Continuation from TCA dues...
Sorry, I thought there was more to say. I had no idea a discussion thread could be ended and people barred from posting. I have not seen that in discussion forums on other web sites.
I agree that TCA is the much better option for collectors of non-Lionel trains and pre-war trains. In fact, I'd say TCA is better for collectors in general and LCCA is better for the Lionel operator. However, a big piece of the collector market is Lionel postwar (my particular interest), and I just don't find much in TCA membership for that. I also agree with the comment that CTT has lost value for the collector. It's become much more for operators/modelers since Swanson took over.
If the abundance of ads in the TCA National HQ news supports the publication costs, then why does it cost so much to send out? You'd think dues would go down!
Finally, as a postwar Lionel collector, I think the entire hobby is shifting toward operating and model railroading and away from collecting. This is why postwar Lionel prices continue to rise for the very high end/high grade items, but has significantly fallen for anything C-7 and below. It's actually a great time to enter the hobby as an operator. There is a large variety of trains available at reasonable prices if you are willing to buy used trains to run on a layout. Most C-7/C-6 items sell for half what they did 10 years ago.
TCA, LCCA, and other clubs will be around for a long time, but membership is going to decline unless an organization gets aggressive about meeting the needs of members and bringing new people into the hobby. Just sharing an opinion that LCCA seems to be doing that, while TCA is not, which is a question those who collect/operate Lionel need to consider.
Actually, you see more of it on other forums. When people start to make snide comments because someone else disagrees, it usually doesn't end well.
Bob Keller
If you are a member of TCA then you should be able to find out what your dues are being used for...I will continue to pay my dues till the amount exceeds what I am willing, or able, to spend.As for content in CTT... I stopped my subscription a year or so ago due to finances, but prior to doing so I felt the content was getting much better. But this is the problem with 'opinion' threads...
https://brentsandsusanspicutures.shutterfly.com/
Ogaugeoverlord Also the trend toward coverage of operation started under Neil, since Carl has been editor we have had a significant increase in postwar coverage.
Also the trend toward coverage of operation started under Neil, since Carl has been editor we have had a significant increase in postwar coverage.
Yes, I can see that, though the postwar coverage has changed. The stories seem to be more of either human interest, such as the article on Bill Gaston in the current issue, or a review of a particular catalog year, such as the cover story on the B&O items from 1956. Maybe I'm being picky or too specialized, but what I really like is learning something new about postwar trains, either insights to operation, production, or variations. I think an interesting series for the collector (and even operator) would be taking a particular item and present good pictures and descriptions of the variations of that item during it's production. A good example is the 6356, which has at least three lettering variations. I find many people don't know the difference between the heat stamped variation and rubber stamped variation, yet this is a common enough car that you'll come across both (if you are looking) in a short amount of time. It seems there were more articles of this type 10+ years ago than CTT is doing today. Maybe that is not what the current readership wants?
I have all issues of CTT. Some are better than others, but they are all good!
I was once a member of the LCCA but I dropped out because they stopped having meets in the Chicago area and even when they did it was only once a year. The publications are good but I find belonging to the TCA has more advantages than disadvantages.
It means something when you buy and sell trains to say you are a member of the TCA. It's like being a doctor and belonging to the AMA.
BigAl 956 It means something when you buy and sell trains to say you are a member of the TCA. It's like being a doctor and belonging to the AMA.
I think that was true once upon a time, but in an era when the majority of trains bought and sold is on e-bay or other internet sites, the value has been lost. Very few listings I see list membership in any train organization. In fact the most common feature of train listings is: buyer beware....
Very few listings I see list membership in any train organization.
We must be looking at different stuff. Many of the Ebay listing that I peruse for trains are listed by TCA members who give their membership numbers. For those who are not TCA members, please be aware that the TCA cannot assist a non-member in a dispute with a member. Dispute mediation is only available when both parites are TCA members. I've been a TCA member for over thirty years. While I have mentioned going to TCA mediation to a trading partner once or twice, I never have actually used TCA mediation services.
Being a TCA member means you buy and sell by the same rules of conduct weather you sell on eBay or at York. You know that old theme song that goes..."Look for the union label..." I always look for that TCA member number when I buy. If it's not there then I agree, it's buyer beware.
Allan R. TCA 98-47496
Allan there's ones who don't, some to me have that membership just to make others think there so good to buy from. especially in the auction community ( not only e-bay)
Don't get me wrong I see the benefit of TCA but it just hasn't been in my budget but working it in just so I have it should I ever get to York and for the other benefits that they offer. I think what I can see from the outside looking in it is a good thing to have a lot look at just the ability to goto York I see other things and feel it will benefit me.
Life's hard, even harder if your stupid John Wayne
http://rtssite.shutterfly.com/
I belong to both clubs, and feel the TCA is a better fit for me. I have two smallish layouts and run everything I collect, but I think I am more of a collector than operator. Both my layouts are more like displays than model railroads. I go to York once a year, and enjoy the Quarterly probably more than any publication I get. I went to the national convention last year, and was underwhelmed. I don't think I will attend another.
The LCCA has had a few events within a few hours of me since I have joined, but timing just has not worked out for me. The newsletter seems better done than the TCA's, but the content is not as interesting to me. Their interchange track listings seem better to me, both online and definitely in print. Club cars are really not my thing, which seems to be a big part of the appeal for this club. I am going to the national convention in Indy this summer. I hope for a better experience than last summer's.
I hope I don't have to choose one or the other anytime soon due to finances, as I think I get a lot out of each of them.
As for dealing with other TCA members, I have only been a member for three years, and have yet to have a bad dealing. A lot of sellers will ship an item on receipt of my check instead of waiting for it to clear, which is nice. I do not think I would stay a member just for that perk though.
J White
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