Metca Division - TCA

<body> <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=635 border=0 NOF="LY"> <TR vAlign=top align=left> <TD width=898 height=159> <p> </p> <table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111" width="100%" id="AutoNumber2"> <tr> <td width="10%"><a href="http://www.tmetca.org">Home</a></td> <td width="10%"><a href="html_files/officers_index.htm">Officers</a></td> <td width="10%"><a href="html_files/contacts_index.htm">Contacts</a></td> <td width="10%"><a href="html_files/Meets_index.htm">Events</a></td> <td width="10%"><a href="html_files/Links_index.htm">Links</a></td> <td width="10%"><a href="html_files/clubcars_index.htm">Club Cars</a></td> <td width="10%"><a href="html_files/downloads_index.htm">Downloads</a></td> <td width="10%"> </td> <td width="10%"> </td> <td width="10%"> </td> </tr> </table> <p>             </p> <p align="center"> <img border="0" src="html_files/images/train3.JPG" width="350" height="115"><p align="center">  </TD> </TR> <TR vAlign=top align=left> <TD width=862> <P align=center><b> <FONT face=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Sans-serif,sans-serif size="+3"> <font color="#0000FF">Met</font>ropolitan Division</FONT></b></P> <P align=center><b> <FONT face=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Sans-serif,sans-serif size="+2"> <font color="#0000FF">T</font>rain <font color="#0000FF">C</font>ollectors <font color="#0000FF">A</font>ssociation</FONT></b></P> <P align=justify><b> <font face="Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Sans-serif,sans-serif" size="+2" color="#000000"> Who are we?</font></b><FONT face=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Sans-serif,sans-serif color=#000000 size=+2><B><BR></B></FONT>The Train Collectors Association was founded in Yardley, Pennsylvania in 1954. The first meeting was held in the barn of noted rail historian Ed Alexander. In the same year, collectors on the West Coast met and organized the Western Division. The result of these two meetings was the formation of the Train Collectors Association.  In 1957, the Train Collectors Association was incorporated as a non-profit corporation under the statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.  <font size="4" color="#0000FF">METCA</font> was established as a division of the<A HREF="http://www.traincollectors.org"> Train Collectors Association</A> in 1961. It encompasses Fairfield County, Connecticut, New York City, New York counties of Westchester, Putnam, Duchess, Ulster, Orange, Sullivan, Nassau, Suffolk and Rockland, New Jersey counties of Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, and Union.  In 1977, the members of the Association built and dedicated the National Headquarters and Museum Building in Strasburg, Pennsylvania. The building houses the national business office and The National Toy Train Museum. The Museum has one of the finest collections of toy trains on display along with operating layouts in Standard, "0", "G", "S" and HO gauge. Members are admitted into the Museum free of charge and are encouraged to lend their special trains to the Museum for display. In 1983, an addition of 3,200 square feet was added to the Headquarters and Museum building.</P> <h3><font size="5" color="#000000">Qualifications for Membership</font></h3> <p>Any person who collects or operates tinplate trains, who collects any items relating to tinplate trains, or professes a serious interest therein may apply for membership. Applicants for membership must file a <a href="http://www.traincollectors.org/tcaapp.html"> <font color="#FF0000">membership application</font></a> and must be recommended by two regular members. The member who signs the prospective member's application affirms to all other members the good character of the applicant.</p> <p> </p> <p align="center"> <img border="0" src="html_files/images/TCA50thLOGO.gif" width="117" height="135"></p> <P align=justify> </P></TD></TR> </TABLE> </body>