In these stressful times for many outlanders, we thought you might enjoy viewing a short slideshow prepared by the Bricklyn Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with the Bricklyn Parks & Recreation Department.
Unless otherwise noted, all photos are from Chamber of Commerce or Parks & Rec. Dept. archives, prepared with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.
Enjoy a game of chess or mah-jongg? There’s a group for you. Like to hike in the Outerlands? Follow one of Bricklyn’s many scenic walking paths. Are you a fishing enthusiast? Cast a line while watching a Brickrail train go by.
Sally Plater Sanders at Vocal Brickmotion’s South Bricklyn repair shop. Photo from The Bricklyn Eagle archives, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.
To the Editor: Thanks for sharing that slideshow about Bricklyn’s amazing recreational opportunities. I do want to give a shout out to Sally Plater Sanders, Director of Vocal Brickmotion, a group that’s done a great job in advocating for bicyclists and walkers. They helped lead the effort that resulted in voters approving the bond issue that helped cover the cost of the wonderful bike & ped path that now links Bricklyn, South Bricklyn, and Bricklyn Junction. — Kelly B, South Bricklyn.
To the Editor: Great post! Bricklyn Eagle readers might be interested to learn about an terrific example of the positive connections between residents of the Realm of Bricklyn and the Outland city of Burlington. I’m referring to the rapid growth of Bricklyn’s Mah-Jongg League, triggered by seeing seeing how Mah-Jongg rapidly caught on in Burlington. For those readers not aware of what happened in Burlington, take a look at this short video by Eva Sollberger, one of the regular contributors to Burlington’s Seven Days newspaper and website. — Marilyn P., Vermont.
To the Editor: What I love best when I need to relax is to visit Bricklyn’s lovely arboretum. Here are some photos I took when I visited there last week.
The arboretum also offers visitors a free donut and cup of coffee or glass of milk. Very nice, and makes sense since donut magnate Dave Broffman provides most of the funds for the arboretum. BTW, those Dunk Them Donuts are the best! — Georgie B., Bricklyn Jct., VT.
To the Editor: My name is Jen and I’m 12 years old; and my name is Ben and I’m 10 years old. We were surprised you did not mention the Danish game, KLASK, that lots of our friends in Bricklyn are playing. We’re kids but we also know that a lot of adults, like our parents, play KLASK when they go out and see friends. Here’s a short video that shows the basics of how to play the game, in case anyone doesn’t already know. Also, have you seen this other video of excited players at a KLASK contest. It’s kind of funny. We sometimes have tournaments with our friends too. Our parents said it was OK to send you this email and they checked what we wrote. — Jen and Ben, South Bricklyn, VT.
Note from Editor Walt Brickman: We’ve received a surprisingly large number of inquiries from Outland visitors to the Realm of Bricklyn asking about our religious values and places of worship. Henry Tiler Harrison, who teaches comparative religion, among other subjects, at the University of Bricklyn has submitted the following to us, which we’re pleased to publish as key Muslim, Jewish, and Christian holy days are approaching.
February 25, 2024
From Henry Tiler Harrison for The Bricklyn Eagle
As most readers of The Bricklyn Eagle know, Bricklyn’s earliest settlers came from Denmark, whose official state religion was and remains Evangelical Lutheran.
Certainly some Bricklynites have chafed at the resulting demographic changes, but I think it is fair to say that the Realm of Bricklyn has been a welcoming place for those of different faiths and ethnicities, including Bricklynites who identify as atheist, agnostic, or unaffiliated with any religious tradition.
Photo of Pastor Neuman, Imam Hassan, and Rabbi Weinstein, by William B. Miller for The Bricklyn Eagle. All photos in this post by William Miller with assistance from Dall E-3 AI unless otherwise noted.
I asked three key religious leaders who meet together over tea each month if they would discuss with me how their respective faiths seek to promote tolerance, mutual understanding, and concern for social justice.
The three are: Pastor John Plater Neuman, who leads the First Lutheran Church of Bricklyn; Rabbi Rachel B. Weinstein from Temple Beth-Shalom in Bricklyn Junction; and Imam Ibrahim B. Hassan, from the Islamic Center of Bricklyn.
Unfortunately, due to recent surgery, I was unable to join them for tea. But they graciously agreed to record their conversation about the question I had posed. So let me turn the balance of this post over to Pastor Neuman.
Pastor Neuman: Our good friend Henry, who is recovering from surgery, has asked us to discuss the following question: “In what ways do the religious faiths you represent seek to promote tolerance, mutual understanding, and concern for social justice here in the Realm of Bricklyn?”
First Lutheran Church of Bricklyn in a beautiful wooded location near the Brickooski River..
Pastor Neuman: Let me start off by sending all our best wishes to Henry for a speedy recovery.
Tolerance and coexistence is essential in a society with diverse beliefs. Lutherans fully agree with that, and believe that our Christian faith stresses the importance of the values Henry cites in his question. Did not Jesus preach of their significance?
Interior of First Lutheran Church.
In the Gospel of Matthew, we see how Jesus highlighted the importance of caring for the poor and marginalized when he taught: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Matthew 25:35-37.
Temple Beth-Shalom in downtown Bricklyn Junction.
Interior of Temple Beth-Shalom, during Torah study session.
Rabbi Weinstein: Certainly, our three faiths share much in common, including the core principles you just set out Pastor.
One thing our congregants at Temple Beth-Shalom have done, and it has been in conjunction with members of the Bricklyn Islamic Center — in fact Imam Hassan has been one of the organizers — is for members of both our synagogue and the Islamic Center to meet at each other’s homes for dinner.
It’s a great way to start growing personal connections. And, as we all know, there’s no better place to do that than over food!
Imam Hassan: Yes, Rabbi, the dinners have been, praise be to Allah, joyous occasions, and they are already leading to better understanding among congregants of our respective communities.
While we all are part of the Inland LEGO world, we’re also not unaffected by what is happening to our brethren in Outland communities. In these dark Outland times, we can only try to model cooperation and understanding in our own Inland realm.
Mutual understanding is fostered by interfaith dinners together.
Pastor Neuman: I hope I’m not the only one quoting scripture, but as Christians we also draw on Luke 10:25-37, The Parable of the Good Samaritan, which emphasizes the importance of compassion and helping those in need, regardless of social or cultural differences. It encourages a sense of social responsibility.”
Judge Marnya Brickerlan outside her chambers. Photo from Bricklyn Eagle archives.
Imam Hassan: Pastor, the actions of the good Samaritan also resonate with Muslims.
I should mention that our community took pride last month in the words of Bricklyn Judge Marnya Brickerlan, who allowed young Patricia Perry, the Bricklyn High School track star visiting from another realm, to rejoin the track team.
The judge spoke of the important Muslim principle and practice of “welcoming the guest,” even quoting from two Islamic scholars who said — and I brought their words here with me today:
The Islamic Center of Bricklyn.
“Honoring the guest is among the most significant values and rules that have great input in the welfare and righteousness of the Muslim society. … Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon himself) considered honoring the guest one of the major signs of strong faith.”
Interior of the Islamic Center (shortly before start of service).
It was an honor to Muslims to have one of our practices recognized in this court decision.
Rabbi Weinstein: Imam, I was also going to bring up that Court ruling. We’re proud to have Judge Brickerlan as a member of our congregation. She also cited, as you know, from Leviticus: “When strangers reside with you in your land, you shall not wrong them. The strangers who reside with you shall be to you as your citizens; you shall love each one as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Leviticus 19:33-34).
Pastor, you see you’re not the only one quoting from scripture today!
Let me also mention another thing we all have in common, and that is our support for that wonderful young peoples’ organization, One Bricklyn.
Students participating in the One Bricklyn youth program.
Pastor Neuman: First Lutheran Church is so pleased to provide meeting space for these teenagers. They come from each of our congregations, and from other congregations in the Realm. They not only get to know each other and build friendships, but also take actions to promote the welfare of those in Bricklyn who are most in need.
Imam Hassan: Yes, both a nephew and niece of mine also participate, along with other teens from the Islamic Center. Young people can really lead the way!
One Bricklyn shows us that our youth can be leaders in finding practical ways to help those in need — whether from organizing food drop-offs to visiting the homes of elders who lack family support.
As my niece just told me the other day, she believes that by volunteering with One Bricklyn, she has also been changed, and feels she now has a real stake in the broader Bricklyn community.
Pastor Neuman: Excellent comments! But I’m afraid we’re out of time, as our tea pot has run dry. Let me stop this recorder, and I’ll get it over to Henry. Hope to see you, Rachel and Ibrahim, back here for tea a month from now … and let’s invite Henry to join us!
by Paul B. Macro, Bricklyn Eagle Business Reporter
Brickstar train passing through farmland south of Brickpelier, Vermont. Please note that all photos in this post are by Paul B. Macro, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI unless otherwise indicated.
The slogan”A Star in Every Rail Car” has been replaced by the smiling cartoon face of a Brickstar locomotive, with the simple words “Ride Brickstar!” Brick Link has even named the cartoon engine “Bobby Brickstar” and used Bobby for marketing the train, and for selling t-shirts to youngsters. Illustration by Carol Tiler Nelson, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.
This past November, Brick Rail introduced ultra-high speed “Brickstar” passenger rail service with a new fleet of advanced rail cars and locomotives.
While the branding slogan of Brickstar as “A Star in Every Rail Car” fell flat — despite advertising featuring rock star Bruce Springbrick — the rail service itself is what appears to be a star.
Brickstar’s currently operates on two routes, one between the North Street Station in Bricklyn, Vermont, to Central Station in Brickover, New Hampshire, with intermediate stops in Brickpelier and Northbrick, Vermont. The second Brickstar route runs from Brickover, New Hampshire to Brattlebrick, Vermont.
New Brickstar on left, boarding passengers at Bricklyn’s North Station. A BrickExpress train is on the right. BrickExpress trains are in the process of being replaced by the Brickstars. Photo by Paul B. Macro.
Bricklyn Eagle business reporter Paul B. Macro recently spoke with Stephen Tiler Marshall, Brick Rail’s Director of Customer Service.
All of the accompanying photos are by Paul Macro, with assistance on most from Dall E-3 AI – and “no” to those jokers who claim that Macro only uses a macro lens!
Paul B. Macro, for TheBricklyn Eagle: Thank you Mr. Marshall for taking the time to speak with us this morning. As a starting point, can you tell us how often Brickstar trains are running on their two routes?
Stephen Tiler Marshall: Very glad to be here with you today. Brickstar is currently operating four trains a day each way on the Bricklyn-Brickover route, with two of these trains continuing onto our Brickover to Brattlebrick route. Both routes include overnight service, though the 96 mile long Bricklyn-Brickover route also includes two trains in each direction that leave during morning hours and arrive at their end points in the evening.
Brickstar at North Station in Bricklyn. Note that Brickstar is trying out several different liveries and will evaluate passenger preferences.
The Bricklyn Eagle: With Brickstar have you been able to reduce the travel time between those city pairs?
Inside Brick Rail’s maintenance shop in Bricklyn where Brickstars are handled with loving care.
Stephen Tiler Marshall: Yes, and that was our number one aim for Brickstar. We’ve dramatically reduced running times compared to our previous “BrickExpress” service that began on these routes in 1991.
With Brickstar, the 96 mile run between Bricklyn and Brickover now takes just 15 hours, while the longer 165 mile route between Bricklyn and Brattlebrick via Brickover takes 27 hours. That represents a remarkable 25 percent reduction in travel time on these two routes from that of the older BrickExpress trains.
Top speeds for Brickstar now reach 7.2 mph, with speeds averaging just over 6 mph.
Overnight Brickstar train leaving Brickover, NH this January 7th, heading northwest towards Bricklyn, VT.
➤ Since I know your readers are primarily from Outland communities, it is important that they keep in mind the considerable differences in the scale of distances and speed between Outland and Inland realms. You basically need to multiply Inland numbers by 30 to find the Outland equivalent.
For example, a train moving at 6 mph in an Inland LEGO city like Bricklyn, VT would be the equivalent to moving at 180 mph in an Outland city like Burlington, VT. Similarly, Brickstar’s top speed of 7.2 mph would equate to 216 mph in the Outland world (7.2 x 30 = 216).
How Brickstar Achieves High Speeds
The Bricklyn Eagle:
How has the Brickstar obtained top speeds as high as 7.2 mph?
Stephen Tiler Marshall:
Brickstar has achieved its high speeds through a combination of innovations in the design and materials used in the rail cars and engines; track improvements; and changes in the technology used to power Brickstar.
Inside the Brick Rail materials lab where scientists and engineers have developed stronger, lighter weight materials for the Brickstar trains.
As you can tell just by looking at the Brickstar, it has a sleeker design to reduce air resistance and increase energy efficiency.
Brick Rail scientists (with financial support from the League of Inland Cities) have developed carbon fiber and aluminum that is actually much lighter, stronger, and more durable than the combination of LEGO tiles, plates, and bricks we had previously used.
Brick Rail engineer Vanessa Plater Swanson. Six of Brick Rail’s twenty engineers are women — a much higher proportion than other railroads.
Also important, Brickstar trains — like the Outland world’s high speed TGV trains — make use of distributed power systems where each train car has its own traction motors and power supply.
This distributed arrangement enhances the flexibility and efficiency of the train, as power can be applied precisely where needed. It also contributes to better acceleration and braking performance.
Larry B. Hogan, one of Brick Rail’s dispatchers in the Brick Rail operations center.
One last thing I’ll note. We now have a state-of-the-art operations center at Brick Rail’s headquarters in South Bricklyn. Bear in mind also that we don’t just control Brickstar train movements, we are also responsible for coordinating all our passenger trains with a growing number of intercity freight trains.
Our dispatchers are essential in seeing that all trains are safely moving through our rail network. They use state-of-the-art technologies to communicate with train crews and others to control and direct the safe movement of trains.
Brick Rail control tower just south of Brickpelier, VT, clearing a northbound Brickstar heading towards Bricklyn.
Improving the Passenger Experience
The Bricklyn Eagle: As you are Brick Rail’s Director of Customer Services, we would especially value hearing what you’ve done to improve the passenger experience while on board the new Brickstars.
Stephen Tiler Marshall:
That’s a very important question. Let me answer by saying that Brickstar has improved the passenger experience in five major ways:
Brickstar provides spacious seating for its coach passengers. Aisles in each car have been widened to make it easier for passengers using wheelchairs to move about.
First, let’s consider the train’s interior design and seating: Brickstar trains are designed with spacious and ergonomic interiors.
The seating arrangements are built for comfort, with features such as ample legroom, adjustable seats, and well-padded seat cushions and head rests.
The layout of the coaches is optimized to provide a comfortable and relaxing environment for passengers during their journey.
Second, Brickstar trains are equipped with technologies to minimize noise, creating a quieter travel environment. Soundproofing materials are used in the construction of the train cars, and noise reduction measures are implemented in the design of components such as wheels and suspensions.
Young passengers enjoying the view from their Brickstar coach.
A third important aspect of a rail passenger’s experience relates to what we call “ride quality.” We’ve developed advanced suspension systems to minimize vibrations and ensure a smooth ride quality even at high speeds and on curves.
Dunk Them Donuts on board Brickstar train.
A fourth way in which we’ve sought to improve the passenger experience is by enhancing the range of onboard services and amenities available.
We’ve brought in top-quality dining services provided on board by staff and students of the Bricklyn Culinary Institute. For those with a sweet tooth, we also have an onboard Dunk Them Donuts shop on each Brickstar.
We have also taken steps to improve Wi-Fi connectivity, provide additional power outlets, and offer entertainment options built into the seat backs.
Brickstar decided to retain the look and feel of its 1950s era dining cars, but with all new equipment in the dining car’s kitchen. Dining car chefs and servers are usually students from the Bricklyn Culinary Institute.
Cut-away view of a Brickstar sleeping car. Photo courtesy of Brick Rail.
Also of note, our sleeping cars have been designed with input from Le Bricklyn Hotel. Their employees, on a rotating basis, staff the sleeper cars. We believe this is an innovative arrangement in the world of rail travel.
We’ve received rave reviews from our sleeping car passengers about Le Bricklyn’s on board service, and also many comments on how comfortable our deluxe “sleep tight” beds are.
Finally, and not to be forgotten, Brickstar trains have been designed to be accessible to passengers with reduced mobility. This includes features such as ramps, priority seating, accessible restrooms, and extra wide aisles in all train cars.
Future Plans for Brickstar Service
The Bricklyn Eagle: What does the future hold for Brickstar?
Rail Brick crew laying track near the town of St. Brickard, in the southern part of the Realm of Montbrick, Quebec, about 28 kilometers north of the Vermont border.
Stephen Tiler Marshall: Brick Rail has two key priorities. First, we plan on adding two more Brickstar routes, one connecting Bricklyn, VT, with Albrick, NY, the other linking Bricklyn to Montbrick, Quebec.
We expect to receive in early 2025 eight additional six car long train sets. That comes to 48 new passenger cars and eight new locomotives. With this, and with some track work underway, we expect these routes to be in service by the Fall of 2027.
Brickstar on viaduct passing through a densely developed part of South Bricklyn, VT, en route to North Station in downtown. Bricklyn, VT.
Our other priority is to maintain, and even improve on, the level of service we’re offering our Brickstar passengers. We regularly survey our customers, and also hold focus group sessions to get candid feedback about their travel experience on Brickstar.
Finally, I want your readers to know we welcome their comments and suggestions. Even though they can’t ride a Brickstar (Outlanders are way too big!), they can see them in operation during visits to Bricklyn.
The Bricklyn Eagle: Thank you so much for your time.
Stephen Tiler Marshall: Appreciate the opportunity to connect with Bricklyn Eagle readers. ✥
We welcome Letters to the Editor. Please email to: bricklynvt@gmail.com — are there suggestions you have from your own rail travel experiences?
To the Editor: We’ve had improvements to Amtrak service here in Maine, but they don’t compare to what the new Brickstar service offers to LEGO passengers in Bricklyn. I’m glad Brick Rail is expanding service, I noticed to the Realm of Brickover, New Hampshire. I hope some day Brickstar trains will connect to the Realm of Brickport, Maine, but know that’s a long distance to cover by rail. Thanks for the article. –– Peter in Maine.
Rendering of proposed Brick Air supersonic plane. Image supplied by Brick Air, with assistance from Dall E-3 AI.
To the Editor: Do we really need to spend taxpayer money for rail service? Yes, I know it looks very nice, but haven’t Bricklyn leaders and folks at the League of Inland Cities heard the expression “time is money”? What we need is a supersonic air service so we don’t have to spend long hours getting to other Realms that belong to the League. — Eric in Bricklyn.
Reply from the Editor: Outland readers should recall that to obtain equivalent speeds between Inland and Outland communities, multiply the Inland speed by 30 to ge the approximate Outland speed. So a train running at 6 mph in Bricklyn (the average speed of Brickstar high speed trains) would equal 180 mph in Burlington, VT. Similarly, the average speed of current Brick Air planes is 17 mph, which would equate to about 510 mph for human-based planes.
