Toy Train Operating Society

The Toy Train Operating Society is a fraternal organization dedicated to the operating and collecting of toy trains of all makes and eras. Founded in 1966 and incorporated in 1968, TTOS has members from around the world. The society is organized geographically with divisions that have regular meets throughout the United States. For information on t... he TTOS Division nearest to you, see our Divisions page. Each year in August TTOS presents a national convention, which is usually sponsored by a local TTOS division. Each convention features a wide variety of toy train layouts, railroad-related tours, train rides, and other interesting tours. Each convention starts with a warm and friendly welcoming party where old friends meet again and new friendships are made. Other convention activities include a trading hall filled with toy train items, fabulous auctions, and a grand banquet. The Grand Canyon Division hosted our 1999 convention in Scottsdale, AZ, and the Southern Pacific Division presented the 2000 convention aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach Harbor, CA. Our first convention outside the United States was in 2001, where we enjoyed the hospitality of the Canadian Division in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 2002 TTOS convened in Las Vegas, NV that was followed by a trip to Denver, CO in 2003. 2004 brought us to Fresno, CA where the Central California Division showed the attendees a great time "At Yosemite's Door in 2004. In 2005 we traveled back to Las Vegas. 2006 is TTOS' 40th Anniversary; we had a super convention celebration in Costa Mesa, Ca. August 2007 brought us to Altoona, Pennsylvania with more layouts and rail tours than time allows. For 2009, we traveled to the windy city of Chicago, IL, 2010 San Antonio, TX, 2011 Charleston SC, 2012 Santa Clara, CA and this year, July 7-13 2013 in Reno, NV. What does the TTOS do? Since "Operating" is our middle name, members frequently run their trains on layouts at malls, in hospitals and at other locations. Other members have layouts in their homes that they share ...Read More