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PNLTC
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Articles: This is the area
to find articles, press
announcements, news
coverage, and event
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Articles:
Press Announcements:
7-5-00 PNLTC is to break several Guinness Book of Records for LEGO trains - by Dan Parker
"It's a snap with LEGO: Enthusiasts' Club Attempts Train Track World Record"
The Pacific Northwest Lego Train Club (PNLTC) has announced plans to set a new record for the Guinness Book with a display featuring model trains, track, and structures -- all made of LEGO bricks. Scheduled to be held August 17-20th in the Center House at the Seattle Center, Seattle, Washington, the "Year2000 LEGO Train Layout" is expected to break a current record of nearly 1800 feet set in 1992.
Scenes within the exhibit shall include a modern city skyline, wild west area, European city, sprawling waterway and port area, airport, and train yard. In addition to the group's hallmark of dynamic, ever-changing displays, a number of train and track records such as "longest-, fastest-, most-, and largest-" shall be set. The public is also invited to participate in the layout: a canned food donation benefiting Northwest Harvest, a local food bank hunger program, will allow builders to place creations on the layout using bricks on hand.
The event is officially co-sponsored by the LEGO Company and the Seattle Center. PNLTC is a private, non-profit organization providing a forum for adult LEGO collectors to build, share ideas, and display their creations. The club mounts popular displays at public expositions and charity fundraisers throughout the Seattle-Portland area.
The English translation of the Danish word "LEGO" says it all: Play Well!
Information regarding the event may be found at these websites--
Pacific NW LEGO Train Club: www.pnltc.org/
Seattle Center: www.seattlecenter.com
Northwest Harvest: www.northwestharvest.org
or contact Dan Parker at dnvpark@gte.net
8-24-98 PNLTC offers to run your trains onits show layouts - by Dan Parker
For those outside the northwest region who would like to participate in upcoming activities, the club has announced that it will accept and run rolling stock at two particular show events. This is a chance to be a part of the spectacular award-winning LEGO train displays for which the club has become known. The offer is a repeat of the same service offered last spring which saw trains arrive from as far away as Michigan and Arizona.
The first event on September 25-27 is the Seattle stop of the LEGO Imagination Celebration tour now traveling the country. As the only private group allowed on the tour, the PNLTC layout will be the biggest yet with an improved look and many new features and trains. The club is expecting Items from as far away as the United Kingdom and media coverage is likely. Not to be outdone -- and for those needing more time to prepare -- the Portland Great American Train Show event on October 10-11 will mark the debut of more display items which are still being held in secrecy. These will serve as the backdrop to the featured guest trains on a new layout configuration the club is planning. PNLTC is also anticipating media coverage for this event.
Details: LEGO 9v trains may be sent via UPS or USPS to the respective office below with deadline times listed. The trains are videotaped against a complete scenery made of LEGO -- bridges, buildings, mountains -- everything! The rolling stock is returned UPS to the owner along with a 1-hour VHS copy of the tape from that show.
What may be submitted: any originally-designed train engine, passenger or freight car on typical dimensions and in good taste. The item should also be reasonably robust (a minimum of extraneous fragile elements) to handle the busy show environment. These criteria insure that your train item is run at the show (negotiating all clearances) and is returned intact. Maximum length should be 40-44 studs but shorter lengths are preferred. In order to manage the entries, please pre-register your item(s) by contacting events coordinator Dan Parker [danp@qi2.com] . When shipping, please package securely and include two (2) completed return tags.
Rates: includes 1 VHS videotape and return shipping UPS (continental US):
1 car/unit plus tape: $20
each additional car: $5 up to maximum of $30 total
(and maximum 4 cars)
**please inquire for special arrangements, oversees shipping,
extra tapes or cars, or show events other than the two listed.
Event Dates and Shipping Addresses:
1. LEGO traveling truck tour, Sept. 25-27 Seattle Center, Seattle, WA
ship to Dan Parker % Quest Integrated, Inc.
21414 68th Avenue South
Kent, WA 98032
email <danp@qi2.com>
receiving deadline is Wednesday, Sept. 23
note -- shipping to my employer is very secure and worked well
last time.
2. GATS train event, Oct. 10-11, Metropolitan Expo Ctr., Portland, OR
ship to Ben Fleskes
1408 NE Portland Blvd.
Portland, OR 97211
receiving deadline is Wednesday, Oct. 7
Thanks and hope to see you or your trains at the shows, dan parker/PNLTC
June 1998 - Seattle, WA, June 18th, 1998 - by Dan Parker
The Pacific Northwest LEGO Train Club is pleased to announce that it has been invited by LEGO Systems, Inc., makers of LEGO-brand construction toys, to participate in the 25th Anniversary Truck Tour currently traveling the US. The club will be presenting spectacular new train displays at the Seattle,WA and Portland, OR show stops (September and October; please consult the official LEGO WebPages for exact dates and locations.
"Toy trains stimulate tremendous interest and the LEGO-brand train system is especially exciting to work with -- the possibilities for creating are boundless," said Dan Parker, group spokesman. "We are really pleased with the invitation from LEGO to take part in the event and plan to construct displays which we feel will compliment the corporate resources very well. I'm proud of our entire team which pulled together and demonstrated a collective expertise in this project."
Layout designs have not yet been finalized but advance details of the Seattle display include an improved overall look to the train display, additional interactive stations and train control for the viewing audience, several new models, and multiple (layered) track loops -- all serving as a backdrop to the trains themselves. Several perennial favorites will be featured along with some new and interesting models. Many newer members will be displaying for the first time.
PNLTC is currently accepting offers from the LEGO-brand train collector community who would like to participate in the show and, in general, is looking for new members. Come join in what is certainly going to be trainloads of fun! Those interested may contact club members through the club's Website which lists six more upcoming shows as well: Calendar Page. Should there be sufficient interest, plans may also include an impromptu LEGOfest at either show site (please consult the club's website for updates).
Disclaimer: LEGO is a trademark of the LEGO Group of companies and is not affiliated with PNLTC in any manner. LEGO Consumer Affairs may be reached at 1-860-763-3211. Catalog sales (Shop at Home) may be reached at 1-800-453-4652.
December 1997 - Portland, OR & Seattle, WA - by Dan Parker
The debut of a unique LEGO train display at Recent Great American Train Show Events drew allot of interest from thousands of show attendees. The estimated 25,000 - piece layout featured seven running trains, detailed cities, operating bridges and a smiling LEGO bear (dressed in engineer's garb) who greeted visitors. And to highlight it all was an activity area where children of all ages could build and run their own trains.
"A show layout that kids become a part of by building and operating their creations is fairly innovative." stated Dan Parker, co-founder of the Pacific Northwest Lego Train Club, which is behind the project. "These trains have great potential and including the activity area was a primary goal." Bill Grove, show promoter for GATS added, "I've done 200 shows and [this] is one of the most impressive things I've ever seen."
The current LEGO-brand Train system is electric, right down to the motor units, track and has special train elements - all of which work with standard LEGO bricks. "Tremendously Rewarding - Both the show and the Hobby in general.", remarked Ben Fleskes, another club co-founder. "You can literally create a new train out of LEGO every Day. Bridges, buildings . . . it's infinite!" Even veteran model railroaders appeared stunned by the sophistication of the trains and the attraction of the display.
The PNLTC is currently scheduling dates for 1998 to display their layout within the Seattle-Portland area. The club is actively seeking new members which will greatly influence the number of shows and public displays.
News Coverage:
August 16-22, 1998 - Todd Lehman (Cool LEGO® Site of the Week)
Several adult LEGO® enthusiasts have banded to form the Pacific Northwest LEGO® Train Club and a companion web site to document and synchronize their activities. This site is particularly well organized and easy to use, with growing image galleries and events calendars. PNLTC members also share information in their Tools & Specs section, which helps them better organize large-scale events. By the way, don't miss the BAT (Build A Train) Animated GIF Gallery for some creative examples of how to make non-annoying animated GIFs. (And finally, it should be noted [contrary to speculations last week] that this site definitely supersedes all others in varieties of train models. You'll be amazed. Notwithstanding, of course, Larry's models still represent a delectable selection.)
Event
Summaries: September 2, 1998
- by Dan Parker
7th Annual Model RR Show & Swap Meet, benefiting children's hospitals (Shriner's)
Display received the show's only prize, the Children's Choice Award. In attendance, Ben Fleskes, Ken MacIntosh, and Dan Parker, as well as prospective member Irving De La Cruz visiting -- who was very impressed with the layout. Display was 10x14 featuring the LTT, Portland Union Station, bungee bridge, and two city areas along with kid's area. Rolling stock making a debut included a blue/white electric-looking loco and fanciful coal train cars. Dan shot video with a borrowed hi8 Sonycam.
Setup went smoothly and quickly, thanks to Ken bringing along friends Malcolm and Stuart. Mains were simple loops with inboard pushed outwards and outboard isolated (no crossover to inboard nor to switchyard). Switchyard was very compressed but did allow demonstration of the Linear Transfer Table and some very simple yard movement. Several derailments on first day mostly due to running a couple of locos on inboard main that interfered on curves with outboard trains (Dan to revisit loco carriage configs). Ken also supplied a few needed hardware items and a power supply (battery pack) to get the show going. I estimate 40-50 flyers went out. No new member leads generated that I know of. Visitors of note included David Kiesig of a Tacoma RxR group. David is also part of the G-scale group that has worked out a promo deal with Lakewood Mall and LGB, and is connected with the Puyallup Fair trains and LEGO exhibits. David has been encouraging me/us since he first viewed our layout at the Puyallup GATS to seek support from TLG *and* consider doing both the Lakewood Mall and the Puyallup Fair. David is very business-oriented and thinks he can get us loads of support from many areas to meet our needs. Other visitor was Henry Hollwedel of the Maple Valley group/charity show which is inviting us to the event in October (they also see us as a very powerful draw).
Show hosts thought that we were extremely popular and have urged us to consider returning next year. This would be fine with me as the crowd is moderate and well-mannered and it raises money for a good cause, the children's burn centers (hospitals).
© 1998-2002 Pacific Northwest LEGO™ Train Club
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