Chattanooga
The Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA) invite you to attend and cover our weeklong 43rd Annual Convention to be held at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel July 14-20, 2013. LCCA expects about 1,000 members and their families from all over the country to come to Chattanooga TN, attend this event and participate in the family fun activities. Lionel LCC is bringing their visually appealing 18' X 40' Lionel toy train operating layout for LCCA members and the local public to enjoy. Our members who love Lionel toy trains are coming to Chattanooga TN to experience Lionel trains, real trains, Civil War History, local attractions and good old Chattanooga southern hospitality.
Lionel is an American iconic company who has been producing toy trains since 1900. The LCCA is a family oriented 501-7c not- for-profit organization that was founded in 1970 with the purpose to "promote and foster interest, research, education and enjoyment of Lionel trains from 1900 to the present in particular and by association, all toy trains in general". The LCCA will be hosting several family friendly special events that are open to the public throughout the week.
The Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA) along with Make-A-Wish(r) East Tennessee invite you and the general public to attend "The LCCA Day in Chattanooga" Special event to be held Wednesday, July 17th at 9:30 AM in the beautiful lobby of the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel. A representative from the City along with a local Make-A-Wish child who will act as the "Honorary Conductor" of the day will be operating Lionel's operating layout. (see attachment for more information)
We will have Lionel's impressive 18' X 40' operating toy train layout set up, operational and open to the public in the main lobby of the hotel on Tuesday - Friday July 16-19, from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Saturday July 20, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This layout which was designed and built by TW TrainWorx of Dallas TX demonstrates current Lionel train products in operation as well as several interactive buttons that operate Lionel animated accessories. The kids will just love it! LCCA's Lionel FasTrack Modular Railroad System will be set up and be operational throughout the week. This new system will allow new people to enter the hobby and enjoy operation of their Lionel toy trains along with other train enthusiasts. If you do not have space in your home for your own layout, this modular concept will be one way to build a section and enjoy being part of a larger layout. This will make for a great group project for any Boy Scout, Girl Scout, school, club, company etc. Any group/team can coordinate a construction project to build their own Lionel/LCCA FasTrack Modular Railroad layout.
On Saturday, July 20,2013, The Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA) will be hosting a Free Toy Train Show & Swap Meet at the Track 29 building located on Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel site from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Admission is FREE for the general public. Donations will be accepted at the door for the benefit of the Erlanger Children's Hospital of Chattanooga. (see attachment)
LCCA members from all around the country will gather in the Track 29 Building for the trading and selling of new and used toy trains. The trading hall will contain about 150 tables filled with model trains, parts and hobby accessories for sale, including hard-to-find items. If you like O-gauge, Lionel pre-war, post war, Fundimension, American Flyer, or modern trains, you will not want to miss out on this event. There will also be scavenger hunts and plenty of free activities for the kids. Spread the word and bring your entire family.
The Chattanooga Choo Choo will be offering free rides on their historic life-size trolley that is located on site. Come and meet with Motorman Mike and get a free ride on this historic 1924 Model 900 trolley. Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel's large HO scale operating toy train layout will also be available for viewing. Make your plans to spend the entire day at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel.
In addition, the LCCA is offering free clinics/seminars to members on Monday ( July 15) and Wednesday ( July 17) evening. Dr Richard Banz, Executive Director of the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History will present an informative and entertaining talk about the Great Train Chase of 1862 on Monday evening July 15. Also on Monday evening, Ed Boyle, Partner/Special Project Editor of the national renown O-Gauge Railroading Magazine will also giving a talk about Lionel S-gauge Trains and the 50th Anniversary Lionel UP Passenger car set. Wednesday evening July 17, Roger Farkash of TW TrainWorx of Dallas Texas will conduct a clinic about making toy train layout scenery. Following Roger will be a informative demonstration hosted by Lionel's Tom Nuzzo and Mike Reagan. Tom and Mike will be demonstrating Lionel's new Legacy remote control operating system and customer service updates. (See Attachments)
For more detailed information about activities planned for the LCCA's 43rd Annual Convention, please see attachments and the following media link on our website
www.lionelcollectors.org -
LCCA Media Link
Please contact me at 248-709-4137 or
agkolis@comcast.net if you have any questions or to make arrangements to schedule a meeting in Chattanooga TN. I will be available at the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel from Sunday, July 14 - July 21.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Al Kolis
Immediate Past President & Special Events Manager Lionel Collectors Club of America
248 709-4137
agkolis@comcast.net