LCCA week and friends who paid a visit.

Great stuff Marty. Thanks for sharing all the photos and story of what sounds like a great time. You sure know how to host!

Wow Marty looked like a great time, thanks for posting!!!!

Alex

Looks like a good time was had by all, at every event. Can't wait to finish the move to our new home and get my layout going so I can come out to play trains with all of you.

Looks like you had a good time and enjoyed the convention.

Next year LOTS returns to Valley Forge, much better convention from when I hosted the first convention improvements at the first Philly (Valley Forge) convention in 86.

Will be interesting what Lionel does for LOTS, they seam to be tighter with L CA though.

Great photos, I have been to about 20 LCCA conventions, they always do a first class convention.

   Bill T.

Marty,

Our LCCA members thoroughly enjoyed meeting you, Dotty and your amazing layout.  Thank you for your generosity and hospitality. Most of all, thank you for your friendship.

Al K 

Marty sure knows how to throw a party and have a good time. Being around Marty and Dotty is infectious. They ooze such enthusiasm for our hobby. Theses photos are proof positive.

Great post, great photos.

I am certain we will have future LCCA Special Events at Marty Fitzhenry's and Marty Visnick's homes  and at the Boston Metro-HiRailers Clubhouse. Our members had a great time seeing Marty V's vast collection and layouts. The LCCA will have a regular presence in the Boston area.

al K.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to our ultimate host and hostess, Marty and Dotty who provided us with an unforgetable week of wonderful times together!

We arrived in boston on Saturday afternoon and the week started early with a visit to Marty and Dotty's home and their unbelieveable railroad on Sunday for their open house.  There were lots of LCCA and OGR Forum members who enjoyed the camaraderie and great refreshments - Dotty, you outdid yourself!  If you look at picture #5 that Marty posted, you see Gerry Higgins pondering... "is Dave just that deep in thought or did he break wind and I should move quickly to the other side of the room?"

On Tuesday, we toured the city with stops at Cheers, The USS Constitution and topped it off with a seafood feast at the Sail Loft on Boston Harbor - its all you said it would be Marty and then some... the chowder was terrific and the seafood platter; well, I couldn't eat it all. 

On Wednesday night we were once again at Marty and Dotty's place and mid-way through the evening, Big Mike from Lionel joined us and gave us lots of 'inside' information on what Lionel is up to.  Mike provided even more 'inside' skinny while at the convention hotel but I can't tell you what it is or I'd have to shoot myself.  If ya wanna know, ya gotta go to these LCCA conventions! 

Late Thursday afternoon, Marty took us to a huge car show at the Patriot's stadium parking lot - almost 3000 cars were there; everything from beautifully restored classics from the 50's and back to outrageous fully blown street machines who's air scoops atop the carbs were higher than their roofs!  Dinner that night was at The Olive Garden for some delicious lasagna. 

The LCCA store and the swap meet at the show hotel on Saturday were not to be missed - lots of stuff you just could not live without - just ask my wallet!  There were lots of trips to the show hotel and convention sprinkled throughout the week - just too much to take in with one or two visits!

We had to end this week long adventure with a final stop to visit one last time with Marty and Dotty and bid farewell on Sunday.  The shoe was on the other foot and instead of Marty helping me with trains, I got to help Marty with a little computer work - don't forget your computer 'housekeeping' homework Marty!

Friendships like this make parting bittersweet but they also make looking forward to the next visit even better!

My very best to Marty & Dotty for everything,

Dave

Thanks Marty for this thread!!  Great pictures and as always a wonderful story of trains and friends!  LCCA is top notch for sure and Al will do great things as the new President.  Marty....you and Dotty are THE best!!

Alan

Nice post Marty. I met Al at the October York meet, great guy, and LCCA does an outstanding job of promoting the hobby in a family friendly way.

Don

Marty,

This is a great groups of people you hosted.  Someday we will have to share a story about Dave Garmen and his late brother-in-law Jim.  We have become friends ever-since we met at the LCCA Convention in Indy last year. I won't do what I did in this photo below for just anyone. I am a true blue Michigan man. 

Marty, you are a great ambassador for our hobby.  Keep doing what you and Dotty both do!   Stay healthy my friend!  I hope to see you and Dotty in KC next year. Thanks again!  The LCCA will continue to have Special Events with Marty and others in the Boston area within the next 12 months. 

Sincerely 

al K.