My first York

If you're limited to only 1 day, I recommend Friday as you will have more time to see things. Here's a copy of the meet notice:

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

Welcome to York--there's no other toy train meet like it. And.....welcome to TCA!!

John

If you are coming to see layouts, you will be very disappointed.

Congrats on going to your first York.  Well worth a 90-minute drive, IMO; wish it was only that much for me. 

Some caveats, however.  The layouts are definitely not the main attraction (as mentioned above), and some of them are in a member hall to which you will not have access.  While the dealer halls have a wide selection, if your wants are very specific you might find it beneficial to join TCA and have access to all of the halls. 

Just a heads up, registered guest have access to all halls. Only the public are limited to dealer halls. Enjoy your first York experince.

It depends on the York whether the layouts are worthwhile.  A couple years ago the Nat Capitol Trackers had a really impressive multi-level layout, one of the best traveling layouts I've ever seen!

How does one register online (or even in person) as a guest? The first on-line question is your TCA #. I thought a member has to register you as a guest. If you are coming as a non-member, you get your I.D. at the orange hall, but you are not able to go into the red, white, blue, or silver halls.

Joe Hohmann, You have been a member of this forum 14 years. You should know all the rules about York.

Gentlemen, thank you for the replies.

Joe - This are separate on-line registrations for TCA members and for guests.

Below is a screen shot for the guest registration:

You can only do this one time and I believe it makes you a guest of the Eastern Division and not an individual member.  This should be for all halls, as it is different than the public admission.

Jim

Jim, You have it right.

I just don't get tcas. Reasoning.. I quit tca cause they upped their membership.

Now..to get more money..they open to the public..

But..they don't allow full access..now if you're trying to impress someone to join. Why. Only give them controlled access.

They should see all that is offered..

When you buy a car do you just look at it.. Then buy it.?...

Edit..car..should be trainl

riki posted:

..........................

But..they don't allow full access..now if you're trying to impress someone to join. Why. Only give them controlled access.

They should see all that is offered........................

Wash, Rinse, Repeat.

This comes up every 6 months.  It's an issue with the tax man.  Member sellers (Red/White/Blue/Silver) are not required to collect sales tax and file with the state.  Sales are considered limited person to person transactions within a club (an agreement the State has had with TCA for quite some time). 

Many members in those halls are small time and not serious about selling large quantities of merchandise to warrant the hassle and paperwork needed to obtain a tax number. (and then file every six months, possibly even if you no longer attend! - I know of one fellow from this forum who previously had a small booth in a Dealer hall that has mentioned the state still requires him to formally file to prove he has no sales for each meet, even though it's been several years since he has attended!).

If the public were to be admitted to those member halls, the tax man would not allow that agreement to continue.  Many members (myself included) would no longer ever consider getting a table to do a few sales, if a tax number was required.

-Dave

The tax rule needs to be changed..and that should be changed by the state. 

That should be tcas agenda.. Private sales tax exempt.

In fact..york is a private...gathering.. The public side tax tca.. Regardless if its a private sale.

There are lawyers on here that can write it up.  And also hound your legislature..

OK, did not know you could be a guest of the Eastern Division. I was going by the form in the mailer, the one where a member filled-in info about his guests. The other thing was, for the on-line registration, you seem to need to enter your TCA# and last name just to proceed.

Read Clem's York Primer. It will tell you most of what you want to know. Dealer halls and member halls are open different hours.

3rd rail / GDD will mostly be in the dealer halls. It is hard to cover York in a day unless you are looking for specific items and only specific items.

Hey Joe...come as you are and if need be get registered as someone's guest. My drive time is approximately the same as yours.  Why do I keep attending York????  He  he  he....you'll find out, I'm quite sure you will luv it, not too mention "Putnam Division's "...aka Peters bow tie.

Dan Padova posted:

"Let me tell you how it will be
There's one for you, nineteen for me
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman

Should five per cent appear too small
Be thankful I don't take it all
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah I'm the taxman

If you drive a car, I'll tax the street,
If you try to sit, I'll tax your seat.
If you get too cold I'll tax the heat,
If you take a walk, I'll tax your feet.

Don't ask me what I want it for
If you don't want to pay some more
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman

Now my advice for those who die
Declare the pennies on your eyes
'Cause I'm the taxman, yeah, I'm the taxman
And you're working for no one but me."

 

George Harrison

 

You forgot Mr. Heath and Mr. Wilson.

LOL!

jd-train posted:

It looks like I may be able to attend my first ever York Meet this April!    As I am not currently a TCA member, I will be registering on-line as a guest.  If things go well, I may even become a member.

As I now live just south of Baltimore, it is a 90-minute drive and I will be coming for day.  My primary interest is to see the layouts and cruise the tables looking for one or two items on my pretty selective want list.  The item at the top of my want list would be a set of 3^rd Rail/GGD B&O Heavyweights.  I’m guessing that the best day to attend would be the first day of the meet, Thursday?  Are all of the layouts, up and running the first day?

While I have the meet hours, I am wondering if there is a schedule of events for the meet?

Jim

On Thursday night many forum members gather at Quaker Steak and Lube restaurant on Kenneth Road.   Come when you can as we pretty much have the entire back on the restaurant.  Early birds get there between 5:00 and 5:30 but many don't come until later. If a hostess asks, just ask her to point you to the "train people".   Just ask if anyone is sitting at any open chair and if not, sit and join fellow forumites for dinner.  After folks eat there is a lot of walking around and socializing so you're by no means tied to one table for the evening.

Friday afternoon at 2:00 pm is the OGR Grandstand meeting where numerous manufacturers give short presentations.

For "official" gatherings, please check the Eastern Div website or York flyer for details.

Please introduce yourself if you decide to attend - it's always nice to meet folks. 

-Greg

I’ll bet you’ll go home with more items that were not on your list. Have a great time and take it all in. Don’t forget the people. Stop and talk. 

Enjoy your first time at York!  You won't be disappointed!  

riki posted:

The tax rule needs to be changed..and that should be changed by the state. 

That should be tcas agenda.. Private sales tax exempt.

In fact..york is a private...gathering.. The public side tax tca.. Regardless if its a private sale.

There are lawyers on here that can write it up.  And also hound your legislature..

I think Gunrunners tag line sums it up best - Nothing is so easy as the job you imagine for someone else to do.

aussteve posted:

riki posted:

The tax rule needs to be changed..and that should be changed by the state. 

That should be tcas agenda.. Private sales tax exempt.

In fact..york is a private...gathering.. The public side tax tca.. Regardless if its a private sale.

There are lawyers on here that can write it up.  And also hound your legislature..

I think Gunrunners tag line sums it up best - Nothing is so easy as the job you imagine for someone else to do.

 

Yup.  All of those demands would most likely just kill off the existing agreement.  I'm actually surprised it exists to begin with. 

But hey, the more demands one makes, the more likely the state will cave and go towards collecting even less revenue, right?   (not likely!)

(all said with tongue firmly in cheek, sarcasm, etc... for those that can't tell... I'm sure pursuing such a list of demands would end badly for all involved)

-Dave

I admire the discipline of the people going to York. I could NEVER go because I couldn't keep my wallet in my pocket. I do LOVE reading the post-mortem reports and seeing the videos on YouTube and the posts to this forum. That allows me to enjoy vicariously --and saves me a small fortune!

Don

riki posted:

The tax rule needs to be changed..and that should be changed by the state. 

That should be tcas agenda.. Private sales tax exempt.

In fact..york is a private...gathering.. The public side tax tca.. Regardless if its a private sale.

There are lawyers on here that can write it up.  And also hound your legislature..

Have you actually read TCA's information regarding this?  Perhaps you should consider retaining a lawyer on TCA's behalf.

Definitely go on Friday. You will need as much time as possible to see all there is to see 

jd-train posted:

It looks like I may be able to attend my first ever York Meet this April!    As I am not currently a TCA member, I will be registering on-line as a guest.  If things go well, I may even become a member.

As I now live just south of Baltimore, it is a 90-minute drive and I will be coming for day.  My primary interest is to see the layouts and cruise the tables looking for one or two items on my pretty selective want list.  The item at the top of my want list would be a set of 3^rd Rail/GGD B&O Heavyweights.  I’m guessing that the best day to attend would be the first day of the meet, Thursday?  Are all of the layouts, up and running the first day?

While I have the meet hours, I am wondering if there is a schedule of events for the meet?

Jim

Jim, Congrats on your first York Meet. My first was last October. I am so glad I went.

A few observations: 1. pack in your coat pocket a few plastic grocery bags. You will need them for the "stiff" you will buy. 2. Limit the cash you carry  to a few hundred dollars to avoid excessive impulse spending. 3. Carry a shopping list with the manufacturers' part numbers so you get exactly what you need. 4. Slow down and accept the crowds. It can be frustrating to maneuver through so many crowded aisles. 5. Talk to people. York isn't exactly a meet and greet cocktail party, but if you get folks talking you will have a ball. 6. Give back! It isn't all about you and me. No one is making a lot of money staging these events. It is a volunteer labor of love. Drop a few bucks for a TCA membership and try a local TCA club. 7. Come to the breakfast at Tic-Toc Diner on Rt 30 off I-83 on Thursday morning if you can and meet a whole bunch of great guys. Then spend 5 hours from noon to 5pm at the Meet. That will be enough for a first time.

Pete

The Tic-Toc Diner?  Where's that?  I usually stop at the Round-The-Clock diner there.

gunrunnerjohn posted:

The Tic-Toc Diner?  Where's that?  I usually stop at the Round-The-Clock diner there.

My mistake, John! You are right! It is the Round the Clock Diner. I will bring the maple syrup again.

Pete, You are confusing it with the Tick Tock Tea Room.

Yes, as John says, it's the Round-the-Clock Diner (I-83 and Route 30).......I will organize this again......about 2-3 weeks before York, I will post the itinerary......as a sneak preview:

Thursday before York  (April 11 this year)....from 8-10 roughly AM. The invitation is open to all, including spouses.

Peter

Joe Hohmann posted:

Pete, You are confusing it with the Tick Tock Tea Room.

Never did develop a thirst for tea,  Joe  Somehow it seems un-American.

I think I confused it with the Tick Tock Diner in Clifton NJ.

HCSader73 posted:

I think I confused it with the Tick Tock Diner in Clifton NJ.

I think that was named after a Mafia time bomb that went off near there in 1948.