Chattanooga - 43rd Convention July 14-20, 2013
I you have never attended a LCCA Convention, 2013 was your year! The host hotel in Chattanooga, TN, is a former train station creatively adapted for re-use as a train-themed hotel. The “Chattanooga Choo Choo” train made famous in a popular song stopped at this historic site. The first Convention of the LCCA was held in 1971 in Des Moines, IA. From then and to the present, our annual get-together has evolved into a major highlight of club membership. Many families plan their summer vacation to include the Convention Week. Held in a major city across the nation each July, each event is filled with family-oriented fun and train-related activities. Along with social, club business, and membership meetings, there are tours of local sites and attractions, a Get Acquainted Party, a festive Banquet on Saturday night with gifts for all, as well as a Trading Hall packed with tables filled with toy trains to buy, sell, and trade. This convention was no exception.
If you were a camera buff and wanted to take some memorable shots, then this year's 43rd annual LCCA Convention in Chattanooga, TN, during July 14-20, 2013 was made for you. Chattanooga in July was picturesque, and the tours were visually spectacular. The TVRRM Steam Special ride on Monday the 15th aboard vintage steam livery #630 on the point was fantastic! Then what better way to continue but on Tuesday with a trip to relive the Great Locomotive Chase at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History. If that wasn't enough, we boarded #630 again on Wednesday for a trip to the visit the Hiawassee loop. On Thursday we rode the Lookout Mountain Incline Railway and then visited Ruby Falls and Rock City. Isn't that a lot of railroading? But there was more...
If you are still asking yourself, “Why didn't I attend this year?” You should have. Our established practice is to give a FREE gift to the first 400 Convention registrants. It’s often a Lionel car. This year, the Early Registration Gift was a Lionel Vulcan Diesel Switcher in blue and orange décor. The LCCA was the first train club to present an operating locomotive to registrants! To be eligible to receive this great Early Registration Gift, club members had to be within the group of the first 400 registrants to the Convention, pick up the gift in person, and stay at the host hotel for a minimum of three nights. Members that resided in Chattanooga or its contiguous suburbs were exempted from the three-nights hotel requirement.
There was something for everyone this year – excursions aboard several trains from the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (TVRRM), trips to historic Civil War battlefields, a famous model train layout, and many local points of interest.
Here are highlights of some of the tours that were held:
All aboard! Many LCCA Conventions begin with a day-long excursion train ride, which is a highlight of our week-long get-together. The 2013 Convention was no exception with an historic ride from Chattanooga, TN, to Summerville, GA, with TVRRM steam locomotive 630 at the point. We could board at either the Choo Choo Hotel or Grand Junction Station. We flew past Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park and through Chickamauga, Rock Spring, LaFayette, Trion, and onward into the heart of Summerville. Upon arrival, we explored the town of Summerville and visited the historic turntable in Dowdy Park. After lunch, we re-boarded the train for the return trip to Chattanooga.
We were able to experience the dramatic history of railroads and the War Between the States at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History in Kennesaw, GA. A prestigious Smithsonian Affiliation member, this museum provides a unique perspective into the strategic and economic use of railroads during and after the Civil War. The museum is home to the “General” locomotive made famous during the Great Locomotive Chase of 1862. The museum also houses an impressive Civil War Collection and the Glover Machine Works (a restored, early 20th century belt-driven locomotive assembly line). After visiting the “General,” we stopped for lunch in Cartersville, GA, at Grand Oaks before our final stops along the route of the Chase at Tunnel Hill and also visited the monument and cemetery sites south of Chattanooga.
For Civil War history enthusiasts and those interested in legacy tourism, this tour took us through the history of the United States during the time of the Civil War. The tour began with a stop at Chickamauga Battlefield to tour the Visitor Center, museum, theater, and a pre-revolutionary to WWI gun collection. We then went on to the Gordon Lee Mansion for a tour of this former headquarters and hospital for Civil War soldiers. Following lunch, we road up Lookout Mountain for a visit to Point Park and the Battles for Chattanooga Museum. The tour concluded with a drive-through tour of the Missionary Ridge area.
We traveled from Chattanooga to Blairsville, GA, and visited the Misty Mountain Model RR and Toy Train Museum, which is home to a 3,400 square foot layout with more than 14 O-gauge trains traveling over bridges, trestles, and through 15 tunnels! The scenery is reminiscent of the Southern Appalachian Mountains and features a six-foot long bridge that moves to allow visitors into the display. The layout featured look-alike areas that resemble the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, Blairsville, Stone Mountain Park, and Brasstown Valley Resort. We learned about the time and materials that went into making this fabulous layout possible. There was also be time for viewing an extensive O-gauge collection. Lunch was provided along the way.
We were welcomed aboard the Southern Belle, Chattanooga’s very own dinner cruise riverboat! True Southern hospitality prevails in the old tradition aboard the climate-controlled riverboat. We enjoyed sights along Moccasin Bend as well as gorgeous nighttime views of Lookout Mountain as we cruised along the Tennessee River. Entertainment was offered as well. Roundtrip transportation was provided for this special cruise from the hotel to the Belle.
This trip started of with a scenic bus trip from Chattanooga to Etowah, TN. The Hiawassee Loop is a 50-mile round trip of the lower Hiawassee River Gorge. This loop took approximately 3.5 hours and departed from Etowah. On this trip, we traversed the “Hiawassee Loop” where the train tracks cross over themselves and corkscrew up the mountain near Farner, TN. We stopped for lunch at the Farmhouse Restaurant before returning to Chattanooga.
We traveled from Chattanooga to Lynchberg, TN, and visited the oldest whiskey distillery in the United States! Jack Daniels Distillery is where Mr. Jack first crafted the recipe for Old No. 7. The location is at the site of pure, iron-free cave spring water used as the fundamental ingredient of the product. Every drop of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Sippin’ Whiskey is still made there today, even though Lynchberg is located in a “dry” county! Following the distillery tour, we proceeded on to Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House for a delicious home-cooked lunch. Miss Mary Bobo’s began as a traveler’s hotel in 1867 where Jack Daniel took his noonday meals. Miss Mary Bobo ran her boarding house until her death in 1983, one month shy of her 102nd birthday. The boarding house stands today as a welcoming home to visitors.
We explored the sights and treasures atop Lookout Mountain, including a visit to Rock City and Ruby Falls. At Rock City we saw more than 400 native plant species and view the panoramic landscape at the “Seven States” point on Lover’s Leap. We explored the Fairyland Caverns and Mother Goose Village. Ruby Falls is a massive underground waterfall. At 1,120 feet underground, Ruby Falls is one of the largest and the deepest commercial cave in the world. After the climb out of Ruby Falls, we took a restful ride up and down the Incline Railway. Believe it or not, the trolley-style car travels up the side of Lookout Mountain at a steep 72.7% grade! Sit back, relax, and enjoy the views of historic St. Elmo as you rise to the top of the mountain! We then grabbed a bite to eat before returning to the hotel.
The Missionary Ridge Local is the most popular trip offered by the Tennessee Valley Railroad! This ride departed from Grand Junction Station and traveled along the original railroad lines in Chattanooga. With stops in East Chattanooga (to see the locomotive rotating on a turntable) and a guided tour at the railroad restoration shop, this trip allowed travelers to cross four bridges and go through the pre-Civil War 1858 Missionary Ridge Tunnel. We also had time to tour the TVRR Museum. We then departed for the famous Buttonwillow Church Civil War Theater for a delicious lunch and a live matinee performance that provided a rich history lesson!
This half-day tour commenced with a tour of the Coker Tire Museum! Following that tour, we boarded the TVRR Missionary Ridge Local. The train trip followed the same route as in Tour 9. We finished off the day with a walking tour at the International Towing and Recovery Museum and returned to the hotel. Lunch was on our own.
This half-day tour was spent at the top of Lookout Mountain. It began with a ride to the top via the Incline Railway, starting in St. Elmo. Believe it or not, this trolley-style car travels up the side of Lookout Mountain at a steep 72.7 % grade! Once we arrived, we visited the Battle for Chattanooga Museum and took a walking tour of Point Park, which was completed in 1905 to commemorate the “Battle above the Clouds.” Point Park is part of the Chickamauga-Chattanooga National Military Park and offers sites for viewing some spectacular scenery. We finished the day with a motor coach tour of the area on our way back to the hotel. Lunch was on your own.
Began the day with a walking tour of the Bluff View Art District! Strolled through the art galleries and grabed a steaming hot cup of coffee at Rembrandt’s. After the guided tour, we boarded the Delta Queen for a cooking demonstration and lunch before returning to the hotel.
We all enjoyed seeing another member’s layout. The Jacksons invited us to their home for a spectacular layout tour. The layout table measures 14x28 feet and is located in their walkout basement. The collection and operating trains consist of nearly 800 pieces of rolling stock and 195 MTH and Lionel O-scale locomotives. Transportation to their residence was provided. To accommodate everyone, there were four one-hour tours; where each could accommodate 50 individuals.
July 14-20, 2013, was a memorable time. However, we are looking forward now to the model railroad train shows, camaraderie and more at the Indianapolis Convention in 2014.
These events held in Chattanooga are just a taste of the type of things in store for you, your family, and friends when you come to an LCCA convention and help us celebrate the annual anniversary of the "Best toy train club on the planet" by making each convention one of the best in Lionel Collectors Club Convention history. Members may register online for the Indianapolis Convention early in 2014 and read the details of the event published in The Lion Roars, the club’s model train magazine. Non-members may join the club now and be prepared for a fabulous week of fun, great food, toy train shows and friendship with train operators and collectors who favor the Lionel brand and celebrate the world’s greatest hobby.
