48. Most of the time the work is about the same.

This 2-rail Precision Scale C&O Allegheny looked great had a very nice “take-me-home-price” on it. I was tempted but it’s just doesn’t fit my current modeling focus.

There was also a lot of modern freight cars that were very tempting. I walked past this car three or four times saying I don’t need to purchase ’60’s or ’70’s era models, I need to stay focused on 1952. Thankfully someone purchased them and took away my temptation.

There are also many modern Brass offerings that were done in both 3-rail and 2-rail. Sometimes the price of the 3-rail makes converting one to Proto48 a worth while effort.

Now there were some 3-rail offerings for the Reading modeler at the show. I did see a couple of Atlas O 3-rail models in the halls. The MTH Trainmaster also was a nice looking model. Not anything on my radar since finding an older Sunset Trainmaster about a year ago.

There was also some models at the show for the other Anthracite roads. This Sunset 3rd Rail LNE L-1 was very tempting. Priced much better than the 2-rail offerings out there.

The older Williams FA-1’s I’ve seen converted to 2-rail and into very nice models in the past. There was a lot more models from the PC era at the show. I will admit, that is an era that has always pulled at me because it was what I saw when I first started rail fanning. If there had been more ’70’s era models twenty years ago, I might not be focused on modeling in 1952.

One of the things that always surprises me is you never know what you might see on a table.

As an example a USA Trains Gauge 1 PRR GG1.

Or a pair of Teapots.

I am always surprised how much railroadiana shows up on the tables. How about a Leigh Valley Railroad blueprint on the Application of Ajax Hand Brakes from 1932.

This time there were a number of Erector Sets on tables. I remember my Brother’s in a similar box growing up.

Like I said, you never know what may show up on a table.

As the day wound down and the parking lot started to empty out, I remembered how bad traffic on Route 30 can get leaving during rush hour.

So, I headed out on a back road and enjoyed the drive home. Didn’t add to the drive time. But did remove the stress of the Route 30 parking lot/freeway.

York for me is a lot of walking for very few models for a Proto48 modeler. But I keep finding things that make it worth while and keep bringing me back.

TCA Eastern Division York Train Meet – October 2024

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Today, I attended my fourth TCA Eastern Division York Train Meet (aka York). They are growing on me. Do these shows hold much interest for a Proto48’er? Much more than I use to think.

While there are very few 2 rail O Scale models on the tables, compared to the number of 3 rail models, there are some. Sadly, I did not see any Proto48 models on the tables, but I really did not expect to see any. I did see more 2 rail models than I really expected too.

There was a vendor in the Orange Hall with both a number of Atlas O 2 rail freight cars and locomotives. I saw 4 SW-9’s, a half dozen ALCo C630’s, an ALCo C425, an ALCo RS-1 and some more modern EMD units. All at very good prices. Some were very tempting, but I didn’t want any more era sliding. I need to stay focused on my 1952 modeling period.

There were some 3 rail models for the Reading fans out there. This MTH FM TrainMaster is nice. Not as finely detailed as a Car & Locomotive Works model, but at a quarter of the price it could be good starting point.

There was a 3 rail SGL set on a table. Thankfully, I’m fine with the SGL G-3 I have. My G-3 is already converted to Proto48. I just need to find the time to install the DCC into it.

Atlas had a pair of new models on display at the show. First is an Atlas Master 73′ Center divider flat car. It was a very nice looking car. It will appeal to the modern modelers. The thought the graphics on the car were very nicely done.

Next is an Atlas Premier PS-5344 box car.

I was disappointed to see that Atlas’ new locomotive releases have DCS installed instead of DCC as the recent F7 runs had. Why can’t the manufacturers stay with industry standards like DCC? I wonder how a DCS release would go over in HO? And yet we in O scale have it shoved onto us. When it is not supported they will came back and say something like, there are no more 2 railers out there.

On to a more pleasant thought. This was a model on the Altoona Model Works Table. I liked it.

And let us not forget that this show is just a couple of weeks before Halloween.

TCA Eastern Division York Train Meet – April 2024

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Today, I attended my third TCA Eastern Division York Train Meet (aka York). Do these shows hold much interest for a Proto48’er? More than I use to think. The image above shows one of the five halls. While there are very few 2 rail O Scale models on the tables, there are some. Here is a USH PRR I1 with a price of $450 on it.

Having come from the Chicago March Meet which had just over 300 tables of 2 rail O Scale and the Strasburg O Scale 2 Rail Meet with over 90 tables of 2 rail O Scale. This show is massive. They even have a shuttle bus for getting between the Halls.

The show had newly released Atlas-O models. The Atlas site had indicated that the non-powered units did not ship with last month’s powered unit shipping. But there was one of the new unpowered Reading F7’s on the tables. I will post more about these in a couple of weeks.

There were guys selling custom weathered cars at the show. This example of an Atlas-O Trainman 70 ton triple hopper wearing the as-built 1956 paint. This weathering is heavier than I prefer, YMMV.

There are a number of tables of vendors selling trucks and automobiles. These models don’t care how many or how far apart your rails are.

I saw an interesting pairing on a table a CNJ Trainmaster and a CNJ Heritage unit. Kind of a sharp contrast. I have to say that I saw examples of the later Trainmasters from Lionel and MTH which both looked very nice.

The 3 rail Trainmasters almost looks like a better starting point than a Sunset brass model. Both were nicely painted, just have to fix the pilots and convert them. Not sure I really want to add another project to the list for models out of my era.

This was an interesting car on a table. Way too modern for me, but it is amazing what they are producing in the 3 rail world.

This was my third time attending a York show. I had dismissed this show in the past. Now I look forward to it. I didn’t buy a lot, couple of freight cars, a couple of automobiles, and some tools. It was a great day not to be at work and see some friends in the halls.

TCA Eastern Division York Train Meet – October 2023

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Yesterday, I attended my second TCA Eastern Division York Train Meet (aka York). I had always thought that as a Proto48’er that these shows held little to no interest for me. I can say, I was wrong. While there are very few 2 rail O Scale models on the tables, there are some. I came home with two “new to me” brass cars from both the Spring show and now the Fall show.

In addition there were some building manufactures there, tool suppliers and also people you haven’t seen in ages. One them was Robbie Kimmey, who I used to see over at Fran Pfiel’s house. It was really nice catching up after almost 20 years. Robbie is shown here with John Dunn.

The York show is big and there are many halls. Below was just one hall and I was standing about half way inside the hall.

Altoona Model Works was there displaying their model offerings. I always liked their Brewery complex model.

As I said there were 2 rail models in the show. Here is an image within the Trainz display. Nothing on the table for a Reading modeler, but still great to see nice 2 rail models being offered for sale at what I always thought was a 3 rail tinplate show.

After walking around the show it was nice to go out for a nice dinner at the local Hoss’s Steak and Sea House. Walking into the lobby you are quickly reminded that we are in York, PA, the home of the Harley Davidson assembly plant.