Two upcoming releases from the Las Vegas Riviera caught my eye in the new issue of the CC&TN. They're being released in conjunction with the Toy Train Operating Society convention, which is being held at the Riviera in August. Here are scans from the Riviera's website:

And the following is from a page on the Toy Train Operating Society's website, which seems to be down at the moment:

"What are those things in the night sky on the cover?
Flying saucers? No way – they are Gaming Chips!

Folks, this convention is going to be a history-making event! In cooperation with the Riviera Hotel & Casino, TTOS is introducing not one, but two “live” gaming chips decorated with railroad train-theme artwork. These chips are the very first gaming chips to have railroad train artwork, which will make them extremely desirable to train enthusiasts and to gaming chip collectors.

One chip is our own Toy Train Operating Society’s $5 denomination gaming chip. The front side shows the TTOS official logo, and on the reverse, a fanciful early steam engine with a $5 denomination, the Toy Train Operating Society’s name, convention date and location, and the Riviera Hotel & Casino logo. The designs are bright and gaudy like a proper gaming chip should be!
The chips will come individually enclosed in a protective plastic case to protect the chip’s surface while in your collection. Or, you can open the case and use the chip on a Las Vegas casino gaming table. If you lose that bet, say “GOODBYE” to your chip. The dealer will probably keep it and you won’t get another. Or, you can cash it in at a casino cashier’s cage and get $5 for it; the official cash value denomination. One would wonder what it would sell for on eBay?
These are limited edition chips, never to be repeated. Unlike toy trains, there won’t be any re-releases in a few years. Unless someone buys the Riviera Hotel & Casino, no one can use their logo and the Nevada Gaming Commission won’t take kindly to unlicensed imitations. Train collectors, railroad memorabilia collectors, and gaming chip collectors will want these chips, increasing the demand to folks outside the toy train hobby.

These gaming chips are available to TTOS members who are registered attendees of the Las Vegas – 2005 convention AND who pay for lodging at the Riviera Hotel & Casino at the “Toy Train Operating Society Convention Rate”. Please see the Convention Incentives page for the official rules explaining the eligibility requirement criteria to obtain these chips.

THE GAMING CHIPS ARE NOT FOR SALE
AT THE CONVENTION!

They are intended as incentives to encourage Convention Registration with paid Riviera Hotel Room Reservations. The gaming chips are available to those who meet the eligibility criteria.

IF YOU DO NOT MEET THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA,
YOU DO NOT GET A GAMING CHIP
THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS.

The chips will be released to eligible TTOS members on Saturday August 6, 2005.

An added attraction: We are in the process of gathering the significant documentation of each version of each chip’s artwork and authorization / approval letters. This includes the original conceptual designs, subsequent variations of design artwork leading to the final design artwork, proof artwork from the Riviera Hotel & Casino and the chip manufacturer, and authorization letters from Lionel and TTOS. We cannot promise that we can get every piece of this material but what we have will be auctioned at the Saturday evening banquet auction. One set of documents for the TTOS chip and one set for the Lionel-TTOS chip. Don’t miss this auction!"