Get Acquainted Party

Fast Eddie and the Corvettes rocked-and-rolled the night away playing 1950s-60s golden hits. Even Elvis made a brief appearance. Some LCCAers suited up in the spirit of the occasion.

The Banquet

Richard and Linda Kughn, along with President Lou Caponi presented heartfelt tributes to the life and work of Lenny Dean, who recently passed away. Lenny and his wife Marie planned to attend this Convention as Lionel’s Ambassador of Good Will.

Totally immersed in the Al Capone mystique of the Toddlin’ Town, the LCCA executive officers appeared in costume for the Banquet.

Lenny Dean poem by Lou Caponi

Illinois Railway Museum

This tour included a 30-minute mainline ride in authentic electric cars, a 15 minute trolley ride, a BBQ meal at the museum, twilight runs on both electric and diesel cars, special tours by museum staff.

Fox River Trolley Museum & Ride

We enjoyed a half-hour trolley ride along the Fox River and Blackhawk Forest with a boxed lunch aboard the motorcoach on the return trip to the host hotel.

Chicago Architectural Cruise & the Gold Coast

We enjoyed lunch at Dick's Last Resort and a river cruise with architectural narration by an expert docent, complimentary cookies, fresh coffee, water, and lemonade; followed by a brief motorcoach tour of the Gold Coast area with free time on Michigan Avenue.

Museum of Science and Industry & Hyde Park Neighborhood

We toured the recently refurbished U-505 submarine exhibit and took a brief tour of the historic Hyde Park district, which is the home of the gothic-style campus of the University of Chicago and Robie House designed by famed American architect and visionary Frank Lloyd Wright.

Chicago Loop "L" Train Ride

We had lunch at Maggiano's Restaurant, then took a 45-minute minute loop train tour via the "L," and a brief city tour. To the locals, the “L” is merely the conveyance to/from work in the city. To train hobbyists, a ride was an adventure in urban railroading.

City of the Big Shoulders

We made five stops along the route of this mega-tour: the museum campus, the site of the Great Chicago Fire, Navy Pier, Union Station, and Ogilvie Transportation Center with free time in the station and the center. We had lunch Billy Goat Tavern on Navy Pier.

Gangland, Guns, & Bathtub Gin

We visited the site of the St. Valentine’s Day massacre and the notorious hang-outs of gangsters. Widely touted as the best tour of the Convention week, we imagined the presence of Elliot Ness as our protector. We had a pizza lunch at Giordano's Pizzeria with their famous stuffed and thin crust pizza.

G-Scale Trains with Landmarks of America

The Model Railroad Garden within the Chicago Botanical Gardens was a treat for the G-scalers among us, with a narrated tram tour of the site.