LCCA's 7-28-12 Toy Train show in Norfolk, VA - Recap
The Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA) hosted a Toy Train Show on Saturday, July 29, 2012 at the Marriot Waterside Hotel in Norfolk, VA during or 42nd Annual convention. The show was well attended by LCCA members and visitors from Norfolk and the surrounding areas. Over $400 of donations were collected at the door from the public and LCCA members. This money was donated to benefit the local Ronald McDonald House (RMDH).
The Ronald McDonald House provides a home-away-from-home for those families whose child is in the hospital receiving much needed care for their serious illness. The LCCA donated a train set to the house and all the monies raised will also go to the local RMDH to help defray their expenses and operating costs. "Ronald" made a public appearance during the trading hall on Saturday, along with the Lionel/LCCA's own "Lenny the Lion". These popular characters were available for photographs and seen having fun along side show attendees.
Over 100 LCCA members came from locations all around our country to Norfolk to set up tables to buy, sell and trade toy trains. Many good deals were reached. Raffle door prizes were awarded to local visitors who came to the show.
Approximately 200 Boy and Girl uniformed scouts from the local community were on site earning their merit badges for model railroading or transportation. More than a dozen LCCA members and spouses assisted by Norfolk and Southern Staff, operation Lifesaver volunteers and local scout leaders provided support and instruction to the scouts.
Lionel's impressive 65' long operating layout and display built by TW Design of Dallas Texas continues to wow and thrill visitors. T.O.G.A, a local modular train group led by Bruce Goettel had their massive layout operational throughout the week. The Pittsburgh, PA Hi-Railers's highly detailed modular layout with massive bridges was fully operational and thoroughly enjoyed by the crowd.
The LCCA/Lionel Fastrack Modular railroad Layout was introduced to the public during our convention. This new modular layout is intended to encourage as many model train enthusiasts as possible to get into the hobby, demonstrating their skills with even a single module. Do it yourself, build a kit or have TrainWorx build a module for you, then decorate it in any way that you desire, with any theme you chose. Then bring it to one of the future events planned by the LCCA / Lionel to create HUGE modular layouts that easily fit together utilizing the standards created for these modules. They are light weight, in a size that should fit in just about any automobile, yet give you the opportunity to run the biggest Lionel engines made on O-72 & O-80 FasTrack! Great way to get into module railroading using a track system you enjoy already with a group of train buddies too! Stay tuned for more information and the publishing of the LCCA/Lionel Fast Track Modular Railroad specifications.
LCCA offers its "Thank you" to all exhibitors, volunteer organizations, Boy and Girl Scouts of America, donors at that Train Show and to Lionel for their generous donation of the train sets. It was another "great day in the LCCA". Thank you for your participation and continued support. We hope you had FUN!
Al Kolis
Immediate Past President and Special Events Manager