Kansas City Union Station to Receive Detailed O Gauge Compatible Version of the Station During Lionel Collectors Club of America’s National Convention
JULY 6, 2016, Kansas City Mo. — Model train icon Lionel and the Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA) will present Kansas City Union Station with a detailed O Gauge compatible version of the historic station during the club’s national convention in Kansas City during the week of July 24. The presentation will be held in Kansas City Union Station’s East Side Grand Hall on Wednesday July 27, at 10 a.m. to kick off the LCCA’s 46th annual national convention.
The historic Union Station will receive an architecturally compressed version of the station created by nationally known model builder Roger Farkash, owner of TW TrainWorx in Dallas, Texas. Mr. Farkash, creator and builder of model train layouts for business, toy train companies and individuals all across the U.S., will be at the press conference along with officials of Lionel and top executives of the LCCA. The Kansas City Union Station is a part of TW TrainWorx’s Classic Landmark series of railroad stations, which includes replicas of such railroad landmarks as New York’s Grand Central Station and Chicago’s Union Station.
The miniature Union Station is 40 in. wide x 14 in. deep x 12 1/6 in. tall. It includes a representation of the upper main level of the original main station building, internal lighting and marvelous architectural detail. According to Mr. Farkash, it is essentially the front facade, slightly truncated on each side wing (about 2/3 of actual building’s width) and does not include the newer expansion elements on the west end of the structure or the lower track level. The station’s dimensions were designed for O gauge layouts. The scale version of the station will be signed by Mr. Farkash and will carry a special plaque commemorating the presentation date and the names of the Lionel and LCCA presidents. The station will be on public display at the KC Union Station through July of 2017.
“We are thrilled to hold our convention in Kansas City, a city with a great railroad heritage,” said Al Kolis, president and CEO of the LCCA. “To make this event even more memorable, we wanted to do something special for the historic Union Station. The LCCA is excited the Union Station has agreed to display this unique exhibit to the public for the next 12 months.”
Lionel, the iconic model train company that’s captured the hearts and imaginations of the young and old since 1900, will be an integral part of the LCCA convention with train layouts for fans of all ages.
“Lionel model trains are a part of America’s heritage, and we are pleased be a part of the LCCA national convention and to take part in the press conference at this historic Kansas City Union Station,” said Howard Hitchcock, Lionel president.
The conference will begin at 10 a.m. and officials of the LCCA, Lionel and Mr. Farkash will be available afterwards for individual interviews and photographs.
The LCCA convention will be held at the Kansas City Airport Hilton hotel and will include a model train swap meet open to the public on Saturday, July 30, from 9 a.m. 3 p.m. Admission is free to the public.
The Lionel Collectors Club of America membership includes hobbyists who enjoy collecting and operating model trains with an emphasis on O and S scale trains made by Lionel. For more information about the LCCA, please visit lionelcollectors.org. Product and other information about Lionel can be found at Lionel.com. Information about Roger Farkash and TW TrainWorx can be found at TWTrainWorx.com. For more information regarding this release, contact Mike McLintock, director of communications for the LCCA at (214) 693-0258 or MAMcLintock@Verizon.net.
