TRAIN COLLECTORS ASSOCIATIONGRADING STANDARDS

A guide to using the grading standards

on postwar trains and accessories

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Introduction

• The Standards PowerPoint program on grading prewar andpostwar trains and accessories completes our committee’swork on condition grading. This project has been thecollaborative effort of many people. However, the main workwas done by and credit goes to Charlie Weber and GlennStinson. They selected trains in each grading class,photographed them and wrote the text. Glenn spent hoursediting and organizing the program .

The program will entertain you and show you specific trains ineach grade and explain why they are so graded. You will thenbe able to effectively grade your trains easily and accurately.

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TCA Standards Committee Display National Toy Train Museum,

Strasburg, Pa.3

The grading standards apply to all toy train andrelated accessory items. They were prepared toact as guidance and to encourage usage ofcommon terminology when describing thecategory of grading condition for a specific toytrain and related items.

Developed by the Standards Committee andapproved by the TCA Board of Directors in June2005 to be effective in April 2006, the Standardsapply to the visual appearance and originality ofthe item and do not consider the operatingfunctionality of the equipment.

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Items are graded as they are presented at thetime they are examined. Proper rehabilitationand cleaning of an item by a well-experiencedcollector using proven techniques can improvethe condition of an item and the overall gradeunder these standards. But if the efforts areuneven, or the item shows powder polish residuein the cracks and crevices, the finish is worn onthe rivet heads and high spots, and rubberstamped lettering is worn and faint, the grademay be adversely affected.

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Plated parts may be cleaned, degreased andlightly polished. But brass parts on most itemsshould not be polished since this strips theoriginal lacquer finish. Brass that is stripped ofits original finish, polished and re-lacqueredgenerally would be considered under the TCA’sRestoration Grading Standards. The grade of anitem can be dramatically lowered if the item issubjected to poor handling or adverse storageconditions.

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These standards do not consider the age of anitem when assigning a grade except as notedunder C-8 relating to age tarnish on brass,aluminum and plated parts.

For an item to be graded at a specific level itcannot exhibit any of the flaws noted in lowergrades.

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C-10 Mint – Brand New All Original,Unused, and Unblemished

Trains meeting this standard are among therarest and most sought after. The key to thisstandard is “unblemished”. The item must beperfect in every manner. This grade could becompared to “proof” coins which are speciallymade and handled. Most manufacturers did notinclude such practices in their manufacturingprocesses.

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Some pieces, even if “brand new”, may havebox rubs. Common examples are postwar boxcars with painted doors where the door handleshave paint rubbed off. A caboose or plastic lococab may also have a little paint missing off ofthe raised ladders or handrails. This would putthe item in the C-9 or, more likely, C-8 category.When grading items of very high quality, it’s notunusual for collectors to use a magnifying lensto check for flaws.

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Figures #1, 2 and 3 show a car that is brand newand never used or displayed. It is very close tograde C-10 but very close examination can showflaws to the most discerning collectors.

11Figure #1

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Figure #2

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Figure #3

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C-9 Factory New - Brand new alloriginal, unused, may evidencefactory rubs and the slightestevidence of handling, shipping andhaving been test run at the factory.

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This grade is applicable to the vast majority of“new” items. It is inherent in the manufacturingprocess that some signs of handling or box rubswill result. Short factory test runs were the normfor many manufacturers. Examination of wheelsand pickup rollers may show only the faintestsigns of use. Excessive wear may indicate usageafter factory test run and would lower grade toat most C-8.

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Items still factory sealed in their boxes may notbe able to be properly graded without openingthe box. (Remember - boxes are graded under adifferent standard.) In such cases a tentative C 9-10 grade could be applied with the footnote thatgrading was done on the item while still in thefactory sealed box.

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But of course the danger of such ratings could bethat hidden flaws such as degenerated castings(C-6 or below) or damage to the finish from poorstorage conditions (heat, humidity) may not bedetected. Some Lionel diesels were packed withthe horn battery in its normal location which bynow has leaked and caused corrosion to thelocomotive innards or frame. Depending on theextent, this type of damage could drop the brandnew piece to C-3 or worse. Figure #4 showsslight battery damage to the frame.

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Figure #4 – Damage to frame from battery leakage.

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Figures 5 and 6 show items that are brand newbut exhibit slight flaws as a result ofmanufacturing processes and subsequentshipping and handling. Figure #5 shows dust ordirt under the painted finish on an Illinois Central“A” unit and a Western Pacific box car roof.Figure #6 shows a depression in the middle ofthe catwalk caused by the sprue in the moldbeing removed.

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Figure #5 – Imperfections in painted finish.

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Figure #6 – Sprue mark

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C-8 Like New - Complete all original,no rust, no missing parts, may showeffects of being on display and orage, and may have been run.

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Items meeting this grade are of very high quality,100% original and authentic with no missing orreplacement parts and no after-marketalterations.

The item can be a little dusty or show somehandling fingerprints from being on display.

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Brass, aluminum and plated parts may showslight age tarnish (but no rust) or the item mayshow slight signs of being run or used.

The item may not show any deterioration of thefinish from effects such as crazing, cracking,checking, fading of colors or lettering, or dirt andgrime.

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It may show slight signs of operation such as lightwear on the pick-up rollers and wheels, somewear from trucks rubbing on frame or small nicksand chips around couplers and other movingparts.

The main areas of the item such as roofs, endsand sides should not show any damage to thefinish.

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Some postwar items, for example Lionel F-3Illinois Central A-B units, were lightly rubberstamped as produced. Such an item could still bein the C-8 category. However, if selling/tradingsuch an item, the “faded markings” should benoted separately. Without such a notation theitem would drop to C-7 or C-6.

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An item with “small nicks or chips” can be in theC-8 category if these are “effects of being ondisplay and or age, and may have been run.”Examples include tiny chips at the ends of LionelGG-1 bodies and the highest points of dieseltrucks that represent “box wear”. Depending onthe number of such wear spots or chips theseflaws could put the item in the C-7 category. It isprobable that most items like this should begraded as C-7.

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Figures 7 – 10 show a Western Pacific box car ofvery high quality. Notice that there are no paintchips or nicks and the silver finish and lettering isvery vivid. However, close examination of thearea around the grab rails shows a brighter finishrevealing that the rest of the car has eithergotten dirty or dulled over the years.

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Figures 7 – 10 show a Western Pacific box car of very high quality. Notice that there

are no paint chips or nicks and the silver finish and lettering is very vivid. However,

close examination of the area around the grab rails shows a brighter finish revealing

that the rest of the car has either gotten dirty or dulled over the years.

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Figure #7

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Figure #8

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Figure #9

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Figure #10

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Figures #11 and #12 show a silver tank car thatshows slight box rubs on the rivet tops on thedome.

Figure #11

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Figure #12

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C-7 Excellent – All original, minutescratches and paint nicks, no rust andno missing parts. No distortion tocomponent parts.

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This grade requires the item to be 100% original,complete and authentic with no missing orreplacement parts and no after-marketalterations.

The finish can show the smallest scratches (thin,fine lines) and nicks (small spots or chips). Theseflaws are not to be concentrated in areas andshould not be on prominent areas such as sidesor roof.

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The item cannot show any rust on plated,painted or lithographed surfaces. Plated surfacescan show a slight dulling of the finish but no rust.Painted or lithographed surfaces cannot exhibitchecking, crazing or fine lines under the finishthat are normally considered rusting of the metalunder the finished surface.

It may show slight signs of dirt and grime.

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Component parts including cast parts may notshow any deterioration, warping, expansion ormetal fatigue (zincpest). This can include frames,steam chests, engine and tender bodies, wheels,headlights. Replacement of these parts with aproperly marked replacement part reduces thegrade to no greater than C-5 (or assuming thereplacement part is painted, then the itemwould be graded under the RestorationStandards).

All wiring is to be original without deterioratedinsulation.

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When considering postwar plastic items themajor difference between grading an item as C-7,C-6, or C-5 is determined by the flaws in thefinish and/or lettering. One must answer (a) howmany? (b) how big? and to some extent (c)where are the flaws located?

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Figure #13 shows box rubs on the rivet tops plusnicks and chips on the running boards.

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Figures 14 – 17 show a box car with relativelybright finish but the lettering is worn in somespots and there are a number of small nicksand chips in the finish.

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Figures 14 – 17 show a box car with relatively bright finish but the lettering

is worn in some spots and there are a number of small nicks and chips in

the finish.

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Figure #14

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Figure #15

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Figure #16

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Figure #17

C-6 Very Good - Minor scratches andpaint nicks, minor spots of surfacerust, free of dents. May have minorparts replaced.

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The finish on items meeting this grade canexhibit a limited number of scratches and nicksplus dirt, grime and other flaws that are moreconcentrated and in more prominent areas thanallowed in C-7.

Light surface rust may be allowed on plated partsbut rust should not have pitted the metal.

There may not be any dents to the item.

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The plastic equivalent to “dents” would becracks. Minor “expected cracks” could betolerated in this category. Examples of “expectedcracks” are the cracks that commonly occurbetween the bottom of the end of cab mountingscrew and the lower cab edge as shown in figures18-20. Also, sometimes there are a few “spiderweb” disfigurations around this screw hole.

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Figure #18 – Left hand crack

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Figure #19 – Rare right hand crack

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Figure #20

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Minor parts may be replaced with properlymarked reproduction parts. Minor parts includetrim pieces like headlights, whistles, hand rails,pantographs, couplers, wheels and wiring.Frames, cabs, steam chests, engine and tenderbodies, motors, etc. are not considered minorparts.

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Figures #21 to 27 show flaws such as minorscratches and paint nicks that would grade thesecars at C-6.

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Figure #21

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Figure #22

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Figure #23

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Figure #24

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Figure #25

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Figure #26

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Figure #27

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C-5 Good - Signs of play wear withscratches and minor paint loss. Smalldents, minor surface rust. Evidenceof heavy use.

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The finish on items meeting this grade can shownoticeable scratches and nicks in prominent areasplus dirt, grime and other flaws that are morepronounced than allowed in C-6. The item canhave areas with actual paint loss from flaking orother damage.

There can be small dents in the metal parts andsome slight rust on plated parts or under paintedsurfaces.

Generally items meeting this grade show signs ofheavy use.

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Figures 28 through 31 show box cars where thefinish is dull, lettering is washed out and chipsand scratches are more significant then C-6graded items.

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Figure #28

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Figure #29

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Figure #30

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Figure #31

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Figures 32 – 34 show numerous chips inprominent areas, heavy wear plus noticeablewear to decals. Grade as C-5.

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Figures 32 – 34 show numerous chips in prominent areas, heavy wear

plus noticeable wear to decals. Grade as C-5.

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Figure #32

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Figure #33

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Figure #34

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C-4 Fair - Scratches, moderate paintloss, dented missing parts, surfacerust. Evidence of heavy use.

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This grade would show obvious signs of wear,dirt, grime, use and abuse.

The finish can be dirty, well-worn and show lossof paint in prominent areas.

There can be dents in the metal, parts missing orreplaced with properly marked reproductionparts and there can be obvious surface rust.

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Figures 35 and 36 show a box car underframewith surface rust.

Figure #35

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Figures 35 and 36 show a box car underframe with surface rust.

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Figure #36

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Figure #37 shows Canadian Pacific diesels withfront decals that are yellowed with age andnoticeably chipped.

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Figure #38 shows a very nice car but thedamage to the base of one canister issignificant.

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Figures 39 to 43 show box cars with scratches,paint loss, chips and evidence of heavy use.

Figure #39

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Figures 39 to 43 show box cars with scratches,

paint loss, chips and evidence of heavy use.

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Figure #40

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Figure #41

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Figure #42

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Figure #43

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C-3 Poor - Requires major bodyrepair. Heavily scratched, major rustand missing parts. Restorationcandidate.

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Items meeting this grade are of low collectorquality.

The finish is significantly distressed showingprominent scratches, nicks, dirt and otherdamage.

Sheet metal parts can be dented with majorrepair work needed.

Rust can be prominent and may have causedpitting in the metal.

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Figures 44 and 45 show a serious warp on

the side of the car.

Figure #44

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Figure #45

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Figures 46 and 47 show major lettering loss onthe side of the car.

Figure #46

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Figures 46 and 47 show major lettering loss on the side of the car.

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Figure #47

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Figures 48 and 49 show mold on plastic parts.

Figure #48

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Figure #49

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Figures 50 and 51 show a Marx flat car withrust, scratches, dirt, and missing parts - clearlyC-3 at best. But since the car is so common,many collectors would treat this as C-2 or C-1.

Figure #50

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Figure #51

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C-2 Restoration required

C-1 Junk, parts value only

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Items in these grades are of low collector valueexcept for total restoration or for parts to fixbetter items. A factor that may be considered inthese grades is the rarity of the item beinggraded. A very rare item may have greatercollector interest and be worthy of saving muchmore than a common item.

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Figure #52 shows deep, prominent rust.

Figure #52

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Figure #53 shows a car with poor lettering and partial repaint.

Figure #53

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Figure #54 shows a car that suffered significant heat damage resulting in warping. Good only for a few parts.

Figure #54

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General comments and guidance

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Use of the grading standards is subjective at best.It is important and logical that wishful thinkingnot be allowed to influence the choice of grade. Itis the nature of the market for a seller to see anitem in a very positive light and to assign themost favorable description while a buyer may seethe item in a less favorable light.

When evaluating the significance of scratches andnicks on an item, not only the size of these flawsmust be considered but also the location on theitem and their size in relation to the item’s size.

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The proper determination of an item’s originalityand authenticity is critical to these standards. Itcan be a very difficult determination to make andrequires an experienced and knowledgeableindividual. Close examination of the finishcomparing colors, textures, patina, and otherdetails is necessary. If the paint finish on an itemhas been touched up, its grade cannot be higherthan C-6; many collectors feel that touching up anitem could never improve the grade and mayactually lower the grade.

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The overall condition of an item needs to beconsidered with the most severe flaw(s) being thelimiting grading factor. However, the grade of anitem need not be a single grade. For example, it isacceptable to grade an item as C-6 due to minormissing parts but otherwise C-8. When grading amultiple item set, it is advisable to grade eachitem individually.

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Knowledgeable Standards Committee membersare available at every TCA-sponsored train meetto assist members on questions of originality,authenticity, and condition by offering relevantopinions.

When considering a non-person-to-persontransaction such as through the TCAInterchange or the internet, a written narrativethat details the condition of an item and itsflaws should be provided. Statements claimingthat “Photos describe condition” should betaken with extreme caution.

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There can be items that will require some degreeof disassembly in order to offer an accurategrading opinion. While these standardsspecifically exclude the operating functionality ofan item, parts needed for operation (such asinternal motor parts) are not excluded from thestandards for completeness and originality.

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When a Standards Committee member is asked for anopinion on an item, he/she may need to handle theitem in order to properly examine it. It is of utmostimportance that the committee member handles theitem with extreme care and respect. Remember thatyour actions represent the TCA. Neither theAssociation nor an individual committee member canrisk liability associated with accidental damage.

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Proceed with the same care for a C-1 item as fora C-10 item. If possible, sit down at a table thatis covered with a soft towel or blanket. If youneed to pick up the item, hold it over the table ata minimum height off the table. Beware of loosepieces that might fall off. Always use both handsto lift an item. Place hands on the items instrategic locations (such as ends rather than thesides) so as to minimize handprints or damage tothe finish. Handle the item as little as possibleand return possession to the owner quickly.

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Prepared by theTrain Collectors Association

National Standards Committee October 2008

Robert C. Robinson, Chairman