Renown Toy Train Layout builder Roger Farkash's "Layout & Scenery
Building Tips and Techniques" Free Clinic. (July 17, 2013 in Chattanooga TN)
The Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA) is proud to be hosting a free Special Event "Layout & Scenery
Building Tips and Techniques" clinic conducted by newly elected LCCA Director Roger Farkash at the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel during our 43rd Annual convention in Chattanooga TN on Wednesday evening July 17, from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM. This clinic will be conducted by Roger Farkash, the Chief Traingineer of TW TrainWorx in Dallas TX. TW TrainWorx is the renown layout design/build company that is responsible for construction of Lionel's impressive traveling operating layout and display. The LCCA's Mini-layout that accompanies the LCCA at all of the World's Greatest Hobby On Tour Shows was also designed and built by TW TrainWorx.
If you like Lionel train layouts, then you will love coming to the LCCA's 43 Annual Convention to be held at the historic Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel. Lionel's impressive traveling layout and display will be featured in the main lobby of the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel starting on Monday July 14 and closing on Saturday afternoon July 20. This layout which was designed and built by TW TrainWorx demonstrates current Lionel train products in operation as well as several interactive buttons that operate Lionel animated accessories. Various levels of modeling skills and scenery techniques are featured in the different areas of this vast layout. The kids will just love it! LCCA's Mini-layout which demonstrates what can be done with O-gage sectional track in a small space will also be operational throughout the week.
LCCA's Lionel FasTrack Modular Railroad System will be set up and be operational throughout the week. This new system will allow new people to enter the hobby and enjoy operation of their Lionel toy trains along with other train enthusiasts. If you do not have space in your home for your own layout, this modular concept will be one way to build a section and enjoy being part of a larger layout. This will make for a great group project for any Boy Scout, Girl Scout, school, club, company etc. Any group/team can coordinate a construction project to build their own Lionel/LCCA FasTrack Modular Railroad layout.
We also plan to host a Toy Train Show and Swap Meet open to the public on Saturday, July 20 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Admission is FREE, but we will be accepting donations that will go to benefit the Erlanger Children's Hospital of Chattanooga. For more information about these activities go to the convention tab on our website www.lionelcollectors.org or read the June issue of our award winning club publication The Lion Roars.
If you are not a member of the LCCA, there is still enough time to join the club, register for our 43 rd annual convention and then have a full week of Fun with Lionel Trains, toy train layouts, Civil War History, and real railroads. Just go to the "join the club" tab on our website www.lionelcollectors.org
You will not want to miss out on this great, family friendly, Convention. Spread the word and make your summer vacations plans to experience these fantastic Lionel layouts and also visit the sites and attractions of Chattanooga TN and northern Georgia.
Al Kolis
Immediate Past President & Special Events Manager
Lionel Collectors Club of America
248 709-4137
agkolis@comcast.net
About the LCCA
The Lionel Collectors Club of America is a national, not-for profit, volunteer organization which was formed by Jim Gates of Perry IA along with 83 other charter members back in 1970. The club has grown over the years and has approximately 8000 members from all around the world, but predominantly in the US. The purpose of the club is to "promote and foster interest, research, education and enjoyment of Lionel trains from 1900 to the present in particular and by association, all toy trains in general"
Current LCCA President Dennis DeVito has established a club goal of reaching out and having direct contact with at least 2200 LCCA members and family members this year with the Special Events Program. President DeVito and
the entire LCCA Board of Directors are committing the resources to this family oriented Special Events Program in an effort to expand the club by recruiting new members , retaining current members and promoting the hobby. We are constantly reaching out and trying to attract new and younger people who may have never experienced the magic of Lionel trains.
We have several LCCA Special Events scheduled in various cities all around the country. For more information go to the "Special Events" tab on our website www.lionecollectors.org
About Roger Farkash
Roger Farkash serves as the chief Traingineer of TW TrainWorx and TW Design of Dallas TX founded in 1982. Faded family photos of a New Jersey Christmas chronicle Roger Farkash's first Holiday season and his new toy train set. In the years that followed, the magic and lure of both real and toy trains became an important part of his life, and the mechanical whirr of the model train was always on his mind. By age seven, inspired by Lionel trains under the Christmas tree, Roger's creative energies revolved around building toy train layouts. Paper machet mountains and hand-painted cardboard buildings graced floor layouts that moved from room to room until a corner in the attic became the ultimate home of his railroad empire.
Roger left his childhood trains behind when he went to college to pursue a career in the theatrical arts, which ultimately led him to found T W Design in 1982. T W Design (Theatrical Warehouse) is a Dallas-based studio specializing in designing and building sets for stage and film, tradeshows, interactive marketing campaigns, and more. That same year, the birth of the Farkash's first child rekindled the family's Christmas train legacy, and T W Design afforded Roger a tremendous resource and outlet for his craft.
While designing and building stage environments, Roger's capabilities caught the attention of toy company showroom producers. He began designing and building elaborate themed environments for various major toy companies including Kenner, Tonka, Mattel, Ertl, Corgi and Racing Champions. T W Design continues to work with a number of toy company clients and remains an integral part of the toy business at the New York Toy Fair to this day.
During this time, Roger and his son crafted a personal 16' X 28' train layout at T W Design's corporate office that later became the basis for a 3-Railers Club layout in Dallas. In 2000, his impressive portfolio in the toy business along with his enthusiasm for toy trains caught the attention of the marketing team at
Lionel. Roger designed Lionel's #840 Powerhouse booth for the New York Toy Fair which began a lasting relationship that has included numerous trade show presentations, the acclaimed Lionel layout which debuted at the 2008 York show, as well as numerous custom train layouts and displays for Lionel's marketing efforts throughout the country.
Roger's innovative approach to custom train table and furniture design became the basis for new TrainWorx division at T W Design. TrainWorx is now in the process of creating an entire line of train furniture as well as high-end limited edition O Gauge accessories and scenic elements. As the Chief Traingineer(tm) at TrainWorx, Roger is continuing his 59-year passion for trains and is taking his imaginative designs in an exciting new direction. Roger's goal through TrainWorx is to preserve the legacy of model railroading and share it with future generations of toy train enthusiasts.
For more information about Roger and TW TrainWorx please visit their website www.twtrainworx.com
