UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                            -----------------------

                                   FORM 10-Q
                   Quarterly Report Under Section 13 or 15(d)
              of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                            -----------------------


For The Quarter Ended September 30, 1996             Commission File No. 2-92914


                        COLUMBIA LEASE INCOME FUND A L.P.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


         Delaware                                                     13-3263094
(State or other jurisdiction of                                 (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                               Identification No.)


    One Financial Center, 21st Floor, Boston, MA                           02111
(Address of principal executive offices)                              (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code                (617) 482-8000

                            -------------------------


                                 Not Applicable
              (Former name, former address and former fiscal year,
                         if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months (or for such  shorter  period that the  registrant  was
required  to file  such  reports),  and  (2) has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days.

                                  Yes X No ___

                             There are no Exhibits.

                                  Page 1 of 12

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                        COLUMBIA LEASE INCOME FUND A L.P.
                        (A Delaware Limited Partnership)


 
<S>           <C>                                                                                                <C>
                                  INDEX                                                                          Page No.

Part I.       FINANCIAL INFORMATION

              Financial Statements

                    Balance Sheets as of September 30, 1996 and December 31, 1995                                3

                    Statements of Operations For the Quarters Ended
                          September 30, 1996 and 1995 and For the Nine Months Ended
                          September 30, 1996 and 1995                                                            4

                    Statements of Cash Flows For the Nine Months Ended
                          September 30, 1996 and 1995                                                            5

                    Notes to Financial Statements                                                                6 - 7

              Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
                    Results of Operations                                                                        8 - 10


Part II.      OTHER INFORMATION

              Items 1 - 6                                                                                        11

              Signature                                                                                          12

</TABLE>


<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                          PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

                        COLUMBIA LEASE INCOME FUND A L.P.
                        (A Delaware Limited Partnership)

                                 Balance Sheets

                                     Assets
                                                                                    (Unaudited)             (Audited)
                                                                                      9/30/96               12/31/95
                                                                                 ----------------       ----------------
<S>                                                                              <C>                    <C>             
Investment property, at cost (note 3):
   Computer equipment                                                            $      1,458,211       $      1,814,444
     Less accumulated depreciation                                                      1,364,290              1,658,660
                                                                                 ----------------       ----------------
       Investment property, net                                                            93,921                155,784

Cash and cash equivalents                                                                 127,594                 71,333
Rents receivable, net (note 2)                                                              8,470                 25,414
Accounts receivable - affiliates, net (note 2)                                              4,794                  2,758
                                                                                 ----------------       ----------------

     Total assets                                                                $        234,779       $        255,289
                                                                                 ================       ================

                        Liabilities and Partners' Equity
Liabilities:
   Accounts payable and accrued expenses - affiliates (note 4)                   $         29,371       $         31,741
   Accounts payable and accrued expenses                                                   18,732                 20,693
   Distributions payable (note 5)                                                          96,248                 64,166
                                                                                 ----------------       ----------------

     Total liabilities                                                                    144,351                116,600
                                                                                 ----------------       ----------------

Partners' equity:
   General Partner:
     Capital contribution                                                                   1,000                  1,000
     Cumulative net income                                                                238,399                229,583
     Cumulative cash distributions                                                       (642,127)              (630,895)
     Reallocation of capital accounts                                                     402,728                400,312
                                                                                 ----------------       ----------------
                                                                                                -                      -
                                                                                 ----------------       ----------------
   Limited Partners (24,383 units):
     Capital contribution, net of
       offering costs                                                                  10,484,690             10,484,690
     Cumulative net income                                                              4,529,575              4,362,073
     Cumulative cash distributions                                                    (14,521,109)           (14,307,762)
     Reallocation of capital accounts                                                    (402,728)              (400,312)
                                                                                 ----------------       ----------------
                                                                                           90,428                138,689
                                                                                 ----------------       ----------------
     Total partners' equity                                                                90,428                138,689
                                                                                 ----------------       ----------------

     Total liabilities and partners' equity                                      $        234,779       $        255,289
                                                                                 ================       ================
</TABLE>

                 See accompanying notes to financial statements.


<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                        COLUMBIA LEASE INCOME FUND A L.P.
                        (A Delaware Limited Partnership)

                            Statements of Operations
                                   (Unaudited)

                                                         Quarters Ended                          Nine Months Ended
                                                          September 30,                            September 30,
                                                 -------------------------------        --------------------------------
                                                     1996              1995                   1996               1995
                                                 -------------------------------        --------------------------------

<S>                                              <C>               <C>                  <C>                 <C>         
Revenue:
   Rental income on operating leases             $     84,408      $      97,528        $    241,843        $    421,962
   Earned income on
     direct financing lease                                 -                  -                   -               7,018
   Interest income                                      1,266              1,278               3,348               4,342
                                                 ------------      -------------        ------------        ------------

       Total revenue                                   85,674             98,806             245,191             433,322
                                                 ------------      -------------        ------------        ------------

Costs and expenses:
   Depreciation                                        18,390             52,383              56,783             239,243
   Interest                                                 -                103                   -               1,215
   Related party expenses (note 4):
     Management fees                                    6,503              9,096              19,067              30,052
     General and administrative                        21,199             20,689              63,491              57,812
   Net loss (gain) on sale
     of equipment                                       1,131             94,121             (10,468)             87,974
   (Reversal of) provision for
     doubtful accounts                                      -                  -             (60,000)              1,029
                                                 ------------      -------------        ------------        ------------

       Total costs and expenses                        47,223            176,392              68,873             417,325
                                                 ------------      -------------        ------------        ------------

Net income                                       $     38,451      $     (77,586)       $    176,318        $     15,997
                                                 ============      =============        ============        ============

Net income per Limited
   Partnership Unit                              $       1.50      $       (3.02)       $       6.87        $       0.63
                                                 ============      =============        ============        ============
</TABLE>

                 See accompanying notes to financial statements.


<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                        COLUMBIA LEASE INCOME FUND A L.P.
                        (A Delaware Limited Partnership)

                            Statements of Cash Flows
              For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 1996 and 1995
                                   (Unaudited)

                                                                                            1996                     1995
                                                                                            ----                     ----
<S>                                                                                   <C>                     <C>             
Cash flows from operating activities:
   Net income                                                                         $       176,318         $         15,997
                                                                                      ---------------         ----------------

Adjustments  to  reconcile   net  income  to  net
   cash  provided  by operating activities:
     Depreciation                                                                              56,783                  239,243
     (Reversal of) provision for doubtful accounts                                            (60,000)                   1,029
     Net (gain) loss on sale of equipment                                                     (10,468)                  87,974
     Net decrease in current assets                                                            74,908                   62,584
     Net decrease in current liabilities                                                       (4,331)                 (39,771)
                                                                                      ---------------         ----------------

           Total adjustments                                                                   56,892                  351,059
                                                                                      ---------------         ----------------

           Net cash provided by operating activities                                          233,210                  367,056
                                                                                      ---------------         ----------------

Cash flows from investing activities:
   Proceeds from sales of investment property                                                  15,548                   14,881
                                                                                      ---------------         ----------------

           Net cash provided by investing activities                                           15,548                   14,881
                                                                                      ---------------         ----------------

Cash flows from financing activities:
   Principal payments on long-term debt                                                             -                  (37,801)
   Cash distributions to partners                                                            (192,497)                (481,245)
                                                                                      ---------------         ----------------

           Net cash used in financing activities                                             (192,497)                (519,046)
                                                                                      ---------------         ----------------

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents                                           56,261                 (137,109)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period                                               71,333                  227,793
                                                                                      ---------------         ----------------

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                                            $       127,594         $         90,684
                                                                                      ===============         ================

Supplemental cash flow information:
   Interest paid during the period                                                    $             -         $          1,215
                                                                                      ===============         ================

Non-cash investing activities:
   Reclassification of expired direct financing
     lease to operating lease                                                         $             -         $          4,198
                                                                                      ===============         ================
</TABLE>

                 See accompanying notes to financial statements.


<PAGE>


                        COLUMBIA LEASE INCOME FUND A L.P.
                        (A Delaware Limited Partnership)

                          Notes to Financial Statements
       For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 1996 and September 30, 1995
                                   (Unaudited)

(1)   Basis of Presentation

The foregoing  financial  statements  of Columbia  Lease Income Fund A L.P. (the
"Partnership")  have been prepared in accordance  with the rules and regulations
of the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  for  Form  10-Q and  reflect  all
adjustments  which are,  in the  opinion  of  management,  necessary  for a fair
presentation of the results for the interim periods presented.  Pursuant to such
rules and  regulations,  certain note  disclosures  which are normally  required
under  generally  accepted  accounting  principles  have  been  omitted.  It  is
recommended  that these  financial  statements be read in  conjunction  with the
Partnership's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995.

(2)   Significant Accounting Policies

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

The financial  statements  include allowances for estimated losses on receivable
balances.  The  allowances  for  doubtful  accounts  are based on past write off
experience  and an evaluation  of potential  uncollectible  accounts  within the
current  receivable  balances.  Receivable  balances  which are determined to be
uncollectible  are charged against the allowance and subsequent  recoveries,  if
any, are credited to the allowance. At September 30, 1996 and December 31, 1995,
the allowance for doubtful  accounts included in rents receivable was $2,426 for
each  period,  and the  allowance  for  doubtful  accounts  included in accounts
receivable - affiliates was $0 and $60,000, respectively.

(3)   Investment Property

At  September  30,  1996,  the  Partnership  owned  computer  equipment  with  a
depreciated cost basis of $93,921,  subject to existing leases. All purchases of
computer  equipment  are subject to a 2.5%  acquisition  fee paid to the General
Partner.


<PAGE>


                        COLUMBIA LEASE INCOME FUND A L.P.
                        (A Delaware Limited Partnership)

                          Notes to Financial Statements
       For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 1996 and September 30, 1995
                                   (Unaudited)

(4)   Related Party Transactions

Fees,  commissions  and other expenses paid or accrued by the Partnership to the
General  Partner or affiliates of the General  Partner for the nine months ended
September 30, 1996 and 1995 are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                        1996               1995
                                                        ----               ----

<S>                                                 <C>                <C>        
Management fees                                     $    19,067        $    30,052
Reimbursable expenses paid                               59,630             59,285
                                                    -----------        -----------

                                                    $    78,697        $    89,337
                                                    ===========        ===========
</TABLE>

Under the terms of the Partnership Agreement, the General Partner is entitled to
an  equipment  acquisition  fee  of  2.5%  of the  purchase  price  paid  by the
Partnership  for the  equipment.  The  General  Partner  is also  entitled  to a
management fee equal to 6% of the monthly rental billings,  paid monthly,  based
on rents  received.  The  Partnership  reimburses  the  General  Partner and its
affiliates  for  certain  expenses  incurred  by them  in  connection  with  the
operation of the Partnership.

(5)   Distributions to Partners

For the nine months ended September 30, 1996, the  declaration of  Distributable
Cash was as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                Limited Partners
                                                                                                                   General
                                    Date Paid                           Distribution                               Partner
Quarter Ended                       or Payable                         Per $ 500 Unit              Total            Total
-------------                       ----------                         --------------              -----            -----

<S>                                <C>                                      <C>                   <C>               <C>
March 31, 1996                     May 15, 1996                             $ 2.50                $ 60,958          $ 3,208
June 30, 1996                      August 15, 1996                          $ 2.50                $ 60,958          $ 3,208
September 30, 1996                 November 15, 1996                        $ 3.75                $ 91,436          $ 4,812

</TABLE>



<PAGE>


                        COLUMBIA LEASE INCOME FUND A L.P.
                        (A Delaware Limited Partnership)

                     Management's Discussion and Analysis of
                  Financial Condition and Results of Operation
                                   (Unaudited)

Results of Operations

The following discussion relates to the Partnership's operations for the quarter
and nine month periods ended September 30, 1996, compared to the same periods in
1995.

The  Partnership  realized net income of $38,451 and net loss of $77,586 for the
three month periods  ended  September  30, 1996 and 1995,  respectively.  Rental
income on  operating  leases  decreased  $13,120 or 13%  between the three month
periods.  The decrease in rental income is due to lower rental rates obtained on
equipment lease extensions and remarketings after the initial lease term expires
and due to a decrease in the size of the equipment portfolio.

Total  costs and  expenses  decreased  $129,169  or 73%  between the three month
periods.  The  decrease  in costs and  expenses  is the result of a  significant
decrease in net loss on sale of  equipment.  The decrease in net loss on sale of
equipment  can be  attributed  to sales of  equipment  carrying  lower  net book
values.  Depreciation expense decreased $33,993 or 65% due to a large portion of
the  equipment  portfolio  becoming  fully  depreciated  and a reduction  in the
overall equipment  portfolio.  Management fees have decreased due to the decline
in rental income.  General and  administrative  expenses  increased  between the
three  month  periods  due to an  increase  in  the  allocable  salaries  of the
partnership accounting and reporting personnel of the General Partner.

The  Partnership  realized net income of $176,318 and $15,997 for the nine month
periods  ended  September  30,  1996 and 1995,  respectively.  Rental  income on
operating leases decreased $180,119 or 43%. As discussed in the quarter analysis
above,  the  decrease in rental  income is  primarily  due to lower rental rates
obtained on equipment lease extensions and remarketings  after the initial lease
term has  expired and due to a decrease  in the  overall  size of the  equipment
portfolio.  No earned  income on direct  financing  leases  has been  recognized
during the current year due to the complete  allocation of the lease payments to
the fair market value of the  equipment  over the lease terms in 1995.  Interest
income  decreased  $994  between 1995 and 1996 due to the  Partnership  carrying
lower average short-term investment balances.



<PAGE>


                        COLUMBIA LEASE INCOME FUND A L.P.
                        (A Delaware Limited Partnership)

                     Management's Discussion and Analysis of
                  Financial Condition and Results of Operation
                                   (Unaudited)

Total  costs and  expenses  decreased  $348,452  or 83%  between  the nine month
periods.  The decrease in costs and expenses can be  attributed to a net gain on
sale of equipment combined with the reduction in depreciation expense during the
current year. The net gain on sale of equipment during the nine month period can
be attributed to sales of equipment  carrying  lower net book values as compared
to a net loss on sale of  equipment  during  the prior  year.  The  decrease  in
depreciation  expense of  $182,460  is due to a large  portion of the  equipment
portfolio  becoming fully  depreciated and a reduction in the overall  equipment
portfolio.  The $60,000  reversal of the provision for doubtful  accounts in the
current year, reflects the successful  collection of a sales proceed receivable,
that had been fully reserved in a prior period.  Management  fees have decreased
due to the  decline  in  rental  income.  General  and  administrative  expenses
increased  $5,679 or 10% between the nine month  periods.  As  discussed  in the
quarter analysis above, the increase in general and  administrative  expenses is
due to an increase in the allocable  salaries of the partnership  accounting and
reporting personnel of the General Partner.

The Partnership  recorded net income per Limited  Partnership  Unit of $1.50 and
$(3.02) for the quarters ended  September 30, 1996 and 1995,  respectively,  and
$6.87 and $.63 for the nine month  periods  ended  September  30, 1996 and 1995,
respectively.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

For the nine months ended  September 30, 1996,  rental  revenue  generated  from
operating  leases  was the  primary  source  of funds  for the  Partnership.  As
equipment leases terminate, the General Partner determines if the equipment will
be extended to the same lessee,  remarketed to another lessee,  or if it is less
marketable,  sold.  This  decision is made upon  analyzing  which  option  would
generate the most favorable results.

Rental income on operating  leases will continue to decrease due to two factors.
First,  lower rates are obtained on the remarketing of existing  equipment after
the expiration of the original lease. Typically,  the remarketed rates are lower
due to the  decrease in useful life of the  equipment.  Second,  the  increasing
change of technology in the computer  industry usually  decreases the demand for
older equipment, thus increasing the possibility of obsolescence.  Both of these
factors  together will cause  remarketed  rates to be lower than original rates.
This decrease however,  should not affect the Partnership's  ability to meet its
future  cash  requirements.  To the extent  that  future  cash  flows  should be
insufficient  to meet the  Partnership's  operating  expenses  and  liabilities,
additional funds could be obtained through the sale of equipment, or a reduction
in the rate of cash distributions.  Future rental revenues from operating leases
amount to $130,889 and are to be received over the next two years.

For the nine months  ended  September  30,  1996,  the  Partnership's  investing
activities  resulted  in sales of  computer  equipment  generating  proceeds  of
$15,548.  The Partnership has no material capital expenditure  commitments,  and
will not purchase equipment in the future as the Partnership has reached the end
of its reinvestment period.



<PAGE>


                        COLUMBIA LEASE INCOME FUND A L.P.
                        (A Delaware Limited Partnership)

                     Management's Discussion and Analysis of
                  Financial Condition and Results of Operation
                                   (Unaudited)

Cash  distributions  are  currently  at  an  annual  level  of  3%  per  Limited
Partnership  Unit, or $3.75 per Limited  Partnership  Unit on a quarterly basis.
For the quarter  ended  September  30,  1996,  the  Partnership  declared a cash
distribution  of $96,248,  of which $4,812 was allocated to the General  Partner
and $91,436 was allocated to the Limited Partners. The distribution will be paid
on November 15, 1996. The Partnership expects to continue paying at or near this
level. The effects of inflation have not been significant to the Partnership and
are not expected to have a material impact in future periods.

On  January 9, 1996,  TLP  Holding  LLC  purchased  all the common  stock of TLP
Leasing  Programs,  Inc.  from CMI Holding Co.  Under the new  ownership,  it is
expected  that TLP Leasing  Programs,  Inc. will continue to operate in the same
manner of business as it has in the past.


<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                           PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

                        COLUMBIA LEASE INCOME FUND A L.P.
                        (A Delaware Limited Partnership)


<S>            <C>
Item 1.        Legal Proceedings
               Response:  None

Item 2.        Changes in the Rights of the Partnership's Security Holders
               Response:  None

Item 3.        Defaults by the Partnership on its Senior Securities
               Response:  None

Item 4.        Results of Votes of Security Holders
               Response:  None

Item 5.        Other Information
               Response:  None

Item 6.        Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
               Response:

               A.  None

               B.  None

</TABLE>

<PAGE>


                                    SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the  requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities  Exchange
Act of 1934,  the  Registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

COLUMBIA LEASE INCOME FUND A L.P.
(Registrant)

By:   TLP Columbia Management Corporation,
      its General Partner


Date: November 14, 1996

By:   Arthur P. Beecher,
      President