ANNUAL NATIONAL CONVENTION
“We plan great conventions, so you can plan on having a GREAT TIME!”
All members are encouraged to attend our annual convention each year. Conventions typically feature:
- LOTS of operating layouts,
- Toy train videos
- Modeling contests
- Maintenance clinics
- Table sales of trains and train related merchandise
- Train drag races
- Outstanding home layout tours and special excursions.
Club train meets are open to the public ensuring broad exposure to the pleasure of operating toy trains! We plan great conventions, so you can plan on having a GREAT TIME!
LIMITED EDITION LIONEL COLLECTOR CARS
- Unique & creative cars in a variety of styles!
In conjunction with each of its conventions, LOTS offers its members an annual commemorative car. To date, most have been variations of Lionel® O gauge cars.
The first cars issued from 1979 to 1987, were either over-stamped by silk-screening or professionally redecorated (striped and repainted) by a non-Lionel company. Since 1988, our cars have been produced and decorated to LOTS specifications by Lionel L.L.C. All are prototypical of a railroad or privately owned car seen or related to the Convention City. Cars are produced in limited quantities and are sold to members only.
Almost all LOTS cars have been sell-outs and are prized by operators and collectors. In addition to an annual convention car, LOTS has also offered other special commemorative issues available only to club members. These offerings are more of the imaginative or whimsical type of cars or accessories such as mint cars, aquarium cars, silver ore cars, station platforms and lighted billboards. View Club Cars for sale.
Limited Edition Club Cars: You will be able to purchase the exclusive LOTS annual Lionel convention cars and special cars as issued. LOTS cars are always a collector’s favorite and are only available to club members.
The SWITCHER Magazine
SWITCHER, a bi-monthly journal devoted to all aspects of Lionel® operating and collecting, plus a membership Roster and a buy-sell-trade listing called Track Changes.
Switcher typically features operating tips and techniques, methods for layout construction and maintenance, building and modification projects, photographs, new product reports and reviews, articles related to past and present prototypical railroad.
In addition, Switcher includes important club information and news. Members entitled to receive the Switcher may request first-class mailing upon the payment of an annual postage surcharge.
TRACK CHANGES
- Buy, Sell or Trade your trains with other club members.
Track Changes and Roster are available here on our website where they are updated monthly as well as in print each quarter upon the payment of a mailing surcharge.
Buy-sell-trade magazine. Available online 24/7 or in SWITCHER! You won’t find better deals than from your fellow LOTS members!
Lionel Catalogs: Receive Lionel LLC Catalogs, by mail direct from Lionel!
Book Reference Library: Free access to our Book Library.
Roster: You will have free access to the online version of the LOTS Membership Roster, or for $5.00 per year, you can have it mailed to you annually. Schedule a get together with fellow LOTS members in your area!
Club Owned “Kid Friendly” Modular Layout
- Visit us at a train show near you
Informative Website with a Members Only Section
- The LOTS website is for you to stay updated on everything LOTS!
- It’s the online hub where you can renew your membership, login to view past Switcher articles, view Track Changes and more!
Membership Roster
- List of all dues current members of LOTS.
Lionel LLC Catalogs
- LOTS Members receive Lionel Catalogs by mail, direct from Lionel.
Why Should You Join L.O.T.S.?
by Scott Kuntz, DM-2613
One of my favorite things about our annual convention is the chance to wind down after a long day of model train activities and shoot the breeze with a room full of old and new friends. Inevitably, these sessions run well into the wee hours of the morning. The topic of conversation can run the gambit from hysterical to political to philosophical. In Detroit, one person chose the latter tact asking “What should I tell people when they ask why they should join LOTS?” With so many things going on in our club, I thought it appropriate to share my answer with you.
First, we have the SWITCHER magazine which is published 6 times a year. Our editor does an incredible job writing many of the stories himself and editing member’s submissions to produce a balanced magazine that reflects the varied interests of our membership. The photos, artwork and graphics are all first-rate. The SWITCHER is the club’s primary vehicle to communicate with our membership and contains all the club’s news, announcements, and offerings.
Our other publication, Track Changes. Track Changes is posted to the web site on an as received basis, printed in SWITCHER 6 times a year and offers our members the opportunity to list items they wish to sell or purchase. Even better, all listings are free!
Annual conventions are another compelling reason to join LOTS. The convention cities have been scattered throughout the country and offer a wonderful excuse to visit locales you might otherwise overlook. Recent conventions have taken us to Detroit, San Diego, Mobile, Scranton, Baltimore Milwaukee, Lancaster and Cincinnati, Reno, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh where we have enjoyed many wonderful sights and tours. Aside from the attractions, we had a wonderful chance to make new friends and re-kindle old relationships.
Being a Member also entitles you to purchase our annual club car and other commemoratives offered by the club. Made in limited quantities, LOTS cars are often prized by collectors. The annual club car is designed to represent railroading in and around the city hosting our convention and sports prototypical graphics.
Lionel mails their catalogs to us each year.
I could keep going, but it is rude to blow your own horn too loudly. Suffice it to say that we are proud of the benefits we offer and believe there is real value in being a LOTS member. I encourage you share this information with your friends and invite them to join you as a member of LOTS. While we may not be the biggest of the national clubs, we are the friendliest and are always looking for more friends!
Membership Categories
Regular
Membership
$41/year
or $74/2 years
- Open to all operators of Lionel® trains and accessories.
- Receive a printed membership card.
- Regular members receive all club publications.
- Are entitled to vote on club issues
The fee to become a Regular member (RM) is $41.00 ($35 dues plus an initiation fee of $6) for a one year membership or $74.00 ($68 two years of dues + $6 initiation fee.).
Junior
Membership
$21/year
or $37/2 years
- Open to all operators of Lionel trains and accessories who are 17 years old or younger.
- Receive a printed membership card.
- Junior members receive all club publications.
- May purchase all LOTS convention cars and other commemorative issues.
The fee to become a Junior member (JM) is $21 ($18 dues plus and initiation fee of $3) for a one year membership or $37 ($34 for two years dues plus a $3 one-time initiation fee).
Family
Membership
$15/year
or $25/2 years
- For the spouse and children (22 years old or younger) of Regular Members.
- Receive a printed membership card.
- May purchase all LOTS convention cars and other commemorative issues.
- Your spouse and/or children do not have to be LOTS members to attend the annual convention with an RM member.
The fee to become a Family member (FM) is $15 ($12 dues plus a $3 initiation fee for a one year membership or $25 ($22 dues plus a $3 initiation fee for two years).
HOW TO APPLY
- Fill out the form below. You can pay your membership fees to your Visa, MasterCard or Discover today.
- A separate application form is required for each individual applying for membership.
For further information, or if you have any questions, please contact us.