On behalf of the Eastern Division, it is my pleasure to welcome you to another York Train Fair. Whether this is your first visit or you have been attending for decades, I hope you enjoy everything that makes York such a special tradition: the trains, the discoveries, and, most importantly, the friendships renewed throughout the halls.
As I prepare to conclude my time serving as President of the Eastern Division, this York carries special meaning for me. It has been a tremendous honor and privilege to serve our membership. I am deeply grateful for the confidence you placed in me and for the encouragement and friendship you have shown throughout my tenure.
The Eastern Division's success is made possible by the officers, directors, committee members, volunteers, and countless others who contribute their time and talents. York simply could not happen without their dedication. I extend my sincere thanks to every person who has worked behind the scenes to support the Division and make this meet possible.
Although my time as President is coming to an end, my commitment to the Eastern Division and the York tradition will continue. I look forward to remaining involved, supporting our future leadership, and sharing many more York memories with all of you.
Thank you for giving me the privilege of serving as your President. Please enjoy the show, support our vendors, welcome our guests, and take time to appreciate the fellowship that has made York such an important part of our hobby for generations. Welcome to York and thank you for being part of the Eastern Division family.
Sunday. We arrived Sunday afternoon and unloaded into the Purple Hall for the Pre-Show. As has become tradition, the wind was raging and keeping things very cool. A great turnout of vendors: 1932 Blue 400TW tenders with original boxes, and probably the most Ives tenders ever for sale in one place. Marty V stopped by as we set up. Dinner at the Lyndon Diner on Route 30. I had the French toast.
Monday. The Pre-Show opened at 7:30 am so vendors could finish setting up. Donuts were plentiful, though from Walmart, on a rumor that maple donuts might not arrive in time. Good crowd, as usual on Mondays. Katie and Rupert were across from us in their usual spot. Lots of nice McCoy cars, and a homemade standard gauge switcher built from what looks like an 8 shell. Good sales day, and I acquired a few more trains myself. Dinner at Rivertowne Bar and Grill in Wrightsville; Robert and I split a large supreme pizza.
Tuesday. Breakfast and lunch sandwiches from the Rutter's in Abbottstown, where the ladies check the Eastern Division website to know when we're in town. One of them had asked about a train set on the cheap, and she and her husband are now proud owners of a 2026 with a 2466WX tender, three freight cars, a 6457 lighted caboose, track and a transformer. Robert handed out serendipitous gifts to fellow sellers (Katie got a music box match box). We closed the night at the Welcome Party in its new home, the Verandah Room: quieter, nicer, and you can actually talk. BBQ chicken, spareribs, baked potato, macaroni salad, tossed salad and three kinds of cobbler.
Wednesday. Another Pre-Show complete. I sold lots of "Majestic" items and picked up some very nice ones. A Märklin One Gauge brass tunnel and a large One Gauge live steamer appeared in the Purple Hall, which the OGR Forum called "Majestic." The volunteer lunch had a great turnout, and Kids Korner setup began as Mighty Casey returned. Dinner at Graybill's Route 30 Diner: the Salisbury steak special. It was Majestic.
Thursday. Members moved into their halls. I heard a loud rumble outside, wandered to the Black Hall, and met Rupert Campbell coming out. "Yeah! STOMPER arrived!" There sat STOMPER on the SGMA layout, apparently powered to the fairgrounds by gravity waves. Decent crowd, closed at 6. Wing night at the New Era in Abbottstown.
Friday. My plan was the SGMA show and tell and, finally, a maple donut. But at 7:25 am fair maintenance was waiting for me to unlock the Purple Hall. Duty calls. By the time I was free, the donuts were gone. Good sales day anyway. Purple Hall had the best pricing on McCoy convention cars. I bought an original-paint 752W set, felt unsure about the price, then found a boxed one in Silver Hall with better paint, worse frames, likely swapped vestibules, at 1.5 times what I paid. Boxes are nice, but you can't run the boxes. That night we visited the Lower Susquehanna club's Run What You Brung; they've almost doubled their layout since October.
A word from Clem himself
Guys and gals, Saturday is not the end of all. It is the beginning of all. Think of what has happened to you and yours, kids and friends. You got lots of new friends and lots of new stories right here. When you're playing golf at the 13th hole you can say, let me tell you about what this guy paid for this stupid engine. Collect the business cards you picked up and get them in your address book, because you're going to want to call Louie, who offered you a Blue Comet for 40 bucks. Take notes on where you ate dinner, so next year you know where you were.
Please think about how amazing this is. There are people, registration and financial folks, who work so the rest of us can play trains and have fun. Don't forget it. God bless those folks serving under the Red, White and Blue. I'll see you guys this fall. Good night, everybody. Clem
Friday night, the part I forgot. The Ice Cream Social included a special presentation. Last year the Eastern Division created an award for members who have made an impact on the division and exemplify the purpose of TCA. It is named for its first recipient, Richard "Clem" Clement. The second Richard "Clem" Clement Award went to Hope Danielson.
Saturday. I finally got my maple donut. During coffee and donuts, longtime York attendee and TCA member Eddie Goldman was remembered; his daughter Lisa was there. And to anyone who says York isn't what it used to be: Kids Korner had over 80 kids on Saturday alone, and stayed open until 1 pm instead of noon because it couldn't close. I spent the day walking the grounds with my nephew, introducing him to friends in every hall. Just before the member halls closed, a steady rain began, as if Mother Nature were sad that York was ending for six months.
As Clem wrote, whatever comes next, we keep the memories and friends from this York and all the ones before it.
