Chronicles of Member Experiences
These articles by TCA members deal with toy train related events and learning in their own experience, reflecting the rich human experiences of thoughtful toy train hobbyists. (Experiences focused on particular aspects such as collecting and restoration will be placed in those categories.)
Visitors may refine their pursuit of specific information by using the Search This Site function at the left, or by viewing the Popular Subjects dropdown above for topics of special interest, which are frequently updated.
- 33 Years - A Tender Time! by Mike Stella. Winter 2008
- An AZ & CA Legend Lives "the real world imitating "ART." by Gordon Wilson. July2003
- Articulating Some Articulated Facts by Bob Mintz. Jan 2003
- Association of American Railroads Teacher's Kit - Part I, by Bill Fuller
- Association of American Railroads Teacher's Kit - Part II, by Bill Fuller. Spring 2007
- Association of American Railroads Teacher's Kit - Part III, by Bill Fuller. Summer 2007
- Association of American Railroads Teacher's Kit - Part IV, by Bill Fuller. Winter 2008
- Association of American Railroads Teacher's Kit - Part V, by Bill Fuller. Spring 2008
- Association of American Railroads Teacher's Kit - Part VI, by Bill Fulle.r Fall 2008
- Behind the Scenes at the TCA Museum - Special Days by Roy Aydelotte. Spring 2006
- Born to be Parents - growing up with American Flyer by Chris Burger. Mar 2003
- Can You Here Me Now??? Lionel was an innovator in wireless technology? by Bob Mintz. Summer2005
- Carail Auction (Richard Kughn's) notice with a Photo Gallery of its cars. July2003
- Christmas Memories by Joyce Bonds Dec 2003
- Creating The Post War Lionel Screen Saver by Steve Wilber. Nov 2003
- DEAD MAN TALKING - some observations on visiting Grizzly Flats. Mar 2003
- DETOURS---Toy trains sidetrack a life -- but in a good way by Dave Hoekstra. Mar 2003
- Dick Kughn - The Man and the Magic He Created by Steve Repergel. July 2003
- “Did You Know Part VIII” by Jim Herron. May2003
- DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY FOR DUMMY UNITS by Bob Mintz. May 2003
- Eyes Of A Child What is the future of the train collecting hobby? by Bill Laughlin. August 2002
- Fallen Flags II by Jim Herron. Feb 2003
- Fallen Flags III by Jim Heron. Mar 2003
- Fighting Ladies and Toy Trains by Dr. Joseph Lechner. Spring 2007
- Grandpa's Lionel Attic Find - buying, selling and rhyming trains.As told by Mike Stella. May 2004
- Ground Zero by Bob Mintz. Fall 2010
- A GS-4, Freedom, Rejuvenation - a look at a Lionel HO offering. by Ernest J. Montgomery. Oct 2003
- The History of the GG1 by Walt Sklenar. Feb 2003
- How Did We Ever Get Along? -"... Looking at the concepts used in “older” layouts" By Brady Burge. Fall 2005
- How Six Boys Built a Railroad - Contributed by The Ives Train Society. May 2004
- In Pursuit of Excellence - World Record Achievements! by Dr. Martin A. Folb. Spring 2008
- INSPIRED VOLUNTEER- A Hospital Mobile Train Display by Don Fries. Jan 2003
- Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's not even Super O… by Paul Olekson. Winter 2013
- Is Lionel on the "Fasttrack" to Success?by Bill Laughlin. Feb 2003
- Just For Fun Licensing Lionel's name by Jim Herron. April 2002
- K-Line Feb Fair Days 2005 - a preview of K-Lines new offerings.By Joe Mania. Spring 2005
- Le Car In The City Of Light An interesting car sold in Europe April 2002
- L!censing 2002 International Lionel offers their name to be licensed at this show by Bob Mintz. July 2002
- Lionel Auction Preview, Chesterfield, MI — July 11, 2001by Steve Serecky. March 2002
- Lionel Had It Right, After All! - a prototype example of spokes on solid drive wheels. By Bill Fuller. Winter 2004
- Lionel in WWII, by Gordon Wilson. Spring 2007
- Looking for Trains, Finding a Nation by Erney Alewine. Summer 2007
- The Man in Black - looking back at Johnny Cash and Lionel Trains. by Bill Meyer. May 2004
- A Marklin Christmas by Ronald J Vance. Dec 2003
- Mickey Saves Lionel From Bankruptcy Article from Toys and Novelty Magazine, February 193. July 2002
- "MTA, Going Your Way!”® by Bob Mintz. Spring 2013
- MTH's Meteoric Rise To Success by Stirling Woodin. April 2002
- My Caboose Story -an artist gets inspiration and creates watercolor Caboose paintings. by George L. Wybenga. Nov 2003
- My Introduction to TCA by Christie M. Wilson. Spring 2013
- My First Train by Mark Boyd. Feb 2003
- "My name is Ron and I collect trains." By Ron Fauset. Summer 2012
- Of Baggage Cars and Baggage - tales of the heart and train collecting.by Alan MacDonald. Oct 2003
- The Pilot House by Bob Mintz. Feb 2003
- The Railroad Photography of Gene Collora, by Bob Mintz. Fall 2008
- Rare Variations, One-of-a-Kind, Fake, Fraud or a Madison Hardare Find...? by Bob Mintz. October 2002
- The Reopening of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum by Courtney Wilson. Fall 2004
- Riley's Summer Vacation – or, “Windows of Opportunity” by Bill Laughlin, President Wichita Toy Train Club. Fall 2005
- Running American Flyer Trains for Children's Hospitals by J. Wayne Beachy. Feb2003
- Scale Or Tinplate During Lionel's postwar heyday, there was no clear distinction between toy trains and model railroads. by Joseph H. Lechner. April 2002
- The Spiritual Dimensions of Model Railroading - some reflections on the hobby. by Bill Laughlin. Spring2006
- SVC Trains - a dealer's perspective of the Internet train business. by Bill Oberst. Feb 2003
- They Should've Taken the Train - why use a truck when a Train will do. by Joseph H. Lechner. Winter 2004
- Thomas Ray Arden, Inventor by Leon Sweet. Summer 2012.
- Top Toys by Bob Mintz - Top Toys by year...How many can you name? May 2002
- Toy Fair 2002 March 2002
- Trains for the Hospital, By Don Fries. Spring 2010
- Travels to the 50th TCA National Convention - "Bet you CAN'T read the whole thing.” by Gordon Wilson. Fall 2004
- Visiting Al Cox in Seattle by Mark Boyd. Summer 2005
- You Gotta Give Him Credit...WHEN Credit is Due (or before the next billing period, whichever comes first) by Stuart Rankin. Oct 2003
- Well I did it now! - A Hafner train up for auction.....and the winner is! by Jerry Loman. Feb 2004
- The Western & Atlantic Railroad Company -- MAKING LEMONDADE OUT OF LEMONS by Joe Endicott. Spring 2008
- Where There is Smoke, There is Lionel - some history and some questions about Lionel's research and development. By Herr Der April Scherz, PhD. May 2004
- The Christmas Gift by Leon Sweet. Winter 2012
- The World's Greatest Hobby (in any gauge!) by Mike Stella. Winter 2008
- Why Not Name it "Madison Software" by Bob Mintz - Looking back at Madison Hardware! June 2002
- Women, they are in TCA, and they are TCA! by Carol Redman McGinnis. Spring 2013
- ZANY ECONOMICS - some commentary on marketing toy trains.by William Laughlin. Mar 2003
