LIONEL CONVENTION: Annual training days

Model railroad enthusiasts gather to share interests

All aboard. For the first time in 33 years, the Lionel Collectors Club of America held its annual convention in Las Vegas.

The event was held at the Rio and drew approximately 400 members and their families.

Among those participating were John O'Neil, who lives in the southwest part of town, and Martin Van Dyke, from the eastern side of the valley. The men are partners in The Train Engineer (www.thetrainengineer.com), a company they established about 10 years ago.

They buy and sell Lionel train components to collectors from all over the country. Some customers are from other countries like France, Great Britain, Italy and Taiwan.

For the Lionel convention, Van Dyke's wife, Janet, was there working alongside her husband.

O'Neil, in his 50s, has his own full-blown display set up in his three-car garage, taking up a 10-feet by 20-feet space. He shares his love of trains with his children and a 6-year-old grandson. The boy, he said, already has more trains that he ever did as a child.

He told of buying a coveted Southern Pacific engine, showing it to his wife, Dee, and making the mistake of expressing his admiration for its sleek lines.

"I called it 'gorgeous' and she got real upset about that," he said with a chuckle. "She hasn't let me forget it yet."

The retired FBI agent, who moved to Las Vegas in 1983, admitted there were few youngsters at the convention. Collecting, he said, goes through stages.

"First you're a kid and you play with trains," he said. "Then you go into your teens and you discover girls. Then you get to the point where you can't afford them (trains) anymore until you get to be our age. Then you collect them again."

Lionel is well aware its market is mostly seniors and recently came out with a line aimed directly at youngsters. They made agreements with companies like Disney and offers cars with logos like Campbell's Soup.

Van Dyke, 60-something, was first introduced to Lionel trains as a Boy Scout and hasn't looked back. Now his 36-year-old daughter makes it a tradition in her home to set up a running train around the Christmas tree.

Much of the partners' business is conducted via the Internet or from phone orders. The convention gave O'Neil and Van Dyke a chance to meet their buyers face to face. It also meant they could shop.

Van Dyke admitted it was hard to stay close to The Train Engineer tables when he really wanted to go around to other vendors and see what they offered. He was particularly taken by a train set for sale at the convention, a construction set from 1950, still in its original wooden box.

"Those are rare as hen's teeth," he said. "That's a real piece of history there."

The display was open to the public at no charge. Van Dyke said a lot of noncollectors don't know the Lionel company is still in business, and this kind of event gets the word out.

The former construction engineer moved to Las Vegas in 1970 and now works for a company that deals in national defense. Maybe that's why he uses an invisible ultraviolet ink, noticeable only in black light, to mark his trains.

Van Dyke was quick to say he does it only to indicate whether it's passed through his hands. He's never had a problem with theft.

"Besides, who are they going to fence it to ... me?" he said with a chuckle.

Van Dyke pointed out various engines from the 1920s and 1930s, both standard and "O" gauge. One engine had a $50 price tag.

"When it was new, it cost $2.50," he said. "That was back when a loaf of bread sold for a nickel."

Another train from 1926 cost $5 new, now it's $475.

One of the few youngsters to attend was Crystal Arndt, 7. She came with her parents, Velaine and Bill. He is a civil engineer with the Bureau of Land Management and president of the Toy Train Operating Society. Crystal has been surrounded by trains since she was born. She has had a layaway account with the The Train Engineer since she was 2.

"Just about every Saturday, she comes in and we count out her change," said Janet Van Dyke.

The last thing she bought was a pink girl's set for $500. She now has her sights on a blue set made for boys. Crystal makes money at swap meets and flea markets where she sells toys she's outgrown and clever canvas bags and vests her mother sews.

The family's Henderson home is dominated by a train set that spans their family room. Crystal plays with her little Lionel set "when she's not into Barbie and horses," her mother said. Their son Billy collects Atomic Energy Commission trains form the 1950s and 1960s. Velaine is into Christmas trains and Mint (gold) cars.

The Toy Train Operating Society has scheduled a meeting for Oct. 4 at 760 N. Lamb Blvd. Call 558-2954 for more information.

Lionel collectors aren't the only people who want to see trains appreciated. The Las Vegas Railroad Society (www.LasVegasRailroadSociety.org), is in the process of securing land for a 40-plus acre miniature railroad park and museum in Las Vegas.

Trudy Platzer, secretary and chief development officer, said the park will have antique Lionel trains on display in its museum.

"If someone likes Lionel trains or any other trains, no matter what size they are involved in, train enthusiasts' minds will be blown away when they see what the Las Vegas Railroad Society will have to offer," Platzer said. "All our members, who are into live steam or diesel locomotives 7.5-inch scale or larger, used to be involved in train sizes like the Lionel trains, at one point."

Platzer's organization plans to run 1.5-inch scale train models, one eighth of the size of real trains, and 3-inch scale train models, one fourth of the size of real trains.

The Las Vegas Railroad Society has been working with the city of Las Vegas to make the railroad park a reality. A supporter recently donated a full-size Pullman passenger car.

As to the LCCA, last year's convention was held in Pittsburgh. But É

"We're hearing from a lot of people that we should hold it here next year," said Eric Fogge, who was named the new president at the convention. By holding conventions in East Coast and Midwest cities "we didn't always serve our West Coast members but that doesn't mean we don't love them. The best place to have our West Coast people meet is Las Vegas."


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