Indianapolis - 44th Convention July 20-26, 2014
The 44th LCCA Convention was held in Indianapolis during the week of July 20 – 26 and was our first annual event held in the city known for racing. A full week of unique events and exciting activities for LCCA conventioneers of all ages was provided. (See attached schedule of the week.) Indiana is the “Popcorn Capital of the Country.” More specifically, Indianapolis is the home of the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” and by coincidence the Kroger Super Weekend at the Brickyard.” Our headquarters was the very hospitable Indianapolis Marriott East Hotel that all enjoyed.
We were kept so busy with numerous activities, events, tours, and visiting with friends and fellow members that we wondered where the week went! You may be asking yourself now, “Should I have attended this year and possibly brought the family?” The answer is YES! After reading the info about what we did, we believe you will be convinced to register early for Boston for 2015 - July 19-25th.
In addition to the events and tour program, attendees received several special items including the Registration and Banquet Gifts. There were also numerous gift surprises for those attending specific events. Attendees were able to shop at the onsite LCCA Store for bargains and special purchases, including an interesting Convention On-site Car with 4 unique Lionel produced racing cars for the auto-loader to collect.
Although the Convention officially ended on Saturday, July 26, and the LCCA 45th Anniversary Year began then, with the help of our friends at Lionel and ACCENT on Indianapolis, we were able to arrange a once-in-a-lifetime Special Event on the next day, Sunday, July 27 -- A LCCA/Lionel Post-Convention Special Event at the Brickyard 400. This activity should be on everyone’s Bucket List.
We had scheduled many social activities so that everyone was able to meet and visit with friends and fellow members. The Hospitality Suite was open any time and you could visit other LCCA-ers, work on puzzles, and get acquainted with new train hobby friends. We started the week on Sunday evening with the President’s Welcoming Reception featuring “cookies and milk.” A social event that was a must-do for conventioneers of all ages was held on Tuesday evening at the Children’s Museum with trains, dinosaurs, and other treasures. On Wednesday, we held the First Timers Reception. On Thursday, attended the Get Acquainted Party with many surprises including the hilarious Matt Fore - a comedic magician. On Friday evening we opened the Trading Hall for members registered at the host hotel. On Saturday night, we concluded the Convention with a festive Reception and Banquet. In addition there were several great hobby-related workshops; you could not get bored!
When published later this year, read the Boston tour descriptions carefully. Register early to guarantee a place. Start planning now for a great convention in Boston!
Here are highlights of some of the tours that were held in Indianapolis:
Unfortunately we were not able to conduct the excursion as planned due to a problem with trackage rights at the last minute. But the convention team came to the rescue with alternate tours including a trip to see the 765 under steam if only at that their home location. Some were lucky enough to get a cab ride! Other conventioneers went to Kokomo for a glass plant tour and automobile museum while others went to the Dayton Air Museum. No one seemed really disappointed in the day after-all.
This tour was for the sports enthusiast. You had an opportunity to visit the Lucas Oil Stadium, NCAA Hall of Champions, Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Indiana Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum. Indianapolis is a city that built its reputation on sports, both amateur and professional. Conventioneers will stop at the Lucas Oil Stadium, NCAA Hall of Champions, Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Indiana Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum. Lucas Oil Stadium is Indy’s newest sporting venue and the home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts since the 2008 season. It is a state-of-the-art retractable roof multi-purpose facility with spectacular views of downtown Indianapolis. The stadium seats more than 63,000 for football games and other events and also boasts a FieldTurf in-fill playing surface, seven locker rooms, operable north window, dual two-level club lounges, 137 suites (including eight at field level), retractable sideline seating, large video boards, ribbon boards, spacious concourses, exhibit halls, and meeting rooms. The NCAA is headquartered in Indianapolis and houses the Hall of Champions Museum. This interactive museum pays homage to the 23 sports the NCAA governs. It is designed to create an appreciation for the trials and triumphs of the student-athlete. All exhibits interactively engage visitors and create a true-to-life understanding of just what it takes to make the grade. The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame museum celebrates the proud heritage of basketball in the state of Indiana from its origins in the 1890s to the current season. A visit to the 14,000 square feet museum features not only the men, women, and teams that have brought recognition to themselves, but a number of interactive exhibits that will bring you closer to the action of Indiana High School basketball! A trip would not be complete to Indianapolis without a visit to the largest raceway in the world, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway! This 2.5 mile oval track is host to the Indianapolis 500, Brickyard 400, and MotoGP race. The track has capability to host 400,000 visitors. This makes the track the largest and highest-capacity sporting facility in the world. While at the track, we enjoyed a narrated lap around the famous oval, and got a sneak peek into the past, present, and future of racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum.
This tour was a great way to visit the “Circle City!” During this tour we wound our way past many of Indianapolis' well-known highlights, some hidden treasures, and important landmarks: Monument Circle, the State Capitol, the Scottish Rite Cathedral, the City Market, the Circle Centre Mall, White River State Park, Lockerbie Square (home of Raggedy Ann and Andy and Little Orphan Annie), Union Station, and the Soldiers and Sailors Monument -- to name a few. On this tour we learned why Indianapolis is known as "The Amateur Sports Capital of the World.” Victory Field is considered one of the best minor league ballparks in the country. We also saw the places where the professionals play; Lucas Oil Stadium (home to the Indianapolis Colts) and Banker’s Life Fieldhouse (home to the Indiana Pacers and WNBA’s Indiana Fever). A trip to Indiana would not be complete without a stop to the largest raceway in the world, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway! While at the Speedway we enjoyed a narrated lap around the famous oval and get a sneak peek into the past, present, and future of racing at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum. We had lunch at the Stardust Café. For more information visit www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com and www.indianahistory.org.
What would a LCCA Convention be without a presence for planes and cars? This tour offered a one-of-a-kind opportunity to visit a unique aviation facility at Midwest Aero Restorations Ltd. We saw a collection of planes and Corvettes of LCCA member Butch Schroeder all in one trip. The package price included lunch at the famous Beef House. If you enjoy planes, you should visit this unique facility specializing in restoring and maintaining vintage war birds at Midwest Aero Restorations Ltd. This is a working facility that began operations in Danville, IL, in 1993. It is most associated with the restoration and maintenance of award-winning P-51 Mustangs. Although the P-51 is their specialty, they have also been involved with the restoration and maintenance of other aircraft including the BT-13, AT-6, Cessna L-19, P-47, and Vought Corsair. Since Midwest is a working facility, we did not know what planes were under restoration until our arrival. Currently there are three P-51s either being restored or undergoing routine maintenance. Another of their current undertakings is a Messerschmitt 109 that was recovered from a lake in Russia. The last P-51 they restored is located in Danville and is now for sale by the owner. The asking price is three million dollars. Midwest Aero strives to replicate war birds to their completely stock World War II combat configuration. The restorations include all the original functioning military combat equipment installed on the aircraft when it originally left the factory. The aircraft also have correct and authentic paint schemes for an actual combat plane as it would have appeared once it reached its theater of operation in a war zone. These are no compromise restorations, and many details are hidden from view. To get an idea what you will see on this tour, visit their website at www.midwestaero.com/site/Midwest_Aero_Restorations,_Ltd.html. At this same airport, LCCA member Butch Schroeder (RM 20907) keeps a T-6 and P-51 (Lil Margaret) in a hanger along with his collection of Corvettes. Butch was there to greet us and share his beautiful collection. To see the complete story on his P-51, which is actually the recon version F-6D, check out this web page: www.crazyhorseap.be/Mustangs/Mustangs/N51BS%20Lil%20Margaret/N51BS%20Lil%20Margaret.htm
Spending an evening arranged especially for LCCA members for a private visit to the world’s largest children’s museum was a real treat. This event was for kids of all ages – there was something for everyone. The museum is a huge, five-level playground where more than one million guests come each year to enjoy science, history, art, and culture. We started the evening at the largest Water Clock in North America. For dinner, we were treated to a Hoosier Picnic in the Sunburst Atrium. After dinner, we had an opportunity to visit the interactive exhibits within the museum. Among the hands-on attractions are the National Geographic Treasures of the Earth where we experienced world-renowned archaeological sites. We also visited the Archaeology Wet Lab in Treasures and interact with an archaeologist prepping artifacts. The Dinosphere featured life-size, roaring dinosaur skeletons and simulated fossil digs. We also visited the Paleo Prep Lab, chat with a paleontologist, and assisted with fossil preparation. The Fireworks of Glass (a 43-foot sculpture by artist Dale Chihuly) was a special treat. In 1868, Reuben Wells, master mechanic for the Jefferson, Madison, and Indianapolis Railroad designed a 55-ton steam engine to conquer Indiana’s Madison Hill, the steepest railroad grade in the US. That engine, named after its designer, is the centerpiece of All Aboard! Visitors to this area were welcomed by a G-gauge train layout. As you wind your way through this exhibit, we found a space full of adventure in which you will learn about trains, past and present. One of the museum’s curators was there to share information and present items that are not regularly on display from the museum’s train collection. For more information visit www.childrensmuseum.org.
Indianapolis is second only to Washington, DC, in the number of monuments and acreage dedicated to veterans. This tour enabled us to visit many historic places. The Indiana War Memorial Plaza Historic District contains two museums, three parks, and 24 acres of monuments, statues, sculptures, and fountains in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. The state's capital is also home to the national and state headquarters of the American Legion. The Indiana War Memorial Museum was originally constructed to honor Indiana soldiers who died in World War I. Construction was halted due to lack of funding during the Great Depression, but it was finished in 1951. The purpose of the memorial was later amended to encompass all American wars in which Hoosiers fought. Among the interesting items on display is the commission plate of the battleship USS Indiana, numerous military firearms, a Korean War era helicopter, a Navy Terrier missile that can be armed with an atomic nuclear warhead, and hundreds of other artifacts, photos, and documents. The Soldiers and Sailors Monument symbolizes both Indianapolis and Indiana. The limestone used for the monument is gray oolitic limestone from the Romona quarries of Owen County. It stands 284.5 feet, only 15 feet shorter than the Statue of Liberty. The tour will also take you by the Medal of Honor Memorial and the USS Indianapolis Memorial. Created to honor all Medal of Honor recipients, the Medal of Honor Memorial consists of 27 glass panels set in concrete bases. The panels are arranged into 15 walls, each representing an armed conflict in which a Medal of Honor was awarded. The names of the recipients are etched into the glass. The National USS Indianapolis Memorial is the climax of a 50-year dream by the crew members who survived the sinking of the cruiser the USS Indianapolis in 1945. The survivors worked continually to erect a fitting memorial to their missing shipmates. Engraved on the south face of the monument are the names of the ship’s company and one passenger who made up her final crew. For more information visit www.indianawarmemorial.org, www.ussindianapolis.org/monument.htm, and www.shapiros.com.
An excursion on the Whitewater Valley Railroad followed by a canal barge trip was one of the highlights of the week. Railfanning in Indiana would not be complete without a trip on the Whitewater Valley Railroad. We boarded the Valley Flyer, consisting of vintage equipment, at the Connersville depot; departed on a unique hour and a half journey to Metamora along the river. Platted in 1838, Metamora is a restored canal town. While in Metamora, we were able to visit the working grist mill, restored canal and lock, operating replica horse drawn canal boat, historic covered aqueduct, and more than 100 shops and restaurants including the world famous Cookie Jar. In addition to visiting the sites, we were able to step back in time while taking a leisurely ride on the canal barge, Ben Franklin III. Along the route, we passed the Duck Creek Aqueduct, a covered bridge that carries the canal 16 feet over Duck Creek. The aqueduct is believed to be the only structure of its kind in the nation. For more information visit: www.whitewatervalleyrr.org.
We stepped aboard for another enjoyable train trip into yesteryear when railroads were king. We discovered the rich railroad history of Indiana. We boarded the train at the Indiana State Fair Grounds and took a trip to Tipton. After passing through Tipton, we took a one-hour journey to Noblesville where we enjoyed lunch and had the opportunity to visit and explore the open-air museum. The line on which the train operates was started from Indianapolis in 1849 as the Peru & Indianapolis Railroad. It reached Noblesville in 1851 and continued north to Tipton. The museum is an operating facility where you will see how trains operate. The trains enabled us to go back in time and witness similar trains to those that transported most Americans before interstate highways and jet planes. The Indiana Transportation Museum combined the educational experience of learning about trains with the fun of riding them! After a leisurely hour of exploring the Indiana Transportation Museum and eating a boxed lunch in the park, we boarded the train and returned to the Indiana State Fair Grounds. For more information visit itm.org.
This tour offered an opportunity to see and visit some sites with unique architecture found in Indianapolis as well as lunch at the famous Rathskellar. Stepping into the past as we visited several architectural landmarks of Indianapolis including the Scottish Rite Cathedral and the mansions of President Benjamin Harrison and poet James Whitcomb Riley. During this tour, we passed the residences of other notable residents of Indianapolis. Built in 1875, President Benjamin Harrison's home is a masterpiece of Italianate Architecture. Sixteen rooms had been restored and are still resplendent with many of the original furnishings and keepsakes. The Lockerbie Street home of James Whitcomb Riley is one of the finest Victorian preservations in the United States. This home of the creator of Little Orphan Annie reflects a genteel lifestyle revolving around good food, good company, and good books. The Scottish Rite Cathedral is a historic building designed by architect George F. Schreiber. It is owned by the Valley of Indianapolis Scottish Rite, an affiliated body of Freemasonry. It was built between 1927 and 1929 at the cost of $2.5 million. Every dimension (measured in feet) can be evenly divided by three, which reflects the three degrees in Freemasonry. Many are divisible by 33 (reflecting the degrees a member of the Scottish Rite can achieve). What would a trip to Indianapolis be without some reference to the "Greatest Spectacle in Racing"? Our tour took us by the mansions of James Allison, Frank Wheeler, and Carl Fisher, all co-founders of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. In addition to these homes, this tour included drive-by views of such mansions as the Booth Tarkington, the Kemper House, the Propylaeum and Carriage House, and the Meredith Nicholson home, known as the "House of a Thousand Candles." For more information visit www.presidentbenjaminharrison.org, www.aasr-indy.org, and james-whitcomb-riley-house.visit-indianapolis.com.
This half-day tour had some of the highlight features of other tours available earlier in the week. We started this tour with some of the city’s best-known landmarks – Monument Circle, the State Capitol, the Scottish Rite Cathedral, the City Market, the Circle Centre Mall, White River State Park, Union Station, the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, Lucas Oil Stadium, Victory Field, and Banker’s Life Fieldhouse to name a few. Some areas in the city are still preserved to represent the past. In 1821, Thomas and Janel McQuat purchased several outlets west of the Mile Square in an area now known as Lockerbie Square. During the Civil War, people began moving into the neighborhood. A cobblestone street, brick sidewalks, and old-fashioned gas lamps were installed along Lockerbie Street and are still there today. One of the many famous homes just outside Lockerbie Square is the home of President Benjamin Harrison. The Lockerbie Street Home of James Whitcomb Riley is one of the finest Victorian preservations in the United States. For more information, visit www.presidentbenjaminharrison.org.
This half-day tour featured some of the veteran memorials that were visited earlier in the week. A visit to the Indiana War Memorial and the USS Indianapolis Memorial is a must when visiting veteran memorials in Indianapolis. Indianapolis' proud heritage is evident in its best-known landmarks: Indiana War Memorial Plaza Historic District, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument, the Medal of Honor Memorial, Indiana War Memorial Museum, and the National USS Indianapolis Memorial. For more information visit: www.indianawarmemorials.org.
This sell-out tour was a chance of a lifetime! Tours of the Amtrak Beech Grove facility are rarely given to the public. However, as a result of the extraordinary efforts of our ACCENT of Indianapolis Program Manager, a tour was arranged for LCCA conventioneers. The famous Amtrak Beech Grove Shops is a railway maintenance facility located in Beech Grove, IN, a company town and railroad repair facility constructed in 1904-08 by the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, & St. Louis RR (aka the “Big Four”). The facility was formerly used as repair shop for steam locomotives, passenger, and freight cars. The shops passed to the NYC in 1922, then to Penn Central in 1968. In 1973, Amtrak contracted with the Penn Central RR for repairing and refurbishing its passenger cars. Amtrak Beech Grove Shops now serve as Amtrak’s primary heavy maintenance and major overhaul facility. Locomotives and cars are maintained to high performance and safety standards. Although the main focus is on the Superliner, Viewliner, Surfliner, Heritage, and Horizon car fleets, P32, P42, and F59 locomotives are also overhauled and rebuilt here. For more information visit: history.amtrak.com/archives and search for Beech Grove.
What would a LCCA Convention be without a visit to an exciting model train layout? This tour was a chance to visit the famous Mr. Muffin’s Trains. Four one-hour trips were scheduled. Mr. Muffin's Trains is an operating club-size layout that is open to the public and includes an O-gauge model train collection. The museum, as Mr. Muffin calls it, was built to share the collection with the public, promote the hobby, and assist people in getting started with model trains. It occupies more than 4,000 square feet and is located in Carmel, IN. The collection includes more than 2,000 O-gauge model trains. It was a tour SPECTACULAR! For more information visit www.mrmuffinstrains.org and Facebook at MrMuffin’sTrains.
This fun outing came after a very busy week! It was a chance to do something a little different from the venues of the week. Nashville is nestled in the hills of southern Indiana in Brown County. Settle back and enjoy the natural beauty and splendor of scenic back roads and country lanes, rustic log cabins, breathtaking vistas, historic covered bridges, and much more as you travel to this small quaint village. Nashville's charming streets are a delight to wander and provide a perfect shopping experience. Its isolation has encouraged innovation and creativity, making artistic pursuits a popular pastime. More than 250 shops offer an endless variety of the finest in handmade, one-of-a-kind items, distinctive oil paintings, designer jewelry, antiques, candles, and everything in between. What better way to conclude an afternoon of sight-seeing and shopping than with a good ole’ fashioned fudge shop! Before heading back to Indianapolis, we stopped at the locally owned and operated Nashville Fudge Kitchen. For more information visit www.nashville-indiana.com.
Here was our chance to attend a NASCAR race – the famous Brickyard Yard 400. Our friends at Lionel had arranged a post-convention Special Event for us. The package price included: motor coach transportation, tour guide, special parking, Legends Row including a hospitality suite and pre-race passes to the garage area [pit passes], behind-the-scenes experience, admission, food and beverage, seats in the lower level of the Paddock Section. A trip to Indianapolis would not be complete without making a pit stop at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is home to the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” and also the Super Weekend at the Brickyard. During all the action of Kroger Super Weekend at the Brickyard, occurred during our Convention, four races including the Crown Royal “Your Hero’s Name Here” 400 at the Brickyard are run as part of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, and GRAND-AM Road Racing. The races took place on the 2.5-mile oval track and the 2.534-mile Grand Prix road course. Participants in this LCCA/Lionel Post-convention Special Event attended the 21st running of the Brickyard 400 and were a part of the festivities at the track. Past winners include four-time winner Jeff Gordon, four-time winner Jimmie Johnson, and two-time winner Tony Stewart. The term "Brickyard" is the nickname historically applied to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The track opened in 1909 and was initially constructed of crushed stone and tar, which caused numerous and sometimes fatal accidents. Because of this, the course was paved with 3.2 million bricks in time for the inaugural Indy 500 race in 1911. Throughout the years the bricks have been covered with asphalt and now only a one-yard strip of brick remains exposed at the start/finish line. For 2012, Crown Royal signed a multi-year contract to be the title sponsor of the event. The official title will reflect the "Your Name Here" program, which honors members of the U.S. Armed Forces or first responders. This Special Event will start in Legends Row, a two-story structure comprised of 18 corporate hospitality rooms honoring Indianapolis 500 greats such as Gordon Johncock, A.J. Foyt, Mario Andretti, and Johnny Rutherford. Located adjacent to the famed Gasoline Alley, we had an expansive view of the Garage Area. Experienced behind-the-scenes activity as teams prepared their cars for the weekend's events. We were situated in climate-controlled rooms fully furnished with tables and chairs, closed circuit TV, private restroom facilities, and a patio or balcony. Food and beverages was also provided. At race time, we journeyed underneath the track to our seat located in the Lower Paddock Section where we were able to view the race “live” in person. Our seats were located in a shaded area close to the track. During the race, we were able to return to Legends Row for food and drink as we wished. For more information visit www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/brickyard400.
July 20-26, 2014, is now just a great memorable time. However, we are looking forward now to the model railroad train shows, camaraderie and more at the Boston Convention in 2015.
These events held in Indianapolis 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 Boston Convention early in 2015 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.
