Looking at E-Bay again, I see a number of TCA National Convention cars up for auction. Some are very reasonably priced and some are listed in the hundreds.
Can you tell me a little about these cars? Are they collectable in their own right as a series or are they like souvenirs of attendance at the convention? Are they give-aways or do they have to be purchased? As always, many thanks.
TCA National Convention Cars are SOLD to MEMBERS only, to help defray the Convention costs.
TCA Conventions are held in different cities each year and the cars are about that city or its railroad.
Each member MAY buy more than one.
Cars MUST be advanced ordered and orders must be received by Jan.1 of the year of the Convention. They are shipped after the Convention, I just received my July 2009 Convention Cars this week.
As a limited production car it MAY increase in value.
For next years June 2010 Convention in Baltimore, the price range of the cars are from $64.95 to $124.95 each with the Standard Gauge Crane at $365.95. Cars or items are designed as a "Souvenir". They are made by Lionel/MTH Tinplate (Standard Gauge Pedestal Crane), a Lionel "O" Scale Hot Metal Car, a K-Line by Lionel Scale "O" boxcar, a K-Line by Lionel Kids Club "O" Gauge Aquarium Car, A pair of American Flyer "S" gauge Carling Beer refrig. cars, and a U.S.A. Trains "G" Gauge B&O Speeder.
In the "Old Days" we had fewer members and each menber was limited to one car, they are scarce and collectible.
Don U. TCA 73-5735
The 4 National Train Clubs ( TCA, TTOS, LCCA, LOTS ) all have convention cars to commemorate, that years convention. The purpose of the cars are for the clubs to generate some revenue to keep the club in the black. Some of the cars will increase in value and some will tank in value. It is a crap shoot to determine if the car's value will go up or down. Some local regional train clubs also offer limited edition cars.
Bill T.
Don U. - Bill T. Thanks so much for the information and prompt responses. (I learn something about the hobby everyday. Guess that's why I'm still "into" trains.)
New England TCA (NETCA) has a pair of cars made each year, a car in "O" gauge and one in "S" gauge. They sell for about $60 each. The "O" cars are sent from Lionel with box and shipping sleave to Weaver in PA who does the graphics, about 300 are made. The "S" gauge car , American Flyer by Lionel is all Lionel, between 100 and 200 are made.
The production of each car is licensed by a New England company, Poland Spring, or Cape Cod Potato Chip, or Fisk Tire, or Indian Motorcycle, etc. Very collectible. The sale of the cars is just enough that we do not have to pay Dues to our Division.
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