Chicago - 48th Convention July 22-28, 2018
It’s actually Lombard, Ill., but we’ve been calling it Chicago for ease of understanding where the 2018 convention was held. So from now on let’s be specific…Westin Lombard Yorktown Center, Lombard, Ill. Call it what you will, this was one of the LCCA’s most memorable conventions ever, that is until we have another memorable convention. In what shaped up to be a convention full of memory-making tours, this was certainly one convention to be remembered. So let me highlight a few features that took place at the hotel.
First of all we had a trading hall that occupied the the Grand Ballroom. So table space was not be an issue. We have been a little short on table space in the past, but this year we had the room. Trading Hall captain Win Becker was in charge and no one worried about where to put everyone.
Friday, July 27, was set-up day in the trading hall, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., and only those vendors setting up their tables were allowed admittance. The trading hall then opened from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for selling to members attending the convention. The trading hall was opened again Saturday at 8 a.m. to members and then to the public from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. We enjoyed a nice crowd, so many came early and stayed late.
While we are on the hotel, I want to reiterate that this was a large property and you might get lost, so traveling with a friend was recommended…just kidding. I’m speaking from experience and I’ll say I got “confused” about getting around the ground floor meeting rooms. But if and when one got confused as I did, the staff was most helpful. All you needed to do is ask someone.
It has been known to get hot in the Chicago area in July, so it was recommended everyone take advantage of the two bottles of water that were replenished our your rooms on a daily basis. So with the water in your room and the two bottles of water per person on the tours, we all stayed hydrated.
Chicago is a very busy train location, and you could certainly use Amtrak to get there. However, to get you from the depot to the hotel, If you decided to fly into either O’Hare or Midway, arrangements were to get you to the Westin Hotel. The complimentary 10-12 passenger vans transported guests from the airports to the hotel on a continuous loop on the peak arrival dates of July 22 and 23 from the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Worked great! At the conclusion of the convention, two complimentary 10-12 passenger vans transported guests back to the airports on the main departure date of July 29, 2018, from the hours of 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. These vans were assigned one each to O’Hare and to Midway.
We had a wonderful hotel and everyone had a great time. As we begin to round the corner, heading for our 50th LCCA Annual Convention in 2020. You’ll be seeing and hearing more about that later as we get closer.
This year's gift for those members registering for the 2018 LCCA Annual Convention and staying for 3 nights at the Host Hotel was a Lionel Bump and Go trolley, of course this one proudly says Chicago Lines in Red and Cream. In high demand when they were offered in Indy and in Boston, this gift was every bit as collectible. But its greatest value was as a keepsake for our attendance at the convention. NOTE: Only 400 were available. These trolleys were available at the Host Hotel during convention week. To qualify, you must have been one of the first 400 members to register and stay at least 3 nights in the Host Hotel (or live within 50 miles of the host Hotel).
Monday we visited the largest Railroad Museum in the United States, including seeing things no one else ever gets to see at the IRM. Can you say Zephyr? Yes, the Zephyr articulated cars were available for us to ride on the nine-mile main line of the museum. The train was pulled by the famous Nebraska Zephyr E-5 engine. The continuous loop trolley was constantly running for our all-day enjoyment. Snacks and lunch were available for purchase at the Railroad Diner and Grill.
The museum has four huge train barns that all visitors can visit every day during museum hours. However, exclusively for the LCCA the back five train barns (which are never open to the public) were available for our members’ enjoyment. The equipment we saw included 875 pieces of rolling stock. Wow! That included 25 steam engines, 45 diesels, 70 passenger cars, 87 freight cars & cabooses, 16 trolleys, 23 electric streetcars, 37 interurban cars, 27 rapid transit, and 11 electric locomotives. Also, there were many artifacts such as buildings, signals, telegraph, tools, signage, caps and badges, uniforms, tickets, and many documents. Plus there were numerous films, documentaries, and commercials that have been produced. We really enjoyed a great five-plus hour visit at this exceptional museum. If you want a more information about the IRM and its collection, the IRM website is irm.org.
Our bus left the hotel for a ride to downtown Chicago’s Navy Pier where we boarded the beautiful boat for a dinner cruise both north and south of downtown on Lake Michigan.
A full course meal was presented in the ship’s dining room while we continued to view the stunning downtown Chicago skyline. All food, tips, taxes, and drinks (non-alcohol) were included. This was a "don’t miss unique view of the Windy City"! The dinner cruise’s website is Odysseycruises.com.
High on our list was a visit to The Wandering Tree Resort, home of the “Train Lady” of Chicago. Elaine Silets, along with her son H.L., have created a masterpiece that is open to private groups only, never open to the public. LCCA was so fortunate to be invited to this special venue. The Silets purchased this farm land estate 46 years ago and have developed a beautiful park that got its start with the American Chestnut tree that sprung up on its own in 1941. That one tree has blossomed into a beautiful botanical garden. Elaine’s late husband Harvey planted most of the trees making up this beautiful landscape. To honor her husband, who was a devoted train lover, she has created an LGB Garden Railroad that is beyond imagination. We took our time and not only watched the trains were amazed at the way she and her gardeners incorporate the trains into the foliage. If that iwas not enough, a full size depot was constructed on-site and housed a beautiful huge Lionel layout. Many Chicago landmarks are recreated there, including Wrigley Field (home of the Cubs) and the famous “Bean” near the downtown lakefront. Also, was the statue of Elaine and Harvey spewing “real” water at each other over the pond. This Wandering Tree Estate was a sight that you did not want to miss. Website: wanderingtree.com
Our other museum on the Tuesday tour was the magnificent Sanfilippo Estate. This was another "do-not-miss" setting above all imagination. The Sanfilippo Estate is never open to the public and is only viewed by non-profit organizations with prior arrangements. The Sanfilippo “Place de la Musique” is known worldwide for its magnificent collections of beautifully restored antique music machines, phonographs, arcade and gambling machines, chandeliers, art glass, the world’s largest theatre pipe organ (over 8,000 pipes), a spectacular European Salon carousel, street and tower clocks, steam engines and many other functional mechanical antiques, all in working order and displayed within a breathtaking French Second Empire setting. I have seen a lot of places, but this one ranks at or near the top of anything I have ever witnessed. It truly was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The website is sanfilippofoundation.org.
During the tour we also visited the “Chessie” restaurant in Barrington where we were able to eat in a dining car atmosphere.
At the Illinois Live Steamers (ILS), we were offered a ride on the miniature trains around their 7.3 acre park. They reserved a special time for entertaining the LCCA on Wednesday, so our tour was exclusive. We passed through a tunnel and over a bridge as we viewed different structures located around this venue. Founded in 1967 and now located in a former apple orchard, the ILS club has 120 members and 44 affiliate/junior members. It includes 6,000 feet of track for the 4.75 gauge (a mile with over 50 switches), 6,000 feet of track for the 7.5 gauge (a mile with over 40 switches), and 600 feet of elevated 3.5 inch gauge track. Members have their own trains and space to store them at the facility. There are approximately 120 engines on site. The engines are powered by steam, (coal, propane, or oil); by gas/hydraulic power, by electricity (batteries), and other ingenious methods. ILS has a HUGE number of engines and over 700 rolling stock and can run as many as 30 trains at one time on the three gauges. Some trains can carry up to 20 riders. This was a real treat! There was a small gift for everyone participating in this tour. For more information, you may visit the club’s website at homepage.interaccess.com/-ggdean/ILSHP.HTM (CASE sensitive).
One of the largest science museums in the world, the Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) has both an illustrious history and a focus on the future. Opening in 1933, more than 180 million guests have marveled at this masterpiece. The MSI brings science to life for children and adults of all ages. In 1941, the museum displayed the largest model railroad in the world with two-rail O gauge track. After over 60 years, the railroad shut down in May 2002, only to come alive again 50 percent larger than before (and in HO, which makes it even bigger). This railroad models the travels from Chicago to Seattle in the great Pacific Northwest, running more than 30 trains. Of course, there were more than model trains in this gigantic building. How about the real life Zephyr engine and cars? And then there was a WWII German U-boat submarine, a trip into a coal mine, a 40 foot tornado, among the many other things for our viewing pleasure. A great experience! The MSI website is msichicago.org
After leaving the MSI, we visited the world famous Chicago Union Station before we boarded the bus for our trip back to the hotel (also see Union Station write-up below).
We stopped at the Union Station, completed in 1925 with a Beaux Arts-style waiting room with 18 Corinthian columns, Tennessee marble floors, terra-cotta walls, and a five-story atrium. In what has been termed “America’s Last Grand Railroad Station”, we were able to explore the beautiful above-the-street Grand Hall level and also the action of the rails down below. We were treated to a narrated driving tour of downtown Chicago and all its historic places, followed by a trip up the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower). A breathtaking view of the surrounding area was available on the 103rd floor where the all-glass balcony extends out above the streets below (1,353 feet down). Websites for the Union Station and the Willis Tower are chicagounionstation.com and willistower.com.
This adventure is listed on many, many websites and in most magazines as the Number One Tour when visiting Chicago. This was our half-day tour Friday, getting us back to the hotel in time for the LCCA business meeting, the Lionel seminar, and the trading floor. The bus delivered us to the boat dock on the Chicago River in downtown Chicago. The 1.5 hour narrated tour up both forks of the river & back highlight the architectural masterpieces in downtown Chicago. Snacks and drinks were included. Upon returning to the dock, we had time to do some shopping at the world famous Navy Pier and enjoy a leisurely lunch on your own. The website for the Architectural River Boat Tour is seadogcruises.com/chicago/cruises/architecture-tour.
The Art Institute of Chicago was founded in 1879 and represents the finest diverse artistic traditions available. There are over 300,000 different works of art ranging from Chinese bronzes to contemporary design and from textiles to installation art. The art and architecture of the building is just as impressive as the works of art inside. You shouldn't miss the two large bronze lions flanking the front door entrance. After visiting the museum and a light lunch on our own, we were given a guided bus tour of downtown Chicago which included these highlights; Soldier Field, Millennium Park, The Bean, Buckingham Fountain, lakefront beaches and parks, majestic churches, historic factories, and many other points of interest. We returned to our hotel and got ready for the convention’s closing banquet. Art Institute of Chicago website – artic.edu.
July 22-28, 2018, as a great memorable time. However, we can look forward now to the model railroad train shows, camaraderie and more at the Reno convention in 2019
These events held in Chicago 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 Reno Convention starting in mid-February 2019 or read the details of the events 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.
