what are your thoughts about the LCCA

Haven't been to an LCCA convention since 1975, however, I think you guys do a great job.  My interests have changed and I don't consider myself a collector anymore.  I did rejoin when you were offering the Burlington FA 027 set, because I always liked that set.

I can not constructively criticize because I do think the LCCA does a wonderful job.  I feel that anyone interested in Lionel PW type equipment would benefit from membership in your organization.

Lou & Al,

The LCCA is a first class operation. I've thought about joining many times. Most of the LCCA activities are scheduled on the East Coast. This does create travel problems as I'm in Northern CA. I only have two areas to gripe about.

1) Yes, the club offerings are nice, however, these items for the most part are not

    affordable.

2) Very few items are tinplate. These are O-Gauge at that. Didn't Lionel start out

    doing Std. Gauge?  

I must add, keep up the great work you're doing. Afterall, You can please some of the people most of the time, however, you can't please all the people all the time.

The LCCA will be hosting our 43rd Annual Convention at the Chattanooga Hotel in Chattanooga TN from Monday July 15, 2013 thru Saturday July 20,2012.   We are still in the planning stages for the activities and tours.  Additional information will be provided around the December/January time period.  Go to www.lionelcollectors.org for future information.  Any questions, please call me at 248 709-4137

Al K.

Pappy,

How far are you away from San Jose and Sacramento?  We will be in San Jose in February,2013 for a local train show and at WGHOT show in Sacramento.  We are looking for members who  have ideas for additional LCCA Special events.  If you have any ideas for Northern CA, please call me at 248 708-4137 to discuss.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Al K. 

I think the LCCA has always had great publications and interesting products.  There are no meets or club activities in my general area though..

What area of the country do you live?

Al K.

Having just joined a month or so again (#31095) I don't have much experience yet but I like what I've seen. I've spent a fair amount of time on the website, found good information in the videos and enjoy looking at the gallery photos.  I can see my wife and I going to Chattanooga next year, maybe even bringing our grandson. I'll make sure I stop by and say hello in Canfield on Saturday.

Kevin

I belong to the TCA and LCCA. I have never attended a convention from either group due to family expenses. I have also had to curtail my train expenses as a whole in teh last few years, but I try to stay current in the hobby.

Website: Haven't used it much since the upgrade, but I mainly use it to check eTrack for trains I am looking for to purchase or check prices. Like the options to purchase offerings and renew membership online.

Offerings: I have to agree with these comments that it is a little pricey, especially for me. I like the scale cars since I have been leaning more to realism lately, but having a few traditional size cars (or even the 6454 size boxcars) would create a more rounded selection. I would also like to see more prototypical schemes offered for the scale freight cars (similar to the direction the TCA has taken). Traditional sized cars can still have the fantasy schemes. The Norfolk military PS-1 is nice, but offering an original NS, Southern, N&W or even Atlantic & Danville would have been more appropriate. As for locomotives, TMCC and Legacy are nice, but cause these to be very pricey. Can TMCC or electronic e-units for the same units be an option? If not, how about offering just conventional classic style? I would like to see the cow and calf offered in prototype schemes in the future in both TMCC and conventional. 

Publications: Hope to see more layout/operating articles in the future. Although I do not have a layout at the present time, I plan to build one in the future. I, like many on this forum, tend to operate my collection rather than place on a shelf or store in boxes (when I can). 

Family Friendly: This has got to be the priority No. 1 for the future for this hobby to survive. Having worked professionally in a railroad museum environment, the whole family needs to find ways to enjoy a meet or the convention in their own way. I feel the LCCA is working very diligent in this area.

Just my thoughts - 

it was great seeing so many of you at the LIONEL repair center open house. keep the feedback coming about the LCCA. We want to know more about what you folks are looking for from the club. we awant to hear your thoughts about the junior members. here's are a couple of new questions

1, would you like train drag race's at the conventions

2. demolition derby

3. what can we do for our teen members

what would you like to see on our web page-- movies for our members?

4. some( how too ) articles

let us know. please keep feed back coming! our board wants to hear it.

thanks

louie

Good Day Lou,

I would suggest offering the LCCA diesel locomotives and steam engines in conventional as well as Legacy/TMCC control. Two options please!

Where is the convention in 2013?

Best Regards,

Frank

Al K..I will be at C. Ro's on Sept 29th.

I am curious about how far people are willing to travel to attend events.

There is an LCCA open house at a member's home that is about a six hour drive (one way.

The Charlie Ro event is about three hours one way.

Do folks make similar trips?

Frank,

The 2013 LCCA convention will be held july 15-20 at the Chattanooga Choo Choo hotel in Chattanooga TN.

Al K.

Lou,

Lionel or LCCA should consider The Addams Family Express.  Instead of a whistle, it would have a digital recreation of the infamous Addams doorbell.  The engine could be The Gomez Addams and so on down the line.  Certainly would be different.

C.W. 

Yes, people come from all over the country to be at LCCA Special events.  Most people are more local, but it depends upon the level of individual  member interests, and their personal schedule and commitments.  Some peope plan  weekend get away vacations.  It depends upon your  specific  interests.  We have been trying to have a variety of Special events in various cities all around the country.

 Frank Battaglia's home layout near  Buffalo NY is spectacular.  Classic Toy Train magazine was there within the last three weeks photographing it for a future issue of their magazine.  If you like highly detailed, world class layouts, this 8-25-12 Special Event at Frank Battsglia's home is worth the drive and will be a great experience.  We have a few members  flying in from Florida for this event.  They are also planning to do other things whie on ths same trip. They are planning to get together with other train. Buddies at this event.   

Our members have expressed a strong desire to see home layouts.  These Special Events, in part  ( SE) are our efforts to provide access to operating toy train layouts located in various places throughout our country.   These Special Events give our members a chance to get together, socialze  and share a train related experIence.  We are a club of people.   Our people are our most valuable resource.  A lot of our members enjoy getting together and having fun around Lionel toy train related activities.   Other memers prefer a  more  private experience.  That is ok, as long as you are enjoying the club and this great hobby.  

If these SE's are too far, I suggest you contact local members and create another LCCA Special Event closer to your location.  I invite you to possibly host one near you.  You can call me at 248 709-4137 to discuss any ideas you have for future SE's in your area.   

Al K. 

Trainman52,

I too would enjoy an Addams Family themed train set.

My fondest memory of the show was that layout.

Pehaps Train Works or Lionel could offer modules to recreate that layout.

Again, lots of possibilities.

Phil

Has real possibilities.  Even better than The Simpsons Stuff.  Could offer accessories as well.  The House would be terrific.

Thanks to Al K. for his response on how far some people travel.

I am also interested in any responses from LCCA members who aren't club officials.

C.W.

The people coming from Florida to Buffalo NY are not club officials, they are regular members.  Again it is not a majority.  Most of our members  come from the local areas. We had people (non-officials) come from Texas and others from Arizona for the June Special Event at Tom MCComas's place in Michigan.  It is all a matter of personal preferences,budgets and time constraints.  

What do you think about hosting a event in your area?

Al K. 

Shameless plug time:

If anybody is in the Denver Metro area this weekend be sure to look into the CTTG toy train auction in Westminster. Good stuff, I'm still trying to pay off the credit card from the last auction

quote:

The people coming from Florida to Buffalo NY are not club officials, they are regular members

No offense Al, I was hoping to see some responses from members, not from club officials. So far, nobody has commented about how far they are willing to travel.