Junior Member (JM) Project to Build LCCA/Lionel FasTrack Modular Layout
The Lionel Collectors Club of America (LCCA) is proud to announce the Spring Grove Model Railroad Club is planning to build a LCCA/Lionel FasTrack Modular Layout. LCCA Member, John Garner is heading up and starting a youth model railroading club for students in grades 5-12 near York, PA. The goal of this club is to design, build and operate a LCCA/Lionel FasTrack Modular Railroad layout. A variety of skills will be taught to the students varying from rough carpentry, finish carpentry, fine model building, electrical, scenery construction, etc to model toy train operations while learning about the real railroad industry.
This group will design, build and operate this operating layout for usage at their club, future LCCA Special events and other events in the York PA area. We hope this group's project will serve as a template for other youth groups around the country to emulate. The goal is to have several groups build LCCA/Lionel FasTrack Modular layouts for local functions. Then several local modular groups can get together for a larger national or statewide LCCA/Lionel FasTrack Modular Layout activity at a future date.
LCCA's Bill Schmeelk headed up a committee to create a new national standard for Lionel FasTrack modular railroads. We believe this new, national, modular layout standard will help introduce Lionel Trains and our toy train hobby to new people and to allow for people who do not have the space in their home for a full operating layout to run and enjoy their Lionel trains. Any company, group, club, school, Scout organization can have a group project and participate in future LCCA special events with this new Lionel FasTrack Modular Railroad modular system. For additional information regarding the LCCA/Lionel FasTrack Modular Railroad system and specifications go to the "FasTrack Modular" Tab on the front page of our website www.lionelcollectors.org
For those of you who are not familiar with the hobby, Lionel's FasTrack is a patented track system with plastic injection road bed and three rail sectional tracks. The sections snap together and lock securely for secure connections and smooth operation. For information about Lionel FasTrack go to the Lionel website www.lionel.com
In Lionel's most recent catalog, the company dedicated four pages to their Accessory Bundle Kits. These kits are specifically designed for placement on these modules and are named as "Tis the Season", "Rail Yard", "Welcome Home", and "All Aboard". The possibilities for decorating these modules are unlimited. Just use your imagination and create. You can buy these kits from Lionel and use as is, or you can build your own buildings. You can buy the kits and modify them yourself. You can create a memorial to a loved one, your family, school, club, favorite activity, sport etc. There is unlimited potential. This is a chance to express your personal preferences and decorate the modules in any way that is enjoyable to you and your group. We hope you have fun with this project!
Thank you to John Garner and the Spring Grove Model Railroad Club for taking the initiative to start this project in your area. We hope other groups will follow suite and begin their own LCCA/Lionel FasTrack Modular Layouts. For more information regarding the Spring Grove Model Railroad Club and meeting, please contact John Garner at (717) 725-8611 by phone or by e-mail at sgmrrclub@gmail.com
For information about hosting future LCCA special events in your area, please contact me at 248 709-4137 or agkolis@comcast.net We are looking for LCCA members who want to host family oriented, fun train related events. If you are interested, please contact me to discuss your ideas.
Best regards
Al Kolis
LCCA Immediate Past President and Special Events Manager