HE LION ROARS - Lionel Collectors Club of America

Convention Tours“Puffy,” the classic steam locomotiveof the GVRR, is now undergoing majorrepair, and we hope it will be in servicein late July. If not, diesel #2199 will beon the point.During the 75-minute trip there will bea surprise holdup by a group of trainrobbers, so hold onto your women andother valuables. When the train pullsinto the Ft. Worth Stockyards, you’ll betreated to a longhorn cattle drive and achance to do some cowboy boot ‘n hatshopping. For lunch, it’s Joe T. Garcia’s,a Ft. Worth Tex-Mex icon, beforeheading back to the hotel.Tour 7: Cowgirls, Science,and SalsaWednesday, July 27 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.Cost: $100This tour catches the cowgirl spiritat the only museum in the world thatdocuments the women of the West. Ft.Worth’s national Cowgirl Museum andHall of Fame features stories, tributes,and artifacts of the ”can-do spirit” ofcowgirls everywhere.Next door is the new Ft. Worth Museumof Science and History, which openedin November of 2009. Exhibits includeDinoLabs; Paluxysaurus jonesi, theofficial dinosaur of Texas; The NoblePlanetarium; the Ft. Worth Children’sMuseum; Innovation Studios with handson demonstrations; and the Omni IMAXTheater. Afterwards, we’ll do lunch ata local legend and sample some tastyTex-Mex treats at Pappasito’s beforereturning to the hotel. Note: IMAX andPlanetarium admissions not included.Tour 8: DART and MATAWednesday, July 27 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.Cost: $79A reprise of Tour 5 for convenience.Tour 9: Planes and TrainsThursday, July 28 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.Cost: $115This tour begins with a visit to theCavanaugh Flight Museum where youstep back in time and watch the historyof aviation unfold. Walk past woodand fabric aircraft from WWI. Passby aircraft of the 1930s and WWII,and check out the early jet planes ofthe ‘50s. A special treat for one luckyperson will be a ride in an open-cockpitStearman Bi-Plane. Tour participantswho signed a waiver and are in goodhealth will be eligible for that luckyride. It’s just another memory-makingevent of a lifetime, courtesy of yourLCCA.After the flight museum, lunch will beat Babe’s Chicken House. This NorthTexas home-cookin’ favorite servesup family-style dinners of fried orsmoked chicken, pot roast, and chickenfried steak with lettuce salad, greenbeans, creamed corn, mashed potatoes,and excellent biscuits with honey ormolasses. After waddling out of Babe’s,you’re off to the Museum of AmericanRailroads (MARR) at its new location.The MARR has one of the mostcomprehensive heavyweight passengercar collections in the U.S. Among thelocomotives in the collection are a UPBig Boy, a Pennsy GG1, a Santa Fe F3,and a 4-8-4 Northern. This tour willdefinitely be one to take.Tour 10: Money and MotorsThursday, July 28 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.Cost: $69A reprise of Tour 3 for convenience.Tour 11: Arlington SportsThursday, July 28 9 a.m – 4 p.m.Cost: $134A reprise of Tour 4 for convenience.Tour 12: Glass and WinesFriday, July 29 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.Cost: $110Today you will visit the exquisite VetroGlass Blowing Studio and Gallery.Vetro is a state-of-the-art facility whichis nationally recognized. Its glass artistsspecialize in hand-blown works of art.After the glassblowing demonstration,guests will head to the beautiful CrossTimbers Winery for lunch and winetasting where you will be able tosample five delicious wines. Texas,and specifically the Grapevine area, isbecoming well known throughout thewine industry. Today you’ll samplesome of this “Texas Pride” for yourself.After glass-blowing, wine tasting, andlunch, you will be able to visit themany shops and boutiques in historicdowntown Grapevine before returningto the hotel.Tour 13: Mystery and ModelTrainsFriday, July 29 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.Cost: $99A reprise of Tour 2 for convenience.Tour 14: Dallas DazzlesSaturday, July 30 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.Cost: $60Take a driving tour of downtown Dallasand learn the city’s history, includinghow Dallas was named and why it wasfounded on the banks of the TrinityRiver. You’ll see famous sights likePioneer Plaza and Fountain Place alongwith highlights like Dallas City Hall,The Arts District, the original NeimanMarcus department store, and the OldRed Courthouse.When you get to Uptown, you’ll havetime for shopping, grabbing a snack,or exploring. You will even have timeto take a ride on the free trolley systemthrough the “M” streets. It’s a wonderfulway for the ladies to spend a Saturdaymorning while the men “train shop.”Note: lunch is NOT included.Notes: (1) Tours are not handicap-accessible.(2) For safety, open-toe shoes andsandals are not permitted on any tour. (3)By participating in Convention activities,attendees allow LCCA to publish theirphotographs in club publications.The Lion Roars 19