LCCA in Kentucky - Recap of a Wonderful Day
On Saturday 5-19-12 Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA) met in Versailles, Kentucky for a fun "Springtime in Kentucky" Special Event. We could not have asked for any better weather, it was a beautiful spring sunny day in the Bluegrass State. LCCA members had the opportunity to visit the Nostalgia station Toy and Train Museum in Versailles KY in the morning. This museum features the life-long collection of trains and other historic toys of Wanda and Winfrey Adkins. Members enjoyed seeing many rare and unusual items such as the #203 1917 Lionel Armored Car, a 1956 Lionel dealer display layout, Buddy L trains, Lionel, American Flyer and Ives wind-up and O-Gauge and Standard Gauge trains.
The members made a short trip to the home of Billy Wilson to see his postwar collection and layout in his basement. Billy, along with his friend Mike Stevens, devoted 30 years to the development and construction of a spectacular Lionel layout. All of the wall backdrops paintings are all Billy Wilson's original artwork. Bill also has an expansive outdoor G-Gauge layout in his backyard. Billy's backyard is made for hosting parties.
We completed the glorious day with a two hour train ride aboard air-conditioned coaches pulled by a GP-7 train engine. The 10 mile train excursion passed thorough beautiful Kentucky cattle meadows, thoroughbred horse farms all the way up to the cliffs on the Kentucky river. At the end of the line, everyone got out the train and had a photo opportunity of the fantastic view overlooking the no-longer operational trestle bridge over the Kentucky river.
A big thanks to Billy Wilson, and Winfrey and Wanda Adkins for hosting this LCCA special event. We appreciate all of the members who made the journey and were able to participate and support this event. It is the people that makes the LCCA such a wonderful club. We appreciate your continued support and look forward to seeing you at future LCCA Special Events in your area. Stay tuned to this website www.Lionelcollectors.org for future announcements about LCCA special events in the Lexington KY area.