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Return to the Rockies
The LCCA 2010 Convention in the Mile High City
 Go West, then Look Up
LCCA members who participated in the club’s 2006 Convention in Denver will want to return to this area because of its outstanding train-related attractions: scenic excursion train runs, railroad museum, and mining railroads. Alumni of our 2006 event will be pleasantly surprised by a number of exciting new tours. If you missed Denver last time, 2010 will be your year for a fun-filled Rocky Mountain high!
 An Invitation to Newbies, Railfans, and Train Hobbyists
Participation in the LCCA Convention is limited to club members and their extended families. If you’re not yet a member of the club, we invite you to join LCCA online now and plan to attend this outstanding week-long event in an area of the country with breathtaking railroad adventures. You’ll meet others who are as fascinated by trains as you are.
For convenience, two LCCA 2010 Convention-related forms are provided below in PDF format:
Ride a Train Every Day
Conventioneers may enroll for excursion train trips led by historic narrow gauge steam engines and vintage diesel locomotives. There’ll also be a tour of the operations center of the Denver Light Rail system—an adventure in urban railroading! Many of these tours have limited capacity because of equipment and/or terrain, and we don’t want anyone to miss these opportunities.
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Tour 1 – The UP/LCCA Steam Train Special
Monday, July 26
On Monday, we have scheduled a trip behind the legendary Union Pacific Challenger 3985 (based on its availability in good working order) for a trip from Denver to Cheyenne, WY. This behemoth is the largest operating steam locomotive on the planet. Nobody does railroading—especially steam railroading—better than the Union Pacific. This all-day adventure may well be your last opportunity to ride behind one of the most famous locomotives of all time. Count on at least one photo run-by, and visit the UP shops and roundhouse in Cheyenne. |
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Tour 2 – Rocky Mountain Railroading
Tuesday, July 27
Visit the famous Colorado Railroad Museum with acres of rolling stock, most of it peculiar to railroading in the mountains. This museum houses hundreds of old railroad photos, artifacts, and documents. We’ll also visit the equally famous Red Rocks State Park and the Adolph Coors Brewery in Golden, the largest single-site brewery in the country.
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Tour 3 – Modern Day Railroading
Tuesday, July 27
The Denver Light Rail System has been a leader in 21st century commuter transportation with its ever-expanding web of 35 miles of tracks across the metro area. We’ll travel on train cars reserved especially for LCCA participants and have tour guides on board for the outbound trip. For the return trip, we’ll share our train with the public. This quiet and reliable electric train will whisk us off to the Elati Maintenance Operation Facility for an insider’s view of how this mass transit system works. |
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Tour 4 – Moonlight in the Mountains Dinner Train
Tuesday, July 27
This new train-supported dinner attraction on the Colorado scene begins with departure from the Silver Plume station on your way to the Devil’s Gate aboard the Georgetown Loop Railroad with a classic steam locomotive up front. The mountain scenery at dusk will be a spectacular backdrop for elegant creek-side dining. |
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Tour 5 – The Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad
Wednesday, July 28
This new tour has never been offered by LCCA before. Board the Leadville, Colorado & Southern Railroad train in Leadville, the highest incorporated town in North America. At 10,500 feet above sea level, we’ll spend a few hours climbing up the famous Arkansas River valley, where the vistas are truly breathtaking. |
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Tour 6 – Cheyenne Frontier Days
Wednesday, July 28
If you know rodeo, then you know all about Frontier Days—the “Daddy of Them All!” After a guided “behind-the-chutes” tour of the grounds and a visit to the Old West Museum, experience ten rodeo events and three track acts. |
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Tour 7 – The Royal Gorge Route Excursion
Thursday, July 29
The Royal Gorge Route Railroad is considered one of the most scenic railroads in the world. The Hanging Bridge along this route was an engineering marvel when it was built—and it still is. This excursion ride covers 24 miles to the end of the line. |
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Tour 8 – Georgetown Loop Railroad Day Excursion
Thursday, July 29
The Georgetown Loop Railroad runs through the mining district between the towns of Silver Plume and Georgetown. Both are authentic silver mine “boom towns” of the 1860s. A narrow gauge steam locomotive travels up and over and around the world-famous, 95-foot-high steel bridge that makes a 360° turn! |
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Tour 9 – Rocky Mountain High
Thursday, July 29
Travel through the mountains and up the spectacular canyon to world-famous Estes Park, the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park. Look for elk, deer, moose, and bighorn sheep. Be prepared for “picture stops” along the way. |
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Tour 10 – Rocky Mountain Reprise
Friday, July 30
Visit the famous Colorado Railroad Museum housed in a replica of an 1880s-style depot with acres of rolling stock on the grounds. Red Rocks State Park and Amphitheater, one of Colorado’s most famous outdoor performing venues, will be on this schedule, too. |
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Tour 11 – Mile High City Tour
Friday, July 30
With the Rockies as a backdrop, Denver is one beautiful city! You’ll tour the downtown finance and business districts, visit revitalized parts of the old city, and see Denver’s 370-acre City Park, the LoDo District, Larimer Square, the “Unsinkable” Molly Brown Mansion, and the U.S. Mint, where you’ll see U.S. coins being made. Sorry, no free samples. |
 Special Events and Fun for Kids
Every Convention includes family-friendly social events: the Get Acquainted Party, a reception for first-time attendees, and a posh reception and banquet. Members and guests bring their shopping lists along for reference while walking the aisles of the trading hall, which is filled with trains and train parts for sale. Special events for Junior Members of the club will be included in the schedule. Specific information will be provided when the Convention dates approach.
 Our Host Hotel
The Denver Marriott Tech Center Hotel is a magnificent property that has just completed a $50-million, top-to-bottom renovation. Many of the rooms have a magnificent view of the mountains. There is a new open-air atrium, and it will be the showcase for the spectacular Lionel layout.
Make History, Make Memories
The upcoming Convention in Denver will mark the club’s 40th anniversary. Like high school alumni returning to their alma mater for a 40th class reunion, members participating in this event will be able to brag, “I was there for the 40th!” There’ll be some birthday surprises to mark this special occasion. After all, the LCCA turns 40 only once, and we intend to do it right! Don’t miss this week-long celebration filled with hobby friends, great food, and fabulous trains.
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Page last updated: 12/22/2009 8:57:52 AM
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