Flying steampunk train is made from more than 1,000,000 matchsticks!
ORLANDO, Fla. (July 22, 2015) – A train bound for New York City is an ordinary event – but not when it’s a train made from one million matchsticks and its destination is Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square Odditorium. Then you’re talking extraordinary!
The train measures 22 feet long, 13 feet wide and 9 feet high. It will become one of signature exhibits at Ripley’s Times Square after its installation on July 29.
Ripley’s commissioned the train from master matchstick artist Pat Acton. This is not just his largest creation, but it’s the biggest matchstick model in the world.
Acton spent 14 months building the locomotive in a steampunk style, complete with wings and interactive, working parts.
“Plane Loco” as it’s called, is interactive. Visitors will be able to imagine they’re driving this one-of-a-kind wonder as they work the throttle, brake and forward levers – all of which move.
“This train is an incredible work on its own, but the fact that Pat built it one single matchstick at a time is what visitors will find truly mind-boggling,” said Edward Meyer, Ripley’s VP of Exhibits and Archives.
Plane Loco by the numbers:
- 100,000,000 matchsticks
- 750+ pounds
- 35 gallons of wood glue
- 3,000 hours to build
The train is actually being trucked from Acton’s studio in Iowa to New York City in 70 separate pieces, which will be reassembled inside Ripley’s Times Square Odditorium. The train is expected to be on display by July 29.
Images of Plane Loco can be downloaded via this Dropbox.
Media Contacts
Edward Meyer
VP, Exhibits & Archives
Ripley Entertainment Inc.
407-345-8010 – office
407-492-8256 – cell
meyer@ripleys.com
Mike Updegraff
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Times Square
213-398-3133
Mike@RipleysNewYork.com
About Ripley Entertainment
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is part of the Ripley Entertainment Inc. (www.ripleys.com) family of worldwide attractions, the global leader in location-based entertainment. More than 13 million people visit its 95-plus attractions in 10 countries each year. In addition to its 32 Believe It or Not! Odditoriums, the Orlando, Florida-based company has publishing, licensing and broadcast divisions that oversee projects including the syndicated Believe It or Not! television show, best-selling books and the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, that still runs daily in 42 countries. Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Company, the third-largest privately held company in Canada.
