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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2019 12:33:29 GMT
Let's put the York show aside for a minute, and talk about what the TCA is doing to appeal to today's hobbyist. In my opinion not much. While the TCA leadership talks a good game about expanding the tent. I only see a origination that still caters to the Pre/post war hobbyist. First let me say there's nothing wrong with you post war guys, but sorry to say, you are a shrinking part of the community which is not being replaced. Those getting into the hobby are into modern trains and have no interest in past glory.
Case in point, the latest TCA quarterly. There was not one article in it that interest me. Nothing about modern trains, all about the past. I scanned it found nothing and chucked it.
Now don't get me wrong, I want the TCA to survive, we need the TCA to keep going, we need the TCA museum in Strasburg. But it's time for the TCA to not necessarily let go of the past but get with the times and fast.
I'll tell you without the York show, I wouldn't be a member. I see no other reason as the TCA is constructed now to be a member. For the TCA to survive they need to realize that and adapt NOW. The membership is shrinking, attendance for the York show is shrinking which is the main reason to be a TCA member.
What say you? Am I wrong, am I right?
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Post by JDaddy on Oct 14, 2019 13:01:50 GMT
Gary- I just had this conversation on the phone with a colleague of mine when I received the latest TCA quarterly magazine. I said these are nice articles for 50 years ago. We really need articles about NEW released items. Why are we talking about trains that are 80 to 90 years old? We should be talking about new products, features, new technology, future collectables? What is collectable this day in age? How many were made? Not one topic about the brass hybrids and future of collecting of vision line engines. Well ... "lets say there is lots of opportunity for the future of the TCA."
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2019 13:08:38 GMT
Gary I think you have a great point. I did the same thing after going thru the latest issue. As a matter of fact I told my wife I felt bad throwing it out but there was nothing in it for me.
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Post by ptc on Oct 14, 2019 13:37:59 GMT
TCA is faced with a lot of issues. The Museum is a big expense and probably if a return on investment study was done, it would dicatate not continuing it any longer. Yes, it is near the PRR Meuseum and the Starsburg RR, but if it was located on say route 30, It would get a lot more traffic. It is in an out of the way location at best and the money that was spent on thr sewer issues, well, this did not help.
It also needs a facelift to bring the publications up to the modern era.
If it wasn't for the York Meet, the future would be uncertain.
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Post by dennym57 on Oct 14, 2019 13:42:31 GMT
This isn't the first time this subject has been brought up. I wouldn't belong to the TCA if it wasn't for York and considering it is probably my last trip there it could also be the end of my membership. I agree that all the mail I get goes straight into the trash or is bathroom reading.
When we are all gone I don't think it will survive.
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Post by laz57 on Oct 14, 2019 14:50:14 GMT
Same here about not being a member if not for the YORK meet. As I stated before I only live an hour north of YORK. It is an easy ride to and from the meet and I enjoy the greatest train meet in the USA. But TCA really isn’t helping themselves much. If they were they would be advertising the YORK Meet in the local papers and cutting the public a good price to enter all the buildings. This might get more membership? But then again the members in those halls would be carping about the public coming into their domain. TCA needs people and without new members who knows how long it will last?
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Post by Sir James on Oct 14, 2019 15:12:49 GMT
Agree TCA is lagging in many areas. Too much old and nothing new. The mag. is almost a repeat every month. With York down to 2 days an all day car ride is hardly worth it. I will also add what's been said before $50 why not $40? some left then and new members are probably just Yorke's.
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Post by Traindiesel! on Oct 14, 2019 15:47:42 GMT
The reason there are few modern train articles in the TCA Quarterly is because no one writes any. All the articles in there are written by members. So if you want to see more written about newer trains, write one.
I don’t have a crystal ball or have all the answers, but offering a public discount to enter the York Meet kills any incentive to join. Why join if you can get in for less as a non- member? I think there should be more advertising but most of the real train people in the York area are already there. The only ‘public’ you’re going to capture are mostly non buyers looking for something to do. Not exactly what vendors are hoping for.
The hobby is getting lost in all the other forms of entertainment and social activities. It’s up to us to get new people into model trains. The TCA is just a vehicle to present the trains and the social aspects of the hobby. I believe the TCA does well with that. As for the museum, where else can you see firsthand the history and traditions of the model train hobby in one place. It’s a beautiful venue that serves a purpose beyond any cost analysis. Looking to shut it down flies in the face of trying to grow the hobby.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2019 16:54:20 GMT
I can't write, I went to public schools. All make good points and keep them coming. Maybe I'll send a link of this thread to the powers to be. Maybe some good can come out of it.
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Post by ptc on Oct 14, 2019 17:28:24 GMT
Brian makes a good point. I bet they would love more articles about the modern era.
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Post by twincities on Oct 14, 2019 18:23:21 GMT
I am not a writer per say but here are my thoughts, The TCA as of today how many young people are on the board that are deciding how things are done in the eastern TCA? I think the TCA was originally formed by people approximately 20-30 years old that grew up with the conventional Lionel and American flyer trains of years past and while we as a whole are shrinking in numbers from that era the younger people that are into the more modern trains where is there presence on the TCA board or committee that could be leading the TCA into the modern day trains and slowly weening its self from the conventional era?
I also read that some feel the TCA needs to advertise more so I also read that the membership is shrinking thus lost dollars to allow that to be a viable option in todays world advertising the TCA's presence. so how about possibly some younger folks into modern trains ban together and raise some money to advertise in a local paper or a world wide magazine publication alerting some to the TCA's presence? and as to the shrinking of the current TCA's eastern division York show well I remember nary a person back in the early days of o-gauge train forums ever complaining of its 2 day time frame or it wasn't worth there time driving to York what I do remember is all the posts of what they came home with from that 2 day York TCA show.
like I said this is only an observation but the younger crowd that are into the newer trains you have to make all this happen as like I said we conventional operating folks are dwindling in size and so the guard is changing and its up to you to keep the TCA or something that could replace it going way after we folks from the golden era of toy trains are mere thoughts of an era long gone.
and lastly I am not a TCA member and I really do not have a bone to pick here so please read this as an outsider and not as someone trying to find fault or create a issue as no malice is or was intended.
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Post by JDaddy on Oct 14, 2019 20:10:28 GMT
I have been a TCA member for about 5 years. And really find it more of a liability than an asset. I have been attacked by other TCA members for money back on items I had listed on ebay- they did not meet their grading standards, and they formally complain to the TCA board about me and demanded I give them a partial refund on items purchased. Eight dollars on a Ross switch, which was sold for 40 and was worth almost double that was a prime example... Really?
Over the past 10 years I have felt approaching anyone in that close tight knit group would just be a personal blow, allot of skepticism and I fell a sense of self-empowerment of owning a rare collections, instead of sharing it with the public... I believe allot of the current members feel the same way, just join for the York meet and keep quiet.
There will be a changing of the guard and a passing of the torch to the younger generation, but with many being ostracized, I'm not sure if it will survive or even be an interest in the future.
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Post by JDaddy on Oct 14, 2019 20:32:21 GMT
Brian - As I stated above articles about newly released items would be great! Note that Eric Siegel's You tube product reviews get hundreds of hits a day. Eric is a true ambassador of the hobby, and I usually will tune in to see his latest train purchase. new features, and his coolest features. He is purely objective and really reflect where the hobby is going today. Maybe a couple paged article about What's new, what's collectable in the modern era would sure infuse some excitement the TCA periodical. Also, it would be nice if they cameoed in on the dealer halls, interviews, Who will have what at the hall to build some excitement at York. Trainworx has a WHOLE row of tables in the Orange hall this York … what is that all about. What dealers are new, what new products are they bringing. Have a small layout dedicated to DCS and Legacy testing. I cannot tell you how many engines I get back to the hotel and they are just junk, etc... Like I say... so many opportunities. That whole meet needs to be restructured... I cannot tell you how many times I go up to a table.. like the OGR booth and I get this look like " who the Heck are you and what can you do for me" Really?! You kind of just want to give a them a boot in the behind with your size 14. What individual or kid is going to talk to them? How are they really a value add to the hobby?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 14, 2019 20:59:47 GMT
I joined TCA a couple years ago when I got into this hobby. I like the magazine. As a newbie I learned from it (not old enough to remember pre/postwar/MPC eras). I must admit though after less than 2 years as a member of TCA, I find myself doubting I will continue to donate $50/year. I'm already a little weary of the content. I have no interest in the museum. While nothing can replace personal interaction, I do think the Internet made huge dent in these types of organizations that will never be recovered. So while the membership ages out, IMO the TCA will never replace them. Even if the same percentage of young people were into trains now as in the 1940-60's, it would be impossible to convince them (in meaningful numbers) to go to York, PA for a swap meet when the Internet exists. The TCA will just exist as a much much smaller organization and that's okay.
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Post by ptc on Oct 14, 2019 21:10:18 GMT
"That whole meet needs to be restructured"
Just add to that JDaddy, the entire TCA needs a consultant.
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