Feb 2001 - Lionel Collectors Club of America

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Connectionsby George G. Nelson RM 13073When I wrote my first “Connections” column twoyears ago (see TLR, February 1999), I told LCCAers thatI was writing from the standpoint of a computer andinternet novice — and I’m still in thatcategory! I believe there are othernovices among our readers, and I hopethat they will be sufficiently interestedin and challenged to do some “discoverylearning” for themselves.Connecting at DearbornThe October, 2000, issue of TheLion Roars included a report on theAnnual Joint Convention along withmany photos. Other photos of thisConvention are posted on at least twoweb sites — South West AlabamaRailroad Modelers andLOTS .Several Mobile, Alabama-area SWARMmembers attended the Convention, andthey had a chance to see where the“snowbirds” go when they leave theGulf Coast just before the onslaught of hot weather.During the LCCA business meeting at theConvention, Larry Black, director of LCCA and chair ofthe club’s New Millennium Committee, reported on thecommittee’s search for new ways and capabilities to serveour membership; including cyber-improvements to theclub’s web site. The LCCA business office now has faxand e-mail capability; and each officer, director andappointed official has e-mail capability. For memberconvenience and access, this information is listed on pageone of each issue of The Lion Roars.Other Web Sites of InterestTwo other sites were recently called to my attention.Many of you are already familiar with them but,for those who may not be, take a look at , which claims to be “the mostcomprehensive internet site containing detailed productand history information, hundreds of postwar Lionel trainphotos, and links to other quality postwar train sites!”The other is , whichincludes among other features an interactive fun page thatallows one to “control” a Lionel locomotive.Christmas in MobileThese two photos were taken during the 2000Christmas season in Mobile, Alabama. Both are relatedto the theme of CONNECTING with people who are notfamiliar with the hobby with an emphasis on developinginterest in the hobby among the next generation. If ourhobby is to grow, we must “grow our own successors.”This mom and family enjoyed the modular Lionel train layout set up and operatedby South West Alabama Railroad Modelers (SWARM) at the Junior League’sChristmas Jubilee in the city’s downtown Convention Center on November 9-11,2000. The center was filled with people, mostly women, who were shopping and/orlooking for Christmas ideas. The SWARM layout occupied a prominent positionjust inside the entrance with a colorful display of train catalogs and magazines, achart showing the relative sizes and popularity of the various scales of trains, and alisting of Mobile-area hobby shops that sell trains.The second major holiday appearance for the SWARM Lionellayout was at Mobile’s Exploreum, a hands-on science center,during November 24 to December 3. During the holidays wewere visited by a number of families, but when school was insession, large groups of young students came to the center onfield trips. Most of the kids “swarmed” around the layout asthey were released from the IMAX theater — just across thecorridor from our locale. During this event we were featuredon local TV newscasts at least twice. We were “ambassadors”for the train hobby and used the opportunity to extol thenumber of skills and talents that youngsters can put intopractice as model railroaders.Photographs by George G. Nelson26The Lion Roars February, 2001
My FirstLionel Christmasby John William Abbe RM 2168I have operated and collected Lionel trains since 1950.They were the only trains I knew about. Every year whenI received my Lionel catalog, I showed Dad and Mommy preferences — just like the catalog said to do.One Wednesday night, Dad and I stayed home fromchurch because we were sick. He had never done thatbefore! He told me he wanted to show me something thatwas under the bed in a brown box. We get down on ourhands and knees and looked; and there it was — the newLionel 2026W Steam Freight set of 1950. We carefullyopened each box and looked at what was inside. We spreadout the whole train set on the floor; it was just too muchof a temptation for us to resist.All of a sudden we heard a noise; it was Mom comingback from church! We rushed to put the set away beforeshe came into the room. When she asked, “What wasgoing on?” we told her, “Nothing!” We never told herthat we opened the train set before Christmas.My dad passed away and went to heaven in 1959.Mom wanted to get me a train to remember him by, soshe went to the Sears store during Christmas time andpurchased a 2348 GP-9. It had a horn inside it. Everytime she walked about the train display, the horn soundedall over the store. She found out later that the sound camefrom the train.In 1960, my Mom gave me a new 3619 operatingsatellite car. My brother and I played with that car a lot.When released, the satellite would hit the ceiling about10 feet in the air and come back down. My Mom got thatcar for us just after my grandmother went to a nursinghome.Each of these train items had significant sentimentalvalue to them, and I would never sell the trains to anyone.Trains offer much more than “play value.” They makememories and give joy and happiness.Trains are also biblical, as in scripture it says, “Andthe Lords’ train filled the temple” and “Train up a childin the way he should go!” One day in the future, thesewill be the trains to see!Upcoming LCCATrain MeetsLexington, KentuckyMarch 16-17, 2001Harry Overtoom and a Lexington-based team will presenta LCCA-sponsored train meet on Friday/Saturday, March 16-17, 2001, at the Continental Inn, US 60 & New Circle Road(1.8 miles west on US 60 from I-75, Exit 110). Setup/earlybird trading for LCCA members only on Friday evening from6 to 9 p.m. and on Saturday morning from 8 to 10 a.m. Thegeneral public will be admitted on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3p.m. LCCA members and families will be admitted free;guests, $3.50; children under 12 accompanied by an adult,free. Co-hosts: Harry Overtoom (859-268-1942), Larry Black(502-695-4355), and Bill Crace, (859-299-2423).Clinton, TennesseeMarch 24-25, 2001Gary Lape, Sr. will hold the fourth annual LCCA trainmeet in Clinton, Tennessee, on Saturday and Sunday, March24-25, 2001. The location is the Tennessee Army NationalGuard Armory located at 185 Yarnell Industrial Parkway, inClinton. Registration and setup is Friday, March 23rd from 2to 6 p.m. and Saturday morning 7:30 to 10 a.m. LCCA tradingis from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday with public trading Saturdayand Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tables are $8 each.Admission charge for guests is $3; for families, $5; LCCAmembers admitted free. Operating layouts and foodconcessions will be available. Hosts are Gary Lape, Sr. at865-457-8387 or by fax at 865-463-9702; Joe Glass, 865-457-3617, e-mail at ; and Michael D. Smith,865-483-9608, e-mail at .Chattanooga, TennesseeSeptember 29, 2001Bill Stitt (423-894-1284), George Baltz (423-842-6094),and Ron Herman (423-344-5799) will co-host a LCCAsponsoredtrain meet in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Saturday,September 29, 2001. The event will be held at Olph ChurchParish Life Center, 501 South Moore Road (I-24, Exit 184,Moore Road) in Chattanooga. Registration and setup will befrom 9 to 10 a.m. with LCCA member trading from 10 to 11a.m. Public and guest trading will begin at 11 a.m. and continueto 3 p.m.LCCA members and family will be admitted free. Guestswill be admitted for $5; children under 18 accompanied by anadult free. Tables $9, no limit.27The Lion Roars February, 2001
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Page 20 and 21: REFERENCE INFORMATIONREGISTRATION,
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Page 34 and 35: LCCA BoardMeeting MinutesOctober 21
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Feb 2001 - Lionel Collectors Club of America

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