Up until 1978 I was under the impression I was the only adult in the world with an interest in toy trains. Through bitter experience it was an interest I had learned to keep to myself (My G--! You PLAY with TOY TRAINS - Hello stupid, you're not a kid - whatsamatter you???? ...and things far worse) . I was walking away from a yard sale with a very nice train set I had just purchased when one of the other browsers rushed up to me and wanted to know what I was going to do with it. I gave him a puzzled/defensive look and said, "Take it home, clean it and run it. Why?"
His response was, "Oh, so you're a member of TCA?" To which I responded, " What is TCA?" When he told me what TCA was I couldn't believe it - I wasn't alone! I got the two signatures, and attended my first meet - a local one - and came away feeling just great. It was only later someone mentioned York and I made it a point to attend - I'm with Nation Wide Lines - York is fun but there is so much more to TCA.