Dear Member Here it is, the first week of February. Christmas and holiday decorations put away. A surprise 16” of snow on the ground and Punxsutawney Phil sees 6 more weeks of winter, but that does not dampen our spirits or love of Lionel trains. Looking forward to another successful year for the LCCA. We start 2015 with the traditional winter shows, the World's Greatest Hobby on Tour (WGHOT), the Big E inSpringfield MA, and continuing Special Events. Be sure to stop by the LCCA booth and say hello. The February issue of TLR is at the printers and should be in your homes starting in 7-10 days. Be on the lookout for a special collectable billboard insert in this issue, including a sneak peek at our convention car and the convention on-site car. The December issue had a record 44 pages. The February issue of 'The Lion Roars" tops that with 48 pages of information. Thanks to all the authors who contributed.
45th Anniversary Celebration
Our 45th Anniversary celebration continues. You have already seen the 45th Anniversary car and the Boston and Maine GP7 set. The winners of the Boston Convention Raffle are shown below. The Angela Trotta Thomas raffle continues till July. There are still a number of special activities to announce before Boston. New LCCA items are being offered to club members. Participate, if you can, in any of these 45th Anniversary events. Stay tuned as more are announced.  |
Switching Tracks
The club has sent out the initial "Switching Tracks" cars to members. Be among the first to get a car! Sign up now with the Switching Tracks Project Manager, Tim Fuhrmann (fuhrmanntim@hotmail.com). We have a number of members who have already run our car and had it move on to other rails to complete its journey. Like "Where's Waldo", there is no telling where this car will appear: in a string of Scale O hoppers on code 125 hand laid track, in the center of a Lionel Giraffe car train, or on a siding with electric trolleys. Call Tim, get a car to run and photograph, be part of the excitement! 
Train Talk Sessions - (#16)
The Train Talk Index Page now has a whole new look as well as a new topic for discussion. Also, if an earlier topic escaped your notice, you can offer your comments now, and results of each session will be periodically updated to include new input. To address the new topic of Toy Train Forums, the previous topic of Power to the Engines, or any of the remaining 15 topics, click on the Train Talk notice posted on the crossbuck sign on the LCCA Home Page.
The best discussions are always those suggested by our members. If you have a thought for a topic that has not yet been used (or a new twist on a previous topic), the Train Talk coordinator atwfuller44@gmail.com would be delighted to hear from you. 45th Anniversary Raffles
Reminder the LCCA is celebrating its 45th anniversary all this year. We have a winner for the Boston Convention raffle. As a result of the positive response, the LCCA added four more prizes to the raffle. Thanks to all participants in this raffle. Click here to see the winners selected. The winners are: • 5th place:
Added prize of a free Convention registration RM 8092 Ken Preis, Florissant, MO
• 4th place:
Added prize of a free Convention registration RM 17791 Bary Bunts, Ellsworth, OH • 3rd place:
Added prize of a free Convention registration RM 32757 Wesley Altman, Johnstown, PA
• 2nd place:
Added prize of 45th Anniversary Car RM 15639 Bill Moss, Smithville, OH
• 1st place Winner:
Expense paid Convention Event - RM - 13965 David Rufh, Rockford, IL |
Our raffle offers a chance to win an Angela Trotta Thomas Painting
The LCCA has commissioned Lionel® licensed artist Angela Trotta Thomas to create this original 30” x 20” painting entitled “LCCA 45 Years of Fun". It will be raffled off during the LCCA 45th Annual Convention banquet in Boston MA area on Saturday evening July 25, 2015. Every LCCA member who purchases a ticket will have an opportunity to win this great prize. You have seen here work and always wanted an original. Here is your opportunity! Tickets for the ATT raffle are available for $5.00 per ticket at the LCCA store atwww.lionelcollectors.org, by Fax at 815-223-0791, via e-mail at office@lionelcollectors.org, or by USPS. See more at this link
Product section - Current Offerings The LCCA continues to offer unique and special products to its members. The 45th Anniversary cars are available for immediate shipment. The order deadline for the B&M GP7 Diesels and the Walking Brakeman car are soon approaching. Order now to avoid disappointment. Be sure to visit the LCCA Store and see all that is available including a number of prior issue LCCA product. 1. 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. Each car shipped has its own Lionel SKU number. 
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2. LCCA B&M GP7 Diesels ready to order - The LCCA has shown full production samples of its newest offering, a GP7 LionChief Plus diesel with matching dummy in the Boston and Maine Minute Man livery. The matching smoking bay window caboose will be offered as part of a 3 unit set, with the design sample shown last week at the Amherst Springfield Big E show. A follow-up matching series of cars are planned for early 2015 and are announced below. The extended set of these GP7 Diesels and caboose will include as many as 10 individual cars. The engine starts the set, and will be built to order. After the order deadline these wonderful units and matching caboose will not be available. Don't miss out on the motive power for this set of LCCA Great American Fallen Flag Cars. See more at LCCA B&M GP7 set detail. Go to our home page to see our 30 second commercial shown on RFD TV
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3. 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 BONUS 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. The prototype will be shown at the Columbus World's Greatest Hobby on Tour show Feb 7/8. Click Here to see our 30 second commercial for this product on our website. To order at the LCCA Web Store Click Here.
Upcoming 2015 offerings - The LCCA is developing exciting new product offerings for 2015 and beyond. You will be receiving more info and pictures as a gift Billboard insert sheet included with the February TLR. • The 2015 convention car will be a Scale PS4 flat car with highly detailed tractors. The flat car will have the Providence and Worchester herald, the rail line of our 2015 post convention tour. Each tractor will be identified as belonging to 'Lionelville Transit'. This car with tractors will be available for sale shortly with delivery expected in late 2015.
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• The LCCA Boston Convention on-site car is a Scale PS4 flat car with two shorty high detail trailers. These trailers will celebrate the 45th Anniversary of the LCCA and the 115th Anniversary of Lionel. Together, with the Maine Central flat car numbered to celebrate our convention week (72025 -July 20 - 25) this car is not only the perfect companion to the LCCA 2015 convention car, but also a perfect start to the newly announced LCCA Great American Fallen Flags Collection (see below) and ideal behind our B&M GP7's. Members registered for the convention can purchase the flat car and the LCCA trailer. The Lionel Anniversary trailer will be given by Lionel to attendees who attend the Friday Lionel Seminar at the convention. 
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• Announcing the 'LCCA Great American Fallen Flags Collection' of cars, a series of 10 cars over the next 3 years, with liveries of Fallen Flags. We will start in the Northeast, site of the 2015 Boston Convention, and move around the county emphasizing railroads no longer in existence. The LCCA had planned to offer a set of cars for the Boston and Maine GP7 Diesels, and the BOD has requested that this set be expanded to be part of the LCCA Great American Fallen Flags Collection. This series of cars continues in the spirit of the Lionel Railroaders Club offerings and a new car will be offered every few months. Each car will be marked as part of this collection. More details on this are included in the February TLR and on the web site. 
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• The LCCA will be announcing a 2015 Christmas Car as a follow on, continuing a tradition established by the Lionel Railroader's Club. Our first car offered for Christmas 2014 was sold out. As a result of that success, a new Christmas Holiday car is being developed for 2015. This car will be shown shortly. Production of this car will be limited so order early.
Junior Membership (JM) You have received a copy of "The Lion Cub" with the December issue of "The Lion Roars". This is a reminder that the LCCA is taking steps to grow and expand the hobby. The club is doing its part. If you have ever said the hobby needs younger members or if you said the hobby is not growing, then you owe it to yourselves to help out. Consider gifting a $25.00 JM membership to a child, a family member, or even someone you see at a train meet who expresses an interest in trains. We have 250 Junior members right now. With your help and the gift of membership to a child, we should reach 500 JM's by the Boston Convention. All past issues of 'The Lion Cub' are available for review in ourLink to JM's 'The Lion Cub' archive. Be sure to check out what the LCCA does for JM's. Special Events Special Events are special because you are there! Our 2015 calendar is filling up fast. If near any event venue, be sure to stop by, be part of it and say Hello. February 7/8 - Columbus, OH:
LCCA at the 2015 World's Greatest Hobby on Tour Show - Special Event February 14/15 - Louisville, KY:
LCCA at the 2015 World's Greatest Hobby on Tour Show - Special Event February 14/15, 2015 - Hamburg, NY:
LCCA joins the WNYRHS Train and Toy Show February 21, 2015 - Parkersburg, WV:
LCCA joins Mid-Ohio Valley Model Railroad Club annual Cabin Fever Breaker March 5/7, 2015 - Palmetto, FL:
This is a multi-day event hosted by the LCCA & Real Rail with multiple member tours March 14, 2015 - Springfield, MO:
LCCA to be part of Train Show in Springfield, MO - Special Event
March 21/22, 2015 - Mundelein, IL:
Special run Module Layout run of the North Central O Gaugers: www.ncogtrains.com March 28/29 - Edison, NJ:
LCCA at the 2015 World's Greatest Hobby on Tour Show - Special Event April 11/12 - Westminster, CO:
CTTG 2-day O Gauge Auction April 19, 2015 - LCCA Regional Show in Rockford IL - 40th Year - Special Event May 9, 2015 - Kennesaw, GA:
Autism Awareness Event on Train Day at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Loco History. 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 July 19/25, 2015 - Danvers (Boston) MA:
LCCA 45th Annual Convention - Special Event August 22/23, 2015 - Westminster, CO - CTTG 2 day O Gauge Show October 3, 2015 - TW Trainworx 4th Annual Layout Festival November 28/29, 2015 - Crown Point, IN:
LCCA Host Thanksgiving Show |
To all of our members, especially our newest members from the LRRC, you are invited and welcome to attend any and all LCCA special events with your family. All LCCA events are family friendly. Be sure to come down and join in - and remember to introduce yourself to the LCCA host! Be sure to check out future LCCA events on our web page, and save the date for upcoming shows. See all LCCA events at this link. S-Gauge The LCCA again has an article for our S-Gauge members in the February "The Lion Roars". Member Mark Suek has written a wonderful article on Gilbert American Flyer S-Gauge passenger sets by Lionel and what Lionel has added to and improved in these Gilbert passenger sets. The LCCA and its editors have committed to including S-gauge material in each issue. The LCCA remains committed to supporting Lionel S-Gauge in our publications, conventions, web site and in events and activities. We do seek S-gauge articles to print. Remember, all our input comes from members. If you want more S-gauge, be sure to be part of the solution and submit articles, pictures, or better yet, host a Special Event for S-gauge focused members. Contact Al Kolis (agkolis@comcast.net) or directly tooffice@lionelcollectors.org 2015 Boston Convention Preview and Update The LCCA 's 45 annual convention will have its first time ever event in the Boston suburb of Danvers, MA, July 20- 25. There is so much to see and do that your convention team even considered making this a two week convention or returning next year. But no, they just decided to cram it all into one week and send everyone home tired and smiling about what a great time they had. The February TLR has full details on all the Boston convention activities and info on hotel registration. The tours are set, the dinners planned, the hotel is ready. We have 13 tours scheduled for 5 days, you just cannot take them all. Come in early for the no-cost President's reception on Sunday, or the Monday ride on the Conway, the trips into Boston on Tuesday, the clam bake (or as some say the Lobster Boil) in the evening, the trolley museum, see the whales, visit the JFK museum. As a diehard Cubs fan, I bow to the Wrigley of the East, Fenway Park. There is much more, witches, Salem, Newburyport, the Cog, and a few surprises. There will be some limited availability on a few of the tours and if you want them, you need to sign up for them pronto. A few of you were left out last year, so don't let that happen to you again. If you are a new member to the LCCA or have come over with the LRRC and have never attended one of the "funnest" train club conventions ever, then plan on coming to Danvers in July. Bring your family and come enjoy the CoCo Key Water Park at the hotel and all the other activities we have planned for you. Above all, feel welcome as the LCCA hosts its 45th Annual Convention. Hope to see you in July, 2015. Mint Car Design Contest Our mint car design contest has concluded and all entries have been sent to our Judges at Lionel. Stay tuned for announced winners and more details. Thanks much to all who took the time and interest to participate.
Nominations and Elections The last day to announce your candidacy for office to the Nominating Chair (Bob Verhoef - cabinet@wctatel.net) is this Monday Feb 2. Be sure to contact Bob if you have an interest to be more active in the LCCA. It is not too early to start thinking about the upcoming elections.
In Closing 2015 has started off well with the LCCA continuing in good shape on all fronts. Prospects for this year are bright, as we continue existing programs and start a few new ones. Our programs have been established to offer members more of what a club is about. Whether "Train Talk", "Switching Tracks", or our LCCA Modular project, there are a number of things you can do as a member to be more involved with the club, your hobby, and make new friends and acquaintances in the process. The February issue will list details on the upcoming convention in Boston. Hopefully you will be able to participate. The February issue also introduces a few new LCCA products for 2015, our convention, and our 45th anniversary celebration. Stay healthy, take part in the joy our hobby brings, commit to meet one new member in 2015 as we together enjoy the hobby more together than any of us can alone.
 | Dennis DeVito - RM 6758
LCCA President and Fellow Member |
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