Terminus
Chapter

TRAIN COLLECTORS ASSOCIATION MISSION STATEMENT

 

To develop an appreciation of and to preserve an important segment of history - Tinplate Toy Trains - through research, education, community outreach, fellowship, establishment of collecting standards, and to promote the growth and enjoyment of collecting and operating toy, model, and scale trains.

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A BRIEF HISTORY

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The TCA was founded in Yardley, Pennsylvania in 1954.  Also in 1954, a group of train collectors met on the West Coast and organized the Western Division of the TCA. In 1957, the TCA was incorporated as a non-profit under the statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as an authorized 501(c)(3) entity.

 

The name Terminus was the first given name for the City of Atlanta way back when since it was the last stop and the end of the line of the old Western & Atlantic Railroad. The Western & Atlantic Railroad was the railroad of the famous General & Texas steam locomotives of the renowned “Great Locomotive Chase”. The Terminus Chapter held its first meeting at the house of Richard MacNary in September of 1969.  Bernis McHugh was an Atlanta store owner who was known as a train gatherer.  Mike Kelly worked for Bernis McHugh while also attending Georgia Tech. Bernis McHugh was famous for his Rolodex file of local train aficionados. He, Richard MacNary, and Jack Fulton all helped to put together a list of fellow train fans in the area and invited them all to attend the first Terminus train meeting at MacNary’s home on September 13, 1969. After a successful meeting, the group decided to hold a second train meeting at Jack Fulton's house on December 6, 1969, where they formalized a petition to become part of the TCA. In January of 1970, this group of Atlanta area train enthusiasts traveled down to Florida for a TCA-Southern Division Train Meet, and they petitioned the division for the founding of the Terminus Chapter.  Their provision was presented to the membership in attendance, voted upon, and approved which formally began the Terminus Chapter of the Train Collectors Association. 

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Today, the Terminus Chapter encompasses the TCA members (approximately 275) of the fine State of Georgia.  The TC currently holds three Terminus Chapter Atlanta Toy and Model Train Shows each year plus other member events such as member open houses, field trips, etc.  The Terminus Chapter Toy and Model Train Shows are open to active and current TCA members as well as to the General Public. 

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If you would like to join the Train Collectors Association, then please download this application and send it along with your payment to the TCA in Strasburg, PA.  By living in the State of Georgia as an active and current TCA member, then you are a member of the Terminus Chapter.  The Terminus Chapter does not require any additional dues from its fellow TCA members to be a Terminus Chapter member.  Your dues are paid for by the Terminus Chapter to the Dixie Division for the attendance of each TCA member for each of our Terminus Chapter Atlanta Toy and Model Train Shows.  All we ask is that as a current and active TCA member that you please try to participate and attend our Terminus Chapter events.  This attendance and participation is the support that is necessary to provide for the Terminus Chapter. We appreciate your past, present, and future support. 

 

If you would like to contribute more of your time to be of assistance to the officers and chapter advisors, then please let us know.  The chapter officers and advisors need more volunteer assistance, feedback, and input to be of more assistance to the members of the Terminus Chapter.  Elections of officers for a two year term are held at the beginning of the September Toy and Model Train Show every other year.  The next elections will be in September of 2019 for the two year term beginning on January 1, 2020 through to December 31, 2021.  Please step up to volunteer your time and to help us all here in the Terminus Chapter continue our legacy of train appreciation here in Georgia.