2018 LIONEL CLUB AMBASSADORS
For the third year in a row Lionel Trains has extended the
help of hobbyist clubs around the country to help represent the Lionel brand
and promote the model railroading industry. The Ambassador program extends exclusive benefits to the 10
clubs chosen and our mission is to assist them in growing the hobby and passing
on the “Magic of Trains” to future generations to by helping Lionel make greater strides in the toy train industry through
hosting public events, filming product review videos and publicizing the Lionel
brand online to new consumers.
Atlantic Coast S Gaugers
The Carolina’s division of the Atlantic Coast S Gaugers is
home to 85 members and is part of a larger organization supporting the S Gauge
train hobby. Each year, the club sees thousands of consumers at over 20 events
in three or more states where the showcase an interactive modular layout that
provides hands on experience for folks of all ages. The ACSG utilizes all types
of Lionel S Gauge equipment on their layouts and has won the best layout award
at numerous shows in the past.
Atlantic Coast S Gaugers Official Web Site: http://sgaugers.org/
Chicagoland Association of S Gaugers
Located in Hinsdale, IL the Chicagoland Association of S
Gaugers is home to 65 members. For over 40 years the CASG club members have
been running/displaying Lionel American Flyer equipment at public events by promoting the model railroad hobby and
educating the public on a number of topics including scene construction, S
Gauge Hi-Rail, scale and Lionel conventional and Legacy operation.
Chicagoland Association of S Gaugers Official Site: http://www.trainweb.org/casg/
Chicagoland Lionel Railroad Club
Located in New Lenox, IL the Chicagoland Lionel Railroad
Club is home to 134 members. As back –to-back Ambassador Club of the Year
(2015-2016 and 2017-2018) the CLRC has developed a strong recognition in south
suburban Chicago through monthly open houses at their club house which includes
the largest interactive club layout in the mid-west. This massive layout is the
centerpiece of the open houses and attracts many visitors annually.
Chicagoland Lionel Railroad Club Official Web: https://www.clrctrains.com/
Golden Gate American Flyer Club
Located in sunny California, the Golden Gate American Flyer
Club is home to 50 members. Since 1970
the club has been actively promoting American Flyer and S-Gauge model
railroading through modular exhibits around the Bay Area. In 2014 the club was
invited by the world renowned San Francisco Exploratorium Science Museum to run
trains as part of a toy-themed festival. Every third year the GGAFC hosts the
Flyer Fest West show which rotates with two other clubs annually.
Golden Gate American Flyer Club Official Website: www.ggafc.org
Nassau Lionel Operating Engineers
The Nassau Lionel Operating Engineers Inc., is located in
Levittown, NY and home to 41 members. As an established member of the community
since 1983, the club hosts numerous open houses in addition to taking their
portable modular layouts to community events.
Each holiday season, the members of NLOE construct static displays in at
least four public libraries that feature Lionel trains ranging from pre-war to
modern era.
New Jersey Hi-Railers
The New Jersey HiRailers are located in Paterson, NJ and
home to over 50 members. The club houses the country’s largest O scale layout
that measures 185 feet long and 50 wide. In addition to the massive layout, the
club also houses television host Tom Snynder’s standard gauge layout and the
famous Soprano’s layout that was located in Bobby Baccalieri (Steve Schirripa)
garage. They host a number of open house events open to the public annually.
New Jersey Hi Railers Official Website: http://www.njhirailers.com/
Additional club information & photos:
https://www.northjersey.com/picture-gallery/news/passaic/paterson/2018/10/28/nj-hi-railers/1799643002/
TMB Model Train Club
The TMB Model Train club is located in Farmingdale, NY and
is home to over 80 members. Since 2013 the club has been in the process of
constructing a beautiful layout in a 4000 square foot location. Members usually
meet on Friday night to work on the layout and run trains. TMB also has a
modular layout that is take to a variety of public events around Long Island
including various schools and hospitals to bring the love of trains to those
who cannot attend their open houses.
TMB Official Website: http://tmbmodeltrainclub.com
Toy Train Operating Society – Southern Pacific Division
The TTOS Southern Pacific Division is located in Costa Mesa,
CA and home to over 200 members. As a
division of the Toy Train Operating society, TTOS and the Pacific Division are
continually looking for opportunities to promote and educate the public through
the use of their modular Lionel and American layouts and displays.
TTOS Southern Pacific Division Official Website: http://www.ttos-sp.org/
Toy Train Operating Society – Silver State Division
The TTOS Silver State Division is located in Boulder City,
NV and is home to 26 members. Founded in
1983, the club TTOS Silver State Division is the only 3-rail O-Gauge club with
a large permanent layout in Nevada which is located inside a refurbished 1912
Pullman passenger car. In addition the club participates in local events around
the area.
Wichita Toy Train Club
The Wichita Toy Train Club is located in Wichita, KS and is
home to 75 members. Along with the museum, the Wichita Toy Train club is
dedicated to promoting the model railroad hobby through the Kansas. The club hosts open houses on the 2nd
and 4th weekend each month and has over 4000 square feet of layouts
that feature O-Gauge and S-gauge on a modular layout.
Wichita Toy Train Club Official Website: http://www.wichitatoytrainmuseum.org/
The 2016-2017 Lionel Club Ambassador Program was a success and great efforts were made by all clubs who participated. When the program ended and the points were tallied we had a three-way tie for first place! We to congratulate the 2016-2017 Lionel Ambassador Club(s) of the Year: Chicagoland Lionel Railroad Club, TTOS Southern Pacific Division and Wichita Toy Train Club
The information about the clubs is provided by them and may or may not be accurate depending on changes in membership, 501c status, etc.. Lionel is sharing their content and not validating it’s accuracy.