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So I am a little behind the 8 Ball and was hoping I could get some help to answer questions.

I was just able to get vacation approved so that I can go to the York Show this year. This would be my first time attending and I am a brand new TCA member (as of about 48hrs ago). I am a little lost with questions like will I be able to pay at the show to get in if I do not have my ID card yet? Also as far as Thursday at the show goes would I be able to attend that day?

Any insight is immensely appreciated.

Thank You,

Jonathan

Last edited by TheThirdRail91
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I think this is where my concern lies. As a brand new member I do not know my number as of yet.

No issue, they can look you up by your name, telephone number, etc.  You are good.  Same thing happened to me at my first York because of the timing.  You can always contact the TCA if it makes you feel better.

Last edited by Sean's Train Depot

Jonathan, yes, if you became a TCA Member within the past few days, you can participate in all of the York Meet.  When you go to register onsite, if there's any issues because your membership is so "new", just ask for Maria from National.  She's our Membership person.  She'll be able to confirm for the registration team that you indeed are a new member.

Sean, if you don't renew before the York meet, then you can renew on-site at York.  Maria from TCA National will be there to sign people up and renew people.  Please allow a little (or maybe a lot) of extra time, as many people have indicated that they're going to renew their membership on-site at York, so Maria might be very busy.

Stu

Jonathan, yes, if you became a TCA Member within the past few days, you can participate in all of the York Meet.  When you go to register onsite, if there's any issues because your membership is so "new", just ask for Maria from National.  She's our Membership person.  She'll be able to confirm for the registration team that you indeed are a new member.

Sean, if you don't renew before the York meet, then you can renew on-site at York.  Maria from TCA National will be there to sign people up and renew people.  Please allow a little (or maybe a lot) of extra time, as many people have indicated that they're going to renew their membership on-site at York, so Maria might be very busy.

Stu

Yup, plan to re-up!  And get there early.  Its been too long, haha.

@bigkid posted:

another first timer question, I have my badge, if I have that do I need to register when I get there? My TCA number is on the badge....another dumb question, do they have lanyards or an id badge kind of holder, or do I need to get something before hand (easy enough).

No need to register as you have your badge.  You can buy badge holders at the registration table too.

Since this is your first York meet, make sure you have a variety of spending bills. Always good to have a bunch of smaller notes to exchange close to what you are paying. Also, you may be overwhelmed by how much you see, don't worry about that. Have a list or something you're really looking for? Bring note cards of what you're looking for and a pen or pencil, pop that in the back of your badge holder. If you do find something you are looking for, specifically something you really want(say like an engine, or BTO stuff), don't walk away and come back later. Chances are if you saw it, it won't be there when you come back(depending on exactly what it is). I've seen stuff at shows that tend to be exactly like this instance, here now gone later. Last time, October 2019, my LTS had a VL Hudson which one of my buddies debated on about getting Thursday evening as he saw it that day. It was there Friday morning for maybe about an hour and a half. Tony(my LTS owner) had said that there was a bunch of people who all looked at it Thursday and thought about it. Friday morning a few people looked at it before one of the other people who saw it Thursday came back to buy it.

My buddy was not exactly kicking himself, but he sort of was. There's always cases like this where you see it, pass it by for now and gone when you return. I had that unfortunate luck of my October 2017 first York. I happen to see a Lionel Dreyfuss Hudson on one of the tables about in the middle of the Orange Hall. I snapped a picture to remind me where it was. All I did was roam around the rest of the hall to see everything else before coming back and it not there. It had only been maybe nearly an hour. York makes and heartbreaks, lol. I'm hoping to locate one this time around as that is the one engine I am kicking myself for. Every time I find one online, it disappears before I can purchase it, haha.

Good luck and enjoy your first York.

@Mike CT posted:

Eastern TCA, sponsor of this meet, has a website.  There is detail on this meet.

Purple Hall charts/Purple Hall dealer names.

Orange Hall Tables/Orange Hall dealer names.

The links they have posted on their website are from 2019.  Does anyone know if they posted charts for this year?

@gftiv posted:

Read Clem's York primer. Link on the TCA sight. Lots of good info especially to a first timer.

The same EDTCA website that I'm looking at, has a link to Clem's primer but it's from 2019.  Does anyone have a link to the 2021 version?  Maybe I'm looking at the wrong page.  Thanks.

@Mallard4468 posted:

If you have time while in the area, try to visit the TCA museum - it's a really nice benefit of membership.  The Choo Choo Barn, Strasburg RR, and Railroad Museum of PA are all nearby, and are highly recommended as well.

I did that once but I only had my 2017 TCA membership card on me but the lady there was very nice and she looked me up in a book they had and I got to go in for free. I still left a small donation anyway. I also recommend the Choo Choo Barn, Strasburg RR, and PRR Museum. And there is a train store a few doors down from the Choo Choo Barn. They do carry O gauge trains and other scales as well. Sorry I forget the name. There is lot of railroad stuff to do in that area. You will enjoy yourself.

There's always cases like this where you see it, pass it by for now and gone when you return. I had that unfortunate luck of my October 2017 first York. I happen to see a Lionel Dreyfuss Hudson on one of the tables about in the middle of the Orange Hall. I snapped a picture to remind me where it was. All I did was roam around the rest of the hall to see everything else before coming back and it not there. It had only been maybe nearly an hour. York makes and heartbreaks, lol. I'm hoping to locate one this time around as that is the one engine I am kicking myself for. Every time I find one online, it disappears before I can purchase it, haha.

Good luck and enjoy your first York.

I agree. If you see something you really want don't hesitate. This has happened to me too. I have learned my lesson (hopefully).

the other thing that can happen is you jump buy the first train you see for a   high price and decide to buy it now. A few minutes or hours later you see the same engine or item for a cheaper price, it's all good and stay calm it's just the way hobbies are now you see it now you don't ! also if you are buying a used engine MAKE SURE YOU TESET IT ON THE test track tables so you don't get burnt

Alan

Last edited by Alan Mancus

In addition to the rule of "buy it when you see it", here are a couple more tips...

Bring cash!  It always helps when negotiating.  I've found that most members will trust another member to write a check, but cash always works.  Also, bring an assortment of bills - if you negotiate a price of $100 down to $85, don't hand over a $100 bill - it can make the seller feel that he should have held out for more.  You never know when you might deal with that person again.

Before you buy from a dealer, ask if there is a discount for cash.  Many dealers will offer a discount or "pay the tax" if you're paying with cash.  However, I've noticed that an increasing number of dealers don't discount for cash, possibly because credit card transactions have become simpler or it syncs up with their bookkeeping software - if there's no discount, whip out the credit card and get your points, and conserve your cash for other purchases.

@MikeH posted:

I appreciate that.  Where did you find it?  IOW, what page do click through?  Is the link somewhere else on the EDTCA site?

Sorry, but can't remember - finding stuff on ED's website isn't easy.  I may have done a google search for 'Clem's York primer 2021'.  That's how I also found the meet notice - couldn't figure it out on ED's website, even though that's where it is...

https://www.easterntca.com/Sit...eet_Notice_Final.pdf

@Theo posted:

Does anyone know what bandit/pre show events are on for the fall 2021 show?? Is the show at the Wyndham Gardens on?? Thought I had seen on Clem’s Primer that it was cancelled, but can’t seem to find that link anymore.

Wyndham Garden this afternoon.....

9008FEE8-6CA5-4FE5-BF15-53172B02E5C2EC513AE6-3CFE-4599-B355-D57AD953AA6E75F22699-4D4E-434F-AEC5-C10B05A6E128D9C2318C-126F-4131-8FFB-CCF6C7B71154

Good prices to be had and people were dealing........mostly PostWar and MPC.....but, a smattering of engines with electronics.

Peter

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Last edited by Putnam Division
@MikeH posted:

The links they have posted on their website are from 2019.  Does anyone know if they posted charts for this year?



The dealer hall charts are for this year.  Open them up and you'll see the dates on them.  That being said, I know of a few dealers who are listed in spite of having confirmed they will not attend so they do not seem to be completely accurate.

-Greg

Last edited by Greg Houser

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