The story of the annual LCCA Christmas cars starts in July 2014 during the LCCA Indianapolis convention.  It was at the convention that final agreement was reached on the joining of the Lionel Railroad Club (LRRC) to the LCCA.  Details such as maintenance of the membership listing, fees adjustments, and other details were concluded with the LCCA offering full membership to any LRRC member wishing to renew with either the EM or RM membership.

Of course the LCCA was aware of the success of the annual LRRC Christmas Car.  It was a year-end classic offered by the LRRC to its members during the holiday season.  With the two clubs becoming one, it seemed right for the LCCA to continue this holiday tradition.  However, it soon became clear that the LRRC had not started the process to create a 2014 car.  So in July, with only 3 months before it was necessary to start marketing a 2014 for year-end sales, there was no design nor plan for production.  Prior LRRC cars were made in China and with a 9—15-month lead time, China production was not a viable option. 

Remembering that Lionel was starting a US manufacturing effort in its North Carolina facility, work was begun to produce our car in the US.  The 2014 LCCA Christmas car Became one of the first items off the Lionel US production line.  The 2014 Car comes in one of the first custom LCCA box designs, modified with the US flag proudly on the box.  The American flag is also printed on both of the car doors.

Design options were offered by the staff at Lionel with the LCCA making suggested changes.  The production prototype was approved and it ended up, like most of our production samples, in the annual convention silent auction along with a certificate of authenticity.  With purchase limited to one car per member, the 350 2014 convention cars sold out rapidly.  And, all available cars were sold during the preorder period.

A note about US Manufacture of Lionel Box cars – the image is ‘printed’ on the side of the car with a somewhat sophisticated high-end laser printer, not that much different in principle from what you use at home.  Using this digital printing process, it is possible to have many more colors, more complex designs, details, and highlights and even pictures.  These options are not available with traditional pad printing or heat stamping. But this process did require a change to the body molds used, in most cases minor.  Simulated rivets molded into the sides of the car were relocated to provide a clean smooth surface for best printing results. 

Because the printing process is digital, the cars can be printed with similar images or if desired cars in each print run can have different images.  This process allows for producing a car design with different road numbers or personalized info on each item.  The result is that it is now possible to quickly, easily and with minimum cost differential offer either the simple one color on a painted box car side or a multicolor panoramic high-quality image unique to a specific box car. 

Of course, the smaller quantities, somewhat higher US costs, the new equipment necessary for the printing process does cost a premium.  And given the scheduling difficulties of small runs means getting the right cars, the right paperwork (if applicable) and the correct labeling on each item.  This additional effort is offset with the side benefit of digital printing with its break-even quantities for the manufacturer which are often lower thus offering clubs like the LCCA the opportunity to purchase smaller quantities of cars.  This is a real benefit for everyone.