National Toy Train Library

04/28/2022

If you are heading to the York Train Show over the next three days, don't forget to stop in the Orange Hall to checkout the National Toy Train Museum and Library Deaccession Sale! All purchases go toward furthering the mission of both the museum and library. We thank you for your support!

Just a reminder for you folks at York this week, the National Toy Train Museum and Library will be having their Deaccession Sale in the Orange Hall starting at noon today! The sale runs through Saturday and is the museum and library's primary fundraiser for the year. All proceeds from the sale go toward furthering the mission of the National Toy Train Museum and Library! Thank you for your support!

04/14/2022

This year's National Toy Train Library exhibit examines Ward Kimball's contributions to the Train Collectors Association. Kimball, an academy award winning Disney animator, had a life long fascination with trains, which eventually led him to join TCA. Kimball was one of TCA's charter members having joined the association prior to the date of TCA's incorporation, March 17, 1957. His influence and involvement with TCA extended well beyond his term as TCA's National President (1974-1975). He authored 19 articles in TCA's Quarterly magazine and designed 22 covers for the Quarterly and added his creative, artistic touch to many of TCA's most recognizable symbols and landmarks. The Ward Kimball exhibit will be on display at the National Toy Train Museum from Good Friday until the end of the year. For more information on Ward Kimball and his legacy to TCA, please visit the National Toy Train Library's website https://www.tcatrains.org/library/.

03/08/2022

In honor of International Women's Day and Women's History Month, the National Toy Train Library would like to recognize the late Kae Yohe, who became the first woman to serve as President of the Train Collectors Association in 1996. During her tenure as TCA President (1996-1997), Kae pushed for an increase in membership recruitment efforts, oversaw the board of director's approval of the National Toy Train Museum and Library's building expansion plans and worked tirelessly to promote the "world's greatest hobby" of collecting and operating toy trains. Two other women have since followed in Kae's trailblazing footsteps to serve as TCA President: Carol McGinnis (2012-2013) and Katie Elgar (2014-2015).

02/02/2022

The library recently completed a display on the postwar American manufacturer Penn Line. The former Boyertown, PA company became known for their realistic H0 scale model train kits during the 1950s and early 1960s. Unfortunately, Penn Line went out of business in 1963. This display highlights some of the catalogs and sales folders from the National Toy Train Library's collection of Penn Line paper.

01/21/2022

We want to thank all the TCA members and others who support the National Toy Train Library. Because of your support, we were able to purchase these wonderful new tables for the library!

01/01/2022

Happy New Year from the National Toy Train Library! This festive cover is from the January 2000 issue of National Headquarters News, the official newsletter of the Train Collectors Association. In June 2000, TCA's National Convention was held in Grand Rapids, Michigan and was hosted by the Great Lakes Division.

12/25/2021

On the Twelfth Day of Magazines…

What's better than a ride on a Christmas trolley? The December 1998 issue of Switcher, the journal of the Lionel Operating Train Society (LOTS), features the Lionel Holiday Trolley Set #11981. We have 242 issues of the Switcher in our collection, spanning from 1981-present.

The National Toy Train Library wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

12/24/2021

On the Eleventh Day of Magazines…

We wish you a happy Christmas Eve with the December 1980 issue of the TTOS Bulletin, a publication of the Toy Train Operating Society. Ward Kimball describes the cover as “what better time than Christmas for young Christopher Lord to play with his granddaddy’s Ives “Whistler” clock work locomotive from the 1880’s!” We have 389 issues of this publication in our collection, spanning from 1966 – present.

12/23/2021

On the Tenth Day of Magazines…

Enjoy another wonderful scene from Angela Trotta Thomas featured on the cover of the November 1995 issue of Classic Toy Trains. Angela Trotta Thomas is the only artist ever licensed by Lionel LLC. Her artwork shows that great love of toy trains shared between father and son. We have 272 issues of Classic Toy Trains in our collection, spanning from 1987 – present, along with special annual issues such as Families and Electric Trains.

12/22/2021

On the Ninth Day of Magazines…

Another artistic Christmas scene graces the cover of one of the British magazines in our collection, The Hornby Railway Collector, published by the Hornby Railway Collectors’ Association (HRCA). The artwork featured on the cover of the Dec. 2005/Jan. 2006 issue was painted especially for the HRCA by member Robert Nixon. We have 562 issues of The Hornby Railway Collector in our collection, spanning from 1969 – present.

12/21/2021

On the Eighth Day of Magazines…

Check out the Winter 1973 issue of The Train Collectors Quarterly, one of the many inventive covers created by Ward Kimball, Disney animator and charter member of the Train Collectors Association. This holiday scene features a #1 gauge Americanized Märklin 0-4-0 clockwork loco, a Doll Co. overhead crane, and a Carette live steamer. TCA members can view issues of the Quarterly online back to 1955 at: https://www.tcatrains.org/publications/quarterly/