They are going, going . . . . very few Boston and Maine 3 unit set - Diesel, Non-Powered, and Caboose - in the classic Minuteman design left! This Built-To-Order (BTO) set is the motive power and end of train for our GREAT AMERICAN FALLEN FLAGS COLLECTION! This Must Own GP-7 Set - Features the dual motor LionChief Plus, Remote Control with a fantastic list of features - a first of its kind offering with Limited availability to LCCA Members ONLY! NOW is the time to take action and reserve your set before they are SOLD OUT - First come, First Served! (see more below)
Train talk - the conversation continues Bill Fuller has posted new Train Talk discussions. This member benefit is another program established by the LCCA to enhance the club experiences offered to members. The LCCA reviews member opinions and comments to help decide plans and actions to meet the needs and requests of members. Product decisions have been based on results, as well as improvements in various programs and club policies. You can join the discussion to add your opinions and return to see the comments and responses of other members to the same discussion. This is a great chance to get involved in this program to be part of something special where your opinions and comments are actively sought. Link to Train Talk Stay tuned for the Train Talk discussion which will ask your recommendations on car type and road name of the upcoming LCCA 10 car Great American Fallen Flags set. Be sure to review Bill's article in February and upcoming April issues of 'The Lion Roars'.
45th Anniversary Celebration/Raffles
The LCCA 45th Anniversary celebration continues. We are proud of our hertiage over the last 45 years. We appreciate what Jim Gates CM#1 created back in August of 1970. We carry on the tradition of a club with "The purpose for which the Corporation is organized is 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." (LCCA constitution Article 1, section 4 - LCCA constitution). We are celebrating our 45th with a special auto carrier with 4 unique Lionel produced die cast scale autos (see LCCA store). We also have an ongoing raffle to own an original Angela Trotta Thomas painting. Angela, a renowned artist, has been painting pictures for the 'The Lion Roars' covers and offers painting workshops at our conventions. The LCCA has commissioned Angela to paint the iconic 1954 Lionel catalog, this time focusing on LCCA offered unique product. An ongoing LCCA raffle for this painting will end and the winner of this wonderful painting will be selected at the 2015 LCCA Convention Banquet. (Winner need not be present). Celebrate with the LCCA, enter the raffle and possibly win this one of a kind original painting. (see LCCA store)
Product Status The GP-7 has all the popular LionChief Plus features including Odyssey® II Speed Control, front and rear ElectroCouplers, directional headlight, fan driven smoke, RailSounds RC™, Die-cast metal trucks, pilot, and fuel tank, Adjustable volume, On/off switches for sound and smoke and much more! This magnificent set projects the Might and Majesty of Northeastern Railroad influence. True Boston and Maine motive power with matching caboose start and end this set in the somewhat elusive Minuteman Livery. Rare in model railroading and even rarer in O Gauge, this deco projects the historic pride of the story of the Minutemen proudly standing "on watch". BOSTON STRONG! For our newest members - especially our friends from the LRRC - this is an exceptional opportunity to take advantage of one of the best benefits the LCCA has to offer its members - Limited Edition Lionel Product available nowhere else! This is your Short Cut to LCCA Collectors Contentment! It’s Quick and Easy! Grab this offer TODAY! Just go to www.lionelcollectors.org, click on LCCA Store and order your Boston and Maine set NOW! Remember - This is your LAST CHANCE to order your LCCA 2015 Boston and Maine Trio!  |
The Walking brakeman car - We celebrate the LCCA/LRRC connections with a car having a special figure carrying a two sided flag. This special LCCA car comes with a second USA flag to use on special holidays or occasions. Members can make their own flags celebrating schools, military units, clubs, etc. This car with the first of its kind figure will ship in the Fall. LCCA has received the production prototypes of both the car and the new figure made exclusively for the LCCA. WOW - they are great, they exceed even our highest expectations. Remember, final quantities have been set, given the almost 500 confirmed orders, this car is expected to be sold out before the April 30th order cutoff date, the last day to order this LCCA/LRRC commemorative car.
The 45th Anniversary car Lionel Wabash car carrier (6-58584) with 4 unique Lionel die cast 1/43 scale Automobiles) is NOW SHIPPING. The image below shows die cast autos similar to the 4 unique cars provided with this car.
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The 2015 LCCA convention car (6-58254) is unique in its load and its functionality. A beautiful O-scale wooden deck Providence and Worchester Railroad flatcar in P&W black carried two newly released Lionel die cast high detail tractors. One tractor is in Lionel Blue, the Other in Lionel Orange - and both tractors carry the venerable Lionelville transit logo. This is the same historic Lionelville logo used many years ago, refreshed on a new product. Both tractors can be removed for use off the flat car. And when you do, you find a bonus - the stanchions that hold the trailers are still on the car! This means they can be raised and the same flat car carrying the tractors can be easily transformed to now carry your trailers. Or if you like options, the car is equally at home with one tractor and one trailer (or even two trailers). This year's car not only is a great scale piece of rolling stock (min. radius 036), but also provides a two-tractor load to use off the flat car on your highways and byways. New, flexible, exciting, colorful, traditional styling with a strong past, this car is a must have. Don't miss out. Order quantities have already been set and expected to ship in Q3. After they are gone there will be no more. Order period will start with delivery of the April 'The Lion Roars'.  |
2015 On-site Convention Car (6-58251) for our 2015 Boston Convention on-site car, the LCCA is offering a matching flat car to the 2015 convention car. This is another O-scale wood deck flatcar, this time with trailers. One trailer celebrates Lionel 115th anniversary. The second trailer celebrates the 45th anniversary of the LCCA. The trailers are in complementary reverse colors, road ready and a proud load for the Great American Fallen Flags Maine Central Railroad. Of course the two trailers are totally compatible with the two tractors of the 2015 convention car. Mix and match the tractors and trailers on either car. This car carries the road number 72025, the dates of our convention. Wow, a scale car at home on scale and traditional layouts. Both the convention and the on-site cars from NE railroads celebrate the LCCA's first convention in the Northeast. As an added twist, when this car is sold, it will be only the MEC flat car and the LCCA trailer. Why, because the Lionel trailer will be given at no cost to convention attendees who attend the Lionel seminar at the convention. This car will be offered to convention registrants whether they attend the convention or not. Should any units be available they will be offered to all members. Based on the limited quantities and unusual distribution, these will most likely quickly sell out the limited convention order quantity. More details on this car will be released shortly.
2015 LCCA Christmas Car - 2015 Christmas car will again be a US manufactured boxcar. Being US made, it uses a high tech printing process which allows for multiple vivid colors and more elaborate images. The LCCA will have a limited number of cars made and expects to sell and ship all of them well before the Christmas holiday 2015. The LCCA continues the tradition established by the LRRC and will offer this car for delivery by Christmas. The 2014 car was a huge success. This is an ideal car for those who have a collection of LRRC cars, or for those wishing to add on to the continuing series of LCCA Christmas cars, or just to celebrate 2015. Lionelville Series #1 - the LCCA will soon be offering a set of 3 die cast vehicles, all with the Lionelville logo. This is the first of such sets, providing vehicles to our layouts, not just any vehicles, but vehicles from and marked with Lionelville. Be on the lookout for these beautiful models, which fit perfectly into any Layout. 10 car LCCA Great American Fallen Flags series. The LCCA has announced plans to produce a series of cars from Great American Fallen Flag railroads. These cars will be of varying body style and road names from all parts of the country. In fact, we will be asking member participation to select many of the road names. See our upcoming "Train Talk" sessions. Much more on this coming up.
Special Events
Our Special Events program continues to grow and expand. More events, more places, more member attendance. Make special note of the annual LCCA Rockford Regional Train show on April 19 hosted by Jerry Deangelo and Brady Thor. And if in PA, make a special effort to meet with the LCCA at our York April 22, 2015 Wednesday night show. • March 28/29, 2015 - LCCA at the 2015 World's Greatest Hobby on Tour Show in Edison, NJ - Special Event • April 11, 2015 - Boston Metro Hi-Railers Club Layout Open House, Boston, MA - Special Event • April 11/12, 2015 - LCCA day at the childrens museum of virginia, featuring kids run trains - Portsmouth VA - Special Event • April 11/12, 2015 - LCCA at Toy Train Auction in Colorado - Special Event • April 19, 2015 - Rockford, IL- LCCA Regional Show - Its 40th Year - Special Event • April 22, 2015 - Casual Dutch Treat Dinner and Social Event - York, PA - Special Event • May 9, 2015 - Kennesaw, GA - National Train Day for Autism - Special Event • May 16, 2015 - Parkersburg, WV - Mid-Ohio Valley Model Railroad Club's annual Armed Forces Day Open House • May 30/31, 2015 - Des Moines IA - Celebrate the 45th Anniversary Train Show Hosted by CM#1 Jim Gates and the LCCA - Special Event • June 27/28, 2015 - Railroad Days at Carquinez Toy Train Museum in Crockett, CA - Special Event • July 19/25, 2015 - Danvers (Boston) MA - LCCA 45th Annual Convention - Special Event • November 28/29, 2015 - Crown Point, IN - LCCA Host Thanksgiving Show If you have interest in hosting a Special Event, be sure to contact Al Kolis. Keep current with our Special Event program by visiting the LCCA web Special Event Link.
Switching Tracks
What a wonderful program! We have had a terrific response with almost 200 members interested in participation. Tim Fuhrmann has expanded this casual idea into a full fledged member benefit, offering club members the opportunity to participate in something really special and unique. We are preparing a special web page to show highlight photos and a few video clips of our 'Switching Tracks' car making the rounds and carrying the load at hundreds of member and club layouts, our just resting on a comfortable siding for a while. Thanks to all who participate. If you want to help move this car, contact Tim. Switching Track link
S-Gauge For our S-gauge members (and those who like S-gauge) we have a pleasent surprise. The cover of the April 'The Lion Roars' features a wonderful S-gauge image. We have also arranged for an S-gauge version of the 'Switching Tracks' car in traditional Gilbert colors! Ed Boyle has again provided a multipage article, this time on the Lionel S-gauge light Mikado (Pennsylvania 2-8-2).
2015 Boston Convention Preview and Update - this note from "Boston Bob" tells it all. Have You Made Your Reservations Yet?
| As they used to say, "Time's a wast'in". Don't get caught waiting to make up your mind. All this to bring your attention to the annual LCCA convention. Out 45th annual convention, to be exact, being held in the Boston suburb of Danvers (pronounced "Dan-ves) to those Massachusetts Yankees. There is still plenty of time to get that free registration gift for registering for the convention and staying 3 nights at the DoubleTree hotel. But don't let the grass grow under your feet for too long. The hotel is filling up quickly, as are several of the popular tours, and you do not want to be left out. The room rate for the Boston area in July is a lot higher than the $127 we are paying, so reserve now and take advantage of all the host hotel has to offer. There is an attached water park, the CoCo Key, with areas for young children as well as older kiddos like us will enjoy. Jerry Calkins has amassed a wonderful array of tours that will provide a sense of history as well as New England charm and scenic beauty. Oh and be sure to check the two train rides he has planned plus the one at the end of the week to Groton, CT. Conway Scenic, Mt Washington Cog and the P&W to Groton...how can you beat that? Certainly not by staying at home and watching TV. So come on, get off the couch and register at the LCCA business office. Cathy Rios is waiting for your registration and I'm sure she will be sorely disappointed if you don't come to see her in Boston...OK, Danvers, for you purists. Be sure to reserve your hotel room at the DoubleTree by Hilton on Boston's North Shore at the same time. Remember: "Time's a wast'in" and don't say you weren't warned. Have a safe trip and see you in New England. Regards,
"Boston" Bob |
Elections Ballots will be sent out soon. Your considered vote will help select future club leadership.
In Closing Spring is here - the last of the snow is gone. The Summer season starts soon. Perhaps we have outdoor layouts. Or regardless of weather, we run trains indoors. Or we might slow down the trains during the more inviting Summer season and spend more time balancing out our time in the train room. However we spend the next few months, remember to stay active with the LCCA. We will have a number of special events, continued communications, and even more surprises coming up. Stay tune. And remember, it is up to each of us to invite others to get interested in our hobby. Consider a gift Junior membership to a kid. Share your trains in your public library. Write an article for 'The Lion Roar' or the 'Interchange Track'. Above all, enjoy the season, your family and hug a kid.
 | Dennis DeVito - RM 6758
LCCA President and Fellow Member |
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