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Welcome to the Pacific Northwest Division of
the
Train Collectors Association
Frank Geczi
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TCA Mission:
To preserve an
important segment of history --
Tinplate Toy Trains -- through
research, establishment of
collecting standards, education,
community outreach and
fellowship, and to promote the
growth and enjoyment of the
hobby.
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WHO ARE WE?
The Train
Collectors Association was
established in October 1954 and with
the continuing growth of the
Association, TCA Divisions of the
Association were established
throughout the United States. Today
there are 20 TCA divisions of which
the Pacific Northwest Division TCA
is one of them and was established
in June of 1958.
The boundary of the PNWD TCA
includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho,
Alaska and British Columbia,
Canada. We have 3 Chapters within
our Division, Seattle, WA; Portland,
OR and the new Treasure Valley
Chapter in Boise, ID. Our
membership within our boundary is
now over 340 and continues to grow
each year.
Meetings are held by our Division
and Chapters at frequent intervals.
The National Convention of the
Association is held annually the
last full weekend in June, at a
location selected each year by the
Association.
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Front Row:
Two of Clint Smith's
sons, Russ Hafdahl, Ted
Ahleberg's son, Dutch
Ottenbacher, Dr.
Champaign, Bill Loew Sr.
Second Row:
Elmer Gustafson, Bill
Loew, Mrs. Russell, two
guests of Russell's,
Ralph Russell, Bill
Bouma, J. Michel, Stan
O'breen
Back Row:
H.H. Brinkdopke, George
Houle, Clinton Smith,
John Resch, Jack French,
Ted Ahlberg, Paul
Korsmoe, Chas. Sipe,
Otto Tanner
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The organizing meeting for this
division was held in the train room
at the home of Russ Hafdahl, Sunday
afternoon and evening, March 9,
1958. Active TCA members that
attended were Jack French, Elmer
Gustafson, Bill Loew. Stan O'Breen,
John Resch and Russ Hafdahl. Those
who indicated they would join TCA at
once were Bill Boum. Dr. D.A.
Champaign, Martin Ottenbacher,
George Houle, Charles Sipe, Ted
Ahlberg, Clinton Smith, Paul Korsmoe,
H.T.G. Brinklopke, Ralph and Mrs.
Russel, Otto Tanner.
Other prospective members in
attendance were John Beaufort, J.
Michel and Bill Loew Sr., Guests
brought total present to 27. Members
and Guests came from Seattle,
Portland, Vancouver, Olympia,
Tacoma, Kent, and Tenton. Active
TCA members who approved formation
of the division, by mail or phone
were Steve Stanley, Levis Sutton,
Mel Firestone. Others approving were
Dr. Gaw, John Comer, Mr. Flegel and
son, and Sonny Sipe.
A brief history was given of the TCA,
with many questions and answers. A
letter was read from Lou Redman
about name, etc. for our new
division. A motion was made and
seconded and unanimously carried
that we form the P.N.W. Division of
TCA. This decision on the name is
due to "Northwest" alone being
associated with Minnesota,
Wisconsin, etc.
A Motion was made and carried that
local dues would be $2.00 per year.
A motion was made and carried that
election of officers would be held
at the next meeting, April 20, at
Elmer Gustafson's and local dues to
be payable at that time. All the
above of course if approved by
National.
Much time was spent discussing
collecting in general, and in
viewing Hafdahl's collection. A very
lively auction was held, with Dutch
Ottenbacher as auctioneer.
Lunch was served by Mrs. Hafdahl and
sons, including a cake made special
for the occasion. Complete set of
pictures were taken by the able
Dutch Ottenbacher to be made
available for National, and
interested members.
Enthusiasm demonstrated at this
meeting was tremendous. Train races
were held, Stan O'Breen winning the
prize. John Resch was especially
introduced as a manufacturer of
std. parts. Elmer Gustafson showed
his fine AF replacement headlight
hoods. John Beaufort drove his
beautiful 1909 Model T Ford. The
last two members left at 10:30, with
one, Ted Ahlberg, facing a two
hundred mile drive. It was a long
day but all agreed that it was one
of the best days they ever spent.
Respectfully submitted,
Russ Hafdahl
Acting Sec'y |
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It
wasn't until 1974 that the
Pacific Northwest Division had
its first opportunity to host a
TCA National Convention. Under
the guidance of Mike Kolosseus,
who was the PNWD President at
the time, the Division hosted
its first TCA National
Convention. The TCA 20th
National Convention was held at
the Olympic Hotel in Seattle.
By that time, the membership in
TCA had risen to 5,330 and of
those, 341 members attended the
TCA National Convention that was
held in Seattle, WA. As a
commemorative for the TCA 20th
National Convention, the
Division offered a boxcar that
was manufactured by Lionel.
The number 9865 boxcar is white
with a blue roof and has the
Space Needle and the Monorail
prominently displayed on its
side.
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In 1985 the Pacific
Northwest Division had
the opportunity to host
another national
convention, the 31st TCA
National Convention.
This time John Morris
was at the throttle as
the President of the
Pacific Northwest
Division. The
convention was held at
the Red Lion Inn in
Bellevue, WA and had 605
TCA members taking
advantage of our famous
Northwest hospitality.
And as Registrar, Mike
and Nancy Kolosseus
checked them all in with
Floyd Nichols as the
Convention's Treasurer.
As commemoratives for
the TCA 31st National
Convention, the Division
offered a standard gauge
McCoy coach, an O gauge
Lionel REA express
baggage car for the TCA
20th Anniversary
passenger set and the
beautiful TCA 6484 steam
engine, which is the
motive power for the TCA
20th Anniversary
passenger set.
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In 1995, the Division again
had the opportunity to host
a TCA National Convention.
This time Dan Martin was the
President of the PNWD.
Among his Chairs on the
Convention Committee were
some very experienced
members. Jim & Madelaine
Hicks, Convention Co Chairs
& Convention Car Co
Chairs;
Mike & Nancy Kolosseus, 1985
and 1995 Registration
Co Chairs; Floyd Nichols,
1985 and 1995 Treasurer,
Merle Parise, Tours Chair;
Stan Zajdel and Floyd
Nichols, Commemoratives
Co Chairs; Dick Walters, Door
Prizes and Promotions;
Barilyn Suskin, Comestibles
Chair; Bill Hollingsworth
and Leo Gundram, Trading Pit
Co Chairs; Ted & Barbara
Carrier, Standard Gauge
Engine Race Co Chairs, Chet
Vetter & Rick Miller,
Security Co Chairs; Tom
Carney, NW Railroadiana
Display Chair; Ted Ahlberg,
Historian and Russ Wilcoxson,
Layout Chair.
The Convention
Commemoratives that were
offered by the Pacific
Northwest Division were the
O gauge Lionel Skytop TCA
"City of Seattle"; O gauge
K-Line TTAX - BN, 5 unit; O
gauge Marx Photographic car
- Union Pacific, S gauge
Lionel box car - Northern
Pacific, S gauge Lionel flat
/ trlrs, Burlington
Northern, G gauge
Aristocraft boxcar, Great
Northern and the Standard
gauge McCoy boxcar - Farmers
Market.
Our most sincere thanks go
to all of these members and
to the army of volunteers
that worked at the
conventions that have been
hosted by the PNWD. It
takes a lot of time and
effort on behalf of a lot of
members to host events such
as these conventions
successfully. This
convention also was
responsible for providing
special Banquet Cars for
TCA's Collectors. The
highly sought after McCoy
Diner which was the first
new standard gauge
accessory offered since the
golden age of standard gauge;
the first ever Aristocraft G
gauge TCA Banquet car, the
red GN boxcar; the exclusive
K-Line PNWD truck with
trailer, the Lionel GN
Hi-Cube boxcar 9695 and the
first collaboration between
Montana RailLink and TCA was
commemorated with special
mugs with artwork
encompassing both
organizations.
Along with hosting the TCA
National Conventions, the
Division has contributed
many items to add to
member's collections.
The Pacific Northwest
Division also has the
distinction of being the
home of the 43rd National
President of the Train
Collectors Association. Mr.
Dannie Martin was elected in
1997 and will assume the
office of President of the
Train Collectors Association
on the 1st of November,
1998.
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