Tag: Lionel Trains

2020…The TRAINTASTIC Twenties!

Happy New Year – Happy New Decade to all of our Trainiac friends 🙂

The Traingineers ended the decade accomplishing absolutely remarkable custom layout installations all over the country and a first…even in Canada! We are so blessed by each of our Top Traintastic Customers with Roger and I continuing to be in awe of the gifted group of employees we employ and passionately refer to as our Talented Traingineer Team!

Special shout-out of gratitude to each Traingineer Team Member: Paul Munger, Mike Reagan, Mike Ellis, Garrett Broyles, Eugene Kollman, George Watson, Dennis Magee, Judy Ellis, Jeff Matney, Nick Ellis, Ethan Tait, Abraham Alvarado, and Ulises Mendez. YIKES! I would be remiss not mentioning three honorary Traingineers; Joe Holtzinger, Stephanie Reagan, and Alex Mallaie, who’ve pitched in to assist and we’re very appreciative to have each “on Traingineer Duty Call”!

We expanded our reach and increased services we offer by adding the uber talented Mike Reagan to our team in 2017. Mike became our East Coast Director based out of Concord, NC. and from his East Coast Studio headed up fabrication/design/installation of three custom residential layouts for customers in Santa Fe, NM – Warren, NJ – Providence, RI and we’ve sent him all over the country for layout assessments, installations, service calls, and events; New York, Nevada, Texas, Kansas, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Iowa, Florida, North Carolina and even Canada!

Going down Memory Lane a bit, Roger Farkash, founded Theatrical Warehouse Inc dba TW TrainWorx in 1982 – making this decade #4 for our small family owned business being in operation – truly a miracle in and of itself! Both of us will reach our 70’s in this decade and you’d think our founder and Creative Director would be talking the *R* word, right? Hmmm, not seeing that happen any time soon when his design calendar is just about booked for the first quarter of 2020 and his HUGE passion for what he does certainly is not subsiding!

Happy to say we’re starting out 2020 with a younger generation of Traingineers (almost half of our Traingineers are in their 20’s – early 40’s) and they are being mentored/taught by the Absolute Best of the Best in the toy train layout industry!

All this to say, we’re building a TW TrainWorx Legacy, and we’d love to have YOU become part of it! The Traintastic Traingineer Team is Still believing the Train Layout possibilities are endless : )

What a decade that was… in pictures, Enjoy!

Happy New Year Trainiac friends – wishing YOU and YOURS an extraordinarily blessed and prosperous 2020.

Happy Tracks,

TrainDame aka Dorcie Farkash
TW TrainWorx
(214) 634-2965
http://www.trainworxlayouts.com
http://www.layoutassessment.com
http://www.twtrainworxstore.com

Forty Years… 1979 – 2019

That’s right Trainiac Friends, August 30th, 2019 marked four decades that TrainDame and Chief Traingineer, Roger Farkash, have been married!!

Wowzers right? What do you do to celebrate such a momentous occasion?? Easy Peezy, decide to go off the radar for a long weekend! First off, we headed back to the Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico where we were blessed to say our wedding vows, then headed on up to the High Timber Family Ranch just South East of Chama, NM with our ENTIRE family and top off the weekend with a ride on the Cumbres/Toltec Steam Train!! Such an amazing time we had and we especially cherished being able to share the adventure with our four grandchildren; Deacon age five (almost), Ford age four, Wade age three, and Lilly age two. We all had too much CRAZY fun I tell ya!!! Ha… and don’t you know, there was a TRAIN SHOW in Santa Fe to boot and we ran into one of our Traintastic customers – Henry Day!! 

If you’d told me some forty years ago that Roger would start a company in 1982 (same year our son was born) the very next year give birth to our daughter, two years later I would go to work with Roger, then in 2008 we’d create a new division of TW Design… TW TrainWorx – same year create an alter persona TrainDame, have commercial Train Layouts in; Dallas, Houston, New York City, Pittsburgh, and coming soon to Charlotte and Kansas City PLUS residential Train Layouts spread coast to coast throughout the USA and CANADA – well I would’ve told you, “WHAT, ARE YOU CRAZY – NO WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!” … Well, WAY 🙂 

Sharing the photo fun of our 40th Wedding Anniversary Adventure… All A Board!

Happy Tracks!

TrainDame aka Dorcie Farkash
TW TrainWorx
(214) 634-2965
http://www.twtrainworx.com
http://www.twtrainworxstore.com
http://www.trainworxlayouts.com

 

 

It’s all in a DAY…

Without going into all the gory details of Mr. Day’s disastrous experience with his initial train layout (NOT from TW TrainWorx) other than to say, after our initial assessment in 2015 it became apparent that Mr. Day had a decision to make;  1) because of the unfortunate inability of his existing layout to literally RUN TRAINS and an ultimatum from his wife to get the trains running otherwise your train room will be my craft room… OR, 2) take a leap of faith, bite the bullet, take a chance with TW TrainWorx and literally ‘trash’ the old layout to make room for his new custom TW TrainWorx Layout!

Decision made… Leap was taken… bite crunched… the Day Layout went on the TW TrainWorx Board for Design, Fabrication, and Installation!!

A couple of fun facts about Mr. Day’s custom TW TrainWorx Layout… it was our first layout constructed entirely by Mike Reagan in his North Carolina studio! Other than the custom lift bridge which was designed & laser cut in Dallas then shipped up to Mike and having Roger fly in to assist with carving! We are extremely proud of the results that came out of our East Coast Division!!!

Let’s let the pictures do the talking, first up: Photos from TW TrainWorx East Coast Division: Concord, NC:

Fabrication was finished in December, 2017 and Mike loaded the truck up in North Carolina and made the trip to Santa Fe, NM through Dallas, Texas. Once the truck and layout made it to Dallas, Traingineer and Road Warrior, Eugene Kollman drove the layout to Mr. Day’s home to start “Operation Day Installation” on Monday – January 8th, 2018.

First item to take care of was demolishing the old and completely dysfunctional layout… Gotta Go!

Out with the old…in with the new!


OH HAPPY DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(pun intended… lol)

Happy Tracks!

TrainDame aka Dorcie Farkash
TW TrainWorx
(214) 634-2965
http://www.trainworxlayouts.com

Dallas, TX | Concord NC

 

TW TrainWorx makes 2 out of 13…

‘Tis the Season for trains, trains, trains, trains… right? Of course it is!

Don’t take my word for it, check out this December 1st, 2017 article from USA Today highlighting 13 Holiday Model Train Displays to see and you will find that the Traingineers of TW TrainWorx layouts garnered TWO mentions in the USA Today Article: USA TODAY

The two mentions are: The Trains at NorthPark display in Dallas, Texas and New York Transit Museum’s 16th Annual Holiday Train Show in Grand Central Terminal in New York City.

*Not mentioned is the over 1300 sq. ft. display we did last year for the Houston Museum of Natural Science… Trains Over Texas 

*Also not mentioned is another TW TrainWorx display inside Herald Square Macy’s Santa Land exhibit … Macy’s Santaland

*Oh…and one more not mention is our layout inside the NY Historical Society’s Toys and Trains Jerni Collection Exhibit: Holiday Express

Jingle YOUR bells, sing YOUR carols, warm YOUR mittens, and have a jolly time experiencing the many sounds and sights of trains running this Holiday Season!!

USA confirms… TW TrainWorx Holiday Layouts are a MUST to Experience 🙂


Happy Tracks and Merry Christmas!

TrainDame aka Dorcie Farkash
TW TrainWorx | Dallas, TX | Concord, NC
(214) 634-2965

http://www.HolidayTrainLayout.com

 

TW TrainWorx makes the COVER… Again :)

Not just any cover but, the Christmas Run 295 | December 2017 Cover of the OGR Magazine that features Skip Natoli’s Polar Express Layout made exclusively for Skip by TW TrainWorx! Chief Traingineer, and Creative Director – Roger Farkash, had a blast working with Skip and bringing his vision of exactly what he wanted his “in the style of – Polar Express” Layout to be. Here’s picture of magazine taken in my office chair…

Roger says, “Hello, take a picture of the magazine on the Polar Express we’re working on for Pete!” So of course… I did : )

Then Roger said, “Wait, I am going to go get a Polar Express Train…”

So I was on the OGR Forum and the wonderful OGR Webmaster shared this *Traintastic article and YOU can read it right here… Enjoy!! POLAR EXPRESS ARTICLE

Now it’s time to head home and root for those ASTROS playing in the World Series!!! #HoustonStrong

Happy Tracks!

TrainDame aka Dorcie Farkash
TW TrainWorx
(214) 634-2965
http://www.HolidayTrainLayout.com

Traindame… Uber… Omaha !


What a *Super Fun time the Traingineers and I had last week in Omaha setting up and running trains on the BNSF Layout for the Annual Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder’s Meeting!

In his usual fashion, Warren, stopped by EVERY business on the convention floor before opening to the public, hopped out of his golf cart to take pictures… selfies, chit chat, and give everyone a thumbs up of appreciation for all the effort that goes into preparing this convention for his shareholders to experience.

Personally, I had a true ‘Rock Star’ moment that I will absolutely NEVER forget… My last Uber ride to the convention started like the other two I’d been on except when my response to his question, “Are you a Shareholder?” was…

“No, I am the President of TW TrainWorx out of Dallas, Texas and we’re here setting up the BNSF Layout.”

Uber Driver Bob’s reaction was PRICELESS! (thank God we were stopped at a red light)

He said with a gasp, “YOU are TW TRAINWORX???? You, You, YOU MUST BE TRAINDAME!! Oh my goodness – you guys are just the BEST – – I LOVE WHAT YOU DO….Oh Oh man, I’ve never wished my son could be with me when I’m driving for UBER but MAN DO I WISH HE WAS WITH ME RIGHT NOW!!! I can hardly wait to tell him who I drove today.”

Knock me over with a feather… TW TrainWorx is making tracks and people from Coast to Coast are cheering us on to continue providing top notch customer service, tremendously awesome products and custom train layouts that are literally changing people’s lives and making dreams come true!! So blessed to be a part of this toy train niche of super Traintastic people like YOU… such a joy!

Now you are in “the know” of Traindame’s Rock Star moment in Omaha : )

***BREAKING NEWS… THIS JUST IN FROM BOB… MY UBER DRIVER***

Uber driver, Bob and I are members of the OGR Forum and I posted on forum the other night about my Uber Omaha experience and here is BOB’s REPLY to me… a direct cut & paste:

Good Evening,

I was honored to be able to meet TrainDame from TW Trainworx this weekend in my capacity
as an UBER driver. As you might imagine, driving UBER doesn’t involve many
insightful and engaging conversations (especially between midnight and 3AM),
but to start the morning off talking trains with someone who is truly
a key cog in the hobby was an absolute honor.
Would love to cart around some more Hi-Rail enthusiasts if I get the chance!

Here is a link to the actual posting on the OGR Forum: Traindame… Uber…Omaha

Check out some pictures from last week taken inside the CenturyLink Convention Center… folks enjoying the BNSF Layout at the Annual Berkshire Hathaway Shareholder’s Meeting. ENJOY!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Happy Tracks!

Traindame aka Dorcie Farkash
TW TrainWorx
Dallas, Texas USA
(214) 634-2965
http://www.trainworxlayouts.com

P.S. Check out the latest and greatest TW TrainWorx Product on my Blog: http://wp.me/P1JoOq-jp and feel free to take action and…
BUY NOW! 🙂

**York Video that had people stopping in their tracks…

So, what was the strategy for Traindame to attend this year’s Fall York Event solo?? I had a big video screen in the booth, table with FREE popcorn, my photo books and our new Locomotive Service Platform Kit and focused on creating new relationships and loving on the existing client relationships TW TrainWorx is so blessed to nurture.

Check out the video produced by the one and only …. amazing ABC Traingineer crew; Alan Lockwood, Ben Galbraith, and Connor Erickstad that literally had people stopping…. and watching, ENJOY!

Happy Tracks!

Traindame aka Dorcie Farkash
TW TrainWorx
(214) 634-2965

 

Announcing… Live with Traindame!

One of the coolest aspects of being around the incredibly creative, crazy talented, and super skilled Traingineers is being able to see first hand the massive amount of progress that can happen in a week… a day… or heck even in a couple of hours on the studio floor!

So with that in mind, and having my handy dandy iPhone and Facebook *Live* video, I’ve officially started my “Traindame… Live in 5” series and invite you to view my very first episode which features a cool look at the making of the Houston Museum of Natural Science’s Trains Over Texas displays opening November 18, 2016.

Oh… and be on the lookout for a truly behind the scenes, I’m talking – filmed WAY in the back portion of our studio sneak peek look at the 17′ Pecos River Bridge : )

Enjoy!

Happy Tracks!

Traindame aka Dorcie Farkash
TW TrainWorx
(214) 634-2965
http://www.TrainWorxLayouts.com

TW TrainWorx Third Annual Festival – 9/27/14

Oh my goodness, the saw dust is flying in our studio as the Traingineers are in heavy preparation mode for what promises to be our biggest, best, funnest, most fabulous and traintastic (Traindame word) Layout Festival to date!!

Check out who will be donating to our Chinese Raffle this year…. The World Famous – awesome Angela Trotta Thomas who unfortunately can’t make it herself on the 27th but sent a way-cool Texas Special 54 Lionel Jigsaw Puzzle just for our festival attendees participating in our Chinese Raffle. She even signed the box to make this a keepsake puzzle for years to come! Thank you my friend!!!!

Angela Trotta Signature Texas Special 54_AT

Only one way to win this puzzle… YOU BE at the Third Annual Layout Festival
and purchase a Raffle ticket 🙂

**ATTENTION**

Our vendor tables are officially *Sold Out and here is the list
of fine folks you can purchase from:

  • David Gahagen (making a return trip from Colorado) who hand crafts and does incredible customization of flat car loads

  • Le Kepley with AVKM will blow you away with his video display

  • Dennis Brennan of Brennan’s Model Railroading Products (making a return trip from Missouri) will also have a donation for our Chinese Raffle… love his products

  • Steve Fowler representing the Colorado Toy Train Group (also making return trip from Colorado) – they’ve always got product you’ll want to buy

Here is our line up of Participating Organizations we are proud to have on our studio floor and whom can provide YOU a wealth of knowledge of TRAINS… both real and toy:

  • Lionel Collector’s Club of America – – – known as the best *Toy Train Club on the planet 🙂 Added bonus…*Lionel Railroad Club Members take advantage of the opportunity to speak with the LCCA representatives about the recent merger!! 🙂

  • Lionel Modular Group will have their modular layout set up again

  • BNSF Railroad Patrol

  • BNSF Railway

  • Museum of American Railroad

  • Lenny the Lion

  • TrainWorx Traingineers demonstrating the latest Lionchief Engines

  • Ronald McDonald House of Dallas (Part of Festival Proceeds to benefit this fabulous organization)

Please enjoy testimonial that Tim from Kansas wrote after last year’s Layout Festival:

Festival Testimonial

And of course Traindame and her fellow Traingineers will be here all day enjoying fellowship time with all YOU phenomenal Ferroequinologists!!!!!

Happy Tracks!

Traindame aka Dorcie Farkash
TW TrainWorx
http://www.twtrainworx.com
(877) 881-4997

P.S. Get YOUR name on the Attendee List NOW:
http://www.TrainWorxFestival.com

P.P.S. Just posted this Ahhhmazing Testimonial from another
happy TrainWorx Customer…Read it here: Rooney

P.P.P.S. Attendees coming in from Pennsylvania are travelers
coming the farthest, so far… THANK YOU!

P.P.P.P.S. Festival Fun-tivities here: Festival Details

P.P.P.P.P.S. New this year… the Bombay Chop Stix Food Truck!

Bombay Chop Stix

 

What’s been going on in Traingineerland???

Whew!!!!! Catching my breath now and mind boggled that I didn’t post a peep on my blog in July – YIKES!!!

Below is a sentiment I’ve stated out loud at least 10 times (if not more) over the past 6 weeks…

“So wish I could be in two places at one time… or realistically… more like 5 places at once!”

I have been fortunate to be in a hopping travel mode with the Traingineers as we’ve been serving clientele from the West Coast – Thousand Oaks, California, on into the Mid West – Indianapolis, Indiana and Chilicothe, Ohio… and just when I think it can’t get any better… it does!

There are so many wonderful “Train Nuts” across this great country of ours, who are really some of the most “traintastic” (Traindame word) people we not only have the opportunity to produce layouts/product for but (*Added Bonus*) we also enjoy time making wonderful memories and experience INCREDIBLE fellowship with truly EXTRAORDINARY people!!

I was pondering the best way to get my past six weeks experience across to you and decided to put together a couple of Traindame Photo Collages:

But wait… before the collage, a shameless selfie first 🙂

Traindame & the Traingineers… completion of day #4 of California custom layout installation:

TraindameTraingineers

 

Summer of 2014
Thousand Oaks, California – Harry Potter Themed Layout

Collage June

Chillecothe, Ohio
Rooney Family Layout

Roger_Rooneys

 

Collage July Rooney

LCCA Convention
Indianapolis, Indiana

Collage

 

The countdown to our Third Annual Layout Festival has *BEGUN!

September 27th, 2014 is the date and YOU are guaranteed to have have more fun than an Engineer rounding the mountain pulling three miles of cars!

Be sure to sign up on the Official Attendee List because I am believing we are going to break last year’s attendance record and I want to make sure I am prepared!

Now activated… TW TrainWorx Third Annual Layout Festival link:

http://www.trainworxfestival.com

Happy Tracks!

Traindame aka Dorcie Farkash
TW TrainWorx
http://www.twtrainworx.com
(877) 881-4997

Save The Date 2014

 

P.S. GET YOUR NAME ON THE ATTENDEE LIST… win a chance for  a bonus surprise if YOU travel the furthest!

http://www.TrainWorxFestival.com

P.P.S. Part of proceeds benefit the amazing Ronald McDonald House of Dallas