The Lionel Operating Train Society
will hold its 30th annual convention and train show at the Chattanooga Choo Choo July 5–12.
A public train show will be July 11 from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Door prizes will be offered every 30 minutes. Tickets are $6.
Estimated attendance is 300 and the estimated economic impact is $290,000.
Members of the Lionel Operating Train Society (LOTS) come together each year in a different part of the country hoping to instill the love of toy trains with each person, young and the young at heart.
Average age of attendees is 60+.
The Chattanooga Choo-Choo Train Show, being held in the Grand Central Station building at the Chattanooga Choo-Choo Hotel is a meet of operating train layouts (interactive kid friendly layouts with operating accessories, Thomas the Train, O-gauge, HO and American Flyer), displays, sales of toy trains and train-related items (all scales/gauges/items are welcome), seminars, train drag races (three rail) and more.
LOTS was founded in 1979 by Larry Keller of Cincinnati for the purpose of providing a national train club for operators of Lionel trains and accessories. Today, LOTS is an Ohio not-for-profit hobby organization and, as of June 30, has over 2,000 active members throughout the world.
The layouts all feature exciting dioramas of action and sound. There are operating accessories for both children and the young at heart to enjoy. Various sounds occur while the trains explore the tracks ahead.
Officials said, "Visitors will marvel at the seven independent layouts meticulously designed and decorated. Four of the seven stand-alone layouts range from 256–1,701 square feet in size."
Lionel LLC is one of the world’s leading marketers of model trains and accessories. Established in 1900, the Lionel name is the most widely recognized brand in the toy train industry and one of the most recognized brands in America. Lionel has been at the center of every major innovation in toy train manufacturing and marketing since its inception and to this day still makes new toy trains. Sales representatives will be present at the show.