Turn Around… Holiday Season 2022 is HERE!

Ya’ll – Thanksgiving is in 24 days, Christmas is in 55 days, New Years Day in 61 days, BUT in only 30 days….

TW TrainWorx aka TW Design aka Theatrical Warehouse Inc celebrates 40 years in business – W H A T ?!?! I kid you not my Trainiac friends, that is an Absolutely TRUE Statement of FACT!!!!! Well Gaaawwwwley (Remember Gomer Pile???

December 1st, 1982 our Founder and Chief Traingineer, Roger Farkash – founded Theatrical Warehouse Inc to initially; design/build/install stage sets for theatres, film, and industrial shows in and around Dallas, Texas USA.

Fast forward to 2009 and TW TrainWorx, a Division of Theatrical Warehouse, was created and has been growing steadily ever since with 2019 seeing 95% of our revenue coming solely from our Traintastic Train Customers – YEE HAW!

Surviving the pandemic was in itself a major accomplishment, and Covid Craziness turned out to not only be a bane but a blessing in that we experienced an amazing convergence of existing and new train enthusiasts focused on putting a TW TrainWorx Custom Layout on the TOP OF THEIR wish list!

We are working on some incredible O Gauge Layouts in both our Dallas & Concord Studios and excited to announce that we are collaborating with the Muncie Children’s Museum in Indiana to design/build/install a new O Gauge Layout for their Children’s Museum for 2023!

June the Traingineers traveled to Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin to install the Colorado Section of a residential basement layout – enjoy some photos from that install:

Next up in July, was an installation of two O Gauge Residential Layouts (one was rectangular, the other was oval shaped) in Glendale, California – Enjoy these photos from install:

November 12, 2022 – The Trains at NorthPark opens! This annual Holiday Event in Dallas, Texas helps to support the amazing Ronald McDonald House of Dallas Charity and serves as their largest fund raiser. Please help support this wonderful organization! For more information, this link is for YOU: http://www.thetrainsatnorthpark.com/

Here’s to making the last two months of 2022 Totally Traintastic and I will especially cherish the last 30 days of year 39 for our small family owned business chugging right along!!!

Can I get a Yee Haw?!?!

Happy Tracks!

Traindame aka Dorcie
TW TrainWorx
(214) 634-2965
Dallas, TX | Concord, NC | USA
Traindame1 on Instagram
TrainWorx on Facebook

Be sure to PRE-ORDER our collaborative product with MTH/Railking – O Gauge | Santa Fe American Crane Cars!!! This link is for YOU: https://www.twtrainworxstore.com/product/sf-crane-car/

Cheers to 40 Years!

Yepper, TW TrainWorx – a Division of TW Design is turning 40 in 2022!!

What a phenomenal journey this has been and what an incredible accomplishment for Roger to have started this business a mere 7 months after the birth of our first child, Frank, who just turned 40 a couple of days ago.

December 1, 1982, Roger founded Theatrical Warehouse Inc to be a business serving the Theatrical Community here in Dallas, TX where he led – design, fabrication, and installation of stage sets primarily for theatres. The quick synopsis goes like this…

Initial focus encompassed design and construction of stage sets for Theatres which expanded into design/construction for; Corporate Industrial Shows, Toy Fair Showrooms, Tradeshow Exhibits, Museum Displays, Amusement Parks, and for the ’99 NY Toy Fair, Roger designed a custom booth for MTH incorporating running toy trains!  In 2005, TW TrainWorx became the Official Layout Builder for Lionel when Jerry Calabrese was at the helm of Lionel, participating in shows across the country.

In 2009 we created our TW TrainWorx (TWX) Division and now, thirteen years later 100% of our business is designing/building/installing toy train layouts for both residential and commercial customers all over the USA and… even in Canada!

Knock me over with a feather, never in my wildest imagination did I see Toy Trains and Custom Layouts as becoming 100% of our business. Who’d a thunk a young man in his late 30’s, with a wife, 7-month-old baby boy, no business/management education, working a second job at the Dallas Summer Musicals, and in the early 80’s declaring himself a “businessman by default” is now, in 2022, celebrating *40* years in his thriving family owned business!!! Absolutely Mind Boggling I tell you!

What’s that you ask? When did I come onboard with Theatrical Warehouse Inc dba TW Design/TrainWorx? After the birth of our second child, Lindsay in 1983, I went back into the work force doing some marketing for another startup company and Roger asked me;

“Why don’t you do what you’re doing for them for me?” We made it official in March of 1985 and although I wouldn’t necessarily recommend being in business with your spouse for every young couple… for Roger and me, it’s made our phenomenal journey quite extraordinary!!!!

Speaking of Phenomenal and Extraordinary I am in awe and grateful to say – we are booked solid for 2022 and have even started a 2023 waiting list for custom layouts! Our family-owned business is truly blessed beyond measure to have on staff the Incredibly Talented Traingineers, Our East Coast Division headed up by the one and only, Mike Reagan, and honest to God we do have the absolute BEST CUSTOMERS who continue sharing the legacy of Toy Trains all the while making eyes pop, jaws drop and while sharing the experience of their own custom TWX Layout.

2022 projects on the Traingineer Board in Dallas and/or Concord that are either – in design, under construction and/or delivered include; Six O Gauge Residential Layouts with final destinations in: California, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, Virginia, and one custom residential layout being modified to be set up inside the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital in Frisco!

Our talented Traingineer Crew headed out to Omaha to install the BNSF Layout for the Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder’s Meeting after a two year hiatus, and in March, Roger, Reagan and I visited the fine folks at the Muncie Children’s Museum as we discussed their new TWX O Gauge layout installing next year!

Traingineers… Traingineering – Enjoy!

Be sure to follow me on Instagram @traindame1 and check out TWX on Facebook

Happy Tracks!

TrainDame aka Dorcie Farkash
TW TrainWorx
Dallas, TX | Concord, NC
(214) 634-2965
http://www.twtrainworxstore.com

EST: 1982

We made it through… Here’s to 2022!

Where do I begin in reviewing our 2021? At the beginning of course! Excitedly, the first six months proved to be strong with every indication it was going to be a record breaking year. We started the year dismantling the Trains at NorthPark Display and had half a dozen layouts on the studio floor all in various stages of fabrication. Chief Traingineer, Roger Farkash, was designing layouts for several residential customers and two museums as well.

Our East Coast Director, Mike Reagan, was contracted by MTH to organize and optimize MTH’s extensive parts department. This endeavor started in July of 2020 and involved the renaming of over 24K (yes, thousand!) parts. The newly formed company; MTH Parts & Sales LLC launched their new website on 9/24/21. The company is continuing to post new exploded view diagrams for all of their products (and will be for the next several years!).

The talented Traingineer’s had a North Texas residential layout installation in March (actually, that ended up being the last topic I posted on my blog until now) which went great, followed up by a Suspended RR installation for a North Texas Commercial Office Setting.

*** July started off with fireworks – July 4th kinda fireworks and then… July 25th – fire engine and ambulance sirens/lights kinda fireworks in front of our home to take Roger to the hospital with an Oxygen level reading in the high 40’s, absolutely frightening!

Roger and I both got the Rona at the same time and I was able to recover without a hospital stay, but Roger had several complications and quite frankly “close calls” that lead to a 53 day Hospitalization with far too many of them in ICU, and then a 16 day stint to begin his initial Rehabilitation. He was released from the Rehabilitation Hospital October 1st and started his now, three month, at home Physical and Occupational Therapy. His accomplishments since being home have been tremendous and we both get into the studio three to four times a week.

During the upheaval and physical struggle Roger was dealing with – our fearless and courageous TW TrainWorx Traingineers never missed a beat! We both are so incredibly grateful for their amazing talents, their commitment and dedication to their work and to all of our Traintastic customers as well. With that in mind, let me share why everyday we counted our blessings during that time frame and what was accomplished:

  • HO Layout install – Texas
  • O Gauge Layout install – Georgia
  • O Gauge Layout install – Texas
  • Illinois Railroad Museum install – Illinois
  • TANP Display Design/Installation – Texas
  • Onsite layout service call – Nevada
  • Charlotte, NC O Gauge Layout install
  • Online Orders – Country Wide

To be here NOW, at the finish line of 2021 is truly an astounding miracle! We have SO much to look forward to, especially with a four decades in the making milestone that I invite you to celebrate with me ALL YEAR LONG!!!! And just what might that milestone be???

Roger founded Theatrical Warehouse Inc (hence the T W of TrainWorx) DECEMBER 1, 1982 – four decades ago – 2022 is our 40th year in business!!!! 1982 – 2022 !! Say what???? Yup – forty years. (I think God wanted him to be around for the milestone… in the flesh.)

What’s on the Traingineering Board for 2022?

  • Residential layout design/fabrication/installations in; California, Wisconsin, Georgia, Washington, & Utah
  • Commercial layout installations in; Texas, Indiana, & North Carolina
  • Custom Model Building

Most importantly, the continuation of getting back on track with the strong recovery of our Founder, Fearless Leader, and Creative Director aka Chief Traingineer – Roger!

With profound gratitude I thank YOU the readers and the followers of my blog for YOUR love of toy trains, model making, layout building, mountain carving, and following the behind the scenes adventures of the TW TrainWorx Traingineers!

God Bless, Be Well, and Happy New Year!!

Saying Goodbye to 2021
Hello 40 in 2022!








Residential Layout heading out…

The Traingineers will be finishing up an installation for a North Texas Residential Layout this week leaving space on the studio floor to be filled with four other incoming layouts!

I do often sound like a broken record and here I go again – the Traingineers absolutely outdid themselves in every aspect of craftsmanship with this 200 square foot O Gauge Layout!

Chief Traingineer, Roger Farkash, designed this layout to incorporate six built-in display areas with five metal shelves in each for a total of 160 feet of shelving in the base made out Red Oak. The elevated track loop oversees several Traingineer hand crafted models; including the Hotel Settles, Big Spring, TX Station, Dallas Union Terminal, replica of church customers were married in and a high rise business office that can be seen off the Dallas Tollway!

Enjoy some photos of preparing for final walk-through with customer, dismantling, and installing in Dallas, TX USA!

Dismantling layout to then be staged at dock for loading on truck:

Happy Tracks!

TrainDame aka Dorcie
TW TrainWorx
Dallas, TX | Concord, NC
(214) 634-2965
http://www.twtrainworxstore.com
http://www.twtrainworx.com

Traingineers Begin the Great Thaw of February 2021!

Whoa! What a Valentine’s Week we had here in the great Lone Star State of Texas. Certainly did not have the entire week blocked off the calendar to be cuddled up at home with loved ones starring in our own Hallmark Movie but boy howdy… Traingineers have not been back inside 0ur Dallas McGowan Street Studio since February 12th, 2021.

First and foremost – we are all ok! So very appreciative of all our Traintastic Friends for reaching out to us, checking in to see how we’re faring and sharing wonderful encouragement – thank you! Our fearless leader and Chief Traingineer, Roger, pulled double duty often staying at the studio in our small “apartment” to ensure heaters in the studio were on in order to prevent water pipes from freezing as well as assuring all the paint did not freeze in the frigid temperatures!

Status from the aftermath of Texas 2021 Snowpocalypse for TW TrainWorx:

  • No broken pipes!
  • No frozen paint!
  • No rolling blackouts!
  • No loss of water!
  • Two broken heaters!
  • Layouts in process all protected and anxiously awaiting the return of our talented Traingineers!

Speaking of our Talented Traingineers, I am happy to say, they also came through the Snowpocalypse although some are now dealing with broken pipes and starting the repair process. There is going to be an abundance of work for plumbers, electricians… tradesmen for quite some time going forward. But forward we WILL GO and continue to service our Traintastic Family creating amazing train layouts, kits, and buildings!

I will say the highlight of this past week has come from; emails, texts, and phone calls from past and current customers that are so thankful to have made the investment in their own custom TW TrainWorx Layout. They all share just how their love of trains has provided extreme mental and emotional well being across the board but especially during these times of isolation we all find ourselves in! Such a blessing to get that kind of feedback and how encouraging it is to see Grandfathers/Dads, in a position to provide and share the great entertainment, history, and good ole fashion family memory making moments all while running trains!!

Speaking of running trains, let’s go down memory lane to a winter scene the Traingineers created and installed for the 2019 Holiday Season in Charlotte, NC with absolutely NO threats of freezing water pipes from the “icy scenes” 🙂

Enjoy the wintery scenes from this custom commercial layout we did for Rogers and Gala that was displayed for public viewing in a downtown Charlotte skyscraper’s lobby:

Just added a TrainDame *Steal-of-A-Deal through the end of the month, February 28, 2021: Save $200 at checkout using Code: THAW200 on ANY of our Classic Landmark Series Online Products! Here is the link for YOU: Classic Landmark Series

Happy Tracks!

TrainDame aka Dorcie Farkash
TW TrainWorx
Dallas, TX | Concord, NC
(214) 634-2965
http://www.twtrainworxstore.com

SHHHH… September Surprise in process!!

I love forward thinking to fall while it’s still summertime in Texas and Hotter Than a Pistol. Indulge me here…

So we’re all on this turbulent, unpredictable, 2020 Coronacoaster Ride and experiencing the wild high’s and downer lows but thanks to all of our *Traintastic Customers, Family, Friends, Employees, Vendors, and TW TrainWorx Fans – I’m super grateful that everyday I continue to count many more blessings than hardships. Here’s something we can ALL be grateful for… we’re a little more than half through 2020 >>> Can I get a YEE HAW???? 🙂 🙂 🙂

So thanks for the indulgement (Maybe a Traindame word) and now on to the September Surprise.

*** WARNING *** *** WARNING *** *** ENVY ALERT *** *** ENVY ALERT ***

For all you Ferroequinologist who may not yet have a train layout – be sure to show your wife this:

I received a call from Sandy who doesn’t know ANYTHING about trains but thought it would be cool to have someone do a Suspended RR over her and her husband’s hunting lodge bar/main room – – – and wouldn’t it be Super Special to have it installed, up and running, to present to her husband for a SURPRISE SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAY PRESENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now gentlemen, I know you’d agree… that is one Traintastic wife!

The Traingineer’s are fast tracking this project to complete her Birthday Surprise Suspended RR wish by September 1st!

Thanks to our Traintastic Customers as well as the PPP Loan, we’ve been able to continue operations with our Talented Traingineers having successfully completed and continue working on several projects (List first – pictures to follow):

Modeled and installed over a dozen custom models for the Plano Interurban Museum, Installation of the Kansas City Union Station/Science City, Children’s Train Layout, two local Dallas/Metroplex residential layout enhancements, Reagan is finishing up a residential layout that will be installed in Florida and he just returned from a site-survey in Ohio for custom residential layout we’ll be designing/fabricating/installing this year.

Because of the ongoing, extraordinary, and crazy creative brainstorming that continues between the incredible duo of Farkash and Reagan – we’ve introduced the following new O Gauge products into our TW TrainWorx On Line Store:

*Modern Cell Tower Kit
*Three Company House Kits (Bonus Kitchen with Bundle Kit)
*Church Kit
*Enhanced our Chicago Union Station
*Dallas Union Station

Oh… I forgot to mention, now that we have a CNC in-house, Farkash decided to design our very own TW TrainWorx Showroom Suspended RR so we’re cutting pieces for not only Sandy’s Suspended RR but our own as well! More news on another TWX Product… s u s p e n s e is killing me >>> LOL

And now some photos, starting with the Suspended RR in process – Enjoy 🙂

Plano Interurban Models

New O Gauge Kits!