2026 Fall Train Show
A new train season begins! Join us on SATURDAY, September 26th at the Washington County Fairgrounds as we begin a new year.
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Welcome to The Train Collectors Association Fort Pitt Division
Welcome to our website. Since you are here, it can be surmised that we have something in common…an interest in trains. Our particular Division, the Fort Pitt Division, Inc. was established in 1977, and is a non-profit organization that is part of the national Train Collector’s Association (TCA). The TCA is headquartered and operates the Toy Train Museum and Library in Strasburg, Pennsylvania. The TCA is one of the largest and most prestigious collecting societies in the world and its mission is 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 the hobby.
Member Area Login
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Not a member yet? Click here to join.
Upcoming Meetings
2026 Fall Train Show
A new train season begins! Join us on SATURDAY, September 26th at the Washington County Fairgrounds as we begin a new year.
2026 Beaver-Lawrence Fall Train Show
Featuring all gauges trains, die cast cars and trucks. For info or table reservations, call Tom Bianculli at (412)585-3614
2026 Holiday Train Show
Ho Ho Ho! Celebrate the holiday season with your TCA friends on SUNDAY, December 13th at the Pittsburgh Shrine Center.
Announcements
Like Us on Facebook
The Fort Pitt Division has a new Facebook page! The new page, created by Tom Garrity is entitled Fort Pitt Train Collectors. Please look for exciting new content including pictures and a video from Locomotion Weekend at the Kamin Science Center. https://www.facebook.com/share/1BmoBRipTe/
The April 2026 Lockon is available online
The April 2026 issue of the Lockon, the official newsletter of the Fort Pitt Division is now available online. Click on the Newsletter button above or, the link is https://hobbytraincollectors.org/content.php?page=news
Fort Pitt Summer Outing 2026
Fort Pitt Division members, on Saturday, August 1st, we will travel to Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania for an exciting day at the East Broad Top Railroad National Historic Landmark. Our outing will include a guided vintage shop tour, boxed lunch of your choice, a Northbound Colgate Grove excursion behind a steam engine, and a trolley ride with the Rockhill Trolley Museum.
The Summer Outing is a Fort Pitt Division benefit for members and their families. As a benefit of membership, the Fort Pitt Division will provide Lenzner Coach transportation from Wexford and Monroeville to Orbisonia Station The cost for the Northbound Colgate Excursion and Rockhill Museum Trolley Ride is $60 per person.
The Lenzner Coach is a 56 passenger air conditioned bus so space will be limited. Of course, if you choose, you may drive and meet us at 421 Meadow Street, Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania 17247, no later than 11:00 a.m.
A printed registration form can be found in the April issue of the Lockon, or you may click the link below to download it.
https://hobbytraincollectors.org/images/downloads/2026_summer_outing_letter3a.docx
Please join us for a fun-filled day with your Fort Pitt Division friends. The deadline to register is June 26, 2026.
Celebrate 50
The Fort Pitt Division will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2027. On May 23, 2027, we will have a Celebration in the Highlands.” The highlight of the festivities will be a banquet at DiSalvo Station, a renovated Pennsylvania Railroad station in Latrobe. The weekend will include tours and more. Stay tuned for more information.
Save the date! May 23, 2027
Fort Pitt Division Spring Train Show
The Fort Pitt Division held its spring train show on Saturday, April 11th at the Washington County Fairgrounds. The show was a huge success with more than 800 attendees to the show.
Prior to the start of the show, as required by the bylaws, the Fort Pitt Division held its annual meeting.
Jack Lucot and James Ickes were honored for their 50 years of membership in the TCA.
Tom Garrity received the Neil Curran award for his many years of service to the Fort Pitt Division, particularly to the Kids Club.
Vendor sales were solid
The show included 3 train layouts including the Z Man, Mike Kuhlman.
2026 Home and Garden Show
The Pittsburgh Home and Garden Show is one of the most highly anticipated events of the year for the Fort Pitt Division. Over the course of the ten days of the show, nearly 300,000 people who were looking for home remodelers attended. Forty volunteers including 27 members of the Fort Pitt Division ran trains, answered questions, passed out literature.
Visitors enjoying the interactive displays
Young Miles brought his engine to run on the Kids Club train layout as garden expert, Doug Oster watchers.
Iceberg took time out from cheering on the Penguins to check out the trains.
2026 Mid-Winter Train Show
Our Fort Pitt Division Train Show was an enormous success. Despite a morning with temperatures in the single digits, 730 people came to the Pittsburgh Shrine Center for a day of model trains and warm fellowship. One of the highlights of the day was a display of trains kit-bashed by Thom Shepler.
Thom who passed away in November was a highly skilled craftsman. At the request of his wife and daughter, Fort Pitt members, Kurt Kisser and Jim Oravik, pictured with Fort Pitt Division Vice President, George Starz, sold some of Thom's trains and accessories. Items went very quickly as many people wanted things from his collection.
Live streaming of our train shows has become a regular feature. Content presenters, Jeremy Sodano and Mike DeCaro on the left are live. On the right, Nick Futules of Pgh Train Fanatics and Mike browse.
Fort Division friendships span all ages.
Four Year old Elliot Figura was the winner of the Kids Raffle. Elliot's favorite train is the Sante Fe War Bonnet. He is pictured here with his father, Jason and Fort Pitt Division President, Dave.
Locomotion Weekend
One of the most highly anticipated events of the year for train collectors is Locomotion Weekend. Each year, in mid January, the Kamin Science Center (formerly Carnegie Science Center) hosts modelers' displays in gauges from Z to O, plus an adult Lego group. The Fort Pitt Division was well represented by the Hi-Railers and the Kids Club. The event was a huge success. Our hostess, Nicole Wilhelm, Manager of the Miniature Railroad & Village reported 5,906 train enthusiasts visited the Science Center over the course of the two days.
Ruby, a middle school student and member of the Fort Pitt Kids Club provides another outstanding module.
2025 Fort Pitt Division Holiday Party
The Fort Pitt Division held its annual holiday celebration on Sunday, December 28th. Sam and Jayne were our hosts for a festive afternoon at Holy Spirit Church in West Mifflin.
It was a day for families.
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And of course, trains!
2025 Fort Pitt Division Holiday Train Show
On December 14th, the Fort Pitt Division held its Holiday Train Show at the Pittsburgh Shrine Center. Despite 5 inches of snow, we had a highly successful show with more than 600 in attendance. Spirits were bright as folks purchased gifts and trains and accessories for the Christmas layout.
Caedmon Christner, son of Rheanna, and grandson of Shriner member, Bruce Hartman was the December Kids Raffle winner. Caedmon was so enthralled with the trains, he didn't want to stop to pose for a picture taken. As train people, we all understand!
LIVE from the Fort Pitt Train Show w/SodanoTrains!
Mike DeCaro did a live stream from the show. If you would like to watch the video, here is a link: https://youtube.com/live/
Fort Pitt Division Tinplate Talks
On Saturday, November 8th, the Fort Pitt Division held its 2025 Tinplate Talk at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum. Our day began with a tour of the 28,000 square foot Trolley Display Building.
Our guide, Jon lead an interesting and fact-filled tour.
Of course, the first trolleys were horse drawn.
Pittsburgh's most famous trolley came from Mr. Roger's Neighborhood. Several of our members enjoyed photo shoots with it.
The guided tour concluded with a ride aboard Pittsburgh's second most famous, the Terrible Trolley!
Fort Pitt Division member and Pennsylvania Trolley Museum volunteer Wayne Cass was the operator for our ride.
Mr. TCA, Lou Redman was also very important in the development to the Trolley Museum.
Next, we went into the 21,000 square foot Welcome and Education Center. Our day was made complete with a marvelous presentation by Trolley Museum Executive Director, Jeanine DeBor. Complete with Power Point slides, she detailed the history of the Museum, from its humble beginnings in the 1940's to the present day. I have included a link to a video of her talk.
https://yhttps://youtu.be/VIpGNXCKR-0
National Toy Train Museum
When was the last time you visited our Toy Train Museum? Did you stop by during your last visit to York? I did! Our Museum is a true treasure, and the volunteers are always adding new attractions. There are many interactive displays of gauges from "N" to Standard, and even Lego. Manufacturers including Marx, Ives, and Marklin, and of course, Lionel and American Flyer are featured.
Printing and mailing are large expenses for the Fort Pitt Division. It is a goal of the division to move to electronic communication, as much as possible. Please consider joining our mailing list. Contact us at [email protected]
