Feb 2001 - Lionel Collectors Club of America

y Richard MaddoxTrain TalkPresident, Lionel LLCAs I left myhome this morning, Iwas greeted by aclear blue sky.Hanging over myneighbor’s housewas a huge, goldenhued,full moon stillbright in the morninglight. Clean whitesnow carpeted theground, and behindRichard Maddoxme the sunannounced its arrivalwith brush strokes of pink and red all across the horizon.I was struck with the realization that I could notidentify the first time that I felt such an emotion fromnature’s beauty nor why I felt it. It seems obvious that weshould all see beauty in a sunset, but who taught us thatresponse? Perhaps we are born pre-programmed to lovethe ocean’s salty breezes, the colors of autumn, and themajesty of mountain peaks. I wish I knew the answerbecause I’m convinced that whatever it is that teaches usthe beauty in nature is the same force that causes some ofus to pickup a Big Boy and exclaim, “Awesome!”I’ve tried many times over the years to identify if themodel railroader has a different genetic make up than thegeneral public, or is he or she a product of parentalinfluence or environment — perhaps from living life nextto the railroad tracks!Today while meeting with Russ Blum, one of Lionel’selectrical “gurus,” I asked him how he got his seven-yearoldson so interested in railroading. His reply was, “I don’tknow, he just always seemed to love trains.” Russ is not aserious railroader, so his case shows that railroading isnot genetically passed on from generation to generation.It is either something we learn or “catch” (like the chickenpox) and remain stricken with it for life.Whatever the truth, maybe I’m convinced that ournumbers are swelling. Even though I’ve spent years tryingto figure out how to excite more people into becomingrailroaders, there appears to be some sort of master planthat continues to supply just the right number of newenthusiasts to our ranks. This might explain why we hearmany say, “I just woke up one morning, and I washooked!”Divine intervention? Maybe. I’d love to hear fromsome of you about how and when you were “hooked.”As for me, I can’t remember when I marveled at my firstfull moon — or my first train set.Lionel catalog 2000 artwork courtesy of Angela Trotta ThomasTrain Meet at theAnnual ConventionThe train meet within the annual LCCA Conventionis the “really big show” of the year. LCCA membersregistered for the Convention will be admitted to theTrading Hall on Friday evening, July 27th, and onSaturday morning, July 28th, until 1:30 p.m. at theLexington Center, Heritage Hall East & Center, at 430West Vine Street (adjacent to Hyatt Regency Lexington)in the host city. Friday evening and Saturday admittance(up to 1:30 p.m.) will require full LCCA conventionregistration.The general public and LCCA members notregistered for the annual Convention may enter theTrading Hall on Saturday afternoon, July 28th, from 1:30p.m. to the closing hour at 5 p.m. The Trading Hall willnot be open on Sunday.LCCA members and immediate family admitted free.Public and guests, $4; children under 12 w/adult, free.Tables available only with LCCA convention registration.Co-hosts are Harry Overtoom (859-268-1942) and LarryBlack (502-695-4355).IBCThe Lion Roars February, 2001